Fiverr Pro, do you get more clients?

[adoreonline]

Due to the competition and their super low rate, I’m considering to try applying as a Fiverr Pro seller (whether my profile get approved or not is another story).

Any Fiverr Pro sellers here who used to on the general Fiverr, would like to share their experience?

[frank_d]

There are plenty of threads here where Pro sellers have responded to similar questions.

I think you are considering moving to the Pro category for all the wrong reasons.

Your tagline itself is about “value”, and your gigs seem to cover really specific things, so I’m, not sure if there’s an audience for those specific things at a higher price point.

If you think that the competition is hurting you, then position yourself as a better choice to the eyes of your prospects. If anything, raising your prices will hurt you further if your pain point is mainly the fact that other sellers sell the same value for less.

As it currently stands, based on your existing gigs and body of work, combined with your current mindset and positioning, I think you shouldn’t apply for Pro just yet.

Instead, start working on your profile and gigs to rise above your competition.

Reverse engineer it if need be: find your competition, and what you think makes them more successful than you, and try to emulate their actions.

I don’t mean copying their stuff, I mean figuring out what makes them stand out more when compared to you, and figuring out a similar course of action.

[adoreonline]

There are plenty of threads here where Pro sellers have responded to similar questions.

I think you are considering moving to the Pro category for all the wrong reasons.

Your tagline itself is about “value”, and your gigs seem to cover really specific things, so I’m, not sure if there’s an audience for those specific things at a higher price point.

If you think that the competition is hurting you, then position yourself as a better choice to the eyes of your prospects. If anything, raising your prices will hurt you further if your pain point is mainly the fact that other sellers sell the same value for less.

As it currently stands, based on your existing gigs and body of work, combined with your current mindset and positioning, I think you shouldn’t apply for Pro just yet.

Instead, start working on your profile and gigs to rise above your competition.

Reverse engineer it if need be: find your competition, and what you think makes them more successful than you, and try to emulate their actions.

I don’t mean copying their stuff, I mean figuring out what makes them stand out more when compared to you, and figuring out a similar course of action.

Thank you for your input.

When I first came in, I offered more general gigs like what is sold on Fiverr Pro now. Because I was desperate for reviews (and that there were no Fiverr Pro yet), I put it at the lowest rate. After a few sales I realised that my time taken (I make sure that my work quality is there.) and the rate wasn’t justifying. Adjusted the price and hit no sales for 3 months. So then I decided to create specific gigs at the rate that is reasonable for me. It was going pretty well then came along the competitions at a lower rate which is fine for me.

So in short, I tried to create more general gigs which required more time and higher price but pro wasn’t around yet.

[frank_d]

Thank you for your input.

When I first came in, I offered more general gigs like what is sold on Fiverr Pro now. Because I was desperate for reviews (and that there were no Fiverr Pro yet), I put it at the lowest rate. After a few sales I realised that my time taken (I make sure that my work quality is there.) and the rate wasn’t justifying. Adjusted the price and hit no sales for 3 months. So then I decided to create specific gigs at the rate that is reasonable for me. It was going pretty well then came along the competitions at a lower rate which is fine for me.

So in short, I tried to create more general gigs which required more time and higher price but pro wasn’t around yet.

You did things backwards it seems.

The only way to raise your rates is to move to the extreme quadrant of your service, and offer something very specific.

You need to be a specialist, not a generalist.

So you do need to make a choice: offer something with broad appeal and high competition, or offer something really specific but make a lot less sales?

Either way if you plan it right, the amount you will end up making on Fiverr will roughly be the same. The amount of hours it took though, will be less if you opt to specialize.

I don’t think there’s enough demand for the things you chose to specialize in.

For instance: How many people want an animated map for their project?

Not a lot probably.

So it all comes back to you and your choice. What do you want to do?

If you want to earn a living on Fiverr you need a basic strategy as a starting point.

Again for clarity: the presence or absence of the Pro category was never your problem.

I felt like I should repeat this fact as you keep mentioning how Fiverr Pro wasn’t around when you started out. It has nothing to do with what you are facing right now or what you decided back then. It’s irrelevant.

[misscrystal]

I looked at the animated map gig, very interesting. I wonder who buys that, what the target market is for that? I had to turn the sound down as the music on that boomed out and startled me.

[cyaxrex]

I’ve come to a conclusion about Fiverr Pro that will no doubt be controversial but may be worth considering.

In short, when I look at Pro gigs, a lot seem to have poor sales volumes. At the same time, though, Pro gigs appear prominently in the search. They have their own landing page, gigs appear on the first page in regular searches, and often they appear twice in regular searches. That is a phenomenal amount of free exposure.

The big HOWEVER is that as I said, a lot of Pro gigs seem to have poor sales volumes. If I was Fiverr, I would, therefore, be working behind the scenes to see if giving Pro gigs prime search exposure is really generating a return on investment.

If giving Pro gigs prime search exposure isn’t generating an amazing return on investment, I’d probably (eventually) start limiting how much free exposure they get. One way to do that would be to take away things like fixed search placements.

If Fiverr ever did this, some Pro sellers could really suffer. This would be especially true for regular sellers who go Pro and in doing so, wave goodbye to their old regulars.

I’m not saying this will ever happen. My theory is purely the result of my own thought experiments. However. I’ve decided to build up to charging Pro prices without applying for Pro for this reason.

[misscrystal]

I’ve come to a conclusion about Fiverr Pro that will no doubt be controversial but may be worth considering.

In short, when I look at Pro gigs, a lot seem to have poor sales volumes. At the same time, though, Pro gigs appear prominently in the search. They have their own landing page, gigs appear on the first page in regular searches, and often they appear twice in regular searches. That is a phenomenal amount of free exposure.

The big HOWEVER is that as I said, a lot of Pro gigs seem to have poor sales volumes. If I was Fiverr, I would, therefore, be working behind the scenes to see if giving Pro gigs prime search exposure is really generating a return on investment.

If giving Pro gigs prime search exposure isn’t generating an amazing return on investment, I’d probably (eventually) start limiting how much free exposure they get. One way to do that would be to take away things like fixed search placements.

If Fiverr ever did this, some Pro sellers could really suffer. This would be especially true for regular sellers who go Pro and in doing so, wave goodbye to their old regulars.

I’m not saying this will ever happen. My theory is purely the result of my own thought experiments. However. I’ve decided to build up to charging Pro prices without applying for Pro for this reason.

The big HOWEVER is that as I said, a lot of Pro gigs seem to have poor sales volumes. If I was Fiverr, I would, therefore, be working behind the scenes to see if giving Pro gigs prime search exposure is really generating a return on investment.

Fiverr is trying to reposition itself and change it’s brand image. While you and I think they do things that would make the most income for the site, they are thinking about their image and branding in pushing Pro sellers so much, and they also know there is the trickle down effect where buyers will end up making a purchase although not necessarily from a Pro.

They probably realize when most buyers see the Pro’s high prices, they can find the same things cheaper and decide to go with that.

Fiverr is changing how people see it as a place where there are high quality high priced professional gigs.

[visualstudios]

The big HOWEVER is that as I said, a lot of Pro gigs seem to have poor sales volumes. If I was Fiverr, I would, therefore, be working behind the scenes to see if giving Pro gigs prime search exposure is really generating a return on investment.

Fiverr is trying to reposition itself and change it’s brand image. While you and I think they do things that would make the most income for the site, they are thinking about their image and branding in pushing Pro sellers so much, and they also know there is the trickle down effect where buyers will end up making a purchase although not necessarily from a Pro.

They probably realize when most buyers see the Pro’s high prices, they can find the same things cheaper and decide to go with that.

Fiverr is changing how people see it as a place where there are high quality high priced professional gigs.

It’s a better deal for Fiverr to sell 1 gig for 1000 than 200 gigs for 5. They like higher priced gigs, and the Pro platform targets a specific type of client that expects to pay more as well. Fiverr started at the $5 website, it takes time to move away from that. Most buyers, specially buyers that were already in the platform before the increase in prices, of course won’t want to buy Pro gigs. It’s a different market.

[misscrystal]

In a few years from now, the average price of a gig might be $75 to $150.

[visualstudios]

In a few years from now, the average price of a gig might be $75 to $150.

What you you reckon it is at now? That’s an interesting metric to keep track of. Of course it will vary wildly by field.

[silberma1976]

The big HOWEVER is that as I said, a lot of Pro gigs seem to have poor sales volumes. If I was Fiverr, I would, therefore, be working behind the scenes to see if giving Pro gigs prime search exposure is really generating a return on investment.

Fiverr is trying to reposition itself and change it’s brand image. While you and I think they do things that would make the most income for the site, they are thinking about their image and branding in pushing Pro sellers so much, and they also know there is the trickle down effect where buyers will end up making a purchase although not necessarily from a Pro.

They probably realize when most buyers see the Pro’s high prices, they can find the same things cheaper and decide to go with that.

Fiverr is changing how people see it as a place where there are high quality high priced professional gigs.

Nice way to put it. I would analogize it to a fast food restaurant. You can upsize your order via a pro, or do the medium size, small, or kids size.

[visualstudios]

Nice way to put it. I would analogize it to a fast food restaurant. You can upsize your order via a pro, or do the medium size, small, or kids size.

I wouldn’t put it quite like that. It’s more like uber eats - you can order from macdonalds or from that restaurant with a great chef, and everything in between. I think that’s closer to the idea. It’s not only about being “larger” or “more”.

[misscrystal]

And I’ve studied all those Pro ads I see on Youtube. It’s not some fancy office they show, with pompous intimidating suited up guys. It’s an average Joe sitting at an average desk, smiling as he looks at gigs on fiverr, thinking that it’s a welcoming place for someone who wants to have his own little business. If even a guy like him can find something on fiverr he loves then even an average struggling guy like YOU can too!

Those Pro ads are actually targeting average people who want their own little online business. And fiverr knows that is the largest growing segment of the US buying population.

[visualstudios]

And I’ve studied all those Pro ads I see on Youtube. It’s not some fancy office they show, with pompous intimidating suited up guys. It’s an average Joe sitting at an average desk, smiling as he looks at gigs on fiverr, thinking that it’s a welcoming place for someone who wants to have his own little business. If even a guy like him can find something on fiverr he loves then even an average struggling guy like YOU can too!

Those Pro ads are actually targeting average people who want their own little online business. And fiverr knows that is the largest growing segment of the US buying population.

Gotta admit their desks usually look good. Guys have good interior decorators. And yeah, it’s a growing intermediate market. The big companies have huge agencies. But all the startups and new business that want to invest in brand, marketing, etc. can have interesting budgets as well. And for a good business, it’s a great ROI.

[misscrystal]

Gotta admit their desks usually look good. Guys have good interior decorators. And yeah, it’s a growing intermediate market. The big companies have huge agencies. But all the startups and new business that want to invest in brand, marketing, etc. can have interesting budgets as well. And for a good business, it’s a great ROI.

In that Pro ad I’ve seen it looks like an Ikea desk for less than $200 but they look amazing.

It’s a guy who obviously is in a little online business for himself yet is dressed in a manner as if he were in a nice office setting, so obviously he takes himself very seriously even though he is working for himself.

He is willing to spend a lot of money on his wardrobe, so therefore on his purchases for his business as well. He is definitely NOT a cheapskate. He wants the best for himself.

[visualstudios]

In that Pro ad I’ve seen it looks like an Ikea desk for less than $200 but they look amazing.

It’s a guy who obviously is in a little online business for himself yet is dressed in a manner as if he were in a nice office setting, so obviously he takes himself very seriously even though he is working for himself.

He is willing to spend a lot of money on his wardrobe, so therefore on his purchases for his business as well. He is definitely NOT a cheapskate. He wants the best for himself.

Taste is everything.

[cyaxrex]

It’s a better deal for Fiverr to sell 1 gig for 1000 than 200 gigs for 5. They like higher priced gigs, and the Pro platform targets a specific type of client that expects to pay more as well. Fiverr started at the $5 website, it takes time to move away from that. Most buyers, specially buyers that were already in the platform before the increase in prices, of course won’t want to buy Pro gigs. It’s a different market.

It’s a better deal for Fiverr to sell 1 gig for 1000 than 200 gigs for 5.

This is obvious. However, it comes down to real sales volumes. If a Pro writer sells a gig at $1K but only has 20 orders per year, Fiverr could start looking at a non-Pro writer turning over $40K a year despite being on page 3 of search results, and realize that they would get more ROI from bumping the latter gig to the first page.

When I see so many Pro gigs with apparently low sales volumes, it seems to me like basic commonsense that at some point, some Pro gigs will stop getting preferential search exposure.

[visualstudios]

It’s a better deal for Fiverr to sell 1 gig for 1000 than 200 gigs for 5.

This is obvious. However, it comes down to real sales volumes. If a Pro writer sells a gig at $1K but only has 20 orders per year, Fiverr could start looking at a non-Pro writer turning over $40K a year despite being on page 3 of search results, and realize that they would get more ROI from bumping the latter gig to the first page.

When I see so many Pro gigs with apparently low sales volumes, it seems to me like basic commonsense that at some point, some Pro gigs will stop getting preferential search exposure.

Some, yes. But that also depends on what you consider to be good sales volume. I don’t have the data for average sales volume of pro/vs non pro gigs, nobody does. I would like to have it, I really would. I only have my data to speak of, and I’m doing quite better now, on average, than I was before I was pro.

[misscrystal]

It’s a better deal for Fiverr to sell 1 gig for 1000 than 200 gigs for 5.

This is obvious. However, it comes down to real sales volumes. If a Pro writer sells a gig at $1K but only has 20 orders per year, Fiverr could start looking at a non-Pro writer turning over $40K a year despite being on page 3 of search results, and realize that they would get more ROI from bumping the latter gig to the first page.

When I see so many Pro gigs with apparently low sales volumes, it seems to me like basic commonsense that at some point, some Pro gigs will stop getting preferential search exposure.

it seems to me like basic commonsense that at some point, some Pro gigs will stop getting preferential search exposure.

Yet that doesn’t happen. Why would that be?

No longer do we see ads with a guy and his roomate sitting on a sofa smoking from a bong. Remember that one?

Or the frenzied lady in a noisy women’s restroom taking orders on her phone.

Or in bed with her lover rolling over to take a call.

It’s all about branding.

[cyaxrex]

Some, yes. But that also depends on what you consider to be good sales volume. I don’t have the data for average sales volume of pro/vs non pro gigs, nobody does. I would like to have it, I really would. I only have my data to speak of, and I’m doing quite better now, on average, than I was before I was pro.

But that also depends on what you consider to be good sales volume.

It doesn’t come down to what you consider good sales volume, it comes down to facts and ROI. I have no doubt that some Pro sellers benefit significantly from Pro. However, it is clear that after 3-years, a lot do not seem to be making amazing sales.

I somehow see the same Pro gig every time I use the search. It has 17-reviews generated since 2018. That person charges $500. By comparison, there are lots of regular sellers offering the same service for $50 to $500 who seem to turnover sales regularly.

All I am saying is that if I was Fiverr, I would at some point start wondering whether it would be better to keep the Pro Fiverr landing page, but remove the fixed placement of Pro gigs in the search.

Yet that doesn’t happen. Why would that be?

Lots of reasons. Like any business, Fiverr might test giving one product prime search exposure for a fixed amount of time, before eventually trialing another product like Studio gigs.

Fiverr also invested heavily in Pro and I doubt would change things overnight.

[misscrystal]

But that also depends on what you consider to be good sales volume.

It doesn’t come down to what you consider good sales volume, it comes down to facts and ROI. I have no doubt that some Pro sellers benefit significantly from Pro. However, it is clear that after 3-years, a lot do not seem to be making amazing sales.

I somehow see the same Pro gig every time I use the search. It has 17-reviews generated since 2018. That person charges $500. By comparison, there are lots of regular sellers offering the same service for $50 to $500 who seem to turnover sales regularly.

All I am saying is that if I was Fiverr, I would at some point start wondering whether it would be better to keep the Pro Fiverr landing page, but remove the fixed placement of Pro gigs in the search.

Yet that doesn’t happen. Why would that be?

Lots of reasons. Like any business, Fiverr might test giving one product prime search exposure for a fixed amount of time, before eventually trialing another product like Studio gigs.

Fiverr also invested heavily in Pro and I doubt would change things overnight.

It’s for the reasons I said that have nothing to do with trying to get more people to actually buy Pro gigs. It’s about hey look we sell expensive gigs now, it’s no longer a $5 site. We are a serious site now, selling high priced gigs.

So now instead of spending $5 you can spend $50 and get a professional gig instead of some sign holders in the jungle.

[fastadking]

Fiverr is the discount Walmart of services. The Pro category is a bit like a $50 sock area at Walmart. People will look at it and admire the high quality socks. But may decide $9 non-pro socks are just as good. Especially when the $9 socks have 32 orders in que and 4,000 reviews.

[miiila]

it seems to me like basic commonsense that at some point, some Pro gigs will stop getting preferential search exposure.

Yet that doesn’t happen. Why would that be?

No longer do we see ads with a guy and his roomate sitting on a sofa smoking from a bong. Remember that one?

Or the frenzied lady in a noisy women’s restroom taking orders on her phone.

Or in bed with her lover rolling over to take a call.

It’s all about branding.

The video I currently see as Fiverr’s YT page cover video is still a bit in a “frenzy style” I’d say. It also seems to advertise TRSs specifically, no PRO mention in sight, unless I missed it.

That video is 3 months old. (Interestingly, in the “Videos” tab, the 4 latest videos I can see, are all German, seems they took the launching of the local Fiverr campaign seriously)

“Meet the PROs” has its own playlist but you only see it when scrolling down the YT Home page, not on top.

That’s just YT videos, though, and when I go to Fiverr’s YT site to check out what they are up to, video-wise, I don’t really see Fiverr ads anywhere, so there may be more PRO stuff “out there”.

[misscrystal]

The video I currently see as Fiverr’s YT page cover video is still a bit in a “frenzy style” I’d say. It also seems to advertise TRSs specifically, no PRO mention in sight, unless I missed it.

That video is 3 months old. (Interestingly, in the “Videos” tab, the 4 latest videos I can see, are all German, seems they took the launching of the local Fiverr campaign seriously)

“Meet the PROs” has its own playlist but you only see it when scrolling down the YT Home page, not on top.

That’s just YT videos, though, and when I go to Fiverr’s YT site to check out what they are up to, video-wise, I don’t really see Fiverr ads anywhere, so there may be more PRO stuff “out there”.

I haven’t seen those before with the blond woman. I see the one with the black guy at a desk smiling as he looks at fiverr, very nicely dressed. It’s for Pro gigs. He is in a place with lots of people walking around yet he is at his own little stand alone desk doing his own thing.

I get the impression he is a new self employed businessman who is dead serious about his project, and is so happy that he found fiverr to make his dreams a reality.

There is also the one with the attractive blond man who vehemently says “I like to GET **** DONE!!!”

[frank_d]

Fiverr is slowly moving away from the “get s*** done” motto.

I just made an ad for them and they were very explicit about that.