Marketplace Updates: Boosted Proposals and Connects

[#1]

Two new Marketplace updates: 

1. 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.
2. 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.

[#2]

I hope Upwork will seriously consider charging clients for each job post, Jessa. Ideally, they could start with prorata pricing to match the number of connects that each freelancer would need to spend for applying to their project. I have gone through all your posts on this thread carefully. You make valid points. You understand the whole system exceptionally well. 

[#3]

The scammers don't hire or if they do, it's for very little.

The return is huge. One scam job will draw hundreds (because Upwork hides the real number and only goes to 50+), and for all we know, it could be thousands. Let's say it is 50. If even half of those 50, pay the scammer $50, that $4.95 is a bargain. So, of course the scammers will pay a pittance, knowing there are millions of freelancers here who don't know and don't follow the rules.

[#4]

I think you missed the point. My guess is that at least 95% of the scam jobs posted are from unverified clients. By charging for every job post, it would be safe to say there would be far less fake job postings. I am not discounting the possibility of scammers using a fake credit card to be able to make fake job postings, but that is where Upwork's Trust and Safety team comes in. They just have to do their jobs and from the looks of it, they aren't really doing well considering how they leave it to freelancers to flag those job postings before taking action. So again the question is, what added value are freelancers getting for the price increase? I say there is none.

[#5]

No. Upwork does not charge for POSTing a job. They charge the job-lister $4.95 after a person is HIRED for the job—I believe at the same time as they take the first payment to the freelancer.

So in other words, just as you suspect—scammers and spammers can post as many times as they want—as long as they don't hire, they NEVER get charged.

[#6]

---

Kelly E wrote:

No. Upwork does not charge for POSTing a job. They charge the job-lister $4.95 after a person is HIRED for the job—I believe at the same time as they take the first payment to the freelancer.

So in other words, just as you suspect—scammers and spammers can post as many times as they want—as long as they don't hire, they NEVER get charged.

---

Yeah, this is a reality William doesn't want to face. Thank you for calling it out.

[#7]

Josh,

Reread my post.

[#8]

I didn't know Upwork charged clients for Job Posts, William.

[#9]

They don't.

They charge once a freelancer has been HIRED. No hire, no charge.

[#10]

They do once a freelancer is hired.

[#11]

---

Jessa Lou M wrote:

To be fair to everyone, since they increased the connects needed to apply for jobs, there should be a refund policy if a client doesn't hire within a month. 

---

This. Yes. 🙌

[#12]

---

William T C wrote:

Danill,

Consider only applying for Jobs that meet your approval and the issue is solved. Right?

---

Wrong. There are very few clients who respond, even for jobs where you're well-qualified for a job. Not to mention the amount of jobs where there's little information to go on. Upwork doesn't even explain how they assign a connect amount to a job.

[#13]

Seems like a giant pyramid where Upwork allows the scammers to generate money for the platform in the form of payments for connects from freelancers. 

[#14]

The big change in Upwork has put me off. If it wasn't enough for them to take a % of your work, now we have to pay every time we apply for work, 16 connects, etc. I ran up a bill for this last month with nothing to show for it. Now I hardly apply for anything.

[#15]

Upwork is a business. All platforms charge. You expect to make money and give nothing to the platform that gave you access to the job? Yes, you have to pay to apply, in freelancing. If your return is poor, you are wise to not apply to jobs that aren't getting you anywhere.

No offense, but I would change your profile photo. It is not professional, and a bit off-putting. Just have a normal face shot. Use the link at the top of the page to learn about using the platform. Take some courses outside of Upwork to learn about vetting clients. If there are no jobs to apply to, then you need to look elsewhere. However, no matter where you go in freelancing, you have to pay your way.

[#16]

Being a 'business' does not mean exploiting the people who make the money for you. This platform is like every other investment-funded digital space - they run on massive losses for a years, backed with investors money, lure in a large crowd, then start to slowly raise the prices. It's disingenous, unfair and deceitful. And trust me, if you don't rely on these type of platforms to freelance, you do not have to "pay your way" and unnecessarily give money to companies that are happy to rip you off.

[#17]

Everyone has to decide how to run their business, just as Upwork decides how to run their business.

If you have found magic platforms, where there are no fees, then you should go for it. It's gonna be a little lonely, since those platforms don't exist. And yes, in the physical world, no one pays me to apply or contact clients. If you want to be paid for showing up, then you need an employer who will make sure you do the work, and pay you.

Yes, everything you do as a freelancer costs. It's one of the reason a lot of people won't or can't freelance. Every time you contact a client, there is an expense, whether on a platform or in the physical world.

The clients are the customers; the freelancers are the nameless cogs in the wheel, all the same to Upwork.

If your ROI is poor, then why are you still using the platform? You say it is unfair and deceitful, and yet here you are, on the platform. Why are you using such a horrible platform that is cheating you? This makes no sense.

[#18]

This has to be one of the most arrogant replies I've read so far. This thread is under feedback, thus freelancers giving feedback. It isn't as simple as leaving if you don't like it. I've made Upwork 50x more on commissions than you, and even I am bothered with the direction Upwork is heading. 

[#19]

Of course every business can run how it plesaes - and workers have a right to push back and call out unfair practises. Just because a 'business' says x and x, it doesn't make it fair or correct. Even you must agree with that, surely? Or are you happy and willing to accept anything?

Relying purely on platforms will eventually see freelancers end up cornered, just like on Upwork. You don't need 'magical' spaces, but to work directly with clients. That can be done in several ways. It isn't easy to achieve, but it is possible - and cerainly more viable and sustinable than hanging around on hollow, investment-backed platforms waiting to be ripped off. Yes, there are other more mangeable costs associated with freelancing - phone bills. tools, internet, sometimes travel costs etc. - but you'll notice this list does not include rip off fees and costs to a company that views freelancers purely as a money-maling opportunity.

I have not used this platform in months, and only sporadically come on here to check up on old info/possible updates from old clients. So yes, I am here on Upwork, responding to you, calling out nonsense, but certainly not handing over money to Upwork for it to disappear into a black hole. That's the trick they are playing on way too many freelancers and hopefully more are seeing that it's a waste of their time.

Platforms like Upwork did provide a space for me to build my porforlio and establish myself as a freelancer. But I have always been ready to use them in the same way they use me - as a commodity. That means ditching them when they start to further encroach on my earnings and affect even more of my income. The setup here has never been fair, but until this year it has been tolerable. That is not longer the case - as this and other threads overwhelmingly reveal. People are not complaining for the fun of it.

[#20]

If this platform "is like every other investment-funded digital space -
they run on massive losses for years, backed with investors' money, lure in
a large crowd, then start to slowly raise the prices," then you shouldn't
be surprised that this is happening here.

Upwork is running their business as they see fit and we are free to partake
of their services at the cost they charge, or we can leave.

Whining about it isn't going to change anything. This platform is working
well for a lot of people (including me). And Upwork will run it in a way
that works well for them. If there's common ground there, good. If not,
I'll do something different.

[#21]

Did you read the word 'surprise' in my comment or is inventing that angle the only way you can respond? Just because you expect something or someone to act in a certain way, it doesn't mean you remain quiet. Well, parhaps you do, but that's not a trait many would be proud of.

As for the rest of your 'statement' you've managed to state the absolute obvious whilst also saying nothing at all - which is quite impressive.

[#22]

If one day all freelancers collectively turned off their availability badges, stopped using boosting, and migrated to a new platform, what would happen? Would Upwork continue adding more paid badges? If Upwork truly wants to assist freelancers, it should consider ceasing the addition of new badges. We are inundated with new features, and rather than focusing on our skills and completing projects, we are constantly searching for ways to succeed on Upwork and updating our profiles, often with minimal results. Whenever we inquire about this issue with Upwork, the response typically cites the influx of new freelancers and low demand in our niche.

[#23]

We would all have AN EQUAL SHAKE at getting jobs on our skills, not our bids!

Then the wann-be will go out of business ----or over to 5vR

[#24]

What are the talent badges such as < Top-rated plus >, and < Top-rated >.. for?
They are all useless.
Skills, experience, or any proven track are all useless.
The utmost one is CONNECTION or MONEY to buy CONNECTION, CONNECTION.
Even if you are a pumpkin or a newbie in your field and don't have any skills for any projects here, you beat anyone with pro badges and great specs.
This is the way Upwork works....
I have many friends who have been royal users here for a long time with great badges and they led me to start my work here.
One of them said that he spent over $6k for connection these days.
But they all have the same thoughts and are losing chances more and more, day by day.
Please share your thoughts, folks !

What do you think of this?

[#25]

Just curious, what do you do?

You should make your profile public. I don't think anyone can see it, I can't see it.

My view on connects is that people aren't idiots. That's why I never boost. You can boost all you want, but if you can't do the job, it doesn't matter. Somebody is not going to hire someone, because they're at the top of the list and if they make that mistake they'll probably never do it again.

I highly doubt the person that spends the most on connects is winning the job every time. Unless that person is also highly skilled.

[#26]

You simply said it all. I wonder why anyone would boost, it really amazes me. Clients are given the freedom to choose whoever they want, therefore you boosting, is like gambling because you could be the best for the job, but the client doesn't want to hire you for choice, it's just like that. Send your proposals normally and express yourself well and move on, no need boosting, that's exactly how i do.