Client Background
Hamza Jilani has been in the design world for more than two decades. His agency, Plexable, is built on a simple but powerful philosophy:
We specialize in user experience and user interface. Our unique selling proposition is design that thinks like a founder.
The agency works with startups and enterprises alike, helping clients launch MVPs, optimize conversions, and improve product experiences.
But Hamza’s path to Upwork success wasn’t linear.
The Early Days on Freelance Platforms
Hamza began his online freelancing career back in 2008, on Elance and oDesk (the platforms that eventually merged into Upwork). Those early years were fruitful, he made around $350,000 on Elance alone, and built lasting relationships with clients.
I met a lot of people on Upwork. Some of my client relationships lasted 10–15 years. I still work with a few of them today, including enterprises like TeleNav and several Silicon Valley startups.
At that time, UX/UI design was still a rare skillset, which helped Hamza stand out. His reputation grew, and by the time Plexable had an office in Jordan, he was recognized as one of the strong players in the field.
Shifting Away from Upwork
As referrals, LinkedIn networking, and direct calls became his main lead sources, Upwork started to feel less productive. Word-of-mouth was reliable, but Hamza wanted new relationships and new ideas, exactly what Upwork once gave him.
Unfortunately, Upwork wasn’t working the way it used to:
- Proposals went unanswered, no matter how strong the portfolio.
- He lacked knowledge about profile optimization.
- He missed the crucial 20-minute bidding window after jobs were posted.
- Hiring people to submit proposals manually was ineffective.
Before GigRadar, I used to submit proposals, but no one answered. Even with an amazing portfolio, the proposals didn’t rank. I thought it would be the same as Elance and oDesk, but it wasn’t.
The results were discouraging. In 2024, Hamza closed only two or three projects all year. The most recent projects before GigRadar were:
- August 2024: One big project.
- January 28, 2025: A single project.
- February 25, 2025: Another project.
That was it. For an agency with high capabilities, 2–3 projects a year wasn’t enough to justify the time spent on the platform.
Why GigRadar
By early 2025, Hamza knew things had to change. Competing on Upwork required more than just good design skills, it required speed, strategy, and automation.
What caught his eye was GigRadar’s auto-response system:
The main feature that got me interested was the auto-response for proposals. It was brilliant, a real solution for a real problem.
Other standout features included:
- Filters & scanners → instantly spotting the right projects.
- Proposal customization tools → attaching the right files automatically.
- Bulk automation → up to 500 proposals a month without writing from scratch every time
But Hamza admits he had hesitations:
The main concern was: will I make this investment and not get replies? It wasn’t easy. Then I realized GigRadar isn’t magic, it’s a tool. It automates, but it’s still about me. Once I prepared my profile and portfolio, it worked immediately.
After GigRadar
The change was immediate and dramatic.
New Efficiency:
- Proposals went out within minutes of job postings.
- Profile optimization boosted visibility.
- GigRadar automated the repetitive tasks, letting the team focus on actual design work.
Tangible Results:
- Projects: From 2–3 projects a year → to 6 projects in a single month.
- Clients: Landed 6–8 new clients after restarting with GigRadar.
- Revenue: Around $35,000 generated on Upwork in under a year.
- ROI: Initial investment paid back within 4 months.
- Deals closed: Projects worth $15,000+ and $50,000 through Upwork.
- Hiring: Expanding to 8 designers dedicated to Upwork projects (from a much smaller team before).
We closed big deals on Upwork, $50k, $15k+ projects. GigRadar fixed everything: proposal visibility, timing, and speed. Without it, we would’ve missed those opportunities.
Hamza noted that now his monthly capacity is the only limitation:
We didn’t get more than six projects last month because of capacity. But I’m hiring four more designers, so soon we’ll be at six to eight projects every month.
Key Lessons & Tips from Hamza
While GigRadar provided the automation, Hamza emphasizes preparation and positioning:
You need to know your unique selling proposition and who you’re selling to. Communicate clearly, show strong samples, and convince clients why you’re different. That’s what makes proposals work.
His advice for agencies on Upwork:
- Optimize your profile → it’s the foundation.
- Have a clear USP → stand out in a crowded market.
- Communicate effectively → proposals should inspire confidence.
- Use GigRadar as an accelerator → it multiplies your efforts when the basics are solid.
A Must-Have in 2025
For Hamza, GigRadar was not just a tool, but a turning point in Plexable’s Upwork journey.
I think GigRadar is essential if you want to grow and scale on Upwork. In 2025, competition is really high. Without it, you’d need to hire someone full-time, and they still wouldn’t catch as many opportunities.
Plexable went from sporadic projects to steady growth and team expansion, all within months of using GigRadar. For agencies navigating the competitive Upwork landscape, his story is proof that with the right mix of automation, positioning, and preparation, success is within reach.
👉 Ready to scale like Plexable? Book a demo with GigRadar today
