I’m a writer with over $40,000 in sales on Fiverr. The website is just one of several I use to find clients, but it is a great option for any first-time Freelancer looking to make money. Below is the strategy I took when first starting out on the site, with proven results and success. In fact, I was able to grow as a freelance writer on Fiverr to the point that most of my income now comes directly to me from clients, and I don’t have to rely on the platform (or lose out on the 20% commission) to work as a freelancer.

That being said, Fiverr is probably the best option for people looking to start out in their creative side hustle to make money from home, with the list of possible services being seemingly endless. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a competitive site with only 1/3 of Sellers making more than $100 a month; however, if you know how to work the system, you’ll be bringing in the orders in just a matter of months.

• 10 Steps to Get Started as a Seller on Fiverr
  • Step 1: Research what’s already being offered
  • Step 2: Learn a little SEO
  • Step 3: Perfect your gig description
  • Step 4: Pricing and delivery
  • Step 5: Have the best gig images
  • Step 6: Add a portfolio
  • Step 7: Getting your (inorganic) first order
  • Step 8: Focus on your inbox response time
  • Step 9: Be flexible
  • Step 10: Reviews
• The Truth About Fiverr

10 Steps to Get Started as a Seller on Fiverr

Step 1: Research what’s already being offered

Search for your skills and explore the pricing and niche you’re interested in offering. It’s unlikely your idea is completely unique, so use your competition to your advantage by writing down the average cost, delivery time, and project size.

Step 2: Learn a little SEO

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimisation, and is essentially the strategy you use to pop up at the top of Fiverr’s search results. To start, lockdown three keywords that best describe your service. These should be short and to the point, for example: editor, book, proofreader. These keywords should then be used in your Gig title and description. From here, try to put yourself in the shoes of a potential client. What might they search for on Fiverr to find your services? These are the phrases that you need to put into your gig’s description.

Step 3: Perfect your gig description

Let’s be specific. The perfect gig description needs to be concise (no more than 500 words), and it should highlight your experience, skills, and flexibility. Make sure to mention any degrees or qualifications, number of years working in this area (or on this skill), and any examples of success. You should also include a bullet point list of what the delivery will contain.

Step 4: Pricing and delivery

Trust me on this, when you’re first starting out, you need to price your gig cheaper than competitors with delivery in 2 days. This might go against your ideal pricing and timeline, but it’ll pay off in the end. Until you have at least five 5-star reviews, your goal is simply to get orders, not to make money just yet. I recommend having the lowest price at $5 and the highest at no more than $15.

Step 5: Have the best gig images

Create clean and clear gig images on Canva. The biggest mistake I see is sellers creating cluttered and unappealing gig cover photos that blend in with the crowd. I recommend going for a sleeker approach that stands out as polished and professional. Using Canva, choose a short slogan that describes your services and place it over a simple background. Avoid images, different fonts, and clashing colours.

Step 6: Add a portfolio

Think about it, would you pay money to someone without seeing any of their work? Make sure to include portfolio pieces in the gig photos, whether that’s an image or a PDF of written work. This is your chance to show proof of your capabilities, so it matters, even if it means spending time making a fake project to upload.

Step 7: Getting your (inorganic) first order

Time to get real. Share your gig with family members and friends and ask them to place an order and leave a 5-star review. This might seem like cheating, but I guarantee it is going to fast-track this process. You’re unlikely to get an order without at least one glowing 5-star review, and think of this as your chance to practice the order and delivery process to clean up any bugs or issues before a real customer reaches out.

Step 8: Focus on your inbox response time

You need to make sure your inbox response time is under 1 hour. This means being ready to respond to messages ASAP. Download the Fiverr app on your phone and enable notifications. Responding as quickly as you can is going to be a priority for the next few weeks. This both makes you look better and more professional to potential clients, and also tells Fiverr that you’re a serious seller. We know this is a metric Fiverr considers when it comes to which sellers they push/prioritise.

Step 9: Be flexible

Truthfully, your first 10 orders will probably be at a loss. However, you will be getting compensated in 5-Star reviews, so get ready to accept negotiations, send custom offers for a low-low rate, and do everything you can to give these customers an exemplary experience worth far more than the price they are paying.

Step 10: Reviews

When delivering your orders, make sure to include the line ‘If you are happy with the work I have delivered, please consider leaving a positive review as it really helps me out as a seller!’ and follow up to ask for a review if the customer forgets. It may feel uncomfortable to ask, but the best way to find success on the Fiverr algorithm is through consistently happy customer feedback.

The Truth About Fiverr

It is worth noting that the site takes a 20% cut of any sale, so once you have the 5-Star reviews rolling in, you might want to factor that into your pricing. As an experienced freelancer, I know how important it is to diversify your client intake strategies, so consider setting up accounts across multiple freelancer platforms simultaneously with Fiverr. I’ll have more posts on these coming soon! Ultimately, your success on any platform is going to come down to two things: high-quality deliverables and customer satisfaction. If you can ace these, then you’re setting yourself up for the best possible chance at success.