About the Client
5cube is a consultancy and development agency specializing in end-to-end product development. Their mission is to guide clients from idea to launch, ensuring that projects not only get built but also succeed in the marketplace.
A client comes to us with an idea, and we help them from brainstorming, requirements gathering, and development, all the way through production and real user feedback. Our goal is simple: to make their product a success.
Point A – Before GigRadar
For nearly six years, Aliasgher had been active on Upwork. Two years ago, he opened an agency account to comply with platform restrictions around account sharing. Despite his experience, growth remained stagnant, and results were inconsistent.
How Clients Were Found
- 90% of projects came through Upwork.
- 10% of projects came through word-of-mouth referrals.
- The agency rarely explored other platforms.
Lead Generation Methods
Before GigRadar, 5cube relied on:
- Manual bidding: A freelancer (bidder) was hired to submit proposals during U.S. peak hours (9 PM – 2 AM local time).
- ChatGPT automation: Aliasgher designed a custom prompt to generate tailored proposals by pasting job descriptions into ChatGPT, then posting those responses directly on Upwork.
- Limited proposal volume: On average, only 20–25 proposals per week were submitted.
Results and Challenges
Despite the effort, results were limited. Proposals often went unanswered, and contracts were rare. The agency faced several key problems:
- Time zone conflict: The hired bidder worked nights, which caused scheduling stress and inconsistency.
- Unreliable support: Sometimes the bidder was late or unavailable, leaving opportunities untapped.
- Low proposal volume: Submitting only 20–25 proposals per week wasn’t enough to stay competitive.
- Lack of conversion: Even when proposals were submitted, few turned into contracts.
- Burnout risk: Manual, late-night work left little energy to focus on strategic growth.
We used to send 20–25 proposals per week. The bidder worked from 9 PM to 2 AM to cover U.S. hours, but sometimes she was late or unavailable. You cannot just sit at the computer all night and hope to win projects, it wasn’t sustainable.
Why Look for Alternatives
After years of plateauing results, Aliasgher realized his process wasn’t scalable. Despite experimenting with ChatGPT prompts and hiring a bidder, there was no clear growth path.
Upwork’s competitiveness made it even harder. Projects often received dozens of bids within minutes, meaning speed was crucial.
On Upwork, jobs often disappear in less than 15 minutes. If you are not among the first to apply, you don’t stand a chance. We needed a way to automate and stay competitive 24/7.
With revenue stagnating, Aliasgher decided to explore new solutions.
Journey to GigRadar
GigRadar appealed to 5cube because of its automation-first approach. Instead of relying on manual efforts, GigRadar could send proposals immediately after job postings, solving the time zone problem and extending proposal coverage from five hours to a full day.
At this stage, the expectation was clear: higher proposal volume should bring higher conversion.
We weren’t getting new projects, so we thought let’s try GigRadar. We cannot go further down, at least we might earn something. That was the reason. Nothing else was working, so why not try something new?
Point B – After GigRadar
After adopting GigRadar, the agency immediately saw an increase in activity:
- Proposal volume quadrupled, from 20–25 per week to more than 100.
- 24/7 coverage eliminated the need for manual night shifts.
- Profile optimization became a focus, as GigRadar activity pushed Aliasgher to improve his profile with better descriptions, visuals, and keywords.
Outcomes
- Direct clients: One direct message from a client came as a result of increased visibility.
- Profile engagement: Proposal views increased from 25–30 per week to 70–80 per week, and profile visits grew from 5–7 per week to around 20 per week, raising account visibility on Upwork.
Profile Optimization Matters
One of Aliasgher’s biggest takeaways was the importance of an optimized Upwork profile. He emphasized that even with GigRadar, agencies must constantly refine their presence.
Best practices he shared:
- Update your profile every three months.
- Add detailed project descriptions with screenshots, videos, and documents.
- Use keywords strategically (e.g., React developer should highlight “React” multiple times).
- Ensure formatting resonates with clients and makes them confident in your expertise.
Your profile should be up to date with clear descriptions, images, and keywords. It should resonate with the client so they feel you are the perfect fit for their job.
Conclusion
5cube’s journey with GigRadar illustrates both the challenges and opportunities of automating lead generation on Upwork. Aliasgher identified several benefits: automation, higher proposal volume, improved visibility, and the indirect impact of profile optimization.
GigRadar is a nice tool. It solved my time zone issue and helped me send proposals 24/7. It’s a step in the right direction, but success also depends on having a strong Upwork profile.
For agencies struggling with manual bidding, time zone barriers, and low proposal volume, GigRadar offers a way to stay competitive in Upwork’s fast-paced marketplace. When paired with an optimized profile and continuous refinement, it can become a valuable growth lever.
👉 Ready to scale your Upwork success? Book a demo with GigRadar today!
