Are you excited to start making money on Fiverr? It’s a great place to show off your skills and earn some extra cash. But hold on! There are some big mistakes that new sellers often make. These mistakes can make it hard to get jobs and keep customers happy. Don’t worry, though! We’re here to help you avoid these common errors.
In this article, we’ll talk about 12 mistakes you should stay away from when you’re new to Fiverr. By learning about these mistakes, you can do better and make more money on the platform. Let’s dive in and learn how to be a successful Fiverr seller!
1. Not Completing Your Profile
When you start on Fiverr, one of the biggest mistakes you can make is not filling out your profile completely. Your profile is like your shop window. It’s the first thing buyers see when they look at your gigs. If your profile is empty or has very little information, buyers might not trust you. They might think you’re not serious about your work.
To avoid this mistake, take time to fill out every part of your profile. Here are some important things to include:
- A clear, friendly profile picture
- A detailed description of your skills and experience
- Examples of your past work
- Your education and any certifications you have
Remember to use keywords that describe your skills. This helps buyers find you when they search for services. For example, if you’re a writer, use words like “content creation,” “blog writing,” or “copywriting” in your profile.
Also, don’t forget to add a video introduction if you can. A video helps buyers see the real you. It makes them feel like they know you better. This can make them more likely to choose you for their project.
Lastly, keep your profile up-to-date. As you complete more jobs and gain new skills, add them to your profile. This shows buyers that you’re always improving and learning new things.
By having a complete, detailed profile, you’re telling buyers that you’re professional and trustworthy. This can help you get more orders and make more money on Fiverr.
2. Setting Prices Too Low
When you’re new to Fiverr, you might think that setting very low prices will help you get more orders. This is a big mistake! While low prices might attract some buyers at first, they can hurt you in the long run.
Here’s why setting your prices too low is a bad idea:
- You might not earn enough to cover your time and effort
- Buyers might think your work is low quality because it’s so cheap
- You’ll have a hard time raising your prices later
Instead of setting very low prices, think about the value of your work. How much time does it take you to complete a project? What special skills do you have? Use these things to decide on a fair price.
Remember, it’s okay to start with prices that are a little lower than more experienced sellers. But don’t go too low. You want to attract buyers who value quality work and are willing to pay for it.
Here are some tips for pricing your services:
- Look at what other sellers with similar skills are charging
- Think about the time and effort each project will take
- Consider any costs you have, like software or equipment
- Set a price that allows you to deliver high-quality work
As you get more experience and good reviews, you can slowly increase your prices. This is called price anchoring. It means starting at a certain price and then moving up over time.
By setting fair prices from the start, you show buyers that you value your work. This can help you attract serious buyers who want quality services. It also means you’ll earn more for each project you complete.
3. Overpromising and Underdelivering
One of the biggest mistakes new Fiverr sellers make is promising too much and not delivering what they promised. This is called overpromising and underdelivering. It can really hurt your reputation on Fiverr.
When you’re eager to get orders, you might be tempted to say yes to everything a buyer asks for. You might promise to do things very quickly or offer extra services for free. But if you can’t actually do these things, you’ll end up with unhappy buyers.
Here’s why overpromising is bad:
- It can lead to bad reviews
- Buyers might ask for refunds
- You might feel stressed trying to do more than you can handle
To avoid this mistake, follow these tips:
- Be honest about what you can do
- Set realistic deadlines for your work
- Only offer services you’re sure you can provide
- Communicate clearly with buyers about what they’ll get
It’s better to underpromise and overdeliver. This means promising a little less than you think you can do, and then surprising the buyer by doing even better. For example, if you think you can finish a job in 3 days, tell the buyer it will take 4 days. Then, if you finish early, the buyer will be happy!
Remember, on Fiverr, your reputation is very important. Good reviews and happy buyers will help you get more orders. By being honest and delivering what you promise (or even a little more), you’ll build a strong reputation.
Don’t be afraid to say no to requests you can’t fulfill. It’s better to turn down a job than to take it and do a bad job. Buyers will respect you for being honest about your abilities.
By avoiding overpromising, you’ll have happier buyers, better reviews, and less stress. This will help you succeed and make more money on Fiverr in the long run.
4. Neglecting Customer Communication
A big mistake many new Fiverr sellers make is not talking enough with their customers. Good communication is very important for success on Fiverr. When you don’t communicate well, buyers might get confused or upset. This can lead to bad reviews and fewer orders.
Here’s why good communication is so important:
- It helps buyers understand what you’re doing
- It shows that you care about the buyer’s project
- It can prevent misunderstandings and problems
To avoid this mistake, try these tips:
- Answer messages quickly, even if it’s just to say you’ll reply soon
- Ask questions if you’re not sure what the buyer wants
- Give regular updates on how the work is going
- Be polite and friendly in all your messages
Remember, buyers can’t see you working. They don’t know what’s happening unless you tell them. Even if you’re busy working on their project, take a moment to let them know how things are going.
Use clear and simple language when you talk to buyers. This helps make sure they understand you. If English isn’t your first language, it’s okay to use a translation tool to help you. Just make sure the meaning is clear.
Sometimes, buyers might ask for changes or have questions. Don’t ignore these messages or get upset. Instead, see them as a chance to make the buyer happy. Respond calmly and try to find a solution that works for both of you.
Good communication can also help you get more work. When buyers see that you’re easy to talk to, they’re more likely to order from you again. They might even recommend you to their friends!
By focusing on good communication, you’ll build better relationships with your buyers. This can lead to more orders, better reviews, and more success on Fiverr.
5. Ignoring Buyer Requirements
Another big mistake new Fiverr sellers often make is not paying attention to what buyers ask for. Each buyer has specific needs for their project. When you ignore these needs, you’re likely to end up with unhappy customers.
Here’s why ignoring buyer requirements is a bad idea:
- It can lead to revisions, which take up more of your time
- Buyers might ask for refunds if they don’t get what they wanted
- You could get bad reviews, which hurt your chances of getting future orders
To avoid this mistake, follow these steps:
- Read the buyer’s instructions carefully
- Ask questions if anything is unclear
- Make a list of all the requirements
- Check your work against this list before you deliver it
It’s important to practice active listening when dealing with buyers. This means really trying to understand what they want, not just hearing their words. If a buyer gives you a lot of information, try repeating the main points back to them. This shows you’re paying attention and helps make sure you understand everything correctly.
Sometimes, buyers might ask for things that are hard to do or that cost extra. Don’t ignore these requests. Instead, talk to the buyer about them. Explain what you can do within the current order, and what might need an extra fee or more time.
Remember, every buyer is different. What worked for one project might not work for another. Always treat each order as unique and pay close attention to what that specific buyer wants.
If you’re not sure you can meet all the buyer’s requirements, it’s better to say so upfront. You could suggest alternatives or explain what parts of the request you can fulfill. Being honest from the start is better than promising something you can’t deliver.
By carefully following buyer requirements, you’ll create work that makes your customers happy. This leads to good reviews, repeat customers, and more success on Fiverr.
6. Not Delivering on Time
Being late with your work is a big no-no on Fiverr. When you don’t deliver on time, you break the promise you made to the buyer. This can make buyers very unhappy and hurt your reputation on the platform.
Here’s why being late is bad:
- Buyers might cancel their order
- You could get bad reviews
- Fiverr might lower your seller level
- You might lose out on future orders
To avoid this mistake, try these tips:
- Set realistic deadlines for yourself
- Start working on orders right away
- Use a calendar to keep track of due dates
- Leave some extra time in case of problems
It’s important to understand time management. This means using your time wisely so you can finish your work on schedule. Break big projects into smaller parts. This makes them easier to handle and helps you see how much progress you’re making.
If you think you might be late, tell the buyer as soon as possible. Don’t wait until the last minute. Explain why you’re running behind and when you expect to finish. Many buyers will understand if you’re honest with them.
Remember, it’s better to deliver high-quality work a little late (with the buyer’s okay) than to rush and do a bad job just to meet the deadline. But always try your best to finish on time.
Some sellers use time-blocking to help them stay on schedule. This means setting aside specific times of the day for different tasks. For example, you might work on Fiverr orders in the morning and answer messages in the afternoon.
If you find you’re often running late, it might be a sign that you’re taking on too much work. It’s okay to turn down orders if you’re too busy. It’s better to do a few jobs well than to do many jobs poorly.
By delivering your work on time, you show buyers that you’re reliable and professional. This can lead to repeat customers, good reviews, and more success on Fiverr.
7. Lack of Quality Control
When you’re new to Fiverr, you might be in a rush to finish orders and make money. But if you don’t check your work carefully, you might send work with mistakes. This is called a lack of quality control, and it’s a big mistake.
Here’s why poor quality control is bad:
- Buyers might ask for lots of changes
- You could get bad reviews
- Buyers might not want to use your services again
- Your reputation on Fiverr could be hurt
To avoid this mistake, try these tips:
- Take your time and don’t rush your work
- Double-check everything before you send it
- Ask someone else to look at your work if you can
- Use tools to help you find mistakes
It’s important to develop a quality assurance process. This means having steps you always follow to make sure your work is good. For example, if you’re a writer, you might:
- Write the first draft
- Take a break
- Read it over and make changes
- Use a spell-checker
- Read it out loud to catch any odd-sounding sentences
Remember, every mistake you catch before sending your work is one less problem the buyer will find. This saves you time in the long run and keeps your buyers happy.
If you’re not sure about something in your work, it’s okay to ask the buyer for feedback before you finish. They might have ideas that can help you improve the final product.
Some sellers use the Pomodoro Technique to help them focus and do better work. This means working for 25 minutes, then taking a 5-minute break. This can help you stay focused and catch more mistakes.
If English isn’t your first language, consider using tools like Grammarly to help you catch errors. For other types of work, look for similar tools that can help you improve your quality.
By focusing on quality control, you’ll deliver better work to your buyers. This leads to happier customers, better reviews, and more success on Fiverr.
8. Not Asking for Feedback
Many new Fiverr sellers make the mistake of not asking buyers for feedback. They might feel shy or think that if the buyer liked their work, they’ll leave a review on their own. But not asking for feedback can slow down your growth on Fiverr.
Here’s why not asking for feedback is a problem:
- You miss chances to improve your work
- Buyers might forget to leave reviews
- You don’t get as many positive reviews as you could
- It’s harder to move up to higher seller levels on Fiverr
To avoid this mistake, try these tips:
- Ask for feedback after every order
- Make it easy for buyers to give feedback
- Thank buyers for their feedback, even if it’s not all positive
- Use the feedback to make your work better
Asking for feedback is part of good customer relationship management. It shows buyers that you care about their opinion and want to do your best work for them.
When you ask for feedback, be specific. Instead of just saying “Please leave a review,” you could ask:
- “Was there anything about the work that you especially liked?”
- “Is there anything you think I could improve for next time?”
- “Would you mind leaving a quick review about your experience?”
Remember, feedback isn’t just about getting good reviews. It’s also about learning how to do better. Even if a buyer is happy, they might have ideas that could help you improve your service.
Some sellers use a technique called the feedback sandwich. This means asking for positive feedback, then areas for improvement, then ending with another positive point. For example:
- “What did you like best about the work?”
- “Is there anything you think could be better?”
- “Would you use my services again in the future?”
If a buyer gives you negative feedback, don’t get upset. Thank them for their honesty and ask how you can do better next time. This shows that you’re professional and eager to improve.
By regularly asking for feedback, you’ll get more reviews, learn how to improve your services, and grow your business on Fiverr faster.
9. Failing to Upsell or Offer Packages
A common mistake new Fiverr sellers make is not offering extra services or packages to their buyers. This is called failing to upsell. When you don’t upsell, you miss out on chances to earn more money from each order.
Here’s why not upselling is a problem:
- You earn less money per buyer
- Buyers might go to other sellers for extra services
- You don’t show the full range of what you can do
- You miss chances to build bigger projects with buyers
To avoid this mistake, try these tips:
- Create different packages for your services (basic, standard, premium)
- Offer extra services that go well with your main gig
- Suggest upgrades that could help the buyer’s project
- Explain the benefits of your higher-priced options
Upselling is part of good sales psychology. It’s not about tricking buyers into spending more. It’s about showing them options that could make their project even better.
When you create packages, think about what buyers might need. For example, if you’re a logo designer, your packages could look like this:
- Basic: One logo design, 2 revisions
- Standard: Two logo designs, 3 revisions, source files
- Premium: Three logo designs, unlimited revisions, source files, social media kit
Remember, not every buyer will want the most expensive option. But by offering choices, you let buyers decide what’s best for their needs and budget.
Some sellers use a technique called value laddering. This means starting with your basic service and slowly suggesting more valuable options. For example:
- “Here’s what’s included in the basic package.”
- “For just $10 more, you can get these extra features.”
- “Our premium package includes everything you might need, and it’s our best value.”
When you suggest upgrades or extra services, always explain how they will help the buyer. Don’t just list features. Tell them the benefits. For example, “Adding a social media kit will help you use your new logo across all platforms, making your brand look professional everywhere.”
By offering upsells and packages, you give buyers more options and increase your chances of earning more from each order. This can help you grow your Fiverr business faster.
10. Not Specializing or Niching Down
Many new Fiverr sellers try to offer too many different services. They think that by doing everything, they’ll get more orders. But this is often a mistake. Not specializing, or not choosing a specific niche, can actually make it harder to succeed on Fiverr.
Here’s why not specializing is a problem:
- It’s hard to be really good at many different things
- Buyers might not see you as an expert in anything
- You have to compete with more sellers
- It’s harder to stand out in search results
To avoid this mistake, try these tips:
- Choose a specific area to focus on
- Become really good at that one thing
- Show how your specialty can help buyers
- Use keywords related to your niche in your gig titles and descriptions
Specializing is about finding your unique selling proposition. This means figuring out what makes you different from other sellers. When you specialize, you become known for doing one thing really well.
Think about what you’re best at and what you enjoy doing. Maybe you’re great at writing about health topics, or you love designing logos for pet businesses. Whatever it is, focus on that.
Here are some examples of how you could niche down:
- Instead of “I’ll write any kind of article,” try “I’ll write health and wellness articles for busy moms”
- Instead of “I’ll design any logo,” try “I’ll design modern, minimalist logos for tech startups”
Remember, when you specialize, you’re not saying no to all other work. You’re just focusing on what you do best. This helps buyers find you when they need exactly what you offer.
Some sellers use a technique called niche stacking. This means choosing 2-3 related specialties that work well together. For example, you might offer logo design, business card design, and social media graphics, all for small businesses.
When you describe your specialized services, use words that your ideal buyers would use. This helps your gigs show up when those buyers search on Fiverr. For example, if you specialize in writing for medical websites, use terms like “medical content writer” or “healthcare blogger” in your gig titles and descriptions.
By specializing, you can become known as an expert in your niche. This can lead to higher-paying jobs, repeat customers, and more success on Fiverr.
11. Neglecting to Update and Improve Gigs
One big mistake that new Fiverr sellers often make is setting up their gigs and then forgetting about them. They don’t update their gigs or try to make them better over time. This is called neglecting to update and improve gigs, and it can really hold you back on Fiverr.
Here’s why not updating your gigs is a problem:
- Your gigs might start to look old and outdated
- You might miss new trends in your field
- Buyers might think you’re not active on Fiverr
- Your gigs might not show up as often in search results
To avoid this mistake, try these tips:
- Look at your gigs every few weeks
- Update your samples with your best new work
- Change your gig descriptions to include new skills you’ve learned
- Add new services or packages based on what buyers are asking for
Updating your gigs is part of good search engine optimization (SEO) on Fiverr. When you make changes to your gigs, Fiverr sees that you’re active and might show your gigs more often in search results.
Here are some things you should regularly update:
- Your profile picture and description
- The samples in your portfolio
- Your gig images and videos
- Your pricing and packages
Remember, Fiverr is always changing, and so are buyer needs. What worked well last year might not be as popular now. Stay up to date with trends in your field and adjust your gigs to match what buyers want.
Some sellers use a technique called A/B testing for their gigs. This means having two slightly different versions of a gig and seeing which one gets more orders. You could try different titles, descriptions, or images to see what works best.
When you update your gigs, think about the buyer’s journey. This means thinking about what a buyer needs to know and see to choose your gig. Make sure your gig answers their questions and shows why you’re the best choice.
Also, don’t forget to remove any old information or outdated offers. If you used to offer a service that you no longer provide, take it out of your gig description. This helps avoid confusion and disappointment for buyers.
By regularly updating and improving your gigs, you show buyers that you’re active and always working to offer the best service. This can help you get more orders and succeed on Fiverr.
12. Not Learning from Competitors
The last big mistake many new Fiverr sellers make is not paying attention to what other sellers are doing. They don’t look at other gigs in their category or learn from successful sellers. This is called not learning from competitors, and it can slow down your growth on Fiverr.
Here’s why not learning from competitors is a problem:
- You might miss good ideas for your own gigs
- You don’t know what prices other sellers are charging
- You might not understand what buyers in your category want
- You could fall behind on new trends or services
To avoid this mistake, try these tips:
- Look at the top-rated sellers in your category
- See what kinds of gigs are getting lots of orders
- Read reviews to see what buyers like and don’t like
- Think about how you can make your gigs different and better
Learning from competitors is not about copying them. It’s about understanding what works well on Fiverr and how you can stand out. This is called competitive analysis.
When you look at other sellers, pay attention to things like:
- How they describe their services
- What their gig images and videos look like
- What extra services they offer
- How they respond to buyer questions
Remember, every seller on Fiverr is different. You don’t want to be exactly like anyone else. Instead, use what you learn to make your own gigs better and more unique.
Some sellers use a technique called SWOT analysis. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. You can use this to think about your gigs compared to others:
- Strengths: What do you do better than other sellers?
- Weaknesses: Where could you improve?
- Opportunities: What new services could you offer?
- Threats: What might make buyers choose other sellers instead of you?
When you learn from competitors, also pay attention to what they’re not doing. Maybe there’s a service that no one else offers, or a type of buyer that other sellers are ignoring. These could be great opportunities for you.
Also, don’t just look at sellers in your exact category. Sometimes you can get great ideas from sellers in related fields. For example, if you’re a writer, you might get inspiration from graphic designers about how to present your work visually.
By learning from competitors, you can improve your own gigs faster and find ways to stand out on Fiverr. This can help you get more orders and be more successful.
FAQs
How long does it take to start making money on Fiverr?
It’s different for everyone. Some sellers get their first order in a few days, while others might wait a few weeks. The key is to have great gigs and to keep trying.
Do I need special skills to sell on Fiverr?
You need skills that other people want to pay for. This could be anything from writing to graphic design to voice acting. Think about what you’re good at and how it can help others.
How many gigs should I create when starting out?
It’s usually better to start with a few really good gigs rather than lots of okay ones. Try creating 3-5 gigs that show your best skills.
Is it okay to copy other successful sellers?
No, you shouldn’t copy others exactly. But you can learn from what they do well and use those ideas to make your own unique gigs.
What if a buyer asks for more than what’s in my gig?
Talk to the buyer about what they need. You might be able to offer it as an extra service. If it’s too much, politely explain what you can do within the current order.
How do I handle negative feedback?
Stay calm and professional. Thank the buyer for their feedback and ask how you can make things better. Use what you learn to improve your service.
Can I work on Fiverr full-time?
Yes, many people do. But it usually takes time to build up to that level. Start by treating it seriously and giving great service, and you can grow your Fiverr business over time.
