Hi all,
Wanted to jump in to provide transparency.
We created this new system with the intention to help agencies win deals more easily and also provide more inclusivity toward agencies of all sizes.
- Does the new system make it harder to win projects?
No, the new system should make it easier, not harder, to win deals. Previously, for every client, you would have to compete against hundreds of other agencies (within 48 hours, a client might receive 60–80 emails from agencies); consequently, clients who were overwhelmed by these emails would have difficulty managing their responses. With this new system, clients send proposals to only three to five agencies. This makes it more likely for clients to move forward with a partner rather than abandon their build completely. It also makes it more likely for the agency to win a deal as they’re now competing in a pool of three to five, rather than hundreds.
- How will this change impact smaller agencies?
We made these improvements to help increase visibility for smaller agencies. The agencies we show are based on how many fields they match with the customer, and agency preference is one of those fields. If a freelancer appears in the top three matches shown, they will receive the lead as long as the user submits the proposal. Allowing users the choice to work with freelancers creates more visibility for the freelancer audience.
- How do we match users, and how does tiering play a role?
In terms of how we match users, beyond developer preference, we use languages, primary services, project type (new vs. ongoing), budgets (minimum fixed fee) to find three best-fit agencies to recommend. We always try to include one Gold agency partner in the top three matches (assuming they meet the users’ criteria). This is why you might see a Gold agency in your match results even if you selected freelancer for your developer preference.
To learn more about how we match, you can read more in our Support articles here.
I’ll let my colleague, Théo, Manager of our Agency Partnerships, share more about our certification and tiering requirements in the thread below.
If you have any further questions, or want to learn more about these updates, please reach out to partnerships@bubble.io or check out other FAQs listed below: