Is it just me? From $3k per month to $30...

[mattstaples]

Hi all,

I'm in the writing niche - blog posts and articles. Seller level 2, 5 stars, and 100% on all viewable metrics. $30-$40 price point.

So, in the summer of 2022 I was making $2000-$3000 a month. Since then, it has slid steadily downwards, to a low of around $500 in October (pre ChatGPT), to $150 in June 2023, and in July so far, just $30. 

I was a member of the Fiverr Plus service and did my best to optimise, and I've also added a video to the posts and genuine photographs of myself - I recently received a verified tick. 

So my question is - why am I receiving virtually no orders? Is it me, have I been quietly blacklisted, or is this an issue all level 1 and 2 sellers are experiencing due to the general climate thanks to ChatGPT? I track a pro-verified seller on Fiverr who currently has 56 orders in her queue, but her price point is around $90-$100 - So clearly, there is plenty of high-end work available, but my Fiverr journey seems to have ended. 

Any thoughts are welcome. 

[donnovan86]

3 minutes ago, mattstaples said:

Is it me, have I been quietly blacklisted, or is this an issue all level 1 and 2 sellers are experiencing due to the general climate thanks to ChatGPT?

Fiverr has a system called the buyer satisfaction rate and it tracks buyer experiences for the past 3-6 months. You had a review that might have brought a negative private review, hence the issue. And then there's also the ChatGPT thing, there are buyers that shifted towards that.

I am not sure if we are talking about the same pro seller, I am a writer too so I am within the same niche you are. I think I know who you are talking about, but if it's "her", she actually has a writing business with many different writers hired to write for her. I think Fiverr should force people to disclose if they outsource or not, because that seller is not the only one saying "I" or "me" on here, but on socials you can clearly identify they outsource, some even brag about it.

So yeah, the writing market is pretty bad right now, and most of the expensive sellers barely have any orders. There are some exceptions like the seller you mentioned, but they are far and few in between. Most writers have a severe lack of orders these days, me included.

[mattstaples]

1 minute ago, donnovan86 said:

Fiverr has a system called the buyer satisfaction rate and it tracks buyer experiences for the past 3-6 months. You had a review that might have brought a negative private review, hence the issue. 

I am not sure if we are talking about the same pro seller, I am a writer too so I am within the same niche you are. I think I know who you are talking about, but if it's "her", she actually has a writing business with many different writers hired to write for her. I think Fiverr should force people to disclose if they outsource or not, because that seller is not the only one saying "I" or "me" on here, but on socials you can clearly identify they outsource, some even brag about it.

So yeah, the writing market is pretty bad right now, and most of the expensive sellers barely have any orders. There are some exceptions like the seller you mentioned, but they are far and few in between. Most writers have a severe lack of orders these days, me included.

Yes, my 3-star rating was a complete kick in the teeth, but I had no choice but to take it on the chin - you're probably right that a private negative review went along with it or from someone else. 

I have no doubt that the person we're talking about has a team to complete the work - 56 articles per week would be unmanageable, but still... I've had 1 this month, and that's from a repeat customer. 

Luckily, one of my external clients has taken me on as a full-time writer/SEO to work for him - he's getting a bargain, but it should keep a roof over my head, but it's just depressing to see something I worked on for years suddenly go away. I guess I can try lowering my prices right back down and starting again. 

I see you have nearly 20k reviews to my 280 or so... that's a hell of a lot of work, well done! 🙂

[donnovan86]

12 minutes ago, mattstaples said:

I have no doubt that the person we're talking about has a team to complete the work - 56 articles per week would be unmanageable, but still... I've had 1 this month, and that's from a repeat customer. 

You can send me a private message with a link to their profile, just to confirm we are talking about the same person.

13 minutes ago, mattstaples said:

I see you have nearly 20k reviews to my 280 or so... that's a hell of a lot of work, well done! 🙂

Thank you. I never outsourced, I worked alone. I have a way cheaper pricepoint, and even in my case I see a lack of sales. But as you said, we have to adapt. AI really kicked us in the teeth.. that's for sure.

[mercurianus]

Is it allowed to outsource your work to outsiders as per fiverr policy?

[donnovan86]

38 minutes ago, mercurianus said:

Is it allowed to outsource your work to outsiders as per fiverr policy?

Yes you can. What we said is that it's unethical to say "I" in your gigs when you have a huge team behind. It's misleading customers, and it's also unfair towards people that actually work on their own and say the truth when stating "I will do X for you". 

[uk1000]

53 minutes ago, mercurianus said:

Is it allowed to outsource your work to outsiders as per fiverr policy?

You can read about it in this link:

https://www.fiverr.com/community/standards/intellectual-property

Quote

Other sellers’ work can be used in your delivery when you have the rights to use it, and it’s used as an element of your own delivery. 

It cannot be used as your own delivery when you are reselling it “as is” with no significant added value or transformative use, under the misconception that it is your original work—and in order to gain profit from price differences. That is called profit arbitrage and it is not permitted on Fiverr.

Though I'm not sure if that's mostly/all about the Graphics & Design category & photography one (it might be talking about all categories in that section).

Edited July 14, 2023 by uk1000

[melanielm]

I blame it on a combination of the economy and the rise of AI. I've been at this freelance writing thing for a long time now, and this is probably the biggest technical shift in the industry. Time to adapt. I've always had multiple businesses/income sources running, so I'm putting more focus into other things these days. I do miss my Fiverr income levels of yesteryear, though!