Fiverr freelancers easily come to mind when you’re looking for some who can do a remote for you.
This is normally because Fiverr is a giant freelancing website where you can find many freelancers who offer different Fiverr gigs as low as $5.
No disrespect to other freelancing websites like Upwork, Freelancer, etc. Its interface is beginner-friendly which makes it easy for you to explore and buy a gig. I’ve bought a few gigs on Fiverr in the past.
I can tell you that there are quite professional freelancers whose skills are top-notch and can deliver a satisfactory job at the agreed time.
Same time there are some who can mess up your job or even harm your business. You must be well informed especially if it is your first time placing an order for a gig.
That’s why I came up with this piece to discuss with you some of the key things you must know before hiring a freelancer on Fiverr.
Let dive in.
1.What Exactly Do You Want To Be Done?
This is a question you must ask yourself before heading to Fiverr to look for a freelancer. Within yourself envisage what you want.
If possible take your pen and paper to make a rough sketch of what the freelancer will do and the output you expect at the end.
This will help you and also the freelancer. For you, it will help you evaluate the job when it’s done. As for the freelancer, he/she will have a clear view and understanding of what you expect.
2.Run A Background Check Of The Freelancer
There is little or no entry barrier for freelancers who want to do Fiverr jobs. So expect to meet mediocre freelancers who are after making money and not delivering a satisfactory job to clients.
That’s why you need to run a thorough background check to be sure you aren’t about to work with someone who can ruin your business.
Here is how to go about it:
- Check profile pictures.
- Check out their industry expertise.
- Know their spoken language.
- Know about the gig you want to buy.
- Check their star rating & reviews.
Let’s take them one after another.
Profile Pictures
It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. The first thing you should do when you are in the category of gigs you want to buy is to look out for profile pictures.
Any professional freelancer will always use a clear picture of themselves or one that represents the services they offer.
Industry Expertise
Industry expertise tells you the industry in which the freelancer operates and offers services.
Don’t assume that since their account fell in the category you browse and therefore they are potential candidates for your job.
This is important if you want to narrow it down to a freelancer that is in the exact niche of your business.
It increases the odds of you hiring someone who has a good knowledge of your business.
Spoken Language
Language barrier could be a challenge when you have hired a freelancer only to realize both of you don’t understand each other.
The communication won’t be effective and it can affect your job. Luckily these freelancers state the languages they are fluent in.
You can test their proficiency in such language by hitting ‘Contact Seller’ to initiate a discussion with them.
Know About The Gig You Want To Buy
Knowing about the gig you save regrets. Nothing hurts to realize that what you taught about the gig you bought isn’t what you got.
In this case, you have yourself to blame. Take your time to read up about the gig as stated by the seller before deciding to go ahead or not.
This section of the sellers’ account will reveal to you what their gigs cover and their policies. Some Fiverr sellers guarantee money back if you aren’t satisfied with their services.
Check Their Star Ratings & Reviews
Some Fiverr freelancers fake their star ratings and reviews just to pull a fast one. You must be wary of them.
Having good star ratings and reviews is a sign that such a freelancer is good. These reviews and ratings can be influenced.
To be sure you aren’t deceived, take your time to read each and every of the reviews. The idea is to check for spam reviews.
It’s a red flag to see 3-4 consecutive reviews that say the same thing. Or comments that are not related to the gig.
Orders In Queue
Another background check you can run before hiring Fiverr freelancers is Orders in Queue.
A freelancer who is known for his quality work will always have orders in a queue at least one. His real reviews and ratings will always attract clients to him.
Nobody wants to work with a mediocre.
Last Delivery
This is where you know if such a freelancer has delivered a job in recent time. Getting orders is good but delivering the job to the client is more important.
Some clients even cancel orders they have placed with Fiverr freelancers for reasons best known to them.
Most times it could be that the freelancer doesn’t communicate with them on job progress or that the client has found someone better for the job.
Seller Level
It is a kind of badge Fiverr gives to freelancers on its platform. It is based on their monthly performance and serves as a means of identifying top-quality Fiverr freelancers. Seller level on Fiverr is of 4 different categories:
- New seller
- Level 1 Seller
- Level 2 Seller
- Top-Rated Seller
All the freelancers on Fiverr fall on any of these categories and Fiverr have requirements they must meet to be moved from one level to another.
Some of them are: Delivery score, amount earned, star rating, warning received over the last 30 days, etc.
The seller level in a way informs you of the quality of the freelancer you want to hire. But bear in mind that the services and prices of these sellers differ.
Without being told Level 3 sellers and top-rated sellers are likely to charge more than new and level 1 sellers.
Ask For Work Sample
Fiverr freelancers who get orders and deliver jobs always have samples of previous works they did for clients. Always ask for it when you contact sellers and discuss your project with them. Don’t believe what the seller stated on the about gig.
Work sample will help you know if the freelancer you are about hire can deliver the kind of job you want.
This is very important if you want to buy gigs on content writing, graphics design, proofreading, academic projects, etc.
It’s crucial you know that some of these freelancers in a bid to impress you can present you with a work sample that isn’t theirs. This is a common trick you can fall for if you’re a beginner client who wants to order a gig on Fiverr.
What do you do here? One method l have used at least when I hired a content writer on Fiverr is to ask for different work samples and compare the tone and style of the article. That will give me an idea if the writer truly did such a job.
Recommended: Do you want to hire the services of top-rated professionals on Fiverr? Learn how to buy gigs from Fiverr Pro Sellers.
Pricing Plans & Bargaining
Fiverr freelancers have their pricing plans. Which include; Basic, Standard, and Premium. The prices for these plans vary just like their services.
It’s your budget and the need for such service will determine which to go for. While some sellers set high prices for their gigs, others operate at what is obtainable.
It isn’t always true that those with high pricing plans offer better services than others. To me, what I consider most are their real reviews and work samples.
Most times it’s ego from those of them with top-rated seller ratings.
They often set their prices high because they know that brands will always need their services at all costs. You aren’t helpless when you identify a seller whose services you like but the pricing plan is way high. You can contact them and negotiate with them.
Some of them will give you discounts especially when you assure them you plan to work with them in a long term.
You can even bargain with them to remove some services in their package which you think isn’t important to you. That’s also a way to drive down the price of the gig when bargaining.
Want to jump straight to hiring a freelancer on Fiverr? Click on any of the categories below and you will be taken directly to freelancers that offer the kind of service you want.
Want to jump straight to hiring a freelancer on Fiverr? Click on any of the categories below and you will be taken directly to freelancers that offer the kind of service you want.
Don’t Write Off Deadline Disappointment
As a client who wants to buy a gig on Fiverr, bear in mind that a freelancer may fail to deliver a project on the agreed date. Don’t write that off your mind.
Rather prepare to have another option should it happen. In a bid to make more money, some of them over-commit themselves to projects that they will find it difficult to meet deadlines.
I’m always scared a Fiverr seller may not meet up with deadlines when I see a lot of orders on the queue in their account. If I’m interested in their service, I express my fear to them when I contact them.
I ask them how they plan to meet up with my deadline with the plenty of orders they have already. If I’m satisfied with their answers, I go ahead and place an order. Otherwise, I look for another seller.
However, some of the sellers who are responsible always message the buyer to inform them that they have extended the delivery time and state the reason.
While some angry clients who are frustrated when they get automated message from Fiverr cancel orders and ask for a refund.
Use The Resolution Center To Your Advantage
Just like it’s called a marketplace where buyers and sellers meet, misunderstanding and disagreement are likely to happen. You, the gig buyer can have a misunderstanding with a seller after placing an order.
It’s normal and Fiverr has a way of resolving it. You can use the Resolution Center to seek justice. The commonest dispute on Fiverr is the buyer canceling the order and asking for a refund.
In my opinion, Fiverr places a high premium on buyers. Of course, it is expected. It is from the gigs you buy that they earn their revenue. On the Resolution Center, one can do the following:
- Extend the delivery time.
- Ask the seller to cancel an order.
- Demand a progress report from the freelancer.
- The seller can ask the buyer to modify the order and others.
- If you couldn’t resolve disputes via the Resolution Center, you can now contact customer support.
Learn more about it here.
Frequently Asked Questions On Fiverr Freelancers
How do I cancel a Fiverr order?
After placing an order for a gig on Fiverr, you can decide to cancel it for reasons like the seller didn’t deliver at the appropriate time, you not being satisfied with the job, or any other reason. Here is the way to go about it.
Head to your order page and click on the order you’d like to cancel. On the order page, you will see a small blue box at the top right corner under the order details. Click on it and it will direct you to the Resolution Center.
Tap on it and on the next page ask the seller to cancel the order. Select a reason for canceling the order and provide more details then click send.
Your cancellation request will be sent to the seller and the seller has 48 hours to decline or accept the request. Fiverr will automatically cancel it two days after the seller didn’t take action.
Can I place an order on Fiverr using a smartphone?
Yes. Fiverr responds perfectly on mobile and other types of devices. You can even download the app from the Google Play Store or iOS store and buy a Fiverr gig while on the go.
Just login into the app and head to the category to locate the kind of service you need. Alternatively, you can use the search bar to look up freelancers who offer the kind of service you need.
Conclusion
Buying a gig on Fiverr is a smart way to get your jobs done remotely. But it is okay you know some important things that matter before you hire a Fiverr freelancer.
This is crucial for a beginner who hasn’t hired on Fiverr for the first time. All the points made above could serve as a guide as you plan to place your first order on Fiverr.
Digest and use them to your advantage when next you want to buy a gig on Fiverr.
Do you have any questions about hiring a freelancer on Fiverr? Drop it in the comment section below and I will attend to it. You can check out my article on Upwork vs Fiverr