This newsletter is a bit of a continuation of the last one—I want to dive deeper into the topic of follow-ups on Upwork.
Why now? There’s no better time!
Most EU and NA companies are back in action, pushing to finalize Q3 and gear up for Q4!
That means lead generation is heating up again!
As I mentioned before, you need to follow up. At least three times. (Honestly, I think you should keep following up until you get a reply or a ban 😄).
But here’s the key: follow up wisely.
I’ve got some examples of the follow-ups I’ve used effectively. Let’s get into it.
Upwork is an excellent platform for training your personalization skills.
There’s a lot you can gather from the platform—starting with job posting details, lead names or company info from conversations (if available), and other lead details like:
Each of these provides a perfect opportunity to touch a nerve, touch something that matters to the client.
So, let me show you some examples of how to do it right:
Hi [Client’s Name],
I was thinking about the [specific project] we discussed a while back. How’s it coming along? If there’s anything I can do to support you as it progresses, just let me know.
Best,
[Your Name]
The job has either been filled or closed. Follow up to ask how it went: Identify the pain points and reference them directly:
Hi [Client’s Name],
I noticed that [specific task, e.g., OpenGL API] was a key part of the [specific project] we were discussing. I’m curious to hear how it turned out, as it seemed like a challenging aspect.
If you faced any issues or need further support, I’d be happy to assist.
Best,
[Your Name]
See who was hired for the project you discussed. Follow up politely, offering support:
Hi [Client’s Name],
I see you’ve hired [Freelancer’s Name] for [specific project]. If they ever need any additional support or if you have other projects in the pipeline, I’m here to help.
Best,
[Your Name]
Identify pain points and link them to the lead’s workload:
Hi [Client’s Name],Long time no see!
I noticed you’re working on [Active Job’s Name], and it looks like [Pain Point] might be a challenge. How’s it going? If you need a hand with that or anything else, I’d love to help out.
Best,
[Your Name]
Mention it casually in your follow-up:
Hi [Client’s Name],
How are you? I saw [recent news event] in [Lead’s City] and thought of you.
How’s everything on your end? If you’re looking for any help with [specific project or general work], I’m here.
Best,
[Your Name]
Those follow-up examples aren’t the limit. Think about how you can personalize them further. For my agencies, these strategies worked well, not just on Upwork 😉.
Remember the start of this newsletter? Companies are back on Upwork, so you need to be following up.
1. Find some time (it’s worth it).
2. Scroll through your Upwork conversations with leads and start following up. (If you haven’t yet, many agencies are already practicing active follow-ups.)
If your previous follow-ups haven’t gotten results, check the tips above—maybe your messages aren’t strong enough to catch their attention (no offense, it’s just business).
So, here’s what to do:
Hey [Client’s Name] 👋,
Got a lot on your plate? We just wrapped up a killer project for [Similar Company/Industry]—even snagged [Specific Award/Recognition] and a feature in [Media Outlet].
If you’re looking for extra hands on deck for your next project, we’ve got fresh ideas and a special lower rate for returning clients.
Let’s catch up—when’s good for a quick chat?
Cheers,
[Your Name]
3. And if you’re really pressed for time, send a quick, simple follow-up if you haven’t followed up at all:
Hi [Client’s Name]! Just wanted to check in—if there’s anything new on your end or if you’d like to revisit our last discussion, I’m here!
Cheers, [Your Name]
Personally, I recommend sticking to personalized follow-ups. Sometimes, you can mix in your achievements or case studies if they’re relevant.
9 days ago, Upwork shut down its RSS feed, taking with it all the products that used RSS for advanced job searches.
Now, they suggest sticking with saved searches—a manual, outdated process. But let's be real, are large agencies still searching for jobs manually? Doubtful.
Angry users are signing a petition to save RSS search. Upwork, these days
I know many freelancers and agencies depended on RSS for job updates. Luckily, I saw this coming back in 2019. That’s why GigRadar was built differently from the ground up, never relying on Upwork’s RSS.
Real-time job updates ✓ GigRadar Score ✓ Community Access ✓ Scanner Insights ✓ Real-time Support ✓ No RSS needed
For less than 50 bucks a month, you can set up flexible, real-time job notifications and keep sending proposals without a hitch!
DevOps is more complex than web development and finding the right talent is no easy task. You need specialists in Azure, AWS, and GCP—talent that’s not easy to come by.
Here are the numbers from a Top Rated Plus agency with an Expert Vetted profile onboard. About 30 invitations included, thanks to strong Talent Search positioning.
With a niche DevOps profile, results like these are achievable. But handling this lead flow requires a well-trained SDR team, nearly around the clock.
This setup leads to 63% engaged leads, 50% happened calls/estimations, and about 20 deals per month.
If you're aiming for these kinds of results, make sure your team is prepared to manage the demand.
(HAPPENED 29.08.24, NO RECORDING, TRACK OUR EVENTS <3)
Founders & top managers of Bladeware, League Design and SpdLoad agencies, will open up about their biggest fuckup stories!
But they’ll be sharing not just stories; they’ll provide valuable lessons and key takeaways that emerged from those failures and could change the way you approach your business!
Get the insights without the pain — so you don’t have to make the same mistakes!
In our #education channel, members of our community shared some valuable insights on what it takes to succeed on Upwork: balancing Consistency, Quality, and Speed.
To nail speed, quality, and consistency, I put a lot of thought into it back in the day.
That’s actually how the idea for GigRadar came about—it’s all about covering those three pillars of lead generation