One of the easiest ways to get started as a freelancer or digital nomad is to use freelance websites to find paid work online. You can find work ranging from web design and marketing to dating profile design and voiceovers.
Whether you want to supplement your income or become a full-time freelancer, there are endless possibilities of ways you can make money online.
When Fiverr first came on the scene, it was a popular place where someone could get a logo design or a book cover for as low as five dollars. Hence the name Fiverr. However, the site has grown and now you can make significantly more than five dollars per project as a seller. For some, it can be a lucrative place to find clients. For others, it might not be the best fit. Read on to see if Fiverr can work for you and how you can master this freelance marketplace.
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What is Fiverr?
Fiverr is a freelance website similar to Upwork or Solidgigs. It is a marketplace where people can go to purchase a variety of different services such as logo design, translation, animation, marketing, and more.
This online service exchange began as an easy way for sellers to make some extra side money or earn income while traveling. But now it can be a significant channel for your freelance business.
How does Fiverr work?
Fiverr connects buyers (potential clients) with sellers (freelancers, like you) for a wide variety of projects. Unlike other freelance websites, Fiverr has a marketplace of services rather than gigs. This means that the sellers create their own “menu” of projects for sellers to browse.
If a seller wants to hire you for a project, they reach out to you through the platform. In addition to your primary services, you can charge more for extra services.
Any buyer who wants to work with you can place an order through Fiverr. The platform also manages all of your communication with your buyer as well as the payment you receive. In exchange for connecting you with buyers and managing the process, Fiverr receives a portion of your payment. Sellers keep 80% of what they earn on Fiverr.
The Most Lucrative Gigs on Fiverr
When it comes to finding high-paying gigs on Fiverr, you want to look at two things. First, the gig has to be in high demand. It’s true that you can make money doing almost anything with Fiverr. But, if you want to make serious money on a regular basis, there needs to be a high demand for that Gig on Fiverr.
Second, the gig should have a high hourly rate payout. You don’t want to spend 5+ hours on a project that only pays you $5.
Using hourly rate estimates will help you compare the actual earning power of each gig. For example, let’s say there are 2 types of gigs. Logo creation and book cover design. They both pay $50.
Let’s say the logo takes you 1 hour to create and the book cover takes you 2 hours. That means that the logo gig pays $50/hour and the book cover pays you $25/hour. So, if they are both in high-demand, you should choose logo creation.
(For more help with freelance rates, check out our guide on setting your freelance rates and our hourly rate calculator here.)
Now, you have the tools to compare all sorts of gigs, but are there gigs that are already known to bring in more income?
Yes! Keep on reading to find out some of the best options for making money on Fiverr. In general, the more skills you learn the more money you can charge for your gigs. Specialized projects tend to have fewer sellers, so each seller can charge more.
Digital Marketing
Almost every single business needs digital marketing services. Large corporations have the money to hire full-time teams and employees to manage this. But, small businesses don’t always have this luxury. So, they turn to freelancers and contract workers. If you have experience with digital marketing, or you want to manage a brand’s social presence without working a typical 9-5 this is a great option for you.
If you want to specialize in a certain area like SEO/SEM, you might even open yourself up to working for larger corporations. Some companies have generalists run digital marketing, but they will hire specialists or consultants when they’re looking to grow in a new area.
Skills required: SEO/SEM, Social Media Management, Email Marketing, Running Ad Campaigns
Browse Digital Marketing Services on Fiverr.
Video Editing
Video is no longer a “nice-to-have” for most businesses. It’s an essential element of marketing, especially as the importance of video search increases. Videos are important for all kinds of products, including both B2B and B2C.
Since this is a more specialized skill, there is slightly less competition and it pays more. You can even niche down to certain types of videos like explainer videos, whiteboard videos, and spokesperson videos.
Skills to learn: Video editing, whiteboard editing, special effects, audio editing
Browse Video Editing and Animation Services on Fiverr.
Website Design and Development
Similar to digital marketing, a website is required for any business or professional. If you have a background in web design and development, this is a great option for you. It’s another skill that takes time to learn, so you can earn more money for it.
Even if you don’t have experience with traditional coding, WordPress design is another skill that’s in high-demand on Fiverr. WordPress is an online content management system for website creation, and it takes less time to learn.
If you prefer to do gigs that aren’t as ongoing, website testing and setup are also in high demand.
Skills to learn: WordPress management, CSS, HTML, Javascript
Browse Web Development Gigs on Fiverr.
Landing Page Design
A landing page is a specific tool used in digital marketing campaigns. It’s a web page that stands on its own and isn’t connected to the main website. Its purpose is to promote a specific product or campaign and capture leads or sales.
Landing pages are used in various industries, and in general, they are much more effective at converting leads than regular website pages and even social media posts. Since they are closely related to lead generation and driving revenue, they generally pay more.
Writing landing pages is a specialized skill, and if you have a solid background in sales, marketing or communications, you might just have a knack for it.
The great thing about landing pages is that they are fairly formulaic. Once you get used to writing them, it’s easy to repeat your success.
Good skills to have: sales, communication, understanding customers
Browse Sales Copy Gigs on Fiverr.
Logo Design
Logo design is one of the most popular gigs on Fiverr. This is one of the projects where many sellers start their price low, and so it can be a bit more competitive.
However, there are new companies popping up all the time, and so there’s a constant demand for logo creation. Remember that hourly price matters more than the overall project price. If you can create quality logos in a short amount of time, this can be a lucrative gig for you.
Since it’s tied to other branding activities, you can easily earn more with extra services, or you can offer comprehensive branding packages for more money. So, don’t let the low ticket price of this one scare you off. Competition is high, but there is also a wide range of quality and design styles. If you have a particular style and an impressive portfolio, people will pay more for your logo services.
Good skills to have: graphic design, Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Vector design, illustration
Browse Logo Design Gigs on Fiverr.
How to Get Started with Fiverr
Getting started with Fiverr is fairly simple, and it doesn’t cost anything. When you create an account, you’ll register as a seller. After that, you create your seller profile. Once your profile is created you can start creating gigs. This is sort of like creating your menu or your store inventory.
Click here to browse Fiverr and register for an account.
Pros and Cons of Using Fiverr to Sell Your Services
Pros
- Buyers can order directly from your gigs
- You don’t need to actively apply for jobs and submit proposals
- Easy to use
- No startup/membership costs
Cons
- Higher competition
- Takes time to earn top-seller status and reviews
- Reputation for low-cost projects
- You earn 80% of the total payment for your projects
What if it’s not right for me?
Fiverr isn’t the right option for every freelancer. If you’re freelancing full-time, it might be better to use networking, prospecting, and cold outreach to find clients. Likewise, if you’re experienced and you have a strong network already, then you may not need to bother with a freelance marketplace.
Another option is to create your own website. This way, you can highlight your skills and services without being on a platform where your competition is visible. If you want to establish yourself as a legitimate service-provider or consultant, then a website is a must.
You can enroll in our Website Creator Course and have a winning website launched in just 5 days. Learn more here.
How to Be Successful – Pro Tips
Since more lucrative opportunities have popped up on Fiverr, the competition has definitely increased. The platform has been around since 2010, which means that many top-sellers have years of experience under their belts.
But, that doesn’t mean you can’t turn Fiverr into a productive channel for you. Here are a couple of tips to start Fiverr the right way.
1. Understand that it’s a search engine
One of the best parts of Fiverr is that buyers use it to find you. They’re not posting jobs and they’re not browsing all of Google. It’s a marketplace that brings you people who have buying intent.
That being said, you need to think like a buyer to be successful. When they go to the platform they are searching first for the type of service they need and then making a selection from the search results.
With any search engine platform, you need to optimize to be successful. With Fiverr, this means optimizing your seller profile and your individual gigs. Do some keyword research and competitive research to see what’s working. You can also browse gigs to see what’s missing.
2. Use gig images to your advantage
People process images much faster than they process text. Don’t just put up a random gig image and call it a day. Search for your keywords and take note of what the competition is doing. Make sure your images are up to par, and see if there are ways that you can stand out. Try using a different color than most people. Or, if all the images are of people, test out images of the service or product.
3. Deliver more than your competition
When you begin on Fiverr, you won’t have any reviews. So, in order to stand out from the competition, you have to offer something better than they do. Of course, you can always offer things cheaper, but it’s better, in the long run, to focus on value adds rather than price reductions.
If someone is offering brochure design, offer a brochure and a flyer. Take a look at the other offers in your category and see where you can provide more value. Over time, as you gain more reviews, you can start charging for extra services and packaged deliveries.
4. Read your competitions’ reviews
If you want to find out what buyers value, take some time to read what buyers are saying. Positive reviews will give you good reassuring keywords to add to your gig or seller description. Things like “excellent communication” or “attention to detail” are often mentioned in reviews. In addition to good reviews, check out some not-so-positive ones to understand how buyers have been frustrated in the past. Use these to create your guarantee statements.
5. Set a short delivery time AND stick to it
When you create a gig on Fiverr, you also add the time frame that you can deliver in. This is one of the ways that buyers can filter their searches. If a buyer needs something delivered within 24-48 hours, you as a seller have a bit more leverage. When you’re starting out, this is one of the best ways to set yourself apart and appear in more searches. However, make sure that you can deliver within the stated time range. If you don’t deliver in time, Fiverr will penalize you and you’ll stop showing up in searches. On top of that, you won’t be able to build up good reviews.
6. Always Deliver Great Work
This goes without saying, but you can’t be successful in the long-term by delivering subpar work. While there are smart strategies you can use when you’re starting, you can’t “hack” your way to success. Like anything else, word-of-mouth is the best form of marketing. On Fiverr, that happens through reviews and ratings. If you sacrifice your buyers’ experience, you sacrifice your success.
Leveling Up – What is Fiverr Pro?
Fiverr Pro connects business buyers with verified professional sellers. Becoming a Fiverr Pro opens you up to larger clients, higher-paying projects, and fewer competitors. To be sure, you will have fewer competitors, but all of your competitors will be verified professionals.
Both long-term Fiverr sellers, as well as established professionals who are just getting started on Fiverr, can apply to be a Fiverr Pro.
In order to be verified by Fiverr, you will submit an application and go through a vetting process. Their team will consider your education, professional experience, and notable work. They’ll take time to get to know you before deciding whether or not to verify you for Pro gigs.
When you are approved, you’ll be able to create Pro gigs. If you’re a current Fiverr seller, then your pro gigs should be different from your regular Fiverr gigs. Since these are for business customers, they should be better or more comprehensive services. Your Pro gigs will be highlighted in the search with a distinct badge.
You can browse Fiverr Pro gigs here.
If you have professional experience and your gigs are available in Fiverr Pro, we recommend applying for the program. You’ll receive access to better projects, more support from the Fiverr team, and there’s no extra cost to join. You can visit their FAQ page to see which gigs are currently available in Pro.
Click here to learn more about Fiverr Pro.
In Conclusion
Fiverr is a freelance website that can be a great resource for part-time and full-time freelancers. Its unique structure as a marketplace of services makes it a more passive lead-generation tool than other sites. However, with its reputation for lower-cost services, you want to make sure to choose lucrative gigs before dedicating time to the site.
For those getting started with Fiverr, understanding how the platform works can help you find faster success. This includes choosing the right gigs, optimizing for Fiverr search, and
All in all Fiverr is no longer just a site for $5 gigs. Anyone interested in experimenting with freelance, and even established freelancers who want to add another marketing channel can make Fiverr work for them.
To learn more about other freelance websites, you can read our Guide to Freelance Websites.
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