I just want to say that I do a lot of Fiverr business through gig requests both as a buyer and seller, so I hope this forum post reaches a lot of people, because gig requests are a HUGE part of success on Fiverr. I have posted over 20 requests on Fiverr and have answered them from other buyers, so I have been successful on both sides of this.
As for me, I have a gig where I feature your blog, so any request where I see a a buyer asking for blog promotion, I jump on it. I have another gig where I analyze a website, so if someone needs website critiqued in a request, I respond, but I think while gigs are what keep buyers moving on Fiverr, gig REQUESTS are what keep sellers hopping.
I have found that gig requests are handled differently than regular gigs and although I do not see a lot of documentation around Fiverr about gig requests, I do see a lot of questions being asked by newbies on the forum, so here ya go:
I will present this guide to both buyers and sellers.
Sellers:
Remember this rule of thumb: Gig requests are extremely competitive! You need credibility and rapport, so here are my tips to get those qualities.
1. When you respond to a request, remember that at least 30 to 100 other sellers will also be responding to that buyer. The buyer may not open every response in their inbox, so if you do not get a response, do not respond to the buyer 3 times what some sellers did to me. The buyer can easily click the "Report" link and block you. Answer once and wait.
Advice: Answer another gig requests while you are waiting. There is no rule on Fiverr that I know of where you are limited to the number of requests you can answer.
2. When you respond to gig requests, always watch your inbox, because buyers want what they need immediately. If you do not answer your inbox, the buyer will go to the next seller.
3. New Fiverr Members: Do not answer the request without the buyer purchasing your gig first. New sellers make this mistake in the beginning. I did 2 years ago. Simply respond to the request and tell the buyer that you can handle one of their requests. See #4 to increase your chances of getting the sale.
4. Have a gig with a very similar title that matches the request of the buyer. This is not required, but if a potential buyer sees that you have a gig with a title that matches their request, that buyer may picture you as the perfect seller to handle their request. Maybe you will even look like an expert to them and buyers always do business with the experts. ;)
In other words, I advise not sending the buyer to a Fiverr gig titled "I will blog about your company" when the buyer's request is titled "I need a video testimonial".
GOOD TIP: Don't have a gig that is similar to the request? Make one. It is great for record keeping and it is hard to keep records on a Fiverr sale that had nothing to do with your gig.
5. Do not send potential buyers to a gig titled "I will answer any request". I am sorry and some people may not agree with this guideline, but nobody can handle ANY request. It may sound like a good idea, but I want to order a gig that I KNOW is handled with expertise and not with some generic scheme to make money on Fiverr. As per guideline #4, title your gig that is as similar as possible to the request.
6. Remember that buyers are limited to only 80 characters in the request box. Do not respond to a request telling the buyer "to be more specific". I have gotten this from sellers who told me that I was not specific enough. That is not professional and makes me defensive. That little box is limited. Please ask for more information and be professional about it.
IMPROVING YOUR CREDIBILITY
You are a new seller coming out of the woodworks and the buyer has never heard of you. You need credibility FAST, so here are my tips on how to acquire it.
7. When answering buyers' request, if possible, always have a sample handy. Buyers want their requests handled immediately and they usually want to see samples. If the next seller answering the request has a sample and you do not, that other seller already has more credibility.
8. Upload a REAL photo, possibly a real photo of a human face for the seller to your Fiverr profile, not a flower, a dog, or a balloon. Upload a photo of YOU. I hardly ever purchase from sellers with no photo, sometimes not even with a logo. I feel, as a buyer, that if the seller did not take the time to complete their Fiverr account, how can they really complete my order? It may sound like it does not make sense, but having a real photo of a seller gives you more credibility. We cannot call, Skype or email other people on Fiverr, so let me at least see your face when I do business with you.
9. When you respond to a gig request, write something more than "I can handle your request". Talk to the buyer in detail. I see the "I can handle your request" as lazy and the seller will handle my request with the same effort.
- Offer a link to a Fiverr gig that the buyer can order from right away (see guideline #4 above).
- Upload a sample
10. Invite the buyer to ask you more questions. Without this little line, buyers may not feel like you care and if they have questions, they may not feel you are caring enough to work with their request.
3 Surefire Ways That Make Me NOT Select a Seller from a Request Response:
- No photo uploaded to the seller's profile (Still shows the lamb or whatever that animal is)
- No gigs listed under the seller's profile
- Overly succinct message like "I'll Do It" or "I can handle your request"
Buyers:
You are looking for the perfect Fiverr seller to handle your request & sellers are looking at the request posts all day, so follow these guidelines:
*Most important tip I can offer any buyer: Do not just go with the first seller who responds. Shop around. There are plenty of sellers who will work with you and plenty who will not. See my tips below & make sure to interview at least 3 sellers.
1. When you post your gig request, make sure you really want to order a Fiverr gig right now. Some buyers post their request and disappear. That also makes it a waste of time for the seller who could be spending more valuable time like handling orders.
2. When you respond to sellers, please be ready to tell them in full detail what you really need. You are limited to 80 characters in the Request box, so you do not really have enough room to post what you really need. What helps me is typing out my full request and pasting it into the message when buyers respond. This way, you are consistent. Do not make sellers guess. You WILL be getting a lot of responses since sellers constantly look at the list of requests all day long, so be ready to paste the full details of what you need when you receive a response.
3. When a seller responds, ask for samples. Most sellers will offer them automatically, but if not, you can always ask. Ask for the link to the gig.
4. Tell sellers when you need the gig delivered by. It is ok to mention that you have a deadline. I have had buyers pick me for the job and then fail to tell me that they need their project delivered by the end of the day. Make sure the seller you select can deliver it in your deadline. If not, I am sure you have other buyers who would be glad to work with you on your deadline. Communicate with the seller before ordering and please be realistic with your deadline.
For example, if you need a web design developed, it won't happen in one day. Ask each seller if they can deliver by your deadline. If not, move to the next seller or compromise for a deadline that makes everyone happy.
5. If the seller asks you questions, please answer them before ordering. You have the seller's attention, but if you order without knowing how the seller works, it could spell trouble for both you.
If anyone would like to add to this guide, please do. I look forward to your feedback.
Bruce
As for me, I have a gig where I feature your blog, so any request where I see a a buyer asking for blog promotion, I jump on it. I have another gig where I analyze a website, so if someone needs website critiqued in a request, I respond, but I think while gigs are what keep buyers moving on Fiverr, gig REQUESTS are what keep sellers hopping.
I have found that gig requests are handled differently than regular gigs and although I do not see a lot of documentation around Fiverr about gig requests, I do see a lot of questions being asked by newbies on the forum, so here ya go:
I will present this guide to both buyers and sellers.
Sellers:
Remember this rule of thumb: Gig requests are extremely competitive! You need credibility and rapport, so here are my tips to get those qualities.
1. When you respond to a request, remember that at least 30 to 100 other sellers will also be responding to that buyer. The buyer may not open every response in their inbox, so if you do not get a response, do not respond to the buyer 3 times what some sellers did to me. The buyer can easily click the "Report" link and block you. Answer once and wait.
Advice: Answer another gig requests while you are waiting. There is no rule on Fiverr that I know of where you are limited to the number of requests you can answer.
2. When you respond to gig requests, always watch your inbox, because buyers want what they need immediately. If you do not answer your inbox, the buyer will go to the next seller.
3. New Fiverr Members: Do not answer the request without the buyer purchasing your gig first. New sellers make this mistake in the beginning. I did 2 years ago. Simply respond to the request and tell the buyer that you can handle one of their requests. See #4 to increase your chances of getting the sale.
4. Have a gig with a very similar title that matches the request of the buyer. This is not required, but if a potential buyer sees that you have a gig with a title that matches their request, that buyer may picture you as the perfect seller to handle their request. Maybe you will even look like an expert to them and buyers always do business with the experts. ;)
In other words, I advise not sending the buyer to a Fiverr gig titled "I will blog about your company" when the buyer's request is titled "I need a video testimonial".
GOOD TIP: Don't have a gig that is similar to the request? Make one. It is great for record keeping and it is hard to keep records on a Fiverr sale that had nothing to do with your gig.
5. Do not send potential buyers to a gig titled "I will answer any request". I am sorry and some people may not agree with this guideline, but nobody can handle ANY request. It may sound like a good idea, but I want to order a gig that I KNOW is handled with expertise and not with some generic scheme to make money on Fiverr. As per guideline #4, title your gig that is as similar as possible to the request.
6. Remember that buyers are limited to only 80 characters in the request box. Do not respond to a request telling the buyer "to be more specific". I have gotten this from sellers who told me that I was not specific enough. That is not professional and makes me defensive. That little box is limited. Please ask for more information and be professional about it.
IMPROVING YOUR CREDIBILITY
You are a new seller coming out of the woodworks and the buyer has never heard of you. You need credibility FAST, so here are my tips on how to acquire it.
7. When answering buyers' request, if possible, always have a sample handy. Buyers want their requests handled immediately and they usually want to see samples. If the next seller answering the request has a sample and you do not, that other seller already has more credibility.
8. Upload a REAL photo, possibly a real photo of a human face for the seller to your Fiverr profile, not a flower, a dog, or a balloon. Upload a photo of YOU. I hardly ever purchase from sellers with no photo, sometimes not even with a logo. I feel, as a buyer, that if the seller did not take the time to complete their Fiverr account, how can they really complete my order? It may sound like it does not make sense, but having a real photo of a seller gives you more credibility. We cannot call, Skype or email other people on Fiverr, so let me at least see your face when I do business with you.
9. When you respond to a gig request, write something more than "I can handle your request". Talk to the buyer in detail. I see the "I can handle your request" as lazy and the seller will handle my request with the same effort.
- Offer a link to a Fiverr gig that the buyer can order from right away (see guideline #4 above).
- Upload a sample
10. Invite the buyer to ask you more questions. Without this little line, buyers may not feel like you care and if they have questions, they may not feel you are caring enough to work with their request.
3 Surefire Ways That Make Me NOT Select a Seller from a Request Response:
- No photo uploaded to the seller's profile (Still shows the lamb or whatever that animal is)
- No gigs listed under the seller's profile
- Overly succinct message like "I'll Do It" or "I can handle your request"
Buyers:
You are looking for the perfect Fiverr seller to handle your request & sellers are looking at the request posts all day, so follow these guidelines:
*Most important tip I can offer any buyer: Do not just go with the first seller who responds. Shop around. There are plenty of sellers who will work with you and plenty who will not. See my tips below & make sure to interview at least 3 sellers.
1. When you post your gig request, make sure you really want to order a Fiverr gig right now. Some buyers post their request and disappear. That also makes it a waste of time for the seller who could be spending more valuable time like handling orders.
2. When you respond to sellers, please be ready to tell them in full detail what you really need. You are limited to 80 characters in the Request box, so you do not really have enough room to post what you really need. What helps me is typing out my full request and pasting it into the message when buyers respond. This way, you are consistent. Do not make sellers guess. You WILL be getting a lot of responses since sellers constantly look at the list of requests all day long, so be ready to paste the full details of what you need when you receive a response.
3. When a seller responds, ask for samples. Most sellers will offer them automatically, but if not, you can always ask. Ask for the link to the gig.
4. Tell sellers when you need the gig delivered by. It is ok to mention that you have a deadline. I have had buyers pick me for the job and then fail to tell me that they need their project delivered by the end of the day. Make sure the seller you select can deliver it in your deadline. If not, I am sure you have other buyers who would be glad to work with you on your deadline. Communicate with the seller before ordering and please be realistic with your deadline.
For example, if you need a web design developed, it won't happen in one day. Ask each seller if they can deliver by your deadline. If not, move to the next seller or compromise for a deadline that makes everyone happy.
5. If the seller asks you questions, please answer them before ordering. You have the seller's attention, but if you order without knowing how the seller works, it could spell trouble for both you.
If anyone would like to add to this guide, please do. I look forward to your feedback.
Bruce