Working from home and freelancing have been booming since 2020. 2023 won’t be any different. People are quite quitting their jobs and joining the gig economy. If you are thinking about freelancing or have been a freelancer for a while, then you can earn some extra cash by joining Fiverr. Freelancing on Fiverr can supplement your income and you can turn freelancing into a real business.
Fiverr is an online platform that connects freelancers with potential clients. Basically, anything that you are good at you can offer to potential clients. You can create gigs that match your skillset and that way you can start making money.
In this blog post, I will explain how you can make money freelancing on Fiverr. I will go over the gig creation process and best practices for getting more orders and keeping your reviews high. I will also share some personal experiences as a freelancer on Fiverr for three years.
Fiverr for freelancer and what is offers
Fiverr is an online marketplace that connects freelancers with potential clients. It’s a great way to find gigs that fit your skillset and start making money quickly. It started with freelancers offering services for $5, hence the name Fiverr. But you can now set any price for your gig.
Freelancers, content creators, or entrepreneurs offer their services through gigs. The gig is a name for the Fiverr freelancer offering. You write the listing and explain what you offer in detail; you add images that support your gig (listing); add different prices, and add FAQ at the bottom of your listing (gig).
Let’s say you are a good writer and want to offer your services on Fiverr. You would explain how hiring you would benefit the client, which tone you use in your writing, and which topics you cover. Then, you can add 3 different pricing plans. For example, for $20, you offer 1 article of up to 300 words. For $50, you offer 1 article that is 500 words, and you will also do keyword research. And for $100, you offer 1 article that is 1000 words, and you will also do keyword research and SEO optimization.
On Fiverr, you can find gigs in any category you can think of, so it’s easy to find something that suits your skill set. Some categories have more competition than others, but you can still find something that suits you and then make a better gig than the competitors.
If you don’t know what you can offer on Fiverr, you can read our blog post on best online business ideas. There is also a guide on how to become a content creator.
The best part about Fiverr is that you can work as much or as little as you want. You can work a few hours or work full-time if you want. You can also set your own rates and work on your own schedule.
Benefits of freelancing on Fiverr
There are many benefits to freelancing on Fiverr. For starters, you can access a global marketplace of potential clients. You don’t have to limit yourself to your local area, so that you can find gigs worldwide. That said, you can easily find clients in Canada, Singapore, Australia, or the UK. You get access to all of that.
You also have the flexibility to work when you want. That’s the beauty of freelancing. You can set your own schedule and work as much or as little as you want. You can even set your own rates to ensure you’re getting paid what you’re worth. For every gig, you can set how many days it will take you to complete the order. The best thing is that you can charge extra if clients want it done in 24 hours.
Additionally, Fiverr makes it easy and secure to get paid. Whenever someone makes an order, the client’s money goes to escrow. Once you complete the order, Fiverr will pay you. So you don’t have to worry about not getting paid. Fiverr makes sure that both sides are happy. You can either get your money on your PayPal or Bank account.
What makes Fiverr better than Upwork is that clients contact you first. On Upwork, you have to apply and write proposals because clients write job offerings. And then no one ever contacts you back after you write the proposal. Fiverr is different. You set your gig online, and clients contact you first or order immediately. It’s like having your own job posting that is online constantly, and clients can order your services at any point, day or night. And the best part is that posting gigs on Fiverr is free.
Getting started: Creating an account
The first step to getting started on Fiverr is to create an account. That’s very easy to do and will only take a few minutes. All you need to do is provide your name and email address, and create a password. Your real name won’t show up on Fiverr. You just need to pick your username. If you are a content creator, choose something like contentrank, or firstpagecontent. It really doesn’t matter what you pick but try to make it memorable.
Once you create your account, add a profile image. There are no requirements or restrictions when it comes to profile photos. Or you can choose not to have photo at all.
Also, add a summary on your profile of what you do, what are your skills, and how many years of experience you have.
Once your account is set up, you can start exploring the various gigs and categories. You can search for gigs in your specific area of expertise or browse through all the available gigs. This will help you to generate ideas for your gig and see what your competition is doing and at what price.
How to create a successful gig on Fiverr
It’s time to create your Fiverr gig. This is how potential clients will find you. Once they type in the wanted service in the search bar, your profile/gig will appear.
Gig overview
Fiverr will guide you through the process. Each gig title starts with “I will”, so you should only write what you will do. For example, I want to create a resume writing gig; I will only write in the title: “improve your resume and cover letter”. “I will” automatically be added to your title.
Next, you need to pick the category. My resume writing gig fits into ‘writing & translation’ category. It might happen that you have a gig that fits into multiple categories. That is ok; pick the one that has less competition. You can find out about your competition if you click on one of the categories or type in the wanted skillset in the search bar, and in the top left, Fiverr will give you the number of gigs available in the category.
Then, you need to define gig metadata. Pick a language you are doing your business and the industries you cover.
In the end, add some keywords to your gig. That is how Fiverr algorithm will recognize your gig. I have added: job application, LinkedIn profile, job-winning resume, cover letter.
Setting packages and pricing
Then we move on to Pricing. You have the option to add just one price or have packages. With packages, you can offer multiple services for the same price. I will pick packages because I will add cover letter writing and LinkedIn improvement as additional services.
Write a short description for your gig and the title that best describes your gig.
Also, you need to add how many days it will take you to deliver the service. Also, look at the competition. If your competitor delivers their services within 4 days, then do the same. Or deliver faster.
Add the number of revisions that are allowed for your gig. It happens sometimes that the work you delivered is not what the buyer expected. That is why the buyer will ask for a revision. That is completely ok. However, don’t give too many revisions. If you set the gig description correctly, and if you asked for specifics in your requirements section, then there should be no confusion. I will explain requirements later in the blog post.
Set the price. Setting the price can be tricky, so it’s necessary to research the competition in your category before you set your gig. Look at what others are offering and at what price. Be better than your competitors because people will choose your gig over someone else’s. You can always set a higher price later once you get orders and good reviews. You just need to get your gig going.
Don’t minimize your work. If you feel you can deliver quality work, set a higher price. If you offer more services, better, high-quality services, then your price should reflect that. Word of warning here – Fiverr takes 20% off your orders. So, if you set a price at $100, you will only receive $80. Have that in mind when you set your price.
Fiverr will offer you options, and you can tick the boxes and add services to your gig. This will be offered automatically based on the category you chose in the previous page/step.
You can always add extras, such as fast delivery. You can charge more money because, in the business world, fast delivery is always more expensive, just like the fast shipping option on Amazon.
Fiverr has a new addition that you can add to your gig: subscriptions. You can gain repeat orders with a monthly subscription and offer discounts to encourage sales. You don’t have to have this on. It might not apply to your gig. It really depends on your service.
Writing gig description and FAQ
Then, you move on to the description and FAQ. Writing a good description for your gig is very important. explain in detail what you offer, what the client will get, why the client should hire you, what experience you have, and so on. It’s a sales pitch, and you need to sell your gig. You are limited to 1200 characters, so make it count.
You should also list any special services you offer and explain why you’re the best person for the job.
Additionally, be sure to include any reviews or testimonials you have. Reviews are a great way to build trust and let potential clients know that you’re reliable.
Add spaces and bullet points to your description so it’s easier to read. Highlight and bold important words.
Also, in the end, add a call to action. You can invite the client to contact you before ordering. Or you can invite them to order now. Add a sense of urgency.
FAQ section of your gig is also important. It’s an opportunity for you to add things that didn’t fit in the description. Also, you anticipate what clients might ask you once they contact you.
Add answers to commonly asked questions. Maybe some things are unclear in your gig, and this is where you can explain that. For example, I anticipate for my resume writing gig that clients will expect to get a job immediately after I improve their resume. Of course, I can’t guarantee that. That is why I answer this question in the FAQ section.
Writing the description and FAQ correctly and with enough information will make your job easier. There won’t be any room for confusion once a buyer orders. Hence, you will have less revisions. Explain everything in detail what the buyer should expect and what the complete order will look like.
Adding requirements
Moving on to the requirements section. In this section, you set the questions for your buyers. Once they place an order, they need to fill out the information. If they don’t fill out the information, the order won’t start. Meaning the clock won’t start ticking, and you are no obligated to start working on the order.
Here, you need to ask your buyers to give you information that will help you complete the order. For my resume writing gig, I need their previous resume, the job posting they plan to apply for, and so on. Without this information, it would be hard for me to complete the order.
Always have requirements for your order, and set all questions to ‘required’. You can have multiple-choice questions, attachments, and free text. Use it! If someone orders from you and you don’t have all the requirements, you might lose your earnings.
Why? Because, sometimes buyers order from you, immediately log off from Fiverr and they wait for the deadline. For you as a freelancer, this can be a nightmare. You try to contact your buyers and ask for information, but they never answer.
Once the deadline is passed, you have nothing to deliver because you didn’t have all the information. And you receive a negative review and receive zero money. That is why you should set the requirements for all of your gigs.
Also, requirements will play a crucial role for revisions. Sometimes the buyer asks for a revision of your work even though he/she stated something completely else in the requirements section. Requirements section is like a contract between you and the buyer. You can always refer to the requirements if you feel that buyer is asking revisions that are not justified.
Gig gallery
The last step in setting up your gig is a gallery. This is where you add images that explain your gig. You can also add video to your gig. A video will go through a review. Once it passes the review process, come back and set a thumbnail for your video. This thumbnail will be the cover image for your gig in the search.
If you are not a fan of videos, you can just add images. Make a cover image that attracts potential buyers. Of course, it can’t be misleading. Fiverr is very strict regarding images and videos, so read the guidelines.
That’s all you need to do. You can save your gig, and Fiverr will review it. Freelancing on Fiverr is not difficult, but you need to follow the rules.
Tips for setting competitive prices
When setting your prices on Fiverr, it’s important to ensure they are competitive. Always research other gigs: their descriptions, services, delivery dates, and prices.
You want to ensure you’re getting paid what you’re worth, but you also don’t want to price yourself out of the market. Some freelancers are charging very little for their services. However, their quality might not be as good. That is why you should look at reviews as well. A 3.5 star rating with many completed orders is not the same as 5.0 rating with only a few orders.
Be different from others. Sometimes a small additional service that does not take much of your time might be worth a lot to the buyer. That is your opportunity to set yourself apart.
How to get good reviews on Fiverr
Reviews are an important part of freelancing on Fiverr. Potential clients will look at your reviews when deciding whether to hire you, so you want to ensure you have good reviews.
The best way to get good reviews is to provide high-quality work. Make sure you deliver on time and always exceed expectations. This will show potential clients that you’re reliable and trustworthy.
When delivering a gig, ensure you communicate with the client throughout the process. Be sure to keep them updated on your progress, and let them know if there are any delays.
Once you deliver the order, always write a personal note and encourage buyers to contact you if they have questions. Buyers might need more clarification, or something might be wrong with the delivery and need revision.
Revisions are a part of the process, so don’t worry. Revisions won’t affect your rating. If you deliver an order before a deadline, your ratings are good. That is why revisions do not affect your ratings.
Before you start revising the order, ask clients for more info and clarification, so you know you are on the right track.
Additionally, you can offer discounts or bonuses to encourage clients to leave a review. This is a great way to show appreciation and get the word out about your services.
Keep track of your Analytics
Your analytics is like your profile strength. The better the score, the more likely you will receive your next order. Analytics are crucial to your success as a freelancer on Fiverr.
Things to keep track of: inbox response rate, inbox response time, order response time, delivered on time, and order completion.
Always try to reply to all messages coming into your inbox. Even if you can’t complete the order, decline politely and move on. Inbox response rate affects your overall rating and profile strength.
Inbox response time is how fast you reply to incoming messages. Always try to reply ASAP, preferably within 1 hour. If you can’t, then response window is 24 hours. After that, your ratings will fall drastically and Fiverr algorithm won’t push your gig as often.
Order response time is how often you reply to messages when you have an open order with the buyer. That is why it’s important to answer all questions if you have an open order with the buyer.
Deliver on time is an important factor in leveling up. Maintaining the standard is important. Complete 90% of your orders, over the course of 60 days and you can level up faster.
Your profile is reviewed periodically. The last 60 days matter for all of your ratings.
Dos and don’ts – Freelacing on Fiverr
Here is a quick overview and best practices if you are freelancing on Fiverr.
| Dos | Don’ts |
|---|---|
| Respond to inbox messages ASAP | Argue with clients |
| Have a portfolio of your previous work ready to share. This can be a PDF, Dropbox link or something else | Be rude |
| Respond politely, even if you decline an order | Share your personal info (name, address, email, phone number) |
| Update buyers regularly | Ask for direct payments |
| Set revisions for your gig | Accept direct payments (PayPal, bank transfer) |
