Expert vetted but no longer top rated?

[#1]

So... I just got my brand new Expert Vetted badge - thank you for that, Upwork, it somewhat makes up for the sting of not qualifying for Top Rated Plus (though not entirely). BUT, now my top rated badge is gone. I thought that the new badge would be in addition to the old badge, not replace it? Does this mean that I'll no longer show up in searches when clients are looking for top-rated freelancers? 

[#2]

I have a similar problem. The "Expert-Vetted" badge replaced my "Top Rated" badge which had taken quite some effort to earn. I contacted the support and they said I'm both Top Rated Plus and Expert-Vetted but only the "Expert-Vetted" badge will be visible in such cases. I think it would be great if both of them were visible. Thanks!

[#3]

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Valeria K wrote:

Hi Christine and others,

To clarify, by design Expert-Vetted and Top Rated Plus badges will show to clients on Enterprise and Business plans. Starting today they will also show when the freelancer views their own profile and when other freelancers view their profile. Clients on Upwork Plus and Basic plans will not see Expert-Vetted and Top Rated Plus badges but will still see Top Rated badges as before.

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Right...

How nuts is that?

[#4]

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Valeria K wrote:

Hi Christine and others,

To clarify, by design Expert-Vetted and Top Rated Plus badges will show to clients on Enterprise and Business plans. Starting today they will also show when the freelancer views their own profile and when other freelancers view their profile. Clients on Upwork Plus and Basic plans will not see Expert-Vetted and Top Rated Plus badges but will still see Top Rated badges as before.

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Valeria: I think the concern here is that the expert-vetted badge seems to have replaced her top-rated badge, at least in the freelancer view.

[#5]

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Wes C wrote:

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Valeria K wrote:

Hi Christine and others,

To clarify, by design Expert-Vetted and Top Rated Plus badges will show to clients on Enterprise and Business plans. Starting today they will also show when the freelancer views their own profile and when other freelancers view their profile. Clients on Upwork Plus and Basic plans will not see Expert-Vetted and Top Rated Plus badges but will still see Top Rated badges as before.

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Valeria: I think the concern here is that the expert-vetted badge seems to have replaced her top-rated badge, at least in the freelancer view.

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Yes. Thank you. Will I still show up if a client (Enterprise or not) does a search for top-rated freelancers? 

[#6]

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Valeria K wrote:

Hi Christine and others,

To clarify, by design Expert-Vetted and Top Rated Plus badges will show to clients on Enterprise and Business plans. Starting today they will also show when the freelancer views their own profile and when other freelancers view their profile. Clients on Upwork Plus and Basic plans will not see Expert-Vetted and Top Rated Plus badges but will still see Top Rated badges as before.

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So this is about making clients pay extra in order to access "top talent"? Okay, I can understand that. But I'm still worried about losing my top rated badge. If a client who's on the Enterprise or Business plan does a search for top rated freelancers, can you clarify whether or not my profile will be visible to them? 

[#7 · Accepted solution]

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Christine A wrote:
If a client who's on the Enterprise or Business plan does a search for top rated freelancers, can you clarify whether or not my profile will be visible to them? 

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Christine, yes! Your profile comes up in search when a client on Enterprise or Business Membership searches for Top Rated freelancers.

[#8]

Both badges should show up for those who can see Vetted and Top Rated Plus. Sure you may come up in those searches, but if everyone else has Top Rated (or Top Rated Plus) and I have Expert Vetted, I (as a client) would be more interested in Top Rated/ Plus.

It shouldn't be a replacement. They should both show.

If I ever get the email to be vetted, I will definitely pass on that option unless this policy has changed.

[#9]

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David G wrote:

Both badges should show up for those who can see Vetted and Top Rated Plus. Sure you may come up in those searches, but if everyone else has Top Rated (or Top Rated Plus) and I have Expert Vetted, I (as a client) would be more interested in Top Rated/ Plus.

It shouldn't be a replacement. They should both show.

If I ever get the email to be vetted, I will definitely pass on that option unless this policy has changed.

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Valeria, thanks for the clarification and reassurance. But I agree with David - it would be good if Upwork could reconsider, and show both badges. Clients are familiar with what "top-rated" means; they may not think that "expert vetted" carries the same weight.

[#10]

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Christine A wrote:

So... I just got my brand new Expert Vetted badge - thank you for that, Upwork, it somewhat makes up for the sting of not qualifying for Top Rated Plus (though not entirely). BUT, now my top rated badge is gone. I thought that the new badge would be in addition to the old badge, not replace it? Does this mean that I'll no longer show up in searches when clients are looking for top-rated freelancers? 

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Not that it answers your question, but I would bet expert vetted is better eye candy for clients than top rated plus. They have no idea what top rated means so plus probably blows their mind. Expert vetted seems pretty straightforward.

[#11]

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Jennifer M wrote:

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Not that it answers your question, but I would bet expert vetted is better eye candy for clients than top rated plus. They have no idea what top rated means so plus probably blows their mind. Expert vetted seems pretty straightforward.

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IDK, "expert vetted" might sound like you're someone who just passed the minimum requirements. I think it was Phyllis who pointed out that it really ought to be called "vetted expert" instead, then it means that YOU'RE an expert, instead just having been vetted BY experts. Whereas "top rated" sounds like you're better than the rest of the plebs, and "top rated plus" really sounds like king of the castle. Anyway, since I got the badge my invitations have completely dried up, so it's not having the intended effect so far (not that August is ever the greatest time to get new clients, mind you). 

[#12]

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Christine A wrote:

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Jennifer M wrote:

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Not that it answers your question, but I would bet expert vetted is better eye candy for clients than top rated plus. They have no idea what top rated means so plus probably blows their mind. Expert vetted seems pretty straightforward.

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IDK, "expert vetted" might sound like you're someone who just passed the minimum requirements. I think it was Phyllis who pointed out that it really ought to be called "vetted expert" instead, then it means that YOU'RE an expert, instead just having been vetted BY experts. Whereas "top rated" sounds like you're better than the rest of the plebs, and "top rated plus" really sounds like king of the castle. Anyway, since I got the badge my invitations have completely dried up, so it's not having the intended effect so far (not that August is ever the greatest time to get new clients, mind you). 

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August is usually terrible for me too. I hope you get the TR badge back. I would have thought that the expert badge would be so much better. Phyllis has a good point with the wording.

[#13]

If you look at table this may came obvious( there is no need for any of things top rated have not the raising talent 100% complete profile) . Came from street past test "Expert" .... Nice

[#14]

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Slavko A wrote:

If you look at table this may came obvious( there is no need for any of things top rated have not the raising talent 100% complete profile) . Came from street past test "Expert" .... Nice

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LOL - I can assure you that I didn't just "come from the street and pass a test"; I have all of the requirements on that list. Where did you get this chart? Upwork, I hope that this isn't what you've been showing clients?!!

[#15]

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Christine A wrote:

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Slavko A wrote:

If you look at table this may came obvious( there is no need for any of things top rated have not the raising talent 100% complete profile) . Came from street past test "Expert" .... Nice

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LOL - I can assure you that I didn't just "come from the street and pass a test"; I have all of the requirements on that list. Where did you get this chart? Upwork, I hope that this isn't what you've been showing clients?!!

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They hate you cuz they ain't you.

[#16]

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Jennifer M wrote:

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They hate you cuz they ain't you.

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Well, I hate me too now - it seems like I don't even qualify for a Rising Talent badge. I'm going to have to start posting in the forum every day to ask WHY I don't qualify for Rising Talent. 

[#17]

Congratulation to you for passing test
I know it is not easy to past test , and i know you are here long time , but when you see this table .... 🙂

[#18]

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Slavko A wrote:

Congratulation to you for passing test
I know it is not easy to past test , and i know you are here long time , but when you see this table .... 🙂

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Hey, it's fine - you're just the messenger. But where did you see this chart?

[#19]

https://support.upwork.com/hc/en-us/articles/360049702614-Upwork-s-Talent-Badges

[#20]

Thanks for that. The chart looks like this on my computer, but either way, it's not good. 

[#21]

And if some client look and found this its lots of hard work to get this Expert.

And just to be sure to not click on it is this on my profile "invitation"?

[#22]

😉 I think that the scout thing is a different programme, but to be honest, I really have no idea what's going on at the moment.

[#23]

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Slavko A wrote:

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This chart makes it clear why the TR/ TR+ badge needs to remain along with Expert Vetted. EV is not some kind of endorsement on top of TR/TR+.  Other than complying with the ToS it has no commonality with TR/TR+ achievement requirements. 

[#24]

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Christine A wrote:

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Jennifer M wrote:

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Not that it answers your question, but I would bet expert vetted is better eye candy for clients than top rated plus. They have no idea what top rated means so plus probably blows their mind. Expert vetted seems pretty straightforward.

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IDK, "expert vetted" might sound like you're someone who just passed the minimum requirements. I think it was Phyllis who pointed out that it really ought to be called "vetted expert" instead, then it means that YOU'RE an expert, instead just having been vetted BY experts. Whereas "top rated" sounds like you're better than the rest of the plebs, and "top rated plus" really sounds like king of the castle. Anyway, since I got the badge my invitations have completely dried up, so it's not having the intended effect so far (not that August is ever the greatest time to get new clients, mind you). 

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I agree with this 100%, including Phyllis's suggestion. Top Rated Plus sounds much better than Expert Vetted, the latter of which seems hazy anyway. You should have both badges visible to everyone. You've earned it.

[#25]

Hello!
How you find it after two months?

Do you still receive invitations, show up in research results and get all the perks of Top Rated status?

Did you find anything became better after receiving the Expert Vetted badge?

[#26]

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Ahmed A wrote:
Did you find anything became better after receiving the Expert Vetted badge?

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Definitely not. It's still early days and I'm trying to avoid drawing conclusions because this programme has coincided with an increase in competition in my category, but my theory is that "top rated" sounds better than "expert vetted" and that clients don't recognise this designation as being anything special. I still think that both badges should be showing in the profiles of all freelancers who qualify for both.