Too many connects required to bid a job

[#1]

The amount of connects required to bid on a project has significantly increased. Me and my other colleagues are very much unhappy with this as it almost takes 12-16 connects to bid for a job. That's 1.5$ (for 15 connects )if you buy connects and bid. I m sure other freelancers across the world might be unhappy too. Previously it used to take around 2-6 connects which was bearable, but now this is insane. This won't affect freelancers with very high rates but for small to medium-level freelancers like me, this is too much. I know that spending connects is kind of an investment in order to obtain business but it should be a feasible number. 12-16 connects is way too much in my opinion.

Edit : Now it goes up to 23 connects

[#2]

Sorry for the confusion. I actually meant that I spend average 10 connects per job(different jobs requiring 8,12,16 connects to bid), and hence 1.5$ per job.

And I do not ask for free connects,  I know one has to invest to earn, that is completely fine. But I am just asking that if Upwork has increased connects just for handling spam proposals, the genuine profiles are also suffering due to this. I also know that cribbing over this wont change anything honestly it doesnt matter to me much, but there could have been a better way to handle this as this doesnt seem to solve anything apart from increasing Upwork's own income

[#3]

Upwork will return connects if you report the job as a scam and do not participate.

[#4]

Is that true? 

[#5]

If a client breaks the Terms, and you contact Upwork, you will get your connects returned if they determine it's a scam, and you did not participate, even by talking to them outside of Upwork before a contract is in place.

[#6]

Theoretically, it will cause people to be more selective in the jobs they apply for. I certainly am far less likely to burn connects on a job posting that has spent nothing on Upwork, where the job posting appears generic, where their budget is low, and where there might already be many applying for the job. 

But for the jobs I am a match for, I will not only invest in connects but will also boost. This does not mean I will get the job, but far more likely that the client will see my proposal. 

With the economy the way it is now, there are going to be more freelancers out of a regular job who will be chasing the same job. So there will be more supply of freelancers to chase fewer jobs, and thus another reason why there will be connections increases. I don't like it either, but "free connects" or "more connects" will simply drive up the connect price even more.

[#7]

The problem is that Upwork is a business, and one that has been bleeding money for years. If someone isn't earning enough on Upwork to pay for connects, they're also not earning enough to be paying Upwork any significant project fees. It might be worthwhile for somone in a low COL country to take on a $5 job, but it's not worth it to Upwork to service (except for the connects revenue). It's awful for people who are in that situation, but Upwork's goal is to make money.

[#8]

The problem with this is that many jobs are still posted without a price point... I cannot waste 16 connects on a job not knowing whit it will pay. If it's going to cost so many connects to apply for a job, meaning that no freelancer can work without spending money on connects, then all jobs should have to be posted with their price. 

[#9]

Forcing clients who don't know what a project will cost to come up with a fake and meaningless number to fill a mandatory box won't help at all. 

[#10]

"We’ve increased the amount of Connects needed to apply to certain jobs to better match the value of a job with the cost to submit a proposal."

To be honest, this answer seems like nonsense on its face. I've seen crap, low-dollar jobs requiring an absurd amount of connects to bid. On what planet is it worthwhile to spend 16 connects on a job paying out twenty bucks (not even including the bidding option)?

And to go from occasionally using 4 to having to use 10-20? Ridiculous. And now we have bidding where, as if it's not already a headache using up a stupid number of connects just to bid, you have to fight to get in front of the client by spending more (in a program not even the clients actually like).

Add to this the number of freelancers and cost once you GET the job (not to mention the sheer vast number of low-quality "clients") and Upwork is quickly transforming from something I used to tell other freelancers about into something maybe a step above Fiverr. 

[#11]

I have been on Upwork since Elance days, and returning now to "connects". I just want to say this whole "pay for the privilege to apply for jobs" feels like a capitalist dystopia. We should now be thankful for the opportunity to play the "job lottery" which doesn't pay as well as the lottery, and costs more than the lottery. Next you'll charge "connects" to comment on forums just to silence us and make more money. How fun and encouraging!  

[#12]

Can you explain how 8 connects for a 5 dollar fixed price job "matches the value of that job"? 

And these measures have not led to a decrease in spam posts, if anything spammers or going to spam more because they have less applicants to scam! I feel like you all are taking advantage of us, please explain yourself. 

[#13]

Very Very Stupid Solution!!!!

[#14]

That's absolutely correct!

All the freelancers will transition to alternative platforms, diminishing the significance of this particular platform.

[#15]

I recently noticed a sharp rise in the number of connects needed to apply for a job. Today - 16!!! Sixteen connects fora job that was worth only $1,000? What's going on?

[#16]

Hi Goody,

Thank you for reaching out! 

We’ve increased the amount of Connects needed to apply to certain jobs to better match the value of a job with the cost to submit a proposal. 

Raising the number of Connects needed for certain jobs has several benefits, including giving us more resources to put toward reducing spam job posts and proposals, and keeping unwanted, fraudulent users off Upwork. We’re making this change to better match the value of a job with the cost to submit a proposal. Many jobs have a large number of applicants, and we frequently receive feedback about reducing the number of proposals per job.

Regards,

[#17]

It doesn't justify increasing the connects to a limit when you only give out the same 10 connects per month, which is very low. Consider a new profile how do you think they would apply for any job much less receive an offer. Apart from that the premium plan also offers limited functionality you can only apply to only 6 proposals at most, that too go to waste sometimes when the client doesn't either close the project after hiring or leaves it as it is without hiring anyone and reuploads the same project again. why haven't you taken steps to eliminate this issue. This shows a lack of responsibility on upwork's part and will reduce the number of freelancers ready to work on this platform. 

Reduce the max number of connects to 10 or 12 but 16 is just outrageous.

[#18]

Raising the number of Connects has 0 benefits for freelancers and clients, but it does benefit UPWORK pockets!

[#19]

Hahaha very funny

[#20]

Hi,

This approach is not appropriate for increasing the number of connections per proposal due to client's frequently recieved the feeddback about reducing the number of proposals. But alternatively if possible change the proposal process in Upwork Platform. Like Below,

1. Fix the limit of applications per the job like 100/150 applications or given the permission to Client insight. (like drop down box 50/100/150/200). So easily client will choose the choice themselves

2. Whoever sees the job first time then they can apply the job upto limiation of applications.. For Example first in first apply. (FIFA)

3 .Incase, client will not satisfity the received the applications, then again choose the new application range and submit the job. also candiates already submitted shall not be admitted. 

4. Parallelly client will invite the best applicants asusal.

5. Finally, immediately show the reposted job in top of job feeds

This is my opiniion.

[#21]

You don't think it's worth 16 connects for a $1000 job?

[#22]

For me it is worth BUT the number of connects needed to apply is not based on the pay. 

[#23]

No, it's not. It's almost like Upwork doesn't really want people bidding on super-cheap projects. 

[#24]

I certainly would not be bidding on a super cheap project. A more likely way then is for the client to issue invites for those jobs, which means those who want them should make it clear in their profile that they are chasing those jobs. Still no guarantee, and very much like a lottery.

If I find this topic on the client side I would ask the following question: You posted a job for a low price and yet rated the job at expert level. What is the probability you will get someone who is an expert to answer a job with such a low price but with such a big ask in terms of experience? 

We all want the greatest value for the least price, but paying $20.00 for a project that will take many hours to complete (even for experts) is not a job that many to apply for.

[#25]

While most freelancers have been complaining about this issue for some time, no changes have been made. Does Upwork really care about us anymore? I really miss the old days. I used to have genuine loyalty to the Upwork brand. Now, my respect has been significantly undermined.

[#26]

Upwork is a business. It cannot "care." If you mean the management, they do not
"care" either. Freelancers are faceless, nameless, cogs in the wheel. Upwork believes we are all the same and can be moved around like snap on parts. One in - one out.

Connects, or some form of payment, is not going away. I'm happy to pay if it actually reduces the number of garbage proposals. A fee for proposal would be logical, but everyone would scream at $5.00 not to mention $25.00.

Self-employment means you pay for everything. Upwork is not an employer.