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Upwork client advice
Hi all,
I currently work full time at a premium Digital Marketing agency and got my first freelance gig a few weeks ago through Upwork - only a short one-off project to earn some extra money over the weekend. I wasn't sure about what rates to offer and might have undersold myself (my own fault) and now I feel like I'm being taken advantage of.
The project was to generate 700 meta titles & descriptions based on keyword research, which I did to a high standard using best SEO practices. I was proud of the quality of the work and this is work that I do on a daily basis for clients. The client sent me an excel sheet with URLs and asked that I populated the other fields and sent it back, which I did.
The client then told me that the work 'wasn't acceptable' and listed several changes she wanted implemented that are bad SEO practice such as keyword stuffing, using the full character limit on tags and descriptions on the whole website. I explained why some of her points weren't a good idea but to avoid coming across as patronising or lazy I agreed to implement some of the changes she had suggested. Then when I resubmitted the piece of work, after spending more time than expected/agreed on it and effectively submitting a poorer piece of work on the back of her suggestions - to which she still wasn't happy with. She wanted the brand name removed from all title tags - again further bad practice. I've implemented these changes again and sent it back but I have a strong feeling that she is going to come back again and say that she wants further changes that will compromise the quality of the data. I've also explained why I don't agree with the changes she wants implementing. I've also sent her an official Google webmaster blog about writing good snippets for search results. In the least patronising way, I do not think that she knows much about SEO and I cannot continue changing this document when it is consuming so much more of my time and decreasing in value as a result! I would never recommend such bad practices to a client.
She is also requesting that I send her a document with the keyword research. This was never outlined in the proposal, I am very much a pen-and-paper type of person - the research influenced my work heavily but for a keyword analysis report I would have charged much more.
The funds are held in escrow and not released until the client approves of the work, does anyone think I have grounds to raise a dispute?
Thank you
I currently work full time at a premium Digital Marketing agency and got my first freelance gig a few weeks ago through Upwork - only a short one-off project to earn some extra money over the weekend. I wasn't sure about what rates to offer and might have undersold myself (my own fault) and now I feel like I'm being taken advantage of.
The project was to generate 700 meta titles & descriptions based on keyword research, which I did to a high standard using best SEO practices. I was proud of the quality of the work and this is work that I do on a daily basis for clients. The client sent me an excel sheet with URLs and asked that I populated the other fields and sent it back, which I did.
The client then told me that the work 'wasn't acceptable' and listed several changes she wanted implemented that are bad SEO practice such as keyword stuffing, using the full character limit on tags and descriptions on the whole website. I explained why some of her points weren't a good idea but to avoid coming across as patronising or lazy I agreed to implement some of the changes she had suggested. Then when I resubmitted the piece of work, after spending more time than expected/agreed on it and effectively submitting a poorer piece of work on the back of her suggestions - to which she still wasn't happy with. She wanted the brand name removed from all title tags - again further bad practice. I've implemented these changes again and sent it back but I have a strong feeling that she is going to come back again and say that she wants further changes that will compromise the quality of the data. I've also explained why I don't agree with the changes she wants implementing. I've also sent her an official Google webmaster blog about writing good snippets for search results. In the least patronising way, I do not think that she knows much about SEO and I cannot continue changing this document when it is consuming so much more of my time and decreasing in value as a result! I would never recommend such bad practices to a client.
She is also requesting that I send her a document with the keyword research. This was never outlined in the proposal, I am very much a pen-and-paper type of person - the research influenced my work heavily but for a keyword analysis report I would have charged much more.
The funds are held in escrow and not released until the client approves of the work, does anyone think I have grounds to raise a dispute?
Thank you
- Contact in PM
PassionateDigitalMarketer
Messages count : 2Likes count : 0Registration : 28 June 2017I think she doesn't understand how SEO works and is probably feeling you're not doing the job well. Or she could be trying to get you to do more work than she's willing to pay for by complaining. I suggest you don't do any more work but raise it up with the UPwork admin. You need to be careful with these freelance sites. Some of the job posters can be quite fraudulent. I've had to transcribe a whole 60 minutes audio before and the lady claimed I didn't meet the deadline and refused to pay. My rule is, don't take jobs that appear to be so much work, yet, has no clear terms of contract/project delivery. If possible, request a deposit before you begin. Tell them you'll need to pay for certain things for the job. - Contact in PM
MineralMinds
Messages count : 2Likes count : 0Registration : 5 June 2017The client is responsible for creating an accurate description of the work expected at the start. Whilst, of course, if the client believes that the work is not in line with their expectations, they have the right to request amendments to any work don. However, if they are increasing the workload, I would suggest that it is reasonable grounds for raising a dispute. Upwork has to work on a level of 'fair-play' and if your client is unwilling to accept your professional recommendations and implementations in the project then they are using the wrong medium to get their work done. It seems that your client needs to be informed that the work expected of you has been fulfilled to your own professional standards, that can be justified by other sources. If they are not happy with this, they should pay you for your work and go elsewhere.
Just my two cents! - Contact in PM
Lupita
Messages count : 207Likes count : 6Registration : 2 November 2006beth,
A version of your question was answered on the FreelanceUK front-page by an internet law expert!
https://www.free-work.com/en-gb/tech-it/blog/freelancer-news
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Moore News Ltd - expert care for your editorial needs. - Contact in PM
GIo Magneto
Messages count : 1Likes count : 0Registration : 28 July 2018These sites, freelancer, Odesk, people per hour, are something worthwhile if you're based in a developing country and you charge peanuts. As a UK designer, you just can't compete on price. And the majority of clients on these sites come to them because they're outsourcing what's been outsourced to them. So they'll never pay you anything close to even min wage. I've worked on one of them for years and I can safely say, that the only ones who pay fairly are UK based ppl who are legitimate businesses. The rest are looking for cheap, at the "best" quality and will only bleed you dry, as the person in your case is doing.
And the power lies with them not the seller. In the event of a dispute, the site will charge you a fee if they have to intervene, and the client gets final say on whether the revision was to an adequate standard, if they say it wasn't you don't get what's in the escrow. They also drop your rating, (the freelancer site)..
Take a moment to look at where the "top sellers" are based.. It will be India, and Eastern Europe.. Atleast in design.. And it's a myth that you can raise prices later, by starting out low. The people who use these sites come to them because they don't wish to pay market rates.. Or in their words "You're not a Real company" lol - Contact in PM
catriona
Messages count : 1Likes count : 1Registration : 6 August 2018Well, just do whatever she wants since she's paying you anyway. Honestly, I wouldn't mind since it's not my business anyway.
But regarding her extra demands, you have the right to file a dispute.