Getting clients is good, keeping them is better

When you’re looking to get a service done like a haircut or some repairs on your car, who are you most likely to choose: someone new or the service provider you’ve worked with before and had a good experience with?

Chances are, you’ll go with the one you’re familiar with, right? After all, why should you risk trying someone new when you’re confident in the quality and experience you’ll get with the one you’ve already worked with?

Your clients think the same way. Generally, most of them would prefer to rehire freelancers they had a good experience with rather than start over with a stranger. In that same vein, though, if they have a sour experience with you, they may hesitate to work with you again. That means that how you approach each order can either win you a long-term client or cost you one.

Working smarter, not harder

When trying to build a sustainable freelancing business on Fiverr, you can certainly go about it in one of two ways. You can focus on only chasing new clients by trying to beat the algorithm, or you can choose to also nurture the clients you already have to keep them coming back. Here’s why it’s worth it to build a loyal clientele:

You skip the algorithm. There are so many freelancer options available on the platform that it can feel overwhelming for clients to choose who they want to work with. If a client ends up liking you, they’ll likely skip the tedious search and go straight to you for their next order. That means you no longer have to rely just on impressions and clicks to get new orders. Even if it's a slow season or you lose visibility in search for any reason, having a solid base of repeat clients can help keep your business thriving.

You’ve already proven yourself. When you work with a client, they gain firsthand insight into who you are, so they no longer have to depend on reviews, seller levels, or portfolios to determine your trustworthiness. They know you by experience. As long as they’ve enjoyed their time with you, it’s unlikely that your Success Score or any other metric will keep them from wanting to collaborate again.

How to keep clients coming back

Deliver a quality experience

This is the ultimate foundation. No matter how friendly you are or how clever your messaging is, if the work doesn't meet expectations, clients won’t return. Focus on sharpening your skills, setting clear expectations, and creating a smooth overall experience.

Be personable

It's easy to fall into a factory mindset where you become so focused on production and output that you forget to connect meaningfully with your order. To increase your client retention and encourage them to return, take the time to really understand your client’s visions, goals, and motivations by asking thoughtful questions. Treat every order, whether big or small, with care and attention, because you never know who might return with more projects or larger budgets.

Think strategically about your gigs

Consider designing your offerings to encourage repeat business by offering:

1. Complementary Gigs: Things a client may need before or after the main service. (e.g., SEO or bug fixes for web developers, audits or consultations for social media managers)
2. Adjacent Gigs: Offer something new that uses similar skills (e.g., a logo designer offering business cards, or a voice actor offering UGC videos).

For inspiration for related services you can offer, think of the client’s full journey. Ask yourself, what might they need next to start, improve, or expand their project? Additionally, think about what else you can do with the skills you already have.

Be direct

Some clients will naturally return when they have a future need, but others may need a nudge to order from you again. They may not be aware of everything you offer, or they might not even realize they need something else until you, the expert, point it out. You can try to cross-sell or upsell your other services with statements like:

“It was great working on your social media strategy! I also love creating content and engaging social communities, so if you ever need help with that, I’d love to support you as your social media manager.”

Or,

“Thanks for choosing me to optimize your on-page SEO! To really maximize your results, I’d recommend adding backlinks to your site too. I’d be happy to help if you're interested.”

Building client loyalty is all about becoming their go-to for related services. When you consistently deliver value and results, clients are far more likely to return, meaning you can spend less time chasing new orders and more time doing the work you truly enjoy.