Can't find myself in search

[pgiambalvo]

No matter what filters I use or not, I do not show up when searching for writers. If I can't find myself when trying very hard to, then neither can clients. No wonder my profile views have dropped dramatically and my invites to none. What is up and when will it be fixed?

[django_expert]

every single person is facing the same issue. My invites also dropped to 0.

[srinivas794]

@Upwork, can you confirm with us that this issue is already worked upon? And could you give us a timeline on when this issue will be fixed? Also, a link to the bug ticket etc would be helpful

[PradeepH]

Hi Srinivas,

Thank you for your message. I checked your profile and I was able to find your profile in the search results using one of the skills listed on your profile. You can refer to this screenshot here. Results vary depending on the type of profile used to conduct the search, since a number of factors are taken into account. Clients may get different search results for the same keywords and filters than freelancers using the same parameters. In addition, freelancer profiles are regularly rotated in search results in order to give everybody a fair chance at being discovered by clients.

Thank you,

Pradeep

[srinivas794]

Hi Pradeep,

Thanks for your response. On which page did you find the search results at the moment?

[PradeepH]

Hi Srinivas,

Thank you for your follow up message. Your search ranking may vary since the number of factors are taken into account but I assure you that the search feature is working as designed. 

Thank you,

Pradeep 

[pgiambalvo]

Then why have our invites droped to zero? What changed in search to make that happen? It's not just a coincidence.

[6e2ab051]

Hi everyone, what should I do to make my profile visible again in search bar, it has been 3 months now it's in private... I wrote couple of messages to Upwork but it seems like they are ignoring my request... What should I do to finish this problem?.

By Mwamba B

[md_shakhawat80]

Try to get some Contract by Submitting Proposal using upwork search and In the mean time contact upwork support 

[6e2ab051]

Thanks for the advise...that's what I'm trying to do but I've emailed UW support many times nothing good came up

[759e32fa]

Hi Mwamba,

Thank you for reaching out to us. I checked your profile and it looks like the visibility is now set to public. I've also shared your report with our team and one of our agents will reach out to you via a support ticket to assist you further. You can access your support tickets here.

[usmantalib202]

This is frustrating as hell. I noticed a significant drop in job invitations not too long ago. When I reached out to support I didn't get much help and decided to investigate myself. I created a client account on Upwork and searched for Usman Talib. The first weird thing my profile is not showing in the list. Why I think that's weird is because I have 100% JJS, $80k+ earned, a ton of great reviews, and a Top Rated badge. By any reasonable logic, a profile like this should be at least on the first page, if not in the first place. I got daily 4 to 5 invitations before 3 months but now I'm not getting any invites. Screenshots attached.

[pgiambalvo]

Yes, this is a huge problem many of us are complaining about. Just search for "search" in the threads and you'll see. Upwork claims it's not broken but it definitely is. Many of us have seen our invites drop to zero since they changed the way search works a couple of months ago.

[martina_plaschka]

You can't expect to be in first place when there are tens of thousands of other freelancers in your category, and freelancers are rotated in search results. 

[pgiambalvo]

Any explanation or thoughts on why my and many others' invites amd profile views have dropped to almost zero from dozens per week since they changed the way search works a couple of months ago? Invites just suddenly stopping after getting tons of them for years is not just a coincidence or due to natural fluctuations in the marketplace. Yes, they go up and down, but disappear? No.

[srinivas794]

Yes, they did go up and down before but never totally disappeared.  This is why I am really worried at the moment.

[alex-nemchyn]

I'm surprised. You were getting 4-5 invitations a day.
In 5 years of working with Upwork, I received a total of 10 invitations.
I can imagine how hard it is for you right now.

After learning that some freelancers were getting so many offers a day.
I feel encouraged.

[the-right-writer]

Pradeep, as others have requested, please address this problem. Specifically, why  "Clients may get different search results for the same keywords and filters than freelancers using the same parameters. "

Upwork has some of the most bizarre, purposely designed evasive programs, including this statement. What possible reason would you design the search engine differently for clients and freelancers? Upwork is spending time being evasive and confusing on purpose. In case you are unaware, the freelancers have been begging and pleading for help with serious problems, and yet Upwork spends time and money creating two search engines? This is beyond absurd.

I have no problem now finding myself in the search, under my name and several of my skills. However, this announcement explains why I still have people contacting me outside of Upwork because they couldn't find my name anywhere on the platform. That's money that could have given Upwork their cut.

So, the search engine/program the freelancers see is just another way Upwork is determined to mess with the freelancers? You have a number of freelancers that are losing money (that means Upwork, too).

Does anyone never think we might use the search engine to find other freelancers? Without having to wipe your computer and return as a client? And why deceive the freelancers into thinking their profile will appear in ways it will not? And again, Upwork has plenty of problems that need to be solved right now. Stop wasting time, money, and the freelancer's ability to work on some idea someone had to placate freelancers while purposely deceiving them.

[6e2ab051]

Good saying

[srinivas794]

Exactly! And we want a confirmation from Upwork that acknowledges that the algorithm was changed a couple of months back. And we would like to know the reasoning behind such a change and how it impacts clients/freelancers if such a decision was made consciously.

But, my gut feeling says that this cannot be a conscious business decision and is instead a software/search bug that may have gone unnoticed by the developers/QA team at Upwork. Is there a way a developer or QA from the Upwork team can take a look at this thread?

[the-right-writer]

Pradeep, please do not ignore me. Please respond. I sincerely want to figure out what is going on and why there are two different programs for our listings.

[tomzilla1]

It's probably based on client spend/or if they are enterprise. I sure hope their search results are better than what we see as freelancers.

It would be nice to simulate what clients search's yield... Because if results are what they suppose to be on client version search (no fakes, higher earnings rank higher than lower earnings, etc), then I could care less what freelancer's searching for other freelancers results are.

[kochubei_valeria]

Jeanne and others,

Please, see my comment here, as well as the one I linked in that response. I'd like to reiterate that no changes have been made to search in that regard and there aren't two different ways for how profiles are displayed.. 

---

Valeria K. wrote:

A few things I'd like to note:

• As long as a profile isn't set to private by its owner, it will be discoverable in search.
• Various factors go into search results, and results may differ over time, in part to allow more freelancers a chance to be discovered. Some considerations may include Freelancer skills, experience, and platform ratings, as well as other elements geared towards determining a potential match for the client’s job. There are no immediate plans to change that.
• The general marketplace dynamics vary over time and so can the number of invites freelancers receive.

---

[the-right-writer]

---

Valeria K wrote:

Jeanne and others,

Please, see my comment here, as well as the one I linked in that response. I'd like to reiterate that no changes have been made to search in that regard and there aren't two different ways for how profiles are displayed.. 

---

Valeria K. wrote:

A few things I'd like to note:

• As long as a profile isn't set to private by its owner, it will be discoverable in search.
• Various factors go into search results, and results may differ over time, in part to allow more freelancers a chance to be discovered. Some considerations may include Freelancer skills, experience, and platform ratings, as well as other elements geared towards determining a potential match for the client’s job. There are no immediate plans to change that.
• The general marketplace dynamics vary over time and so can the number of invites freelancers receive.

---

---

Valeria, you are not answering my question, nor did Pradeep. Why are there two different search engine programs? If it is not to deliberately fool the freelancer, then please explain the reasoning. I don't think that is too much to ask for, considering freelancers live by people finding them.

Additionally, if we want to create a network or look for other freelancers, we must shut down the computer and wipe it before entering it again as a client. Are you using IP addresses to determine who is a client and who isn't? I erased every tracker and cookie but still ended up with the "freelance" list. You must create an account to see where you are listed and under what category.

I see no advantage to the two-tier program other than to deceive freelancers. Prove me wrong - what is the purpose of two separate and not equal searches? PLEASE, stop sending generic messages that do not address the situation. This latest discovery by freelancers is damaging to our livelihood - and, therefore, Upwork.

Again, I have one question, and please, please, stop ignoring that one question. Why are there two separate and unequal search engine programs?

[tomzilla1]

She probably doesn't know all the details, you know how it goes.