“Will my Success Score improve if I pause underperforming Gigs?”
It’s a common question among freelancers looking to boost their performance on Fiverr. And the short answer is: yes, pausing Gigs can help. But it’s not always a straightforward path to better metrics.
So, before you decide to remove a Gig to try to improve your Success Score, it’s helpful to understand how it works and how to approach this strategy thoughtfully.
Pausing vs. deleting: what’s the difference?
At first glance, pausing and deleting seem similar. Both mean that your Gig is no longer available for order from the marketplace, but there are some key differences:
Pausing a Gig
- Temporarily removes your Gig from search and discovery.
- You can still access and edit the Gig on your dashboard.
- All reviews and performance data remain intact.
- You can unpause at any time.
Deleting a Gig
- Permanently removes the Gig from your account.
- Erases all reviews, order history, and analytics.
- Best reserved for services you no longer want to offer.
Both paused and deleted Gigs stop contributing to your current Success Score after a period of inactivity. Understanding this, if you're looking to boost your score, pausing might be a smarter choice, as it's more flexible and allows you to plan your moves more strategically. Of course, if you're sure you're finished with the Gig for good, then deleting it is a fair choice.
How to pause wisely
Pausing can be great for your Success Score even when done thoughtfully. Here’s a guide on how to do it effectively:
- Don’t pause Gigs that are getting traffic- Even if a Gig has a low score, consistent traffic means you still have opportunities to improve it. Pausing might cut off the momentum you could use to your advantage.
- Think twice before pausing Gigs with strong reviews- Reviews build trust. If a Gig has accumulated solid ratings, it may be better to optimize it rather than remove it from the marketplace.
- Use pausing to regain focus- If you have multiple underperforming Gigs, attempting to improve them all at once can spread your efforts thin. Instead, pause the underperforming ones and focus on improving one Gig at a time: optimize it, refine your workflow, and aim to boost its performance across the key metrics. After successfully improving your process and increasing the score for that Gig, you can then unpause the next one and repeat the process.
What to keep in mind
Pausing can help, but it’s not always a quick fix. Here’s what to expect:
- It takes time: The Success Score won’t update immediately. It may take some time before you notice changes after pausing a Gig.
- Results may vary: Since the Success Score is weighted, the impact depends on how much that Gig contributed to your overall score. Pausing a rarely-ordered Gig won’t move the needle as much as pausing a really popular one.
Think of pausing as a tool in your toolbox, not a shortcut or a setback. It won’t magically solve everything overnight, but it can give you the breathing room to regroup and refocus. When you’re intentional about how and why you pause, you’re already one step closer to improving your performance.
