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Are some 'clients' being crafty on Upwork...

by 04real
16 replies
Happy Wednesday Warriors!

(Hey, that'd make a pretty cool hashtag... don't know if it's already being used... #warriorwednesday... LOL).

Anyway.

I freelance on Upwork.

Lately, I've noticed 'clients' seeking freelancers pitching THEIR stuff 'indirectly' using the proposals system. They've got links to their websites, products, etc.

For example... let's say a client is seeking 'copywriting' for their new book.

They post a previously created landing page, immaculately written, and say that's how they want it done.

You'd assume that if that previous landing page was amazing, they'd hire the same copywriter... instead, it's funny because it's a product that an Upwork freelancer 'could' use...

If you're freelancing on Upwork, do you guys notice this sort of thing happening, directly or indirectly?

(I pay particular attention to clients who have spent ZERO but have been Upwork members for a very long time...)
#clients #crafty #upwork
  • Profile picture of the author David Beroff
    If no one reports them, then they just continue with this behavior.
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    • Profile picture of the author 04real
      Originally Posted by David Beroff View Post

      If no one reports them, then they just continue with this behavior.
      Agree. The thing is, they're very sneaky so you couldn't really tell. They don't upright spam you...

      e.g. they don't say "click this website... buy my product..." lol

      instead, it looks like...

      "Freelancers, I need a free product to giveaway on my website. Here's the link. I only have $10 to spend though, but need you to build a sales funnel from start to finish for me..."

      (not the actual description, but yes, I did see a project that had those elements in it...)

      Maybe we'll see some somebody make a course... how to sell to freelancers using upwork... lol
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      • Profile picture of the author Daniel Evans
        Where there is margin for people to be crafty, some will be crafty.

        The best thing I've found is to be crafty yourself, cultivating your intuition, establishing warning signs, refining yourself accordingly to reject any cases which evoke suspicion.

        Value your folds as much as your holds.


        Daniel
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  • Profile picture of the author CBGCash
    Lol. That's a crafty way to get traffic indeed. A proposal on Upwork could get a thousand bids. I've been hiring on Odesk, now Upwork, for awhile. Somebody needs to make a WSO out of this method =)
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    • Profile picture of the author David Beroff
      Originally Posted by CBGCash View Post

      Lol. That's a crafty way to get traffic indeed. A proposal on Upwork could get a thousand bids. I've been hiring on Odesk, now Upwork, for awhile. Somebody needs to make a WSO out of this method =)
      The problem is that each bid costs the applicant about US$2, depending on their plan.
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      • Profile picture of the author 04real
        Originally Posted by David Beroff View Post

        The problem is that each bid costs the applicant about US$2, depending on their plan.
        But it's 'free' to see RFP's without having to bid on them. So some 'clients' post their 'proposal' and a link to their website or whatever it is they happen to want to 'drive traffic' to. LOL.
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        • Profile picture of the author David Beroff
          Originally Posted by 04real View Post

          But it's 'free' to see RFP's without having to bid on them. So some 'clients' post their 'proposal' and a link to their website or whatever it is they happen to want to 'drive traffic' to. LOL.
          You don't see an ethical issue with encouraging people to spend money for a job that doesn't actually exist? For many of these workers, US$2 represents a day's income.
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          • Profile picture of the author 04real
            Originally Posted by David Beroff View Post

            You don't see an ethical issue with encouraging people to spend money for a job that doesn't actually exist? For many of these workers, US$2 represents a day's income.

            Yes, it is an ethical issue. I don't disagree with you there.

            The point I was trying to make was that 'clients' would freely post because on their end it doesn't cost money to do so. Freelancers, like me on the other hand, would see their RFP's and any websites they include.

            And if I do bid and use up credits to do so, and they turn around and start giving me links to their website... and if it turns out it's not a real job, then yes, I've wasted my credits. And others whose standard of living is less than mine would've lost a day's worth of income, yes.

            (Creating an WSO about it is a joke, btw, but who knows, somebody might end up doing it.)
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            I wrote and published an 8,000+ word book in 24 hours.
            If I can do that, imagine what you could do.

            Get Your Free Copy >> Shut Up and Do It: How to Achieve Your Goals and Change Your Mindset in 24 Hours
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            • Profile picture of the author Kay King
              They will only post "freely" until some providers turn them in. You don't have to prove anything - just express your concern and let UPWORK look into it.

              They'll do something about it or not - but if they don't know it's happening or that providers don't like it....they can't do anything about it.
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    • Profile picture of the author 04real
      Originally Posted by CBGCash View Post

      Lol. That's a crafty way to get traffic indeed. A proposal on Upwork could get a thousand bids. I've been hiring on Odesk, now Upwork, for awhile. Somebody needs to make a WSO out of this method =)
      LOL, how much will you charge for it? And do I get royalties for 'noticing' this method? LOL.
      Signature
      I wrote and published an 8,000+ word book in 24 hours.
      If I can do that, imagine what you could do.

      Get Your Free Copy >> Shut Up and Do It: How to Achieve Your Goals and Change Your Mindset in 24 Hours
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  • Profile picture of the author Sanjosh
    Yes right! For 1 proposal on upwork lot's of applicant's within a few times. It's really amazing.
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  • Profile picture of the author vikash_kumar
    We'll certainly see a WSO around it... These kinds of people are here in Warrior forum as well..
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  • Profile picture of the author DoubleOhDave
    Just up your rates, surely? I believe if you change your hourly rate to reflect what a project is likely to cost then it evens out their expectations.
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  • Profile picture of the author seobro
    I have noticed the same. Behavior is quite common. Unless admin takes action, it will remain so.

    Fiver use to allow hyperlinks in the bio, but the abuse was massive. Sadly, that option is gone now.

    Abusers mess things up. They hurt all of us. For example, I cannot use cut and paste in you tube any more.

    I have noticed in warrior forum a lot of one line answers. This is by people trying to gain more exposure.

    Crack down is not far away.
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