If you’re a creator, you’ve probably considered selling your services on Fiverr. But if online reviews on Fiverr are anything to go by, you’re probably not enthused about the platform.
Fiverr seems like an overcrowded marketplace. After all, there are over 2.3 million sellers on the platform — spanning over 160 countries.
But if you’re trying to kickstart your freelancing career, you can still be successful on Fiverr. Take it from me — a certified Fiverr Pro Member who used to make anywhere between $2,000 and $3,000 per month on the platform.
I learned some valuable lessons on the journey to my first $10,000 on Fiverr. And I wish someone had shared these tips with me back when I started.
Read on to discover three critical things I’d recommend to any beginner looking to make money on Fiverr.
Before hiring you, most clients want to see the work you’ve done. They want to know if you can actually deliver what you advertise. That’s why you should create a portfolio to give an overview of your work experience.
Your portfolio is a compilation of your previous work. It is a curated display of your expertise. It could be:
- A collection of your old published articles
- Your best graphic designs
- Samples of your past video or audio productions
Creating a portfolio doesn’t mean merely dumping all your past work into a folder your potential clients have to sift through. You need to make it easy for them to find relevant samples right away — or else they’ll likely move on to the next freelancer.
Include only the best and most relevant pieces. Your portfolio should give your prospects the best impression possible.
Now, if you’re a beginner, you may not have previous work to show. That’s understandable — you haven’t won your first client on Fiverr yet.
But don’t worry. There are ways you can showcase your abilities before getting hired. Here’s what you can do to fill that gap:
- Do some work for your friends or exchange favors
- Use mock work (samples)
- Reach out to local businesses and offer your services to gain experience
- Make your family business the first client
- Do volunteer work for charities and not-for-profit organizations
- Participate in competitions
Just remember to do this work through Fiverr. Ask your offline clients to submit order requests through the platform.
Once you have the work experience for your portfolio, it’s time to showcase it on Fiverr.
You can do so using Fiverr’s Live Portfolio. This feature enables prospects to view your previous work done on the platform. That makes it easier for them to assess whether you’re the right fit for the job.
Creating a portfolio may take time in the early stages of your freelancing journey, but it will be well worth it for your future gigs.
A great portfolio helps you make money on Fiverr. The more appealing your portfolio is, the higher your chances of landing higher-paying clients.
2. Build Your Credibility With Reviews
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Put yourself in the client’s shoes. How would you tell if a freelancer is trustworthy? How do you know if they’re reliable and will deliver your work on time?
One key thing you’d look at is Fiverr reviews.
But if you’re a rookie, you probably won’t have any ratings. So, how do you get clients to use your services?
Two ways:
You’ll have to either bid vigorously for your first gig or wait until someone finds your portfolio noteworthy.
You can use your existing clients outside Fiverr. Ask them to buy your services and leave you a good rating. That’s a legitimate way of gaining social proof, unlike some users who resort to buying or faking reviews.
Ideally, you want to aim for 5-star Fiverr ratings. High ratings can propel you up the rankings and help you build a good reputation on the platform.
To get a good review from your clients, take note of the following:
- Good communication — Be honest and respectful with your clients whenever you speak to them. Make it pleasant for them to talk with you and be transparent, supplying regular updates throughout the process so your clients always know what’s going on. Also, Fiverr measures your response rate, so you want to always respond to any questions within 24 hours. Consider setting an alarm that reminds you to check your messages every day.
- Excellent service — Deliver excellent work that meets your client’s requirements. Remember, Fiverr was created to serve your client, not you, which means that your client is Fiverr’s top priority. In short, the customer is always right.
- Deliver work on time — Always deliver your work within the agreed period. If you anticipate any delays, let your client know in good time.
As you receive more good reviews, your Fiverr Seller Level will increase. To buyers, that’s a good sign that your credibility is increasing. As this happens, you’ll start gaining more gig orders. Fiverr claims that higher-level sellers gain more traffic and I would concur based on my experience.
So if you want to make money on Fiverr, getting 5-star reviews is essential.
Try to present your gig creatively. You want prospects to see you and know what you offer — with not much more than just a glance.
Most clients lack the time to go through every freelancer’s gig description before making their choice. That means your gig has to stand out from the rest.
So, how do you do that?
If you’re just starting out, creating an engaging and unique gig will fast-track you to success on Fiverr.
You can do so by:
- Niching down in a category
- Finding out unique and often overlooked client needs
- Using awesome, eye-catching visuals
Take the example of Owais Usman, a video editor on Fiverr. Although video editors are a dime a dozen on the platform, Owais has succeeded where many others didn’t.
Why? Because he focuses on creating funny gaming videos. Concentrating on this niche sets him apart from other video editors.
Also, check out Simple_Social, who knows precisely what his clients are looking for. By targeting companies that struggle with product descriptions that convert, he stands out from other writers with similar gig descriptions. He’s completed over 2,000 gigs on Fiverr so far.
Another way to be creative is to incorporate stunning visuals in your gig, like graphic designer Ideahits. He demonstrates his artistic prowess in his portfolio, which immediately strikes an impression on potential clients. If you can design great images for your gig cover, you can stand out from your competition.
Create your own identity. Be unique in how you present yourself. Try to be different from the norm, and you can attract enough attention to start making money on Fiverr.
Final Thoughts: 3 Crucial Tips for Beginners To Make Money on Fiverr
In a nutshell, freelancing on Fiverr from scratch is 100% possible.
To make money on Fiverr, you just need to jump over some hurdles that most clients have when dealing with freelancers.
Even if you’re a beginner on Fiverr, your profile should look professional, not amateurish. If you’ve never taken a side gig before, you can still make your services attractive by:
- Creating a portfolio of relevant work
- Building relationships with your clients and getting positive reviews
- Coming up with unique gigs and creative solutions to your client’s problems
You won’t become a Fiverr star overnight, but you’ll grow steadily as long as you stay consistent. If you want help along the way, check out my comprehensive guide to making money as a Fiverr freelancer. It offers guidance on gig images and descriptions, setting expectations, leveling up, selling yourself, and getting good reviews from clients.
And once you’re ready to start, open a Fiverr account in less than five minutes to start your journey.
