Do you enjoy freelance work? Do you have something that you can do quickly to make $5? Then the site, Fiverr, might have something for you.
What Exactly is Fiverr?
Since its launch in 2010, Fiverr has grown to be a popular microtask or micro-gig site, where clients come to get work done inexpensively. Many times the gigs are available for just $5, hence the name Fiverr.
What Services Can You Offer On Fiverr?
Freelancers offer a variety of services from many different categories including:
- graphics and design
- online marketing
- writing and translation
- video and animation
- music and audio
- programming and technical
- advertising
- business
- more (miscellaneous)
What Are The Sub-Categories On Fiverr?
Within each individual category are several sub-categories. For example, within the graphics and design category there are 13 sub-categories including logo design, landing pages, cartoons and caricatures, illustration, and you can read the rest of the offerings for yourself.
However, there are also some rather outlandish things offered at Fiverr as well. Just scroll down the home page, and you might find a guy who for $5 will record anything you want (up to 5 minutes) and make it sound like it’s being read by an auctioneer.
Then there’s another seller who will speed draw your company logo and video tape her hand drawing it for — you guessed it — $5.
And there's another seller will sing any song you like and make it sound like Alvin the Chipmunk.
You’re probably getting the picture by now of some of the gigs you can and will see at Fiverr.
So, the question here is really what can you offer as a seller for $5 and who wants it? At Fiverr.com, buyers will be searching for sellers like you to offer their gigs. Sometimes a buyer will NOT want to search out sellers and just post the gig to be bid on.
I use the term “bid” here rather loosely, because you will not be bidding as you do on Upwork or other similar bidding sites offering a by-the-hour or by-the-project payment option. Instead, you're bidding in the sense that you're applying against other sellers offering similar services for roughly the same amount of money.
How Does Fiverr Work?
Once a seller has signed up for Fiverr with a verified email address and created a password, the seller also creates a profile. The Fiverr profile will generally have a picture or avatar of the seller with a brief introduction and description of services offered.
The profile also displays a star rating (1 through 5), how many buyers serviced, average turnaround time, number of orders in the queue, response time, nationality, length of time with Fiverr, and service level (New, Level 1, Level 2 or Top Rating). There is also a link to contact the seller and a viewable portfolio for examples of past work.
Based on this profile, a buyer may decide to order the gig for $5. The seller will then acknowledge the buyer’s request as well as ask a few poignant questions related to the gig.
When Do You Get Paid On Fiverr?
Fiverr will accept the money upfront from the buyer and will subtract a $1 fee leaving $4 for the seller. The seller’s money is held until the work is completed and the buyer is satisfied.
Once the job has been completed to everyone’s satisfaction, Fiverr releases the funds to the seller, and the buyer gives a “thumbs up” or a “thumbs down” rating with a brief testimonial. The “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” factor into the rating, rank, and level calculations.
How Do You Become Successful On Fiverr?
The most successful sellers are usually the ones who know how to “build” their services. In other words, they offer additional complementary services to each offering.
For example, a logo designer may offer logos for $5 and then offer customized business cards for an additional $5 with matching letterhead for an additional $10. Or the seller may offer a faster turnaround time for another $5 fee. This is called an “upsell.” As you can see, these upsells add up to more money earned quickly.
Once a seller reaches Level 1, an option appears to include these additional services provided the seller has a good rating.
As a seller becomes more favored by buyers, the seller’s rating, rank, and levels increase. Naturally, most buyers search for the top sellers when browsing services, but some take chances on new sellers if a deadline is tight and fast turnaround is needed.
How Do You Market Yourself on Fiverr?
It goes without saying that showing up in search on Fiverr is difficult if you're a brand new seller, so you may have to get creative with your marketing. Sellers do this in a number of ways.
Some sellers have a picture of themselves or an attractive photo of something gig-related under the categories with “catchy” captioning.
Other sellers pose holding up a Fiverr sign dressed in a costume.
Still other sellers pose professionally with short video introductions about themselves and their work. It really is all about good positive feedback, so try to get to Level 1 as fast as possible.
Related: Things Laying Around Your House You Can Easily Sell On Ebay!
What Do The Levels Mean On Fiverr?
Level 1 is someone who has been active for 30 days and completed at least 10 satisfactory gigs. This allows Level 1 to offer 4 extra services/offerings at either $5, $10, $15 or $20 a gig.
Level 2 is someone who has been active for 60 days and has completed at least 50 satisfactory gigs. This will allow Level 2 to have 8 extra services/offerings at either $5, $10, $15 $20 or $40 a gig.
How Does Fiverr Pay?
Once Fiverr collects the money from the buyer and the buyer acknowledges that the work was satisfactory, Fiverr takes $1 out of every $5, or roughly 20% as a fee.
The money is then set aside into the seller’s account. It usually takes 3 days to set the money aside. Then 14 days later, the money is released into either the seller’s PayPal or Payoneer account.
If there are any disputes, Fiverr has a Resolution Center available if the buyer and seller cannot work it out privately. Should a buyer not be pleased with a seller’s performance or is taking too long to complete an order, the order may then be disputed, resulting in a cancellation.
Fiverr will NOT give the buyer a refund, but will issue a credit towards another gig.
Is Fiverr Worldwide?
Yes, Fiverr is worldwide with many countries and languages represented. If your country does not appear to be represented, you may send a request to Fiverr to find out when you can sign up in your country.
What Do I Think of Fiverr?
I have never used Fiverr as a seller; however, I did use it a few times to have cartoons and caricatures drawn up. In fact, the caricature I use with my Skype account was drawn on Fiverr. I was more curious than anything to see how good a $5 art gig could be, so I tried it. Overall, I was pleased.
However, I know people and Internet marketers who call it a “mixed bag” and declare that it is either really good or really bad with no in between when it comes to the services offered.
I also have friends who have tried to market their services there. Some did well, some did average, and some canceled their accounts.
It’s really just like any other work-at-home job. Some will learn to make it work and experience success through much experimentation and hard work, and others decide it's not a good fit.
What Do Others Think of Fiverr?
If you do a Google or Bing search on Fiverr reviews, you’ll probably see just as many good reviews as bad. I would maybe suggest trying it as a buyer first to see how it works, and that may clue you in as to whether it could work for you as a seller. Study what others have done with it to make it work.
How to Sign Up
Just go to Fiverr.com and click on the Start Selling link at the top right hand corner. Good luck!
This is a good glimpse into the fiverr market place. Fiverr is an absolute gold mine folks! I started my internet money making adventures in 2005, but I was learning during those early days, and I didn’t start to see significant income until I joined fiverr in 2010. I’m a Top Rated Seller who earns a very significant amount of income there monthly. Fiverr was just the beginning as I’ve learned how to assimilate many online market places successfully and in addition to my fiverr income, I’m building an empire on the web using my creative ability and what I’ve learned about internet things in general. Fiverr has been much like a “paid internship” for me and I strongly recommend that you give it a shot as it can serve as a springboard into even greater endeavors.
@dionlynk – thank you for taking the time to write. I am just amazed at all of the success stories that I encountered while writing this article. One guy had actually earned the down payment to a house in two years! How cool is that? I’m also glad things are working out for you too!
I have never used Fiverr for my services, but I have used Fiverr to outsource work. Just small jobs here and there.
So, hopefully more readers here will give Fiverr a try due to your great endorsement as a service provider. Thanks again for commenting.
It sounds interesting and I may try it, but you need to make a correction in your description of how much of the fees Fiverr gets. $1 out of $5 is 20%, not 2%.
That was probably just a typo — thanks for the heads up!
Oops! Yeah, must have been a typo. Thanks so much for catching that. So many great readers here!