Re: Marketplace Updates: Boosted Proposals an... - Page 4

Shannon S · ‎03-08-2023

Two new Marketplace updates:

Introduced a fourth slot in Boosted Proposals, increasing your chances of being noticed, while continuing to let clients see who is most interested in their job post.
Adjusted the range for the cost of Connects per job to better match the demand for jobs in the Marketplace.

Check out the product release for Marketplace Updates: Boosted Proposals and Connects and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Konstantinos F · ‎03-09-2023

But William,

The connects someone bids have no connection to how good a fit he is for the job. They don’t really have a connection to how good a fit he thinks he is for the job. This will only discourage freelancers that don't have deep pockets. There will be fewer submissions by the freelancers that were not boosting ridiculous amounts. I assume that this will reduce their retention to the platform as well. So, the non-superboosters will start dropping off. The ones that boosted 100 connects for an hourly contract or 40 connects for a $50 fixed one will be unaffected.

Now you say that hopefully Upwork will become profitable by 2024. I didn't know Upwork had damages. I don't know why it has damages and whether it's because of the global downturn in the economy or is it because of a systemic problem in the way it operates. If it is the first one, and if this change drastically reduces the quality of work available to the clients as I assume it will, Upwork can very well become unrecoverable. And there are alternatives.

Bear in mind, that Upwork is already a globally competitive platform where freelancers from developed countries are at a disadvantage because of the increased cost of living reflected in the budget of their proposals. To that, an added cost of boosting is starting to appear. I think it is safe to assume that clients, between two freelancers with the same skill level, will select the cheaper one. I don’t blame anyone who does that. That’s what I’d do. They might not really have a choice either. And it is also safe to assume that skill is only but one of the factors in an equation in the client’s mind with varying coefficients and final results.

You know, in automobile racing a situation might occur where the grip at the rear of the car breaks and the back of the car starts moving towards the outside of the corner. That is called oversteer. At that point, you need to correct the attitude of the car by steering the other way. That is called counter-steering. The problem is if you’re inexperienced or not paying attention you might steer too far the other way. That is called over-correcting. The tail will swing the other way and the pendulum effect will make it exponentially more difficult to regain control.

I just hope whoever thought this change was a good idea was paying attention. Here's hoping I'm wrong. Because I am increasingly feeling like a passenger in said car. And I can’t find the damned seatbelt…

Christine A · ‎03-09-2023

William T C wrote:
For the freelancers reading this post, the net result of increasing the minimum connect bidding to 8 will be:

- Fewer freelancers bidding on jobs that truly are not a good match.
- Fewer freelancer submissions for client review which speeds the client decision making process.
- Increased revenues for stockholders. Upwork NEEDS to become profitable. Hopefully by 2024.

Increasing the minimum bid should make the professional freelancers, clients and Upwork shareholders happier.

It's an extra 30 cents, and only on the highest-value projects, so let's not get carried away in thinking that this will make an impact on the huge number of bids that clients are receiving, or that Upwork is interested in achieving this. Freelancers are already boosting by hundreds of connects whenever a project appears with a decent budget - since it so rarely happens now - so this won't make any difference whatsoever.

If Upwork really wanted to make it easier for good clients to connect with good freelancers, and for projects to stop drowning in unsuitable bids, they could do any or all of the following:

1. Start vetting profiles from new freelancers instead of auto-approving them, or at the very least, don't approve new profiles if they aren't filled out by at least 70%. In addition, anyone in a creative category must have a minimum of 10 portfolio pieces. (The number of so-called writers and designers with completely empty portfolios is ridiculous.)

2. Have a mandatory onboarding test that new freelancers must pass, to prove that they know how to use Upwork and how to avoid scams.

3. Delete profiles if someone hasn't won a job for at least six months; also delete profiles that have a JSS below 60%.

4. If someone wants to provide writing services in English, they must pass an English grammar and spelling test.

5. In order to be marked a "best match" when proposing, you need to have completed a minimum of 5 jobs with good feedback.

All of the above are ideas that some of Upwork's competitors have already implemented - I didn't make them up - whereas Upwork has gone in an opposite direction by getting rid of all quality controls. Why do you think that Upwork is so flooded with freelancers these days? It's because people with no skills are being rejected by Upwork's competitors and are flocking here instead. It's only a matter of time before Upwork gains a reputation for having the worst freelancers on any website, good clients give up on trying to find skilled professionals here, and there's nothing but $5 and $10 jobs left over.

Mohamed A. A · ‎03-09-2023

I wholeheartedly agree with you Christine! I couldn't have summarized it better myself. Upwork appears to have taken a counterproductive direction by eliminating all quality control systems. This is absolutely true.

However, I do not concur with point three, where you propose deleting freelancers with a JSS below 60%. Such a move would unfairly eject less fortunate freelancers, resulting in a double whammy for them. I say this because we have seen numerous cases of freelancers who were desperate to land their first clients and ended up working for unscrupulous individuals who ultimately threatened to tarnish their profile, and followed through with it. It's always disheartening to witness such stories repeating themselves. But deleting their accounts would be too harsh.

Apart from that, I completely agree with all of your other suggestions.

I truly hope that someone in a position of authority reads these comments full of excellent ideas.

#UpworkPleaseDoSomething

Christine A · ‎03-09-2023

Mohamed A. A wrote:
However, I do not concur with point three, where you propose deleting freelancers with a JSS below 60%. Such a move would unfairly eject less fortunate freelancers, resulting in a double whammy for them. I say this because we have seen numerous cases of freelancers who were desperate to land their first clients and ended up working for unscrupulous individuals who ultimately threatened to tarnish their profile, and followed through with it.

I disagree. A single bad client isn't going to take your JSS below 60%; for that to happen, you'd need to have a pretty high level of incompetence, not just bad luck. It would also discourage unscrupulous clients - not to mention scammers - from using Upwork in the first place, if there were fewer desperate freelancers who were willing to accept jobs from them.

Mohamed A. A · ‎03-09-2023

Thanks for sharing your perspective Christine. It's always a pleasure to read you! 🙂

However, I have to respectfully disagree with you on this: The fact is, the JSS calculation is shrouded in mystery, and no one can confirm its algorithm. On the other hand, As we all know, the JSS is heavily influenced by the amount generated by each contract.

Let's consider a hypothetical scenario: a new freelancer with only a handful of contracts gets unlucky with a high-paying contract that has a significant impact on their JSS. While it's not a guarantee, it's mathematically possible that this scenario could lead to a big drop in JSS.

Given this uncertainty, I believe it would be risky to assume that all profiles with less than 60% JSS are not at risk if they are deleted and assume that this could never be due to a single client.

Please let me know if I'm mistaken. Thank you

Christine A · ‎03-09-2023

Mohamed A. A wrote:
However, I have to respectfully disagree with you on this: The fact is, the JSS calculation is shrouded in mystery, and no one can confirm its algorithm.

Upwork has never given specifics about how the JSS is calculated, but it's an exaggeration to say that it's "shrouded in mystery". You end up with a low JSS when clients give you bad private feedback, and you don't get a JSS until you've completed around 5 projects. Therefore, I don't see how a single case of bad luck could account for a JSS of less than 60% - I don't even think that the "weighting" matters as much as some people seem to believe - but if you ever see a profile that proves otherwise, I'd be happy to eat my words. 🙂

Michael Z · ‎03-09-2023

I also disagree with number three, but not the JSS portion - I disagree with jettisoning freelancers who haven't won a job in six months. It is surprising how fast the calendar can spin, and people can struggle for months on end when UW makes changes such as they did in the last few months. Many – MANY – can point to the bottom dropping out from beneath them when UW focused hard on boosting and followed that up with trying to become a middleman for so-called agencies. I have felt this same frustration because overnight, I could no longer win a job. Boosting or no boosting, lowball jobs, or something that might actually be worthwhile. The "agencies" want to hire people for reprehensibly low amounts, boasting that you/we just have to suck it up and do it because it's "steady work."

If you're going to start calling for dumping freelancers who are struggling, let's at least go out a year. Otherwise, I might fall into that camp, or you. Freelancing can turn ugly in a heartbeat. Tie removal to not winning a job, AND JSS, AND not submitting any proposals. If someone is submitting proposals and honestly trying, they don't need another hurdle to climb over.

Cat N · ‎03-11-2023

Michael Z wrote:
I also disagree with number three, but not the JSS portion - I disagree with jettisoning freelancers who haven't won a job in six months.

Agreed. I haven't landed a job on this platform in more than 6 months, for various reasons, among which being the quality of projects/clients getting lower by the day.

And I'm top rated plus. Would Upwork benefit from removing me from the platform? I don't think so.

Christine A · ‎03-11-2023

Cat N wrote:
Michael Z wrote:
I also disagree with number three, but not the JSS portion - I disagree with jettisoning freelancers who haven't won a job in six months.
Agreed. I haven't landed a job on this platform in more than 6 months, for various reasons, among which being the quality of projects/clients getting lower by the day.

Why do you want to stick around if there are hardly any good projects and you're not getting any jobs?

Michael Z · ‎03-23-2023

Because it's better than any other freelancer site, and I don't have to do this to feed a family or keep a roof over my head. I'm 66 and looking at a quieter life in the near future. I enjoy what I do. I went full-time freelance two years ago.

There are some good projects, but the clients get so inundated with crap proposals that they don't even want to look through them. That system needs to be fixed.

Christine A · ‎03-11-2023

Michael Z wrote:
If you're going to start calling for dumping freelancers who are struggling, let's at least go out a year. Otherwise, I might fall into that camp, or you.

If I go for six months - or even three months - without any work here, I'll voluntarily leave. I can take a hint.

Ema G · ‎03-23-2023

Assuming you're applying and looking for jobs... what if you're sick, or you're taking a well-earned break?

Ema G · ‎03-23-2023

Agreed. I'd be very hesitant to encourage them to start dumping freelancers all the time. It's one of the few places left in the world where a "free market" is still somewhat functioning, with relatively little interference. Let's not destroy that with more bureaucracy!

Many people freelance to earn a more flexible lifestyle, and build a business that can change with their life. If there's a family crisis or a lifestyle change, you should be able to come back online and pick up where you left off, without having to start from scratch. Getting started can take a while, too. I think it works best to start slowly, which means it ideally doesn't have to start as a full-time income.

Mary W · ‎03-09-2023

Christine, I wish I could somehow boost what you said above. Makes perfect sense.

Kelly E · ‎03-09-2023

Superb list. If I were a dev I'd be making the site you imagine now, and trying to get traction.

May I add one thought to your wonderful dream-list of improvements for Upwork, which once seemed as if it was going to be so vital for me and is now close to kaput?

*If* upping connects-per-job is a good idea (I'm not on board as it stands, but if it made it a better marketplace—say by upping, over time, to 18 as suggested elsewhere, along with dropping boosts—maybe it would make sense), *if* it's a good idea, then lowering the 20% take once you get a job, say to 15%, to make up for how much more "expensive" it is simply to get to the job stage, would be the logical extension.

It's not that Upwork is a charity, it's that helping good professionals to get good jobs is... I think... their entire raison d'être. (And make money by doing so, obviously.)

Christine A · ‎03-09-2023

Kelly E wrote:
Superb list. If I were a dev I'd be making the site you imagine now, and trying to get traction.

Like I said, Upwork's competitors (the three other websites that I'm on, anyway) have already implemented one or more of items on the list that I made above - testing, profile screening etc. - that's where I got these ideas from.

In fairness, I'll also point out that all of the other websites I'm using are also charging increasing amounts of money to freelancers who want improved visibility. Upwork isn't alone in this.

Josh G · ‎03-12-2023

This freelancer isn't happy with the update. There are so many low-quality posts. Yes I don't have to apply to them, but if Upwork wants to improve the experience, improve it all around - if I'm forced to spend 8 connects on a proposal, that post should have clear expectations, realistic budgets, and substance. 8 connects for a $5 an hour SEO job that has a one-line description? Come on. That's ridiculous.

William T C · ‎03-14-2023

Josh,

Agreed that there have always been low quality jobs and it might be worse now due to the macroecononomy. Have you used the Upwork custom search features so that those types of jobs mostly don't show?

Atif A · ‎03-14-2023

hello

i need connenct please help me im new on upwork

Annie Jane B · ‎03-14-2023

Hi Atif,

There are two ways how you can get Connects: either you buy them or earn them. While we can’t share all the details of when Connects are given out (we don’t want dishonest people to “game” the system), here’s what we can share:

You’ll receive 40 free Connects when you register for Upwork for the first time
You’ll receive 30 free Connects if you earn a Rising Talent badge
You’ll receive free Connects (the number can vary) when you win an interview with an established client on Upwork. (To prevent gaming, we aren’t sharing all the details of what we consider “established.” In general, it’s a client who has hired and spent on Upwork in the past.)
You’ll get a one-time Connects bonus if you complete an Upwork Skill Certification

Please check this article for more information.

~ AJ

Carol W · ‎04-03-2023

I have noticed a shift since boosting was initiated here. I always boost. Have plenty of connects to boost however I am noticing only 1/2 of my submissions are not even being looked at at all by client. Meaning they aren't even opening the cover letter or my profile.
If you submit a proposal early with boosts you may not get seen until the client logs back in a few days later and then had trillions of notices. If you wait to boost to outbid others then the risk is it's too late and the client has already began to interview. It's a no win for the freelancer.

William T C · ‎04-03-2023

Carol,

Agreed that there is no perfect solution that will work the best 100% of the time. Some types of jobs are immediate and need an immediate response, whereas others clients don't hire for a week or more.

If 50% of the prospects are viewing your Profile, you are doing well especially since only 50% of the clients hire a freelancer from their post.

Avishek B · ‎03-08-2023

Well if you keep updating many features why don't you update the connect limitation to 8 to 20 ? .. why you updated to 8 ?.. all these features updated are useless in my point of view .. why do i send proposal on 8 connect .. on other hand you update the feautes of boost proposal which is totally a looted scheme are you want to become a unaffordable platform for all freelancers ? i know putting thsese stuff is not mean to you..but i am totally frustated of these updates ... now you making a destructive ,unaffordable website

MD N · ‎03-08-2023

I understand that you are frustrated with the recent changes to the Upwork platform, specifically the update to the connect limitation. However, it's important to note that Upwork is a platform that constantly updates and evolves based on user feedback and market demand. The change in the connect limitation is designed to encourage freelancers to submit proposals only for the jobs they are most qualified for and truly interested in, rather than applying for every job that crosses their path. This can lead to higher-quality proposals and more successful job outcomes.

Waqar H · ‎03-08-2023

Hi, I am really shocked to see that the connect policy is changed or something else happened. The job that requires 6 connects now requires 8, the job that requires 4 connects now requires 6 and so on. That's strange. Is that upwork has changed its policy or we are facing any problem kindly help me out.