Upwork Connects: How to Use Them Wisely

As a freelancer or agency, you are supposed to use your connects on upwork to reach out clients and let them know you're interested in their project. Those connects cost you money and you should use them wisely not to lose a single connect in vain. Upwork is constantly changing its strategy around connects and today we’ll talk about upwork connects and the most effective ways to use them. 

Should You Boost Your Upwork Proposals?

There were times when connects were used only to submit proposals. A lot of things have changed since then. Now, you can use connects not only to reach out clients, but also boost your profile, boost your proposal and stand on the top of the client’s proposal list. 

The question is: is it worth it to spend connects on boosting your proposal? Well, the fact is that the average amount of connects you may spend on boosting a proposal varies a lot. In some cases it may cost you 5-6 connects and in some other cases it may be a 3 digit number. This means that a lot depends on the job and your expectations from that specific project.

The choice is always up to you but one thing is obvious: you need to make sure your profile and your proposals are on point. Whether your proposal appears on the top of the list or it comes afterwards, a serious client who’s looking for the perfect fit will definitely go through your proposal too. 

Standing on the first line doesn’t mean you are the best fit for that job. It’s up to the client to decide who’s the best. That’s why we recommend you to focus on your profile and proposal rather than on spending connects to boost proposals. Save those connects to use on bidding on other jobs. That would actually be a wiser strategy. 

On the other hand, if you are a newbie who wants to be seen by the client, you may sometimes spend several connects on boosting your profile. This may allow you to stand out from the rest and win your first job. However, always remember that your best proposal is your profile. The way you represent yourself in your profile tells more about you than your proposal. Refer to it as an advertisement. You advertise your service, skills and you try to sell them. What would you do to make your profile visually more attractive from the client’s perspective? (Check good upwork profiles for more).

How to Choose Jobs on Upwork?

Let’s say you should be selective towards job posts. This means that you must spend some time (perhaps an hour or more) to find the job that suits you best. This requires effort and patience. Writing a cover letter and sending a proposal may be a matter of minutes but choosing the right job isn’t that easy. You should be 100% sure that the chosen job is the best one for you and that your skill set, experience and knowledge meet all the client’s requirements. 

You may search for jobs according to categories, filters and the like. Search as long as you meet the perfect one for you. If you think there isn’t a good one for you, don’t just waste your connects on the secondary jobs. Wait a little more and check the recent job posts once more. 

Upwork receives thousands of new job posts daily and hourly. You don’t need to rush up. Be patient and you’ll find the most suitable job for you without wasting a bunch of connects. Focus on new/fresh job posts and once you see a relevant one to your skills, apply to it. The sooner you apply to them the better for you. Just be flexible and opt for the “right” jobs for your skillset. 

Check this YouTube video to learn more about boosting proposals.