katakatica

So I actually see your point - but here's the thing - your logic is flawed. Fiverr won't 'see' you posting on here (nor will the site care, honestly). You CAN learn things here or come here for the banter but that's all. No one from Fiverr will see that you are posting 123122 posts a day and go 'ooooh, this person deserves orders because instead of doing something productive, they are posting nonsense'. Even if you are posting useful advice - it's highly likely that no one will care. It's for your benefit to hang around here and learn new things - but it does 0 to your profile on Fiverr. Really.

I'm genuinely confused, what is the point of this topic? If you wish to give us tips - I'd be happy to listen but these don't quite sound like tips other than just an empty post. Here is one good tip: Posting on the forum has 0 influence on your orders no matter what people on youtube tell you.

Hmm, this is an interesting one. Short answer - I'd probably pout about it for a while (because I do that every time I need to 'invest' in something this way.) But overall, I do think something like this is becoming necessary. I personally think that it's not only scammers who are causing issues, but also people who are mediocre at what they offer. (and before anything, I've been there as well. I've tried many things - quite a few that ended up failing - and now only accept orders that I know I can write well.) But many people don't have this filter, and I understand why. You offer to do a logo for 5 bucks and only open up an order when the buyer says it's good (which I personally think is gaming the system but oh well). The maximum you're losing out on is 5 bucks (and a review) BUT you only spent maybe 2 hours on it (or less.) I wouldn't consider someone like this a scammer, per say - because they do provide something just... not exactly what one would expect. However, if these people WERE losing something (say, 50 bucks a month because that's what they pay Fiverr by default even if they earn absolutely nothing that month, they would either try harder... or give up. I realize Fiverr is pushing for us to be more professional/better at communication (and at what we offer) but just that by itself isn't enough, mostly because of the people I've mentioned just now. Their response rate/delivery rate is certainly perfect (...if they have any sales, that is.) People who ARE good at what they do but are way too cheap would most likely would raise their prices (so they gain back what they pay, basically) which would end up being great for both parties. If we only had serious sellers around, it'd make things much easier for buyers as well (I've been told a few times that they've been through 20-30 sellers prior just because it's hard to find someone that's genuine.

No worries, I was always bummed at first as well (but as long as long as you don’t give them any free work you’re fine!) re.: the response time, for NOW it seems to me that it’s only the first message that counts but it could be changing/different but I’m not 100% sure myself but maybe someone else knows!

They most likely aren’t spammers (unless they ask you to give them work to do!) they might just move on or get busy with their lives. It happens - some people don’t like to say ‘sorry I chose someone else’ outloud because it’s awkward (or that’s what I think at least.) Fake buyers are people who ask you to do work for them BEFORE placing an order.

…thanks for the tips. (I’m sorry!) Jokes aside, this really had to be said (although I feel like we’ll have to repeat it over and over again. At some point, I’ve tried to be nice to everyone who wanted my orders because ‘I had too many’. I’d explain nicely why it’s not OK to spam… And I’d get replies that were either dismissive or flat-out rude. I understand being new on the platform (Fiverr is tricky to figure out at first) but asking for advice/orders from your competition just doesn’t seem like the ‘easy’ way out for me. Even if we disregard how it’s spam - why would someone with a decent amount of experience hold the hands of newbies (when, as you’ve mentioned, we often don’t have much time due to work (and other things, of course!) So yeah, I do hope that this will help clarify why we get annoyed (or just report spam, I guess.)

Nothing is ‘easy’ - because the marketplace is super crowded. I won’t say I didn’t think the same as you did for a while (back in 2017 when I made my first attempt at becoming a ‘famous writer’… But it took me a long while to get where I’m at (and I’ve still a long way to go.) The problem is that a few years back you could still earn with all the tips and tricks you read on youtube - but the marketplace (and life) is changing. I can see that you offer something I personally haven’t seen before (but I also haven’t searched for anything tax/etc. related so can’t say whether it’s because your profile is unique or not! That being said, I do believe that if you have talent it’s easier to get over hurdles like cancellations (I don’t have a perfect rate either - neither do I aim for it.) Working hard is important of course, but being good at what we do is essential (I think at least!) Anyway, don’t lost your spirit, I’m sure you’ll get that level 2 badge one day!

This is such a tough topic because culturally I can totally understand it and I don’t mind being called sister/auntie/dear/luv/FOREIGNER (etc.) when I’m at the target country (although when I’m called auntie it does hurt me a bit, but eh, getting old isn’t fun!) but on the internet it just feels weirdly personal and pushy. However, I always try to think about how people have greeting others ingrained into their brains (and it’s such a hard thing to change habits. I used to cuss like a sailor in Italian without knowing I was cursing (long story!) so I can ‘relate’ to the troubles of filtering one’s language! It’s also dangerous nowadays to misgender someone as it can genuinely anger them, so it’s really safer to use a neutral way of communication.) I personally try to pick up on how I am talked to and just go with it, but refrain from using dear/hon/sir and so on. (but I do write video game stories, so my target audience isn’t necessarily big businesses) The other side is: when I was back in school, it was DRILLED into us to start every single letter with Dear Sir/Ma’am, and it was a pretty hard habit to lose but… I feel somewhat iffy now every single time I see it after nearly being scammed (not only on here) quite a few times!

So… fun fact is I have been thinking about a thread like this, although I don’t think I have a ‘process’ just yet. When I was writing just for fun, it used to be - finish homework, sleep till 10PM, wake up, hyperfocus for x hours and repeat - (luckily my grades didn’t suffer that much, I was a smart bean. But… once I’ve started taking writing seriously is where things got a bit jumbled up. The way I think is, my brain still thinks that ‘writing 6000 words in two-and-a-half-ish hours is the way to go’ - which it can be for some people, but it absolutely drains me. I don’t have a real preparation ritual to it (other than, when too tired, making a strong cuppa of whichever chocolate tea that smells like has the most caffeine) and reading through the docs I was provided. I am definitely a ‘work in short bursts and then be done for the week’ kind of person, but the more ‘good days’ like that I have, the more I suffer after (like, I have to legitimately be reminded I should be water (which results in, yes, more tea.) for 2-3 days and then rinse and repeat. So far this ‘crazy mad scientist gets inspired on a whim’ thing has worked (and no one’s been complaining) but I do realize it probably won’t be OK in the long run - so I’m working on slowing down. I’m writing every single day instead of whenever it feels right - which does seem to prevent me from complete burnouts but also makes me grumpy so… Looking for the middle ground basically. (Yeah, I wish I had a magic routine or something going on, but still haven’t quite figured that out yet. I… have time I guess?)

Looks like that first 200 is quite a lot - I also got in (with the discount!) I’m wondering if they ended up with 200 per category - or level or something since it does seem like a lot of people were interested in it. I’m curious to see how it’ll go for sure.

Yeah, I do feel like they’d get more people signing up that way - although having ‘two tiers’ might not be what they want (since I’d assume they want seller plus to ‘stand out’ two start with, so it’d just complicate things.) That being said I do think that just because of the price, many people will already turn their heads away (I’m used to dishing out US/UK prices for my stuff but I know that many people coming from other countries are not - and I don’t blame them! Even with US standars it’s steep - but I guess it depends on how much it’ll help.

Hmm, I’m curious - would love to give it a try just for the heck of it (because why not?) 30 bucks where I come from is quite a bit of cash, but I’m intrigued to see where it might take you on the site.

So - and pardon me for not understanding it - why would anyone order 24 illustrations and then just decide they don’t like it. Did they know your style beforehand? I feel that they might be either scamming you (to get back some of their money but still use your illustrations) or they haven’t even checked your samples (or of course, without seeing what you have done for them, what you provided did not match up 100%. It’s hard to say without seeing both sides.) I’d try to see where they come from (you’ve already done your job twice) and possibly contact support if it gets bad. Would definitely worry about them using your work AND getting some of their money back. (But it could be anything of course.)

Not just on fiverr but in life in general as well. Choose your battles. I used to butt heads with buyer’s when I first started (I admit it was a little silly) and often still lost - sometimes it’s easier to cancel an order when it’s obvious that things aren’t going to work out (or when someone is driving you mad.) But do fight for yourself when you need to (buyers requesting extra without paying, etc. Etc. Just don’t… Stress over it too much.) And of course, the ever-so-true only offer something you are good at! It might be obvious but some people still need to learn it. (And I also took my time finding what I was decent and and what is something I don’t enjoy / struggle with). (And sleep. Don’t stay up 24/7 waiting for miracles. Whether you’re awake or not doesn’t matter.)