r/Upwork • u/designablaze • 21h ago
Customers No Longer Write Reviews
Anyone else feels lately difficulties in having a customer review, even if they are satisfied?
I worked really hard on low paid job. $200 USD that took a lot of sweat and grit on a project that wasn't as simple as advertised. Goal was to make a little side income and get a great review to relaunch my profile and hopefully relaunch my top rated status.
Customer was really nice. Project went very well. He even appreciated my diligence (his words on DM).
In the end I requested feedback by DM and by sending a review request button after a week.
He thank me the review I left him and disappeared. It's no the 1st or 2nd time this happens. I have my profile filled with happy customers who didn't left stars neither reviews. And that harms immensely my profile. It’s unfair.
I feel a bit like a clown. 😅
3
u/keberch 18h ago
I review all of my completed contracts.
If the results were really top-notch, I'll do the 5-stars with 2-3 positive sentences. I enjoy doing it. This is the majority of my contracts.
If results satisfactory, but some other part (communications, response time, etc.) was a bit sketchy, I usually give 5 stars and no comments.
If the results didn't measure, and I have to close the contract, I give it an appropriate review (based mostly on whether I can actually use the finished work).
I don't do any mid-contract reviews, nor will I accept discount offers (have had 3-4) for a positive review.
I know nothing about your work, or about other clients; but I would hazard a guess that if repeated people aren't willing to leave a review, your work has some bearing in that.
Just my thinking.
1
u/designablaze 18h ago
Thanks! That is a very valid point. I used to have 5 star reviews consistently. Then left the platform for several years and it seems way harder to have results overall now, including reviews. With this particular customer, he was efusive in the messages about how pleased he was and the result. Hence my confusion and questioning. Thanks for the comment. It makes sense, even if not in this case in my opinion, but maybe for one or two past projects for sure.
2
u/Ill_Obligation922 16h ago
This has happened to me a few times, but, in the end, there are probably two reasons for it.
Maybe they want to see the long-term results of your work. Since the review period is only two weeks, they may not have enough time to properly evaluate the results and end up putting it off until they can no longer leave a review.
The second reason is that some people simply don’t like complaining. They pretend everything is fine even when it isn’t, and not leaving a review is just their way of dealing with it.
In that second case, it’s probably better that they don’t leave a review anyway, lol.
-1
u/JineshGoradia 21h ago
There’s actually a “Request a review” button in the contract. MID CONTRACT REVIEW...You can use it even while the contract is still active — you don’t have to wait until the contract is closed. Also, if the client has paid for one milestone, you can request a review for that completed/paid milestone. I’ve used this option before and found it helpful.
3
-1
21h ago
[deleted]
4
u/Own_Constant_2331 20h ago
Don't. The mid-contract reviews are useless, and if the client isn't inclined to review you, then they're not going to review you mid-contract either.
7
u/Own_Constant_2331 20h ago
I think that people are just suffering from review fatigue. I can't do anything, ever, without being asked for a review - every time I eat out, take a taxi, get a haircut, or purchase anything or any service, I get asked for a review (usually there are 3-4 follow up requests as well) and honestly, I can't be bothered unless something was either really extraordinary or really terrible.
It doesn't harm your profile if every client doesn't leave a review; we work for money, not stars. It sounds like you're mainly resentful that you took a job for less than it was worth. Maybe stop doing that?