To maximize your success on Fiverr and consistently attract clients, it’s important to make a good first impression with buyers and ensure you are upholding a good reputation. Unfortunately, many sellers unknowingly make small yet significant mistakes that greatly impact how buyers perceive them. Here are some of the top dos and don’ts to help you build and maintain your reputation on the platform.
Promises & Expectations:
- DON’T overpromise and underdeliver - When setting up your gigs, be sure not to make exaggerated claims that may be difficult to fulfill. Offering things like “unlimited revisions”, “24-hour delivery” or “100% customer satisfaction guaranteed” may seem like a great way to attract clients, but upholding those claims may not always be feasible or realistic.
- DO set realistic expectations for your buyer from the very start, leaving room for any delays, revisions, or other unforeseen circumstances. This will protect you from any client dissatisfaction that occurs when expectations are not met. If you are able to go the extra mile, let this be seen as a bonus, not the standard.
Feedback and Reviews:
- DON’T ignore negative feedback or reply unprofessionally. Even if you disagree with the buyer's feedback, negative reviews should also be addressed in a professional manner. Not responding can imply guilt or apathy and responding unprofessionally can further ruin your reputation.
- DO publicly address negative reviews with tact and honesty, not allowing your frustration or defensiveness to dictate how you respond. Though your response may not change the reviewer’s mind, it can act as damage control where potential buyers can see your side of the story as well as your professionalism and conflict resolution skills.
Pricing:
- DON’T underprice your services. Not only does this lead to burnout but consumers tend to associate low prices with low-quality work. Though you may want to offer a low price to attract more customers, it may backfire, as clients looking for high-quality work may assume you’re incapable.
- Do price your services fairly. Consider your level of expertise, your background, the market price, and the time it will take you to complete the project. Your price should be an accurate representation of the quality of service you deliver and how that compares to others in your subcategory.
Skills or Proficiency:
- DON’T exaggerate skills or proficiency. Being deceptive about your capabilities can make buyers lose trust in you and create buyer dissatisfaction in the long run.
- DO be honest with yourself and your buyers on what you can and cannot do. Buyers normally hire sellers based on what they believe they can do for them so be upfront about any limitations you may have. Don’t claim proficiency in softwares, skills, or languages you are not. If a buyer reaches out to you explaining their project, thoroughly assess if you can deliver. Politely decline the project if you won’t be able to meet their expectations.
Profile and Gigs:
- DON’T rush setting up your profile and gigs. Think of them like your business card–they can make or break your ability to win a sale. Having typos or errors in any part of your gig/profile can create the impression that you are careless, lack attention to details, and are unprofessional.
- DO carefully review your work before publishing. Proofread your descriptions and text multiple times, ensuring there are no misspelled words or grammatical issues. Feel free to use digital aids such as Grammarly if you need further assistance.
Communication:
- DO practice professional communication with your clients. Effective communication is key in every step of the order process from the pre-order phase, to during the order and even up until the the final delivery. This will help ensure expectations between you and your client are aligned while also building confidence and rapport that can be the foundation of a long-lasting business relationship.
- DON’T under-communicate with your client. Don’t just assume that you and your buyer is on the same page. Ask clarifying questions as needed and provide a recap of what you will be working on. Provide midpoint updates and also a detailed final message. It’s equally important that you DON’T spam potential buyers with irrelevant or unsolicited information and offers. This can ruin your reputation as a professional and hurt your chances for future collaborations with that client.
Your reputation on the platform is one of your most valuable assets, and every factor, from how you communicate with clients to how you present yourself, contributes to it. Do you have some other common mistakes or dos and don'ts you would add to this list?
