How to Make Money on Fiverr: How Much Can You Really Earn?

Remote work has garnered considerable popularity since the start of telecommuting. Freelance platforms like Fiverr sprang up to take it a little further through the promotion of the gig economy. It created an online marketplace that enabled freelancers to connect with potential customers in need of their digital services. 

The beauty of these platforms is that it doesn’t matter what you’re advertising, you’ll always come across potential clients who need your services. So, how much can you make on Fiverr? Read on to learn the answer and gather all of the information you need to begin using the platform. 

What Is Fiverr?

Fiverr is a leading global online freelance platform that allows on-demand professionals and potential buyers and clients from different parts of the world to connect. They can exchange one-off or recurring services called gigs for money and star reviews. To succeed on this platform, you need a comprehensive understanding of content creation and content marketing. 

Fiverr was founded in Tel Aviv, Israel in 2010, and started with the idea of transforming human business interactions by pioneering a service-as-a-product model for businesses and freelancers through an on-demand service concept. Today, this idea has created a fair socio-economic marketplace to empower a diverse and inclusive workforce. 

According to the September 2021 third-quarter reports, Fiverr generated revenue of about $74.3 million from its 4.1 million active buyers and has a 42 percent year-over-year growth, despite bad reviews and backlash from the public. Job seekers can take control of their careers by becoming Fiverr freelancers and it is quite easy to get started.

How Does Fiverr Work?

Fiverr provides a digital market for buyers and sellers to converge. For buyers and sellers to gain access to the market, they need to sign up for free and create a buyer or seller account. To conduct transactions on this platform, whether as a freelancer or purchaser, you need to carry out a one-time verification using an official government-issued identification document.

Sellers generally have to choose one or more services from a wide range of service categories including graphic design, writing and translation, programming, digital marketing, music and audio, business, and data science. The freelancer creates a single Fiverr gig with a fixed rate or varying gig packages with different price points for the prospective buyer to pick from. 

The gig buyers review the gig description for each service and make a request after agreeing to the upfront project-based pricing system, meaning buyers make advance payments before projects begin. To protect buyers, payments are held until the purchased service is delivered by the seller, then it is reviewed and approved by the buyer. 

How Much Can You Actually Make on Fiverr?

As Fiverr is a freelance website, professionals using it are largely in charge of how much they make. As a Fiverr Freelancer, you decide your rate, how many projects you want to take on, and how many services you want to provide. Many freelancers use this platform as a part-time or full-time job, while others use it for extra income. 

According to Fiverr’s third-quarter results in September 2021, buyers spend an average amount of $234 as a completion rate per project. Judging by the four million active buyers, with an optimal marketing strategy and efficient service delivery you can make a decent income on Fiverr.

The Pros and Cons of Working on Fiverr

Fiverr is undoubtedly one of the most popular freelance platforms in the industry. Many professionals and clients have benefited from the opportunities presented by the platform. However, there are also less attractive aspects of using Fiverr. Below we’ve listed some of the main pros and cons of using Fiverr. 

Pros of Working on Fiverr

• It is easy to set up an account. Unlike other freelance sites that require you to follow a long process to apply and join, Fiverr allows you to set up your account without much hassle. The only requirement you need to start selling is your laptop and a stable internet connection. 
• Clients come to you. As a seller, you don’t have to bid for gigs. Fiverr takes on promotional marketing for sellers who have created their profile and gig offers. All you have to do is ensure your profile is well-positioned and the platform does the connecting, allowing you to focus on making a decent income through your services to buyers. 
• Sellers have access to freelance resources. Even as a beginner with little or no sales experience, you can still make sales by learning the techniques needed to sell your gigs. Fiverr offers a steady flow of freelance resources, including marketing and branding guides, Fiverr’s news blog, customer support, and a community of other freelancers. 
• You create your own schedule. Fiverr allows you to set your rate, your working schedule, and your services. This is one of the reasons many freelancers enjoy working on the platform. The flexibility allows you to structure your professional growth at your own pace. You can maintain multiple income streams by offering a variety of services on Fiverr.
• There’s equal opportunity. There is no discrimination based on nationality, gender, race, religion, skill, or experience level when setting up an account on the platform as a seller. Fiverr gives all sellers equal opportunity to be successful on the platform. 

Cons of Working on Fiverr

• The buyers have the advantage in a transaction. Fiverr doesn’t provide payment security for sellers on the platform. When a project has been submitted by the seller, it is up to the buyer to review and approve payment for the seller. If the buyer is unsatisfied with the completed project, the platform offers no compensation to the seller. 
• Fiverr takes 20 percent of your earnings. For every Fiverr gig, you are paid for, the platform takes a 20 percent cut as a service fee. Sadly, this factor is common with most popular freelance marketplaces. 
• There are many competitors. Whatever service you want to offer has to fit into the service categories provided by the platform. This increases the likelihood of many sellers offering the same gig. As such, you might go weeks without being contacted for your services since several other freelancers are offering the same service. 
• You might have to undercharge for your work. Most of the sellers on Fiverr have had to adopt a low pricing strategy as a way to differentiate their service from the large pool of similar gig offerings. This is to ensure that they stay on top of the competition. This leads to freelancers offering low prices for high-value services. 
• Buyer reviews impact your popularity. Once a project has been completed, the buyer will be asked to leave a review of the seller. You can’t access client feedback until you’ve provided feedback yourself. Bad reviews can mean fewer projects and in turn, less income.

How to Become a Fiverr Freelancer

It is pretty easy to become a Fiverr freelancer. However, to succeed as a Fiverr seller you need to choose your niche and properly market it. Once you have chosen and developed the skill you want to offer, you can follow the steps listed below to become a Fiverr freelancer and start selling. 

1. Sign-up and Create Your Seller Profile

To sign up as a buyer, go to the platform’s home page and click the “join” button to input your email address. The next step will be to pick a username and password. Then, you wait for an activation email. Once received, open and click on it. You’ll be taken to your new account. 

To become a seller, click on your new profile picture and select the “become a seller” button from the menu. You’ll be redirected to a new page. Follow the instructions on the page to create your profile. As part of your seller account set-up, you’ll be asked to watch a video on becoming a successful Fiverr freelancer.

2. Verify your account

As part of the policy for having an account on the platform, Fiverr will ask you to verify your account. This occurs when you see a notification in your email asking you to do so. The data you provide to Fiverr is used to verify your identity. It will not be disclosed as public information or for marketing purposes. 

To verify your account, you would need to have a valid government identification card. Fiverr is strict with this rule. You can use an international passport, a driver’s license, or any other government-issued identification document. The process involves taking a real-time picture of your document and then a selfie. This stage is necessary if you want to trade on Fiverr.

3. Create Your First Fiverr Gig 

At the end of your seller account set-up, you’ll be asked to create a gig. This is your first gig so put a lot of thought into structuring it. You should add a keyword-rich description that effectively conveys your service and can easily be found. It should be professional, engaging, and informative. To create your gig, you’ll need to use a computer. 

Log in to your profile and click on the sell button to create your new gig. There are six sections needed to create a gig, including gig overview, scope and pricing, job description and FAQs, requirements, gallery, and publish. Your gig overview contains a gig title, which is a compelling description of what you’re selling. Pick a category that closely describes your service and carefully choose your tags.

4. Create Your Gig Packages

You can create gig packages to give your clients varying price ranges for your service. This could help you broaden your client base as clients often only go for the packages they can afford. To get started, activate the packages mode from the pricing section. You’ll find three gig packages. 

Each of your gig packages should have varying price points. You can choose to provide one for a lesser value than your initial gig offering and gradually increase the amount. You can name your packages based on what is unique about each of them. Make sure the buyer can easily differentiate between packages. 

5. Provide Extra Services 

Gig extras are the additional services you want to attach to your gig packages. Perhaps, you couldn’t fit all the services each package would provide. You can include them in the gig extras and earn more while doing that. To do this, go to your gig button and click on Edit Gig. Then go to the pricing section and select “add extra services.” 

In the extra services section, click on the items that most relate to the service you’re offering. You can add a page, infographics, revisions, fast delivery, or any other additional service you wish to include at a fee. You can also offer complementary services to increase your appeal to buyers.

6. Submit Your First Order 

Once a client orders your gig, you should check their qualifications to accept or reject the order. Make sure to finish within the time frame stated. Once you’re done with your project, you can click on Activate Order in your selling menu and choose Deliver Now to send it to the client. 

You’ll see a section to submit your work and add a description. Fill them in and click Deliver Work to send it to the buyer. Be sure to review it before you send it in to check for errors. You can either upload the completed work or use dropbox to send it depending on the size of the file. All completed work immediately goes for processing. 

7. Set Up Your Payment Account

The buyer already makes an advance payment to Fiverr before the order can commence. 

Once you submit your order to the buyer, your payment will be processed and 80 percent of your earnings will be sent to your account. Fiverr is entitled to 20 percent of payments for every order you complete on the platform.

To withdraw your money, click on the selling menu and select “withdraw your earnings.” If your money is available, you will be shown the available payment options. You can either withdraw directly to your bank account using the bank transfer, or you can use direct deposit, PayPal, or a Fiverr revenue card. Add your preferred payment option and withdraw your money. 

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How to Make More Money on Fiverr 

Making money on Fiverr doesn’t have to be difficult. Generally, you have to make sure your gig offering or packages are compelling enough to hold the buyer’s interest. To do that, you need to understand content marketing. This would enable you to properly position your services to attract the right buyers. Below are some tips to help you make more money on Fiverr.

Choose a Marketable Niche 

Your niche is the unique service you offer. Pick a niche that’s in-demand and likely to sell well. If you can, go for more specialized services where your service can be easily differentiated and isn’t already saturated with too many sellers. This would definitely boost your chances of getting gigs and enable you to set a price range that’ll suit your gig value. 

Use a Professional Profile Picture 

Remember that this is your business. You’re providing a service and the way you position yourself to clients will determine how many clients you get and what type of feedback they provide. Use a picture that conveys who you are as a professional. Leave out blurry, faded, or funny-looking pictures. Use a portrait that is bright and looks welcoming. 

Optimize Your Gallery

Your gallery contains your gig photos, PDFs, and videos. This is your chance to provide concrete proof of your service and encourage buyers to connect with it. Use catchy gig photos that contain good visuals and descriptions of what you’re selling. You can also use PDF samples and include an intro video.

Utilize Video Marketing

When setting up your profile, you will be asked to include an introductory video. While a gig video isn’t a requirement, it is a way to visually market yourself to your prospective buyer and boost your buyer response rate. In a few minutes, explain the major highlights of your gig offering. 

Take Advantage of Free Fiverr Seller Resources

Fiverr allows you to broaden your gig offering and gives you ample opportunities to connect with prospective buyers. Take advantage of the business, marketing, and branding tips you have access to as a seller. Participate in the Fiverr community and get advice from those who have done it longer than you. Fiverr offers extensive support.

Is Working on Fiverr Worth It?

If you’re a freelancer or you desire to begin a freelance business, Fiverr is a great platform to get started on. You’ll have access to clients who would otherwise be difficult to find and connect with. Keep in mind, if you want to get the most out of Fiverr, you need to put in the time and effort, sharpen your customer service skills, and perfect your service offerings.

Making Money on Fiverr FAQ