Who doesn’t love getting a new order?
The initial excitement of a buyer reaching out to you can create so many jitters, making you want to dive in immediately…but not so fast! Something to remember while trying to grow your business is that not every opportunity is a good one. A lot of the time, when getting started in anything new, we want to immerse ourselves in all aspects of it, or we overcompensate and say yes to everything without thought. This can lead to immense frustration for you later when the order isn’t what you offer, and in some cases can learn to burn out due to over-promising.
That said, we recommend that before you accept any new orders, you take time to assess whether or not the buyer is a good fit for you. Adding this step into your workflow before accepting an order can not only save you time and prevent headaches but will also protect your standing on the platform since it minimizes the chance of friction with your buyer. So, here’s what you should look for when vetting potential buyers:
Vetting for communication
Everyone knows that without good communication, you’re bound to run into issues. If you and the client aren’t on the same page, you likely will not meet their expectations. A way to get around communication styles clashing is to evaluate your early messages for:
- Thoroughness: While some buyers may not always include every initial detail regarding their projects upfront, they need a clear vision and the ability to answer questions if they encounter any issues. When messaging your buyer, think of the following:
- Have they given you all the necessary information to feel confident you’ll meet their requirements?
- Do you trust they can fill in the blanks if additional information is needed?
If you take the time to evaluate the thoroughness of their responses beforehand, you may be able to avoid a project with a vague buyer who is difficult to please.
- Professionalism: While every message doesn’t need to be super formal, basic professionalism and respect is essential. The first few messages are telling, and if a buyer is rude or demanding from the jump, though you may want the order, it might cause more issues down the line if you ignore the behavior.
Vetting for legitimacy
On Fiverr, we do our best to keep our platform safe, but it is still wise to be vigilant and ensure you are only doing business with honest and reliable customers. Common red flags of spam buyers include:
- Requesting to communicate or do business off-platform
- Asking for free work or work upfront before paying
- Orders that seem too good to be true, like offering high pay for a simple task
Sometimes, buyers will send messages that feel templated or robotic, which can raise suspicions of spam. Don’t always be so quick to automatically dismiss or report these messages. Many buyers use a single templated brief to pitch their project to multiple sellers as they search for the best fit. If you have doubts about a buyer’s legitimacy, don’t hesitate to ask follow-up questions.
For more information and tips on detecting and handling spam messages, visit here. Vetting for realistic expectations
Pay close attention to the buyer’s expectations, especially regarding price, deadlines, and overall scope. While negotiating can be effective in certain situations, be wary of working with buyers who are grossly unrealistic from the start. For example, if you encounter a buyer who is significantly lowballing you or seeking a substantial discount, consider whether it’s even worth the effort to try and negotiate. Even if they agree to your terms initially, they might continue to have extremely high expectations that are hard to satisfy.
Before committing to the project, gather as much information as possible. From there, properly evaluate if you have the time and skills to meet their expectations while staying true to your own standards. It’s better to decline in the early stages rather than compromise just to get an order.
Failing to correctly vet buyers can cost you much time and effort. When a buyer first reaches out, assess whether the order is a good fit. If you detect any red flags, don’t ignore them. Ask further questions, and if you’re still feeling uneasy, trust your instincts and politely decline or cancel. Though it may be disappointing to turn down an order, walking away from a poor fit can save you significant stress and frustration in the long run.
