Changes to the Shopify Partners Marketplace

[cc101Studios]

We have been Shopify Experts for 12+ years and have enjoyed the referrals that come with this partner association, however recently we're lost in the ranking of Shopify Experts a merchant can search for an locate - is anyone else experiencing this issue? Shopify Support claims,

"Our team has advised that we have now fully sunset Experts Marketplace, and with it the creation of Jobs and matching in the marketplace. We are however actively investing in sending all merchant traffic to the new Directory and ways to better connect more merchants directly with partners via the Directory. Although partner listings in the new Directory are default sorted similar to as they were in Experts Marketplace, based on partner performance and quality, this is still going through a major adjustment that is ongoing to the present moment. We are still migrating data from current surfaces to ensure partners are able to maintain the credibility gained, and focused on prioritizing connecting merchants to partners we know are doing great work in the ecosystem... the only thing we can really say at this point is that sorting and listings are still in the process of being optimized."

Does this seem like a reasonable explanation? What is anyone else experiencing? 

[WhiteWater_Web]

We cannot argue with this; the recent changes have for sure changed how jobs, and/or direct messages come into the partner. 

We have been working with Shopify for over 17 years (one of the first experts/partners), and we too have experienced a change in inbound leads. Thankfully word of mouth and existing client work keep us busy - but the recent change has had effects.

Take care.

WhiteWater Web

[cc101Studios]

Appreciate your feedback and professional response, we too are fortunate to have continued referral business from outside the Marketplace and we provide other services beyond web so that too has been beneficial but it’s oddly reassuring to know other longtime experts are feeling the run from Shopify’s recent changes. 

[PaulNewton]

How is that not a reasonable response, the system is sunset, i.e. dead , is an explanation even needed.

If there's an issue in the directory submit feedback to the partner support then move on it's not in your control.

[WhiteWater_Web]

Are you referring to our response? It was an observation in the form of a response to the poster, as we agree recent changes to the program have changed the way partners receive inquiries now (in the same way as recent changes have impacted how apps are ranked in display).

That said it can’t hurt to contact the Shopify Partner team with this feedback; to be fair the original poster may have already done this - they are just using this ‘community’ conduit to discuss it with other folks.

Cheers.

WhiteWater Web

[cc101Studios]

Yes, I copied the feedback from Shopify Support in my original post.

Going public was a win for Shopify shareholders not so much for the experts that for them there nor the merchants who afford their multi billion dollar profits.

[cc101Studios]

Well, that is probably one of the most inhospitable, rude and unaccommodating responses from a fellow Shopify Expert I have received in probably 12 years. @WhiteWater_Web again thank you for your respectful reply.