Why is Fiverr not good?

In the past few years alone, there are a number of startups that have popped up in the gig economy. From Uber and Lyft to Airbnb and TaskRabbit, these companies allow individuals (or businesses) to connect directly with others who need their services.

Founded in 2011 by Ben Cooper, Jack Harrison, and Eric Jaffe, FIVER started as an advertising platform where people could buy ad space at $5 per month or 5 cents each time someone clicked through to your link. Since then, its scope has expanded with additional features like job listings, reviews, messaging, etc., but it's still fundamentally a marketplace between buyers and sellers.

However, while it may be easier than ever before to find freelance jobs, I'm going to argue that Fiverr isn't the best place to do so... Here's why.

Is it worth being on Fiverr?

There's no denying that Fiverr can help you land gigs if you're willing to pay the price. The fact that most users pay only five dollars to list their service makes it easy to get noticed by potential clients. In addition, since all transactions take place online, there aren't any extra fees involved.

But how effective is this really? Well, here’s what some people say about working on Fiverr:

"If you want to spend money to make money, don't waste it buying crap from fivers."

"It's just another way to try out new things without spending much money."

"You will see a lot of junk, but sometimes gems too."

And other similar responses were given by our readers. However, when we checked out those same comments' profiles, they mostly had 0 followers. This tells us two things: firstly, that most of these respondents are probably inexperienced freelancers, and secondly, that posting on Fiverr doesn't guarantee success (especially considering that many experienced professionals also use it).

Overall, Fiverr might seem like a great option because it allows you to test yourself against different types of projects. It gives you an opportunity to learn more about what kinds of skills you enjoy doing, which ones you hate, and whether or not you'd prefer certain tasks over others. Plus, if you've got a niche skill set, chances are that you'll find plenty of opportunities on Fiverr.

But even though it may sound appealing, it's important to remember that it's simply another tool in your arsenal. You shouldn't solely depend on it to earn income. If you want to succeed as a freelancer, you must continue honing your own brand outside of Fiverr.

Here are three reasons why using Fiverr won't improve your career:

1. There's little incentive to complete quality work.

On Fiverr, you can post whatever kind of work you wish to receive—from writing articles to making videos. As long as something gets posted somewhere else, you'll likely keep getting paid regardless of the quality of your effort.

While there are certainly exceptions to every rule, generally speaking, you shouldn't rely heavily on Fiverr for your livelihood. After all, if you're relying on it exclusively, you run the risk of giving away your intellectual property rights to your content—which means that future employers wouldn't be able to reuse or repurpose anything that you create.

2. It lacks transparency and accountability.

As mentioned above, Fiverr offers both buyer-driven and seller-driven models. The former allows buyers to choose their preferred providers based on reviews left by previous customers. On the contrary, the latter leaves the choice entirely up to the provider.

To give you an example, let's suppose you offer cleaning services within a particular area. And imagine that you decide to advertise on Fiverr under "cleaner," rather than providing specifics regarding the type of cleaning you provide (e.g., housekeeping).

This would mean that instead of letting interested parties contact you, you'd end up reaching out to anyone who wants to hire a cleaner. Not only does this approach lack professionalism, but it also creates confusion among potential clients.

3. Competition matters.

When you're looking for a new job, competition helps drive down salaries and standardize expectations. Unfortunately, on Fiverr, competition often becomes fierce. For instance, consider that you're competing against hundreds or thousands of other providers who also happen to be selling themselves at $5/hour.

Not only will you feel pressured to compete and deliver high-quality results quickly, but you'll also have to contend with poor customer support and feedback. And yes, this applies to both sides of the equation! When consumers leave bad reviews, they expect quick response times from service providers. Providers, however, should return messages promptly and solve problems efficiently. Otherwise, negative reviews will increase engagement rates and lower perceived value of products and services.

So although it may initially seem tempting to use Fiverr, it's crucial to think beyond short-term gains. Ultimately, you'll achieve better overall outcomes if you focus on building relationships offline.

Why you should not use Fiverr?

Now that you understand why Fiverr is lousy for earning real revenue, let's look at three big red flags that signal when it's time to stop wasting your time on it altogether.

1. Low client satisfaction.

One sign that it's time to quit Fiverr is if you consistently encounter dissatisfied customers. Even worse, you may notice that some of these unhappy folks go around complaining to everyone they meet. While it may seem counterintuitive, it actually happens quite frequently.

People tend to complain about everything from delivery delays to unsatisfactory product offerings. One thing is clear: if you experience recurring complaints related to your performance on Fiverr, you should either raise your rates or look elsewhere to find employment.

2. Low returns on investment.

Another reason why Fiverr may not be beneficial for your business is if you invest lots of energy into creating a profile yet never receive any follow-up inquiries. Or perhaps you continually hear back from prospective clients after sending multiple emails and texts, but nothing comes of it.

For example, maybe you spent several hours filling out information and uploading designs for a project that didn't pan out. Then again, you might send countless applications to various roles yet not receive even one reply. This is frustrating, especially if you thought you'd found a perfect match.

In order to avoid such scenarios, it's wise to evaluate Fiverr periodically. Make sure that you regularly check out your follower count, message history, and completed orders. If you spot patterns indicating lackluster performance, consider quitting sooner rather than later.

3. High overhead costs.

Whenever you join any sort of group, you typically incur expenses that relate to membership dues, events, marketing materials, conferences, etc. With Fiverr specifically, you'll have to shell out money for premium accounts, advertisements, email credits, access to premium tools, etc. Some of these may come bundled together, but others require separate purchases.

All told, joining Fiverr may cost you upwards of $50-$100 monthly depending on the package you select. That said, if you haven't used it extensively yet, it may be worthwhile to invest in a free trial period. Just keep in mind that during this timeframe, you'll still have to deal with ads, promotions, and other annoyances.

Lastly, it's important to note that since Fiverr charges commissions on sales, you'll always have to factor in tax liabilities and overhead costs. Thus, you should consider whether it's worth paying taxes or shelling out cash for advertised items before signing up.

Is Fiverr expensive?

Let me ask you this: Would you rather pay 50 bucks or 2 percent commission on a sale? What about 10 percent or 1 cent? Obviously, the answer depends on your situation.

Nevertheless, Fiverr is definitely pricier than alternatives, particularly traditional methods. So unless you can afford it, it may be wiser to opt for cheaper options until you become established enough financially to cover ongoing subscription payments.

Also, bear in mind that the aforementioned commissions add up very quickly. Let's assume that you sell one item on Fiverr every week for eight weeks straight. Over four months, you'll accumulate roughly 40 items sold. At 3% commission rate, you'll pocket around 12 bucks. If you charge higher rates, your earnings will naturally skyrocket.

Should you start with low prices on Fiverr?

Perhaps now you realize that Fiverr is not suitable for beginners. However, if you already have expertise in a specific field, you can utilize the platform effectively for generating leads. To illustrate, let's say you're a professional photographer offering portrait sessions. Instead of listing your hourly rate, you can promote photography packages and offer discounts accordingly.

These tactics are ideal for attracting new clients whose budgets range from mid-tier to upper-class. Naturally, you should aim to build meaningful connections with potential buyers via social media channels. Once you establish rapport, you can discuss their needs and requirements and eventually agree upon terms of payment.

Fiverr has been around since 2011 and became popular because it's an easy way to find people willing to do small jobs online at relatively low prices.

It sounds great in theory -- especially if you're looking to make some extra cash from home or need someone for a quick project while on the go. The problem with using this platform, however, is that there are so many scams out there. Here’s what I learned about it after trying it myself.

But before we dive into those issues, let me first introduce myself. My name is Lili Cheng, and I'm a freelance writer based in Los Angeles. In 2017, I started writing professionally when my friend asked me to write content for her Instagram business account. Since then, I've written hundreds of articles across topics like travel, food, technology, health, fashion, lifestyle, entertainment, etc., which earned me several accolades along the way. 

Nowadays, I mostly focus on producing videos for clients' social media accounts, but also occasionally contribute to other projects such as copywriting, website development, SEO, and branding.

Can Fiverr take your money?

While Fiverr doesn't charge any fees for signing up (and thus joining their affiliate program), they do have certain requirements for users who want to use its services. For starters, all users must be 18 years old or older, and can only join once every 90 days. It is important to note that anyone younger than 25 will automatically get banned from the site.

If you decide to create an account on Fiverr, you'll see two tabs labeled "Buyer" and "Seller." Sellers pay $5 per order, while buyers search through listings on the marketplace for potential gigs. Once you reach level five (which takes anywhere between three months to seven years) of being a seller, you can start offering more expensive paid packages for larger orders.

As a user, you can choose whether you'd rather buy or sell on Fiverr. If you're interested in selling, you should opt to become a Seller. However, you don't necessarily have to stick to just Fiverr alone for making sales. You could also try listing items on eBay or Craigslist.

For example, I recently bought a pair of gold hoop earrings from a woman named Alysia in New York City, and she shipped the item directly to California without even meeting me face-to-face. She was very professional and made sure everything went smoothly during checkout. And, unlike most websites where you typically receive multiple bids, I received exactly one bid of $6.00 from Alysia herself.

In short, Fiverr is safe enough for buying goods. Just keep in mind that you might encounter fewer competitors compared to sites like eBay or Amazon Marketplace.

However, if you prefer working as a Buyer, remember to follow these rules:

Always double check the price listed by sellers. Sometimes, companies list fake rates just to lure customers away.

Read reviews from previous buyers. They may help you avoid getting ripped off.

Look for testimonials. Also, read customer satisfaction ratings.

Remember that you always have control over the transaction process. So, feel free to ask questions about anything pertaining to payment methods, shipping, delivery times, etc.

You can also request refunds within 30 days after receiving the product. This ensures you won't end up paying for something you didn't receive.

The same goes for products that aren't delivered according to agreed upon terms. Try contacting the company again via email or calling them. Don't resort to negative feedback unless necessary.

Also, never wire funds to third parties. Only send payments to PayPal addresses, and make sure to look for secure HTTPS links.

Does Fiverr protect sellers?

Unfortunately, no. While Fiverr does offer tools to prevent fraudsters from creating new accounts under stolen identities, it still allows sellers to post profiles with false information. In fact, I found several fraudulent posts throughout my time using the app. Some had misleading descriptions, while others were outright lies.

To illustrate how serious this issue is, I tried reaching out to a random person on Fiverr last week. Their profile said that they would provide quality service for reasonable rates. Unfortunately, I got nothing back after repeated attempts.

Another scam I encountered involved a man claiming he worked extensively with celebrities, including Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Kylie Jenner, Kim Kardashian West, and Kanye West. He claimed he had done similar work for Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Ariana Grande, and Bruno Mars.

After sending him an inquiry asking if he really did work with these artists, his response was simply, "yes," followed by an image of Rihanna's head shot. Needless to say, I wasn't impressed.

At least Fiverr lets consumers report bad experiences. All complaints are reviewed by humans before they're removed.

Since Fiverr doesn't remove fraudulent posts until long after they appear, it's best to stay vigilant. Always compare photos side-by-side. Look for inconsistencies. Do background checks on sellers. Ask for proof of authenticity whenever possible. Never give sensitive personal details over the phone or text message. Be wary of phishing emails.

Don't fall for offers that seem too good to be true. Remember all the red flags mentioned above? Well, unfortunately, sometimes things turn ugly.

One thing I personally noticed is that when you click on any link provided by sellers on Fiverr, it redirects you to another URL instead of taking you to the actual webpage. There's a chance this happens intentionally to trick unsuspecting people into falling for schemes.

So, consider yourself warned! 

Can you get scammed on Fiverr as a buyer?

Although I haven't used this feature yet, there are reports saying that some unscrupulous individuals impersonate legitimate businesses to steal peoples' hard-earned money. According to Consumerist, some people claim they hired assistants overseas for simple tasks, only to realize later that the job was outsourced to a worker posing as a foreign employee.

These workers reportedly demanded high fees upfront, and refused to return calls or messages. Many victims reported having difficulty tracking down the alleged employees responsible. Others say they ended up losing thousands of dollars worth of merchandise.

This happened to a client of mine who ordered custom shirts from a designer on Fiverr. After waiting almost four weeks to hear back from the artist, he sent her numerous texts inquiring about the status of his purchase. She responded by telling him that she needed more money upfront to cover printing costs, plus tax. When he finally reached out to cancel the sale, she told him to stop texting her.

She then proceeded to open a GoFundMe campaign to raise additional funds to print his shirts. Fortunately, she refunded his money, and he eventually decided to keep the shirts anyway.

Others complain that they purchased useless junk from someone claiming to be an expert in a particular field. One woman spent nearly $400 on a box full of pens, notebooks, stickers, coins, keychains, lip balm, makeup brushes, lotion, perfume samples, and other accessories. Another guy says he bought 10 bottles of cologne from a supposed fragrance connoisseur, only to discover that none of them smelled remotely close to their advertised scent.

Be careful of people promising to deliver big discounts on expensive products. These types of deals usually require you to shell out large amounts of money upfront, and often come with hidden fees.

Consider researching each vendor thoroughly beforehand. Check for reviews from trusted sources. Make sure to negotiate compensation rates. Consider shopping elsewhere if you notice any signs of deception.

Is Fiverr too cheap?

Yes...but only if you like wasting your money. If you're desperate for cash, Fiverr can serve as a handy tool to earn some extra income. As aforementioned, you can set your own rate depending on your experience and expertise.

On the flip side, though, you might run into problems with vendors who refuse to meet deadlines or treat you fairly. At the end of the day, you're better off searching for clients somewhere else.

Plus, if you're planning to pursue a career in marketing, graphic design, web development, photography, video editing, animation, illustration, UX/UI design, music production, audio engineering, software programming, etc., chances are you probably already spend quite a bit of money on courses, subscriptions, equipment, materials, books, etc. By switching gears and starting doing work for others, you can easily supplement your monthly earnings.

And yes, you can potentially build a successful career on Fiverr. However, you'll likely need to put in much more effort than if you were working as a contractor or freelancer.

That being said, I highly encourage everyone to explore other opportunities beyond traditional employment. Start learning skills relevant to today's market trends. Take advantage of free resources available online. Find a mentor. Join networking groups. Create a blog. Build connections. Follow influencers. Get familiar with digital marketing techniques. Keep exploring ways to expand your horizons.

By following these tips, you'll definitely stand out among the rest of the crowd.

Fiverr (formerly Fabrik) has become a popular platform that people use to find freelance gigs and projects. It's similar to other online marketplaces like Upwork, PeoplePerHour, Freelancer, etc., as it allows users to post their services or products while searching for potential buyers.

However, there are several reasons why I do not recommend using Fiverr for any type of business transactions. Here are some of the main ones...

Is Fiverr actually good?

One of the most important things you should think about before signing up with an agency/freelance marketplace is how they're doing in terms of customer service. If you need something fixed right away but can't get in touch with someone at the company, your only option will be to contact another person on the same site. You don't want this to happen too often because you'll end up frustrated and losing money.

With Fiverr, however, that isn't even possible. When you register, you may see ads from different companies asking you to click links so they can access your email address. This means that all communication between both parties must go through Fiverr instead of direct emails being sent back and forth.

This also makes you feel more secure since you won't have to worry about anyone stealing your ideas or working without getting paid properly.

In addition, if you sign up with Fiverr, you'll get immediate notifications whenever someone searches for what you offer. In case a client doesn't hire you immediately after seeing your ad, they could potentially ask you via Fiverr whether you still accept new clients.

Furthermore, when you search for jobs on Fiverr, you'll notice that you cannot filter results based upon categories such as programming languages, skill levels, location, budget, etc. So, if you're looking for specific types of opportunities, you might miss out unless you sort by price range first.

Lastly, if you're concerned about privacy issues here, rest assured that everything you share goes through Fiverr servers which are located in various countries around the world. They then encrypt these data points into "fives" which are kept safely inside Fiverr's database. That way, no third-party server gets involved.

Overall, it seems pretty safe to assume that Fiverr gives its members great security tools. However, keep in mind that it does store lots of sensitive information including payment details, personal information, etc. As such, we recommend keeping your financial accounts separate from those linked to Fiverr.

Is Fiverr trustable?

As mentioned earlier, Fiverr offers quick support through chat apps like Skype or WhatsApp. Therefore, you never really speak directly with employees who handle your inquiries. Instead, you just talk to automated bots.

When speaking with customers, agents tend to give answers quickly, sometimes within minutes. And although you can expect prompt replies if you send messages during office hours, it becomes harder to reach real humans once the clock strikes 5pm EST.

Another thing worth mentioning is that Fiverr is owned by Amazon Web Services (AWS), meaning that many businesses prefer dealing with AWS over human beings. For example, it costs less for Fiverr to host gig requests than Upwork, resulting in lower prices for clients.

Also, unlike Upwork, Fiverr charges a flat 20% fee from every transaction regardless of the amount. On top of that, it takes three days for payments to process. With Upwork, the fees vary depending on the type of job you bid for.

Additionally, Fiverr has strict rules regarding content creation which includes prohibiting images, videos, audio files, screenshots, text posts, etc. There are also certain words that are forbidden on listings including profanity, racism, sexism, hate speech, etc.

Finally, one major downside to consider is that Fiverr requires everyone who wants to sell to advertise their own skillset. As such, if you plan on selling physical items, make sure that you aren't afraid to show off your inventory in public places. Otherwise, you'd probably lose business very fast.

Can Fiverr steal my idea?

Since Fiverr uses a bidding system where sellers set their rates, people typically try reaching for maximum profits. Thus, if you come across a listing offering $5 per hour for writing articles, you would naturally raise your rate to say $10 per article. After all, you wouldn't want to leave money on the table!

Although this strategy works well enough in cases where buyers already know exactly what kind of product or service they want, it may cause problems when two individuals haven't met yet. Imagine, for instance, that you've got a brilliant idea for building an app that solves a problem X person encounters daily.

If he sees your advertisement, he clicks on View proposal button, finds out you charge $25 per hour for coding, and bids accordingly. Then, Y person comes along and says she needs the exact same solution within 24 hours. She ends up paying twice as much for half the result.

The reason behind this is simple. Since X didn't meet Y personally, his impression of her is vague. He knows that you specialize in mobile development but hasn't seen anything concrete about your portfolio. Also, you haven't shown him examples of past work either.

On the other hand, Z user happens to recognize Y personally. He likes what he saw in your profile pictures and testimonials. Furthermore, he trusts you since you have completed multiple successful tasks in the past. Lastly, he feels confident that you can deliver quality work given the fact that you accepted his request despite having little experience compared to others on your list.

Now imagine that X was willing to pay $20 per hour for your expertise while Z offered only $15. Would you take $15 knowing that there's a better deal available elsewhere? Of course not!

That said, if you're okay with taking risks, you shouldn't run away from making extra cash. Just remember that you're going to encounter bad situations occasionally, especially if you start growing your audience.

It's best to avoid falling victim to scams rather than trying to protect yourself for free. While it's true that scammers usually look for easy targets, you can fight against this by following basic cybersecurity practices like creating strong passwords, avoiding phishing attacks, etc.

And lastly, if you ever decide to move away from Fiverr and wish to continue earning revenue using the web as usual, our guide detailing how to earn money on TikTok will help.

Can Fiverr be trusted?

Yes and No.

While Fiverr is relatively trustworthy as long as you stick to its guidelines, there are definitely exceptions. One notable issue involves contractors who provide services outside of their areas of specialization.

For example, let's say you live in New York City but were hired to perform work in Los Angeles. Although your hourly rate is fair considering the distance traveled, you may face difficulties when billing time spent waiting for flights and connecting calls.

Thus, if you choose to rely solely on Fiverr for income, make sure you add additional compensation for traveling expenses. Similarly, you should include overtime if applicable. The bottom line is that you should always strive to maximize your earnings wherever possible.

What alternatives exist for entrepreneurs?

There are plenty of reliable websites designed specifically for independent professionals to manage their finances, schedule appointments, create contracts, track billable hours, etc. Most of these sites allow you to connect with people worldwide without needing to jump through hoops to do so.

Here are some examples of reputable platforms for finding freelance gigs:

UpWork -- Offers competitive payouts, high demand, flexible schedules, unlimited income opportunity, etc.

People Per Hour -- A website exclusively dedicated to helping professional freelancers generate leads.

Freelancer -- Has millions of monthly visitors interested in posting gigs related to design, marketing, copywriting, translation, photography, videography, music production, etc.

Vworker -- Gives small business owners access to thousands of active buyers from around the globe.

Docracy -- Allows users to write policies for themselves and receive feedbacks from experts.

Take Your Pick From These Sites

Whether you're starting a new career path or simply looking to supplement your current position, there are hundreds of ways to make extra money. Unfortunately, many people turn to unreliable sources like Fiverr to increase their chances of success.

But, due to its nature, Fiverr is neither suitable nor efficient for running a business. Whether you're looking to grow your startup further or just want to gain valuable experience, sticking to other options will serve you much better.