🙌 The secrets of Upwork

[#1]

👋 Hi everyone!

I've been reading a lot of reviews here on the forum lately about some of the drawbacks that many freelancers are finding on the platform, due to recent changes to the platform.

As I've mentioned before in other posts, I'm personally happy with the platform. However, I do agree with some concerns I've read about, such as duplicate job postings, seemingly fraudulent bids, or spending Connects on jobs where it seems the client never reviews the proposals.

Despite these issues, I think Upwork is still a great platform for any freelancer. While it's important to report the issues we encounter, in the hope that Upwork can review and fix them, I think we should also focus on taking advantage of the positive aspects that the platform offers (tricks and secrets?). In other words, if you can't beat the system, study it to make it work in your favor.

With that in mind, I propose that we all make a list of actions and recommendations that we know work, as well as actions that more experienced freelancers recommend avoiding. This way, we can help each other (both new and experienced freelancers on the platform).

For example, in my case, I make the most of my Connects and apply only to jobs where both the phone number and payment method are verified. I also avoid applying to jobs that look like duplicates or that ask for free samples. I optimize searches a lot and don't apply to offers that have more than 10 applications already submitted.

I have also noticed that spending Connects boosting my application to an offer doesn't work. On the occasions where I have boosted, the client has never seen my application. Boosting my profile with the (Availability: ON) option doesn't work either; looking at the statistics, every time I have activated this option, the effect has been the opposite, seeing the line of visits go down.

In addition, I have optimized my profile following the videos of the Academy, as well as the advice of friends here on the forum who have very kindly given me their opinion. Thanks again!

What other actions do you recommend? Or what actions do you suggest we avoid?

Please, I'm not opening this thread to fill it with complaints against Upwork. As I've said before, I encourage everyone to participate so we can compile actions we know work and those we should avoid.

In one of the forum threads I read that Upwork makes a kind of "wheel" that, from time to time, increases/boosts the visibility of a certain number of freelancers. Does anyone know how that "wheel" works? How often does it happen?

Let's all join together and help each other!

Let’s go!

[#2]

I've had the same experience with boosting my applications—it hasn't helped, and clients often don’t even view my proposals. I also tried the "Availability: ON" option, but like you, I saw my profile visits drop instead of increase. It’s frustrating, but I’m now focusing on optimizing my profile and applying to the right jobs without relying on those features. Hopefully, Upwork improves these tools soon, but for now, being selective seems to work better.

[#3]

Totally agree with you. Both options (boosting proposal and activating availability) don’t seem to have any effect, yet they consume Connects.

Let’s hope Upwork reviews this. I understand that the platform must have some complex algorithms, and for some reason, those options aren’t doing their job.

[#4]

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Muhammad A wrote:

Hopefully, Upwork improves these tools soon, but for now, being selective seems to work better.

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The tools aren't really the issue, the problem is that most freelancers seem to have zero understanding of how they actually work. The "boost" feature does work as intended, in that if you pay the most connects, your proposal will be at the top of the list, and therefore more likely to be seen than if you're at the bottom of the list. That's all it does. And if you turn on your "Available Now" badge, it does show on your profile and if clients are in a huge hurry, they can do a search on that basis; again, this is the only thing that it's designed to do - just indicate that you're available right away. Contrary to what some people believe, having it turned off does not signal that you aren't available at all.

Too many freelancers think that they can just throw money at their problems. Upwork isn't some kind of an eBay-for-employment auction where if you pay the most, you "win". If your proposal is weak or your skills don't match, a client still won't open your bid or hire you, no matter how much you pay for these extra features. 

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Muhammad A wrote:

 I’m now focusing on optimizing my profile and applying to the right jobs without relying on those features. .

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That sounds like a much better strategy. Cheaper, too.

[#5]

I agree with some points, but as someone on the other side hiring freelancers as well, I’ve noticed that —90% of the time, being at the top doesn’t guarantee success. The best proposal or freelancer with a strong profile gets the job, regardless of whether they’ve boosted their application or have the "Available Now" badge on. Even if the badge is off, clients will still reach out to the best-qualified freelancer. Paying extra doesn’t always equate to winning; it's about matching skills and providing a strong, tailored proposal.

[#6]

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 wrote:

I agree with some points, but as someone on the other side hiring freelancers as well, I’ve noticed that —90% of the time, being at the top doesn’t guarantee success. The best proposal or freelancer with a strong profile gets the job, regardless of whether they’ve boosted their application or have the "Available Now" badge on. Even if the badge is off, clients will still reach out to the best-qualified freelancer. Paying extra doesn’t always equate to winning; it's about matching skills and providing a strong, tailored proposal.

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How is this any different from what I just said?

[#7]

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Toni M wrote:

In one of the forum threads I read that Upwork makes a kind of "wheel" that, from time to time, increases/boosts the visibility of a certain number of freelancers. Does anyone know how that "wheel" works? How often does it happen?

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There's no "wheel". There's an algorithm that shuffles or rotates the order in which freelancers appear in the search results, supposedly to give everyone a fair chance of being seen. When a client does a search for your skill, you may be on the first page of search results one week and on page 50 another week (the results will also be different from client to client). How often you appear on the first page will depend on the number of other freelancers in your category; the more specialised your skill is, the less competition you'll have. There isn't anything that you can do to make your profile appear higher, apart from ensuring that it's filled out properly; you just have to wait your turn. 

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Toni M wrote:

In other words, if you can't beat the system, study it to make it work in your favor.

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I couldn't agree more, but also, if you've tried everything for months and months and still can't make it work, stop wasting your time and money and look for clients elsewhere. Complaining in the forum isn't going to put food on the table.