[Shadow-Ban on Fiverr: An Open Appeal to Navigate Unseen Obstacles]

4 minutes ago, donnovan86 said:

Well I can tell you for a fact that artists, writers are the most affected. Voiceover people too. Everyone is seeing a consistent drop in sales, especially since January-March. 

I hear you, it's a tough time for all of us creatives. 

[Shadow-Ban on Fiverr: An Open Appeal to Navigate Unseen Obstacles]

On 7/2/2023 at 3:06 PM, donnovan86 said:

Most likely it's due to private ratings. People might leave a great public review because they feel they should do that, however with these private reviews they tend to speak the truth and say how they really feel. The main issue is that first time buyer private reviews are even more important, to the point where a bad private review from them will burry your gig for months if you don't have a ton of orders. 

The only thing you can do is to either invest in Promoted Gigs hoping it gives you some orders, and ensure you go overboard to keep clients happy. You can also bring off-platform clients to Fiverr, in an effort to try and acquire better reviews. 

Also, you're dismissing AI. The rise of AI killed a lot of Fiverr businesses, and it crippled thousands, including mine. Experience matters, true, but at the end of the day people are going toward less expensive options and AI is certainly such a thing..

Investing in Promoted Gigs and ensuring client satisfaction are certainly good strategies that I'll continue to employ. Bringing off-platform clients to Fiverr is something I've been doing, but as you rightly pointed out, a greater focus might help improve my standing.

Regarding AI, I understand how this technology can influence businesses and consumer choices, particularly in terms of cost-effectiveness. However, as creatives, I believe we offer something unique and invaluable that technology can't replicate - the human touch, imagination, and personalized attention. Nevertheless, I appreciate your insights and will continue to ponder the role AI plays in our shared marketplace.

On 7/2/2023 at 3:04 PM, catwriter said:

Based on what I've read on the forum, it might help a lot if your existing buyers leave a great private feedback. Of course, you're not allowed to ask them for great private feedback, but you can ask them to fill out the survey that Fiverr sends. It's a matter of how your word it; I think that @vickiespencer was very successful with this, and perhaps she'll share her experience.

The concept of private ratings was brought to my attention through this platform, and it's concerning to think it could be a significant factor in my gig's visibility. While this system might have its merits, the lack of transparency leaves much to be desired, making it difficult for sellers like us to understand the real impact on our work and respond effectively.

[Shadow-Ban on Fiverr: An Open Appeal to Navigate Unseen Obstacles]

Dear Fellow Fiverr Creatives,

It is with profound concern that I address you today. Since 2017, I've been a committed Fiverr designer, specializing in album covers. My dedication to my craft has never wavered.

However, post-2020, my previously thriving sales have faced a dramatic downturn. That year, amidst the global turmoil, I simultaneously experienced peak earnings and subsequent burnout. I took a brief, necessary hiatus to rejuvenate, expecting to bounce back stronger. Yet, my return was marked by an unexpected plunge in sales.

I've resorted to redirecting traffic from my social platforms to my Fiverr gig – a tactic from my early days – only to witness an inadvertent boost to Fiverr's visibility instead of my own. Customer service, while supportive, reiterates the same strategy I'm already employing.

My proficiency as an album cover designer is not the issue here. A portfolio of over 600 album covers and a collection of peer accolades support this assertion. Despite enrolling in the Fiverr Seller Success Program, I've been met with further disappointment.

Today, I find myself barely appearing in searches. Without my clientele outside Fiverr, the situation would seem hopeless. The inexplicable penalty I appear to be under has left me feeling excluded from the competitive landscape.

I extend this message, both as an appeal to Fiverr's administration and as a call to you, my fellow designers. How do you navigate these murky waters? Any shared experiences or advice would be invaluable in these trying times.

 

Eze Wan (@EzeWan)

[Shadow-Ban on Fiverr: An Open Appeal to Navigate Unseen Obstacles]

Dear members of our Fiverr community,

I write this open letter today from a place of deep concern, which I believe many of you can empathize with, given our shared experiences on this platform. I have been a proud seller of album cover design gigs on Fiverr since 2017, pouring passion, time, and dedication into every piece I create.

In the year 2020, I achieved my highest earnings on the platform, but this coincided with the onset of the pandemic - a challenging period that cast a cloud over us all. The volume of work, coupled with the generally tense atmosphere, led me down a path of burnout. In response, I chose to set my status to "out of office" for a few weeks. This, I deemed necessary, to mentally rejuvenate myself and come back stronger for my clients. However, my return marked the beginning of a troublesome downturn.

Ever since then, my sales have taken a substantial hit. No matter the effort I exert to regain my previous momentum, I grapple with a persistent downturn that seems inexplicable. I even resorted to what I call my 'day-one' tactic - directing individuals from my social media platforms to purchase my Fiverr gig. All these efforts, unfortunately, feel like they've done more to enhance the platform's visibility rather than advance my own business.

I've appealed to the customer service team on several occasions. Their advice, although well-meaning, has been limited to directing traffic from my social media platforms to my gig - a strategy I have been employing already. I stand firm in my belief that I am not a subpar album cover designer. On the contrary, I have received peer accolades that attest to my skill and proficiency, and the creation of over 600 album covers under my belt stands as a testament to my commitment.

Last year, I took the step of investing in the Fiverr Seller Success Program, hoping this would provide the lifeline I needed. Unfortunately, this measure did not provide the intended results. My assigned coach concluded that my gig was 'unredeemable' and advised me to attract sellers from social media, essentially placing the onus on me to do what I believe should be the platform's responsibility. To add salt to the wound, the program was abruptly terminated, leaving me feeling stranded.

Now, I find myself in a situation where I hardly appear on searches, and if it weren't for my established clientele outside of Fiverr, I might have lost all hope. It feels as though I'm subjected to an unseen penalty, with no valid reasoning provided, and left outside the competitive arena.

While I persist in seeking redress from the powers-that-be, I'm also eager to hear from you, my fellow Fiverr users. How have you navigated such challenges? I've perused posts on similar issues, and a common piece of advice seems to be "wait and hope." Some even bring up the topic of 'private ratings,' a system that, if true, is quite problematic, since it lacks transparency and offers no protection to sellers from possibly unfounded reports.

Such practices have adverse implications for our business ventures, not just for me but for all sellers who may fall victim to arbitrary and potentially unjust decisions. Therefore, I would greatly appreciate your insights. Is there a path to improvement, to regain visibility and stand tall in the search rankings, beyond the usual, vague advice to 'perform better' or 'advertise externally'?

Your support and shared experiences would be invaluable in these challenging times.

Yours sincerely,

Eze Wan (@EzeWan)