How to Spot Deep Pocket Clients and Avoid Scams on Upwork!

So, did you explore Upwork for jobs? I hope you’ve been getting a feel for the different job posts and playing around with those filters! Now, in the last article, I gave you a little teaser that in this one, I’d reveal some tips to help you find real, deep-pocket clients and avoid the scams. Well, here we are! Buckle up, because this is going to be super useful.

Before we dive in, you might have noticed something called “Connects.” Ever wonder what they are? Let me explain with a story! Imagine you’re standing on one side of a deep valley, and on the other side, a client is sitting on a grand throne, waiting for your proposal. But between you and the client is a huge, 500-meter drop. Yikes! The only way to cross is by using a bridge. And that bridge? That’s your Connects. 🌉 When you spend Connects, it’s like crossing the bridge, allowing your proposal to fly right over to the client! 🚀 So, Connects are your golden tickets to sending proposals to clients - use them wisely!

How to Spot the Real Clients vs. Scammers

Now, let’s get serious. If you want to land those deep-pocket clients and avoid wasting time, you’ve got to do a little detective work. 🔍 So, let’s open a job post together and walk through it:

1. Verified vs. Non-Verified Clients

There are two types of clients on Upwork:

• Payment Verified Clients 🟢

• Non-Verified Clients 🔴

A non-verified client isn’t necessarily fake, but the chances of getting a response are lower. However, if the job description seems well-written (not by AI), you might want to give it a shot. Just be cautious.

On the other hand, a verified client is the real deal and more likely to be serious. Focus on those posts!

2. Timing Is Everything ⏱️

Always apply to recently posted jobs - ideally within the last couple of hours. I strongly advise you to avoid applying to posts that are a day or more old. How do you find these fresh posts? Just keep refreshing the page until you spot something new. It’s like a treasure hunt! 🕵️‍♀️

3. Check the Client’s History 📜

When you find a verified post, take a deep breath and dig into the client’s background. Here’s what you should look at:

• Have they hired before?

• If not, how long have they been on Upwork?

If they’ve been around for a while but haven’t hired anyone yet, be cautious. If they’ve hired a lot of freelancers and have a good track record, that’s a great sign! 🏆

4. Client Ratings ⭐

Look at how many stars the client has received. If their rating is below 4 stars, it’s a red flag. 🚩 Save your Connects and move on to the next one.

5. Hire Rate Percentage 📈

Look at how many jobs the client has posted and what their hire rate is. If their hire rate is below 60%, it’s usually a sign they don’t follow through on their job posts. Skip it and keep searching.

6. Client Spend 💰

Here’s where things get interesting. Look at how much the client has spent on Upwork.

If they’ve been on the platform for 5 years but only spent $3k or $4k, you might hesitate. However, don’t rule them out just yet - scroll down and see their hiring history. Sometimes, clients with a low spend have hired just one freelancer but spent a significant amount with them. This is a deep-pocket client! 🤑 On the flip side, if they’ve made lots of small payments (like $50 or $100 to various freelancers), you might want to pass.

7. Proposal Competition 🧑‍🤝‍🧑

When looking at job posts, check the "Activity on this job" section, take note of whether the client was last seen just a few seconds ago - that’s a good sign! If you don’t see that line, it means the client might still be available and hasn’t moved on yet. However, if you see that the client is currently interviewing someone, think twice about whether it’s worth applying.

If the client is sending invites to other freelancers, it’s a clear sign they have a particular freelancer in mind for the project. But don’t worry; I promise to dive deeper into this in the next article. This is a small but important piece of information to keep in mind!

If a job has already received 20-50 proposals, but the description is perfect for you, go ahead and take the chance - submit your proposal quickly! If it’s 50+ proposals, you’ll need to be lightning-fast. ⚡ Time is of the essence!

8. Preferred Qualifications 🌍

When browsing job posts, keep an eye out for any special demands from the client. Sometimes, they might specify that they want a freelancer from a particular location, someone who speaks a specific language, or has a job success score of 80% or 90%. If you notice any red warnings regarding these qualifications, it’s best to steer clear of that post. Applying anyway increases your chances of being rejected, and the client may not even bother to view your proposal. Remember, it’s all about finding the right fit!

9. Only Apply When You Can Deliver

If you’re just starting out, only apply to jobs you’re confident you can handle. No one likes overpromising and underdelivering. Stick to what you can do, and your chances of success will skyrocket. 🚀

Connects: Your Weapon – Use Them Smartly!

Now, let’s talk about Connects again. They’re like gold on Upwork, and they can get pricey - especially since Upwork now charges max 23 Connects for some job posts. 😳 So, be smart and don’t waste them on jobs that don’t seem promising. With time, you’ll get better at figuring out which jobs are worth the investment.

Practice Makes Perfect 🏋️‍♀️

At first, all these rules might seem overwhelming. But trust me - if you follow these steps daily and analyse each job post, you’ll soon get a feel for which ones are legit. After just a week of practicing this, you’ll be able to spot a real client from a mile away without even needing to come back to this article. 🙌

What’s Next?

In the next article, I’ll reveal how to cross that bridge and “bid” (that’s right, we call it bidding in business development, not just sending proposals) on those perfectly selected job posts. And no, you won’t need to go around telling your friends, “Hey, I just flied my proposal to a client!” You’ll say, “I just placed my bid!” Sounds more professional, right? 😉

So stay tuned, and I’ll get you bidding like a pro!

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Connect with me! 🤝

Did you read the whole blog? If not, scroll back up and dive in - there’s valuable info waiting for you! Implement what you’ve learned, and let’s take your BD journey to the next level. 🌳 If you have questions or want to connect, reach out to me on LinkedIn! 😎 I’m truly grateful for this community and excited to learn and grow together. 😇

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