Increasing Transparency in Boosted Proposals

[#1]

Our team recently launched a test to increase transparency around bidding in Boosted Proposals to help you make a more informed decision around spending Connects.

Check out the product update about this test here and let us know your thoughts about this update in the comments below.

[#2]

Boosting proposals are useless. I boosted my all proposals for last two weeks and spend a lot of money and connects as well. No one outbid me but clients are not open my proposals even. I'm just loosing money and connects every day. Upwork getting frustating day by day.

[#3]

I tried to spend more 200 connect to test this effectivity features, but it looks like so effective to wasting my money 

[#4]

Same here, boosted some proporsals with a lot (for me, anyway) of connects. Haven't heard back from anyone I've submitted a proposal to, no matter if I used connects or not. Upwork should monitor better who they allowed on here (do they still do videos to verify the identity of freelancers) and make it easier for both freelancers and people offering the jobs. I'm very very dissatisfied with this website. 

[#5]

The fact is different. No matter how many praposal you submitted. The answer is don't be dependent 

[#6]

Ye 100% Agree. Upwork should stop ot

[#7]

Hi Upwork.

I think you guys should stop the boosted bids feature. It is wrong business model as well as wrong strategy. This feature encourages your loyal customer (Freelancer) to divert his mind from Upwork to another marketplaces. Moreover it discourage them to apply on new jobs more frequent because they know only boosted bids will be notified. So please make a sensible desision and remove this bloody feature.

[#8]

The fact is different. No matter how many praposal you submitted. The answer is don't be dependent

[#9]

So you think nothing is really happening other than upwork getting money from new unqualified freelancers. 
This has no impact on the rest of us? 
I do not agree. That seems not to be my experience so far.

[#10]

Too many unskilled freelancers has a detrimental effect on all skilled freelancers.

[#11]

Daniela, what is your experience?  Are boosts improving the acceptance rate of bids you have submitted?

[#12]

Jeanne, How can you be so sure there are no repercussion on the hiring process? How do you know this is not affecting the client´s selection process? How do you know this is not leaving clients confused while Upwork keeps making money?

[#13]

As I said, many clients do not like the system. No doubt there is someone who does, but I haven't encountered them yet.

[#14]

Lucky you. Not my case. I am aTop Rated Plus architects, first time in 13 years that I spend two months without an interview. Appling to 6-11 jobs per day. Not a single response. 
Many jobs are open for months, with no interviews, and if so without hiring. Upwork keep those connects and I am left with nothing.

[#15]

But then new clients may end up landing these so-called unqualified freelancers boosting their proposals. This whole boosting thing seems to be messing up the Upwork I knew!

[#16]

This is very wrost thing i according to my view, after this new system I wasnt able to win any of job because some people are bidding more than 400% of connects than that we use, so our connects are also wasting quickly 

Please revert this one to the previous one, Clienct can decide who is the better one for his work, 

That will be a justice for both clients and freelancers

Very Dissapointed about this new system 

Thank you 

[#17]

This feature also eliminates equal opportunity, what about people from the 3rd or 2nd world who do not have the purchasing power of 1st worlders? 

[#18]

Yeah, I refuse to use It. I'm from Brazil and pay 5-6 real for each dólar.

[#19]

There is no way to level the playing field. Just because someone lives in a "Third World country" doesn't necessarily mean the freelancer is poor. Then there would be the problem of all the different countries, regions, sections, areas, village, towns... every area and everyone would have to be vetted and approved for each job to ensure accurate equal financial exchange. And the rates change. There are areas of the United States that would likely qualify.

This is a nightmare that would swell costs to the point Upwork would go down. Upwork is in the United States, with most clients from the U.S., if I read the Upwork info correctly. This means the U.S. currency is the rule.

One thing new freelancers should do is evaluate their skills honestly and the job requirements. I understand need and desperation, but throwing connects at a client, especially if you do not have the real skills to back it up, will never get the job. It also makes the freelancer look desperate. I have even seen proposals saying, "Please hire me. I will do good job!" and, " I need to work. I need my first job." Clients do not care about someone's hardships, and they run away from any hint of desperation.

[#20]

I agree with that

[#21]

---

Philip B wrote:

This feature also eliminates equal opportunity, what about people from the 3rd or 2nd world who do not have the purchasing power of 1st worlders? 

---

The reverse is true for talent in developed countries such as the U.S. when their bids are totally undercut by freelancers in developing countries.  If the client is driven by cost, then the number of connects from a boosted proposal is irrelevant.

For example, U.S based projects with client HQs in the U.S. stipulate a strong preference for talent in a partiular U.S. time zone.  However, they open the project to anyone in the world to apply rather than limiting the applicant pool to U.S. only.  Naturally, people can work at "off hours" to their local time zone but accomodate the client's work hours and offer basement baragin hourly rates. The range of hourly rates is non-competable to those in the U.S. and not worth using any connects to submit a proposal muchless boosting.

[#22]

yes

[#23]

Hello! Thank you for welcoming me to the community. I'm very excited to be a part of this group and I appreciate the support of the more experienced members. I would love any advice or tips on how to increase my chances of getting hired for my first project. I'm eager to learn and grow in my career, and I believe that this community can be a valuable resource in helping me achieve my goals.

Thank you again for the warm welcome.

[#24]

Youre welcome

[#25]

Well said ! Thank you !

[#26]

No, that is no win to experienced freelancers with boosted proposals. At all. It would be a win for new freelancers, or desperate ones, willing tho break the piggy bank on them.