Why is it impossible to get started on new gigs?

[drschneider]

So in a nutshell I'm a level 2 seller with a lot of work years behind me. Every time I try to expand on fiverr and create new gigs in either similar or totally different fields, they basically get a couple of impressions and then get stuck into a limbo of nothing, even when these are services I KNOW that are very popular, or a possibility of success.

An example. I do translation. I added a well optimized gig for proofreading, after a few months it didnt get a single click. I am now forced to sell proofreading on the side of translation, when when people who are looking for proofreading service are not usually coming to that gig to find it. And that costs buyers.

I also wanted to expand by adding a new language to my translation services. Now after over a year, I closed it off because it was at 0 impressions indefinitely - even though it was basically an identical copy of my best-seller gig, just to a different language.

It seems like the algorithm really does not care whether you are already experienced or not, or that you want to expand. Only those who found already success will stick with it and "screw the new gigs" attitude is everywhere inside the algorithms. And the strange rules of not being able to promote the new gigs is also a bit odd. Would be nice way to kickstart new business, but there are very obscure limitations to these and sometimes the gig is eligible, sometimes not. 

I can't really express how frustrating this is, especially when I keep getting bombarded with the "grow your business" emails. Sure. I would. If you would let me.

 

 

 

[drschneider]

Another infuriating thing really is that my translation gig fluctuates between the best seller and "dissappeared in the void" in its own category. As someone who is often the best seller when the algorithm lets me, I would be more than happy to grow into a top seller status (which would then make sense) but as the algorithm periodically buries my gig into the void and fluctuates between the others in the same category, I am left unable to grow the business anywhere. It is a weird paradox.

[drschneider]

On a further note, this is obviously not mainly a gig title/description/tag issues, as I tested this around by copypasting data from my existing gigs to see if it affects it. It didn't. 

[sayedcsee]

As far as I know, no more than two gigs rank here.

[visualstudios]

That has not been my experience. I've made multiple gigs that got hits pretty fast. It has everything to do with finding the right niche. The beginning is usually slow, once you get the first couple of orders, they really start trending.

[frank_d]

3 hours ago, sayedcsee said:

As far as I know, no more than two gigs rank here.

Nope, that's not a thing. Please share your experience but try not to pass it along as a fact.

Or you know share your source of information please.

 

Thank you

[damooch916]

Maybe you folks have had a similar experience to me…

… I have three “bread and butter” gigs. The other gigs are offshoots of them. The offshoot gigs serve the purpose of keeping the week moving in times of lull, or when you get that occasional wack-a-do that decides to mutilate your ranking because they don’t know the ins and outs (“I love this! It’s perfect! I gave you 4.3 stars! You’re welcome!”). 
 

I don’t expect the other gigs to perform as well, because they cast a smaller net. 
 

Which is fine. Because that’s how it is in the bread and butter, freelance world. Sure, it’s difficult to send bread, but not nearly as difficult as sending butter. I can’t expect that my strawberry butter will perform as well as … well … butter. 
 

Then there was that whole incident where, due to economic restraints,  I was forced to use a butter substitute. 

As you may have guessed, upon learning that the butter wasn’t actually butter, my customers couldn’t believe it. 
 

Note:  Yep. Yes, I did write this entire post to get to that Dad joke. I’m not sorry. I won’t be made to apologize neither, Huck.  I’m ready to live in a world where “jokes” and “Dad jokes” can live together as one, away from the constant threat of bias or not being asked to the family dinner. 
 

Let this be a lesson to ya. 

[meldawn9]

Because there are 2 million other sellers on Fiverr offering the same services. That being said, I have tried to offer some different services, but apparently there was no need for them so I didn't get any orders. Fiverr is what it is. If I get 3 orders a week, I'm happy. If I don't, oh well, I'll go and do some work on another platform. Best to not put all your hope into one basket. 

[aggie_n]

Ugh that must be frustrating for someone with years of experience. I agree with the previous commenter - the market is oversaturated. It is hard to get up there in the search results if you're just starting out. I also totally agree with you about the gig promotion - it should be available to everyone, not just the top sellers. It is very odd and kinda unfair that you get that option only when you are already in business. Same with the option to upload your Portfolio (separate Portfolio page within your Fiverr profile)- as far s I know, it is a new feature only available to the top sellers. 

[uk1000]

10 hours ago, aggie_n said:

I also totally agree with you about the gig promotion - it should be available to everyone, not just the top sellers.

I agree though it's also available to level 1 & level 2 sellers now. Though the fact you have to have (according to the help) at least 20 reviews on the gig (even though it can actually allow less) seems bad when the ones with less reviews might be the ones you want/need to promote more.

[aggie_n]

On 2/19/2022 at 1:04 AM, uk1000 said:

I agree though it's also available to level 1 & level 2 sellers now. Though the fact you have to have (according to the help) at least 20 reviews on the gig (even though it can actually allow less) seems bad when the ones with less reviews might be the ones you want/need to promote more.

I didn't know that it is available to those, as well. But yeah, it is aimed at those who have already done many orders and got reviews, so not very helpful to those who are just starting out :< 

[frank_d]

On 2/24/2022 at 1:30 AM, aggie_n said:

I didn't know that it is available to those, as well. But yeah, it is aimed at those who have already done many orders and got reviews, so not very helpful to those who are just starting out :< 

To be honest it would make 0 sense for Fiverr to offer a paid feature to people who are not making any money yet.

Imagine just starting out on Fiverr, not getting any orders and using promoted gigs on top of that.

Your inexperience with the platform will hinder conversion which will inevitably lead to you owing Fiverr money for clicks.

Which would end up with a negative balance on your very first month.

[anwarhossain_]

Thanks for sharing valuable information regarding gig promotion. It is very useful for new seller like me.

[thiagodematos]

The one piece of advice I can give to you is—if your gig is not performing, hit the buyer requests hard. If you can consistently do this and get reviews on your gig, it will eventually start to get some traction. 

However, if you are not performing this will not work. Hope this helps!