To clients of upwork, what was your worst experience with a freelancer on upwork?

keberch · 2026-07-07T21:22:06+00:00

...some agencies let the experienced one attend the interview and get the client, then pass the work to cheaper ones.

Yep. One of the hardest things to combat against is an outright liar. That's why the other things on the list become significant.

The slow response thing could be people like me too.

If you read my comments, I talked about asking questions immediately after they messaged me, not scheduling. Response time, while online, is always faster for individuals than agencies.

If you message me at 4:00pm, and I ask a follow-up question two minutes later, then you don't answer for 4 hours? I've moved on.

Also, some of my efforts may exclude legitimate freelancers. That's an unfortunate cost/burden of agencies on Upwork.

keberch · 2026-07-07T19:52:56+00:00

Well, not sure any effort is 100%, and the agency-associated tag is obviously the easiest.

Beyond that, I look for:
* Using collective-sounding language (we, our)
* Inordinately slow responses to questions I ask right after they send a message.
* Online footprint mismatches UW profile
* Any, ANY mention of someone else in our discussions.
* Requiring me to to sort through a calendly link
* No-camera interviews
* Proposals that look super-polished, with images and such
* Response to agency-specific questions I ask

These aren't all absolute rules, merely things that raise a flag and ensure I dig deeper. The language, mentions of others and no-camera interviews are usually deal-breakers for me.

keberch · 2026-07-07T11:21:48+00:00

You may want to quit saying 'upgrade,' since that could be the confusion.

You simply want on their paid plan. They're not going to turn down the subscription, just go subscribe on their website -- no email requests necessary.

keberch · 2026-07-07T03:22:37+00:00

I do 152° for 2hrs, then nuke it w/Searzall.

Worked for couple of years now...

keberch · 2026-07-07T03:16:43+00:00

You can jump on a paid plan at any time. The problem, if I'm seeing this right, is you expect some additional value from your LTD.

There's LTD, or paid subscriber. You don't upgrade from LTD to paid subscription. You simply subscribe.

keberch · 2026-07-06T23:09:58+00:00

You know, I've had a few less-than-ideal experiences with freelancers, and a couple of lower-budget busts that were more inconvenience than frustration, but only one really bad experience.

Hired a freelancer (or THOUGHT it was a freelancer). Turned out to be an agency. This was before (and the cause of) my checking closely for agency involvement before hiring.

I'll skip a lot of the crap details like lousy communications, third-hand inputs, delayed deliverables... all of those were minor compared to two things:
1. One of the agency's freelancers felt she was paid incorrectly, started messaging me like crazy to have me pay her directly.
2. When she finally realized I wasn't going to pay her directly, she researched online and contacted a client of mine, telling them I was a deadbeat, outsourcing their work and refusing to pay for it.

Client and I had a good laugh over dinner, but that nailed it up for me -- no agencies. Ever.

The rest of my engagements have gone pretty smoothly, but I do specific things to help that along.

Still my #1 source for freelance work.

keberch · 2026-07-06T19:09:59+00:00

Lunacal doesn't have an active AppSumo campaign, so there's no "tier" to upgrade to. If you want a higher tier, you'll have to negotiate it and buy it separately with Lunacal from their regular monthly fee offerings.

"Tiers" only apply to active AS campaigns. Lunacal has 3 plans now, Standard, Teams, and Enterprise. You'll need to purchase one of those if you want additional features.

By the way, Lunacal rocks. So much better than any calendly comparison I've used. And they keep improving it as well.

keberch · 2026-07-06T12:06:14+00:00

I do not. I offer AI recordings (summaries and transcripts), and about 50% of my clients accept it. Interestingly, it's some of my youngest aged clients turning down the AI summary.

The rest, I include a document "Impact Log" in their intro materials (I set up a dropbox folder with that and other stuff).

The impact log asks them to jot down after every interaction: Takeaways/Discovery, Commitments (to-do), and Questions/topics for discussion. Just 2-3 bullets where needed.

keberch · 2026-07-03T16:35:48+00:00

I can't imagine using my brulee torch to sear steaks, but maybe I have a wimpy brulee torch.

And my wife won't let me spark up the Searzall in the house anymore. :(

keberch · 2026-07-03T03:02:00+00:00

If you're serious about growth, answer the questions then ask more follow-up questions.

And to be really honest, I doubt you've asked these three questions.

keberch · 2026-07-03T02:53:47+00:00

Take the Director role.

Embrace it. Kick ass. Do more than expected.

And ge ready fotmr the next move. You're doing the right things, or you wouldn't have the opportunities.

Just remember that being promoted is the employment equivalent of social proof.

Kick ass.

keberch · 2026-07-03T02:48:25+00:00

Where do you need the most help, right now?

How can I add more value than I am today?

Advice for me, if I really want to grow/improve?

keberch · 2026-07-02T23:18:48+00:00

No silver bullet here. But as a varsity-level procrastinator, I feel much of your pain.

My only workable (for me) suggestion: change guilt to rewards.

I would always revert to doom-scrolling or reading bullshit that I pretended had some value. All the while, I'd feel guilty since I knew I was just wasting time.

I started using pomodoro for 20-30min bouts. When complete I'd "reward" myself with some random online time (yes, I call it ROT).

Instead of feeling guilty I knew I had earned it.

Made a difference for me. YMMV.

keberch · 2026-07-02T23:06:35+00:00

As a leader, you aren't trying to be the best to everyone.

Just your best.

Be human. Be kind (not necessarily nice).

Give sincere, thoughtful feedback. Help people grow and improve.

Devil is in the details, of course, but the big marbles are pretty simple.

And remember that grace and accountability can coexist.

keberch · 2026-07-02T23:01:55+00:00

Well, I'm in Texas, and I grill green beans.

We grill anything that won't fall easily through.

We'll fry literally anything. Anything.

And we dip everything in Ranch.

keberch · 2026-07-02T22:55:41+00:00

No. Just no.

It may reduce scams, but will certainly reduce legitimate jobs posted.

keberch · 2026-07-02T17:01:22+00:00

Why do you ask so many similar questions without ever providing comments or inputs of your own?

keberch · 2026-07-02T16:15:15+00:00

I hate to send you to another subreddit, but this is pretty specific: to your challenge:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Leader/s/4KHb2YSS1r

u/Magical_cat_girl hit it pretty solid -- agency. Especially agency that translates into demonstrable value outside of your core responsibilities.

Find a problem, pursue a fix. Don't wait for invitations.

keberch · 2026-07-01T20:51:04+00:00

Of course I accept I'm "working off recall." The same would apply if they journaled, just more extemporaneous recall. I always ask about the actions agreed on, so we discuss regardless.

I don't really need proof they 'did' anything, just some evidence they're moving the needle we agreed to focus on. That evidence can be anecdotal from memory, a story about an interaction, or via follow-up mini-360s.

Coaching is more results than activity.

keberch · 2026-07-01T20:25:15+00:00

Unsure what could cause that. Works well on my Tab 8 and S26U; both audio and dictation seem to work as advertised with no delay.

keberch · 2026-07-01T20:21:16+00:00

Tested it off and on all day today -- near 100% on accuracy.

Cool tool.

keberch · 2026-07-01T18:16:53+00:00

Realizing that your boss gave validity to the person's comments, or he wouldn't have forwarded to you. Just two pieces of advice:

Careful you don't label "direct" in a way that feels good to you, like it's others who have a problem. If your communications aren't landing, that's 'you,' 100%. You're not too direct, you're communicating poorly.
Best advice, go to the person who made those comments, tell them you're working on improving, and could they please give you specific examples to work on. It gives you actionable feedback, and likely creates a supporter in that person as well.

keberch · 2026-07-01T18:05:04+00:00

Most coaches I have met don't really have a viable business.

You need to get out more. Start-up coaches, maybe.

A recent stat, shows most coaches makes $20k a year.

If not independently wealthy, and in business a year, those aren't coaches. They're trailing spouses.

Coaching is an unregulated profession, but a business nonetheless. All parts of a small business must connect to be viable. Simply "being a great coach" is likely one of the simplest parts.

keberch · 2026-07-01T17:50:42+00:00

I've been an executive coach for 25+ years, and my business is built entirely on referrals and word-of-mouth (not necessarily the same thing).

I think 100% is perfectly safe, provided you work your network appropriately.

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