HELP PLEASE.

[#1]

Hey everyone, 

I need some advice, apparently. I have been part of Upwork for a few months now, when I first joined, I didn't really know what I wanted to do, but fairly quickly found my "niche": data entry, and market research. I updated my profile to reflect the changes...I have to admit, at first my profile was absolutely awful, but I fixed that, I mean, at least I think I did. 

I have sent in SO MANY proposals, and the one and only message back I have gotten this entire time, was from a job that ended up being a scam. I REALLY don't know what it is I am doing wrong, I have read countless pages of "how to write a winning proposal", and actually incorporated what I have read into my proposals, I changed it up a whole bunch of times, hoping the next one might at least warrant a reply, but nothing, and the one I have now, I swear is really good. I created a portfolio for prospective clients to view, and all the proposals I submit, I already have relevant work that is well done in my portfolio. I don't send in proposals to jobs that have 50+ responses already, hoping it would increase my chances. While I am new to Upwork I have 8+ years data entry experience, and my typing speed is over 65wpm. I am a business college graduate. 

I could keep going on, but I will try to keep it short. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated, TIA. Have a great day Upworkers.

Josi S.

[#2]

There are millions of people here offering data entry services, most of whom find no work. I think you should put more emphasis on the market research, and you can complement that with good data entry skills.

You need to start by telling people what you can do for them. Imagine yourself as a client wanting something done and looking at your profile. When you send in a proposal, they can only see the first two lines of your profile, so you should try to get as much info into them as possible. Delete the part where you give your name and where you are from - clients can see that already. 

[#3 · Accepted solution]

I think the problem is that there are more freelancers available that do data entry than there are actual jobs available on upwork that just need data entry.  As a result, when a client posts a legitimate job for data entry, they are most likely to hire a freelancer that already has Upwork job experience by 'default'.  UW is flooded with data entry freelancers.  

I agree that focusing on Market Research may land you more jobs.  I would also adjust the wording on your profile:

"Data Entry is something that I have been practicing for over 10 years"

Maybe use a phrase like 'have perfected' over 10 years. 

Reason: I'm only use to hearing the word "practicing" to indicate expertise if a person says they have been "practicing Law",  "practicing Medicine",  "practicing Dentistry", or a few select other professions for a number of years. If they are 'practicing" something else, I personally assume that means they are still in 'training' or "learning" as they go, and I'm not sure that's the first impression you want to leave. 

[#4]

Data entry isn't a niche, it's a very basic skill offered by thousands of other freelancers who charge lower rates than you do. You're wasting your time and connects by applying to such projects. If you're a business college graduate, then did you learn any specialised skills that you can offer? Bookkeeping, perhaps? Or focus on market research and put some case studies into your portfolio in which you provided clear benefits to clients and helped them meet their goals.

[#5]

Upwork has plenty of people doing data entry.

None of those people are telling us that they need more help because there aren't enough data entry workers.

My basic advice to somebody coming here as a new freelancer to do data entry:

Don't bother.

Do something else.

Or look for non-online work in your local community.

[#6]

hi Josi,

I read your message and You will try harder to send a proposal and one day you will become a top rated plus on Upwork

Thanks

Chirag P.

[#7]

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Josi S wrote:

I REALLY don't know what it is I am doing wrong, I have read countless pages of "how to write a winning proposal", and actually incorporated what I have read into my proposals, I changed it up a whole bunch of times, hoping the next one might at least warrant a reply, but nothing, and the one I have now, I swear is really good. I created a portfolio for prospective clients to view, and all the proposals I submit, ...

Josi S.

---

Does this mean you built a single (evolving) proposal and are sending the same one to different jobs? In my opinion, you should not.

There is no such thing as THE perfect proposal, because each job requires a different perfect proposal, even in the same field. Clients can spot a template proposal very easily and when they see there is no actual reference to the project or they see a wall of text, they will likely ignore the proposal.

They are not interested in knowing how good you are, only if you can do the job and meet their expectations. In my opinion, the profile is there for advertisement, to sell yourself, talk about you, what have you accomplished and why you are that good. Repeating the same in the proposal looks like a way to reassure yourself, as if you wouldn't believe it and you need to repeat it to convince yourself it is true. This does not provide the client with much confidence in your abilities. In the proposal you should almost skip any mention about you (point them to the profile, if they want to know about you).

In my opinion, it is better a short proposal that barely mentions your abilities but addresses the concepts or issues in the project, than a lengthy proposal with plenty of references to your accomplishments and links to portfolios (unless they explicitly ask for this information and you don't have them in your profile).

[#8]

Hi Josi,

I suggest you look outside your niche. You can probably offer academic writing and research services, coupled with something you are particularly interested in?

When I first joined Upwork I was applying for writing, research and proofreading jobs. I quickly dropped the proofreading as a waste of time for similar reasons to what you describe (50+ proposals, drowned out by people willing to do it for much less money) and the return (of zero interviews) on investment of my time wasn't worth it.  

I have managed to accidently drop into a niche based on the jobs that excite me (making my proposal success so much better) of education and human development writing and research. I am just finishing a couple of jobs around this niche and I am planning to update my profile to reflect that, once I get my 5 star ratings!

Thats what a niche is, the thing you get so much kick out of doing a good job at it doesn't feel like work (most of the time). 

Another strategy, that helped my husband get rising star status in his first week (so jealous, I never got rising star!) was to do tiny jobs that only earned him 5-10 USD and get some early 5 star ratings. These jobs took far longer than the money was worth, but he got the ratings to help boost his profile. That might be worth considering too. 

Best of luck, theres so much competition its really hard to gain a foothold, but once you do and gain a little bit of traction it not only feels really good but it becomes easier to get jobs.