Overview
U1CORE is a fast-growing Ukrainian design agency specializing in product, UI/UX, and web design for startups and businesses. Founded by Taras Oliinyk, the agency built its reputation on platforms like Behance, LinkedIn, and Upwork. In April 2024, they officially transitioned to an Upwork agency profile and started optimizing their outreach with GigRadar.
Before GigRadar: Manual Work, High Overhead, and Limited Scalability
Before switching to GigRadar, U1CORE’s client acquisition on Upwork was fully manual. A dedicated lead generation team handled job discovery and application writing, employing both structured and experimental strategies to improve response rates.
We had a full team of people who manually searched for jobs and wrote cover letters on Upwork. It gave us flexibility — we experimented with different formats, sometimes even sending one-line applications like ‘Let’s make something cool.’ But managing all of this required constant attention. It was always about talking to multiple people, reviewing proposals, checking quality. That process consumed so much time.
Despite using unconventional tactics to stand out, outcomes were inconsistent. Weekly fluctuations in conversion rates were common — sometimes reaching 15%, but dropping to 0% due to algorithmic or behavioral unpredictability. Taras also invested in external platforms like Behance, Dribbble, LinkedIn, and Meta Ads to diversify lead flow.
The biggest issue was just how time-consuming it was. So many things had to be discussed, managed, and corrected manually. And on top of that, if someone didn’t understand a task properly, we lost opportunities — just because of human error.
The Turning Point: Why U1CORE Looked for Automation
Everything changed during a system failure. When Cloudflare issues interrupted their workflows, the agency was forced to go back to fully manual Upwork outreach — a process that quickly proved unsustainable.
At that point, a new SDR joined the team and pushed for a second attempt at automation. Though Taras had already tested a competing tool (which failed), the SDR’s confidence in GigRadar prompted them to give it a chance.
At first, I didn’t believe in AI-generated applications. You could always tell something was written by a machine — it just didn’t sound human. I had tried another automation tool before, and the first month was okay, but then everything broke. We had no replies, bad applications, and no support. I swore I wouldn’t touch automation again… but our SDR insisted on trying GigRadar. And this time, the results were completely different.
Choosing GigRadar: From Doubt to Daily Dependence
What made GigRadar stand out?
- Structured, AI-powered cover letters that felt personalized
- Replicated and scaled the agency’s best manual tactics
- Removed the need to micromanage the lead gen team
- Significantly improved speed and consistency
We didn’t really change our approach when we started using GigRadar. We already knew what strategies worked — GigRadar just automated them. And suddenly, I didn’t have to talk to five people about lead gen. I had one point of contact, and everything just worked.
Unlike previous tools, GigRadar’s performance stayed consistent — and Taras was surprised at how “human” the output felt.
I thought AI couldn’t do this right. I thought people would see it was fake and reject us. But GigRadar created these custom letters that didn’t feel robotic. Honestly, it changed my whole perception of what automation can do.
After GigRadar: Less Work, More Results
With GigRadar integrated into their workflow, U1CORE saw measurable improvements in both efficiency and outcomes.
Increased Conversion Rates
Their reply rate increased from 5–6% to 8–10% — a 66% increase — and the team started receiving responses within minutes, not hours.
Before GigRadar, we would wait half a day just to get a reply. Now, it takes 10 minutes. That speed matters, especially on Upwork where jobs get flooded with proposals quickly. And what’s more — we didn’t change our strategy. We just stopped doing it manually.
Streamlined Operations
Taras no longer needed to manage a team of SDRs or oversee every application. Instead, he could rely on GigRadar to execute the exact strategies they had refined over time.
It’s not just about the conversion rate. It’s about peace of mind. I stopped worrying about whether someone sent a proposal or wrote it right. I had confidence the system would just work. That’s a big deal when you’re scaling.
Faster ROI
GigRadar paid for itself within the first month, and within three months the agency generated $5K–$7K in revenue through the platform.
We’re not landing more clients than before. But we’re doing it with way less effort. The ROI came fast. We didn’t just save time — we got hours of our week back.
Limitations and Feature Requests
While the experience with GigRadar has been overwhelmingly positive, Taras noted that automation limits the agency’s ability to test wild or bold hypotheses quickly — something they used to do in manual workflows.
Still, Taras sees major opportunities for GigRadar to evolve:
- A/B testing for cover letter styles and hypotheses
- Automated profile optimization (titles, visuals, tags)
- AI-powered chat interactions to warm up leads before meetings
I dream of a system that not only sends proposals but also talks to the client before I jump on a call. If someone could warm them up, qualify them, ask the right questions — then I could just close. That would be full automation. And honestly? I’d probably be a billionaire by now.
Advice for Freelancers and Agencies
Taras strongly advises others to embrace automation early — even solo freelancers can benefit from tools like GigRadar.
“When I was a freelancer, the biggest problem was time. I didn’t have time to apply because I was working, and I didn’t have time to work because I was applying. That cycle kills growth. If I had GigRadar back then — with a freelancer plan — my whole journey would have been easier.”
Taras also shared actionable advice for optimizing Upwork success:
- Update your Upwork profile weekly with fresh keywords, projects, and visuals
- Use keywords directly from job posts to boost visibility
- Add a strong CTA and relevant portfolio items in every application
- Always warm up the lead before a meeting — conversion is higher when there's context
Final Thoughts
U1CORE’s journey with GigRadar shows that automation doesn’t just make outreach faster — it makes it more sustainable. It freed up time, simplified the sales pipeline, and allowed the team to focus on what they do best: delivering high-quality design work.
If you want to grow and think bigger, you have to let go of routine. Stop managing people who write cover letters. Stop reviewing everything. Automate the parts of your business that eat time but don’t create real value. GigRadar let us do that — and we’re better for it.
