How to Get Instant Notification for New Freelance Jobs

Table of Contents:

1. How to set up alerts for new job posts on Upwork using Distill?

2. How to track your competitors portfolio on Fiverr using Distill?

3. Setting up notifications for tracking search Position in Fiverr

The casualties of job tracking in the 21st century

Do you feel drained from the endless task of browsing through job listings, only to realize that the majority of them don’t meet your criteria?

In fact, according to a recent study by Zippia Research¹, job seekers on average have to apply to 21 to 80 job applications to get one job offer. With most job postings receiving hundreds of applications within the first few hours of being posted, the competition for jobs is fierce. Hence, your job search can feel like a never-ending battle.

Fortunately, there are ways to streamline the process and increase your chances of finding the right job. This blog post has compiled expert pointers and a few powerful productivity tools to simplify your job hunt. With these resources at your fingertips, you can focus on applying for opportunities on time and more efficiently.

Challenges freelancers face while looking for gigs

The gig economy’s growth brings challenges for freelancers². Common barriers include:

1. Competition: Freelancers must stand out among fierce competition, often lowering rates, affecting income and stability.
2. Client Acquisition: Identifying clients with matching skills and services complicates landing new gigs.
3. Establishment: Building credibility and reputation takes time and effort.
4. Payment: Payment disputes and delays contribute to financial uncertainty and instability.

Unpredictable work and downtime can amplify freelancing stress, particularly during economic instability.

Quest of searching for jobs on Upwork and Fiverr

In the current digital era, job searching has been simplified with the advent of online platforms like Upwork and Fiverr.

• Upwork is known for having a more comprehensive range of job categories and projects, including long-term contracts, and Upwork charges a percentage-based service fee on each project. Freelancers can negotiate payment terms on Upwork.
• Fiverr primarily focuses on short-term projects with fixed prices, often centered around creative services. Fiverr charges a fee of 20% on the total order value.

Despite the presence of these platforms and ample opportunities, searching for the proper gig can still be arduous. With numerous freelancers vying for the same job, standing out from the competition can be a snag.

However, here are some tips to help freelancers overcome these challenges and improve their chances of landing the next gig:

Track both platforms simultaneously: Use Web Monitoring tools to monitor Upwork and Fiverr for new job postings that match your skills and preferences.

Set up alerts: Set up alerts for new job postings relevant to your search criteria on Upwork and Fiverr.

Customize your search: Customize your search on both platforms to only show job postings that match your skills and preferences.

Network: Building relationships with clients and freelancers can help uncover new job opportunities. Attend industry events and connect with other freelancers on social media to expand your network.

Why is automating the job search process important?

In today’s competitive job market, job seekers must stay ahead by leveraging automation to streamline their search process, match their skills and preferences, and eliminate the need for hours of manual searching through job boards.

As competition intensifies, it is crucial to discover ways to differentiate yourself from the pack. A robust web monitoring tool can help you gain a competitive edge. With Distill, you can customize alerts for job postings on specific websites or job boards, including Upwork and Fiverr.

1. For instance, with Distill you can set up custom job trackers based on expertise, job description, job skills, or keywords to find your desired job.

2. Receive real-time notifications when a new job matching your criteria is posted and avoid getting flooded with irrelevant job alerts.

The blog post on Ahrefs - “How to get a job in SEO³” highlights the potential benefits of utilizing Distill for job searching. Distill helps users stay up-to-date on job postings within the industry by receiving real-time notifications of any new opportunities.

Download and install Distill in 3 simple steps

Installing Distill Web Monitor

You can easily install Distill by following these steps:

Step 1: Click “Download Chrome extension” button.

Step 2: Click “Add to Chrome” button, and a pop-up will appear. Then, click “Add extension” button. Chrome will automatically download this extension for you.

Step 3: To pin the Distill extension, click Extensions icon located top right of your browser and click the pin icon next to Distill.

Note: You can also install Distill on Firefox, Edge, or Opera.

A case study: How Distill helps freelance content writers find projects online

As an experienced freelance content writer, it is crucial to stay current with the latest industry trends and find projects that align with their skills and services to maintain a steady income flow. However, identifying the right job opportunities on platforms like Upwork can take time and effort due to the sheer volume of job listings.

We’ve noticed freelancers face challenges like:

1. Sifting through hundreds of job posts to find relevant and lucrative projects
2. Difficulty in maintaining consistent communication with clients
3. Navigating the negotiation process

To address this issue, freelance content writers can refine their job feeds to match their specific needs by selecting preferred filtering options, such as experience level, job type, payment type, number of proposals, client information, project length, hours per week, and more.

Once the job feed has been refined, they can use Distill to set up real-time alerts for new job postings, ensuring they never miss a potential opportunity. This feature helps content writers increase their chances of securing high-paying projects.

How to set up alerts for new job posts on Upwork using Distill?

Step 1: Log in to your Upwork account and navigate to the “Find Work” tab.

Step 2: In the search bar, input relevant keywords related to the type of job. For example, a freelance writer would enter “content writing” in the search bar.

Step 3: Click “Filter” button next to the search bar. After selecting the preferred filtering options, click “Search” button to see the jobs that match your criteria.

Step 4: In the filtered page on Upwork, click Distill icon. Select “Monitor parts of the page,” and the Visual Selector will appear.

Step 5: Select the “job title” and the “job description” sections of the webpage.

Note: Using two selectors instead of one is recommended for accurate and focused monitoring of job postings on a freelance marketplace. Choosing only one selector may capture more general elements on the page, leading to false positive alerts or irrelevant data collection.

Step 6: To select all job titles and job descriptions on the Upwork page, remove the ‘[1]’ from the end of the XPath code and then click “Save Selection.” The ‘[1]’ refers to the first item in the list, so removing it will enable you to select the entire list of job titles and job descriptions on the page.

Step 7: To customize your monitor settings on the monitoring options page, choose a device to run checks on the webpage - either a browser for frequent inspections and local pop-up notifications or Distill’s cloud servers for around-the-clock checks.

Step 8: Set the desired frequency for checks according to your specific requirements, such as every 1 hour or as needed. If you set up faster and more frequent checks, you may rapidly exhaust your monthly email check quota. To increase the number of email checks available, upgrading your account is recommended.

Step 9: Configure your alert mode via email, SMS, Discord, or other options available in your subscription plan. And click “Save.” You can now see the website monitor on your Distill watchlist.

How does the Distill tracker work?

Step 1: To access the Distill watchlist, click “Go to Watchlist” from your Distill extension and select the “monitor” button.

Step 2: Once selected, click “Explore diff” option to view any current changes that have occurred.

Step 3: If the identified changes align with your specified criteria, you will receive a notification and alert to ensure prompt action.

Note: “Explore diff” is the version history of a monitor and its availablity starts from Distill Starter pack.

Step 4: To view the change, simply access the watchlist on Distill and navigate to the unread section where the new change will be visible.

Distill thus automates job tracking across multiple web pages. It triggers instant notifications when changes occur on the job posting page. These alerts equip candidates to track, follow and quickly apply to relevant job postings.

Empowering freelancers on Fiverr: A case study of Distill’s impact

Fiverr is an online marketplace that connects businesses with freelancers offering a wide range of services. It provides a platform for novice and expert freelancers to showcase their skills and find work opportunities from clients worldwide.

As a freelance graphic designer you have to,

1. Update your portfolio frequently.
2. Optimize your profile and gig descriptions to attract potential clients.
3. Utilize search filters to find relevant job postings.
4. Stay active on the platform by sending proposals and communicating with clients.
5. Deliver high-quality work.
6. Build a strong reputation to attract more clients.

To stay ahead of the competition, freelancers utilize the power of Distill to monitor their competitor’s portfolio page for updates and track their page ranking from the second page to the first or vice versa. By setting up customized alerts and filters, they can gain an edge over the competitors and secure more projects on Fiverr.

Monitor your competitor’s portfolio page on Fiverr

Why should you monitor your competitor on Fiverr?

• To gain valuable insights by analyzing your competitors’ strategies and tactics, pricing, gig descriptions, portfolio updates, reviews, and ratings to understand their strengths and weaknesses.
• Improve your profile page and attract more relevant clients by using your competitors’ data to better understand client preferences.
• Stay ahead of the competition by keeping track of their promotions, new services, and updates to adapt and refine your own services to better meet your clients’ needs.

How to track your competitors portfolio on Fiverr using Distill?

Step 1: Download and install the Distill Chrome extension by clicking the “Download Chrome Extension” button and then “Add to Chrome.” Once the pop-up appears, click “Add extension.” Finally, pin the extension on the top right of your browser.

Step 2: Log in to Fiverr, Switch to “Buying,” input relevant keywords in the search bar, and click “More” to select your preferred options. Then, click “Show Results” to find services matching your criteria.

Step 3: Identify top-performing freelancers based on their total reviews using your specific criteria. For example, if you are a graphic designer looking for an AutoCAD expert, select “AutoCAD” and “Top Rated Seller.”

Step 4: Log into your Distill account and click Distill icon on the filtered Fiverr page. Select “Monitor parts of the page,” and the Visual Selector will appear.

Step 5: To obtain accurate details about your competitor freelancer, select the “title” and “About this gig - description” sections of the webpage. We recommend using two or more selectors instead of just one and click “Save Selection.”

Step 6: Customize your monitor settings on the options page by selecting a device to run checks on the webpage. You can choose a browser for frequent inspections and local pop-up notifications or Distill’s cloud servers for around-the-clock assessments.

Step 7: Set the desired frequency for checks according to your specific requirements, such as every 1 hour or as needed. Setting a lower value may exhaust your monthly check quota quickly. Consider upgrading your account to increase the number of checks available.

Step 8: Configure your alert mode via email, SMS, Discord, or other options available in your subscription plan. Click “Save,” and you’ll see the website monitor on your Distill watchlist.

How to track your Fiverr search position?

Setting up customized alerts is a valuable strategy for taking quick action in case of any adverse shifts in your search position on Fiverr. By analyzing the profiles of top competitors on the second page, you can gain valuable insights into the factors that contribute to their success and optimize your profile accordingly. This approach can help you attract more clients and increase your revenue on the platform.

Tips to improve your search results and attract more clients on Fiverr

• Optimize your profile with relevant keywords, a professional profile picture, and a detailed description of your services.
• Use relevant and competitive keywords in your gig titles, descriptions, and tags, and monitor your search position regularly.
• Provide quality services, promote your gigs on social media, and stay active by responding to messages promptly and delivering orders on time to maintain a high level of customer satisfaction.

Setting up notifications for tracking search Position in Fiverr

Step 1: After filtering the feed based on your skills and expertise, navigate to the second page of the Fiverr search results.

Step 2: Click Distill icon on the filtered Fiverr page. Select “Monitor parts of the page,” and the Visual Selector will appear.

Step 3: Select the initial freelancer name on the second page. To select the entire freelancer list on the Fiverr page, remove ‘[1]’ from the end of the XPath code and click “Save Selection.”

Note: The ‘[1]’ refers to the first item in the list, so removing it will enable you to select the entire list of freelancer name on the page.

Step 4: Choose a device to run checks on the webpage and set the desired frequency according to your specific requirements, such as running the checks every hour or as needed.

Step 5: Customize your monitor settings on the options page by adding a condition to monitor your profile name in Fiverr. For example, John(profile name). This condition will alert you if your profile moves to the second page. Configure your alert mode via email, SMS, Discord, or other options available in your subscription plan. Click “save” to start the monitor.

Outlook for the freelancers in the coming years

The future for freelancers⁴ looks promising as the gig economy rapidly grows and remote work becomes more popular.

With the COVID pandemic forcing businesses worldwide to shift online, there has been an increase in demand for freelancers who can work remotely. Many companies recognize the benefits of hiring freelancers for project-based work rather than maintaining a full-time staff. The rise of digital platforms like Fiverr and Upwork has made it easier for freelancers to find a job and for businesses to hire them.

As a Freelancers, you must leverage technology to address some of the common hindrances they face, such as:

1. Stand out from the crowd by leveraging digital marketing tools like social media and SEO to market yourself effectively
2. Leverage automation to streamline the job search process.
3. Streamline your finances with online invoicing, expense tracking, and financial management software
4. Stay ahead of the curve by attending virtual conferences, joining online communities, and taking online courses to upgrade your skills and stay up-to-date with industry trends

By harnessing the power of technology, freelancers can achieve their professional goals with greater ease and efficiency.

Conclusion

Sifting through high volume of job listings on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr need not be a time consuming manual process. You can use productivity tools like Distill to automate your job-tracking process.

• Refine job feeds and set up real-time alerts for new job postings to stay up-to-date on potential opportunities.
• Monitor your own profile’s search ranking and your competitors’ profiles to stay ahead in the freelancing market.

You can download the Distill extension for Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Edge. Paid subscription plans provide access to more frequent checks and instant alerts via the Distill iOS and Android apps.

If you face any issues while setting up a job applications tracker on the freelance marketplace, feel free to contact us on Distill community forum.

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