The Fiverr starter guide for new freelancers

# Profile Optimization

# Product & Policies

Everything new Fiverr freelancers need to know, from landing your first order to staying safe and growing your business.

July 10, 2024 · Last updated on July 14, 2026

Kesha

Whether you just created your account or you're still waiting on that first order, this guide is for you. It covers the most common questions new freelancers have, from setting up your services to avoiding scams.

Bookmark this page and come back as you need it. If there's something we haven't covered, let us know.

Getting started

How do I get my first order?

There's no single trick to landing your first order, but some things consistently make a difference. Start by making sure your service listings are fully optimized with clear titles, descriptions that speak to what clients actually need, and strong visuals. From there, it's about patience and consistency.

Tips to help you get your first order

A Fiverr Guide for one of the most asked questions: How to get that first order!

Kickstart program : access to exclusive tools, features, and Fiverr insights designed to fast-track your success as a new freelancer.

What can I do if my freelancer profile isn’t approved?

Our team carefully reviews each Fiverr application. If your application was denied for any reason, that decision cannot be changed. However, you're still welcome to use Fiverr as a client.

Your account

Can I have multiple accounts?

No. Multiple accounts are against Fiverr's Terms of Service. However, sharing a computer or WiFi connection with another Fiverr user is fine, as long as the accounts are separate people.

How do I fix phone verification issues?

Start here: Verifying your account using your phone .

If you've worked through the troubleshooting steps and are still stuck, contact Customer Support at [email protected].

How do I fill out my W-9 form?

You can submit your W-9 directly from your Earnings page by navigating to the Financial Documents tab. From there, you'll be asked whether you are a U.S. person:

If no, no further action is required.

If yes, you'll be prompted to complete and submit the form. Validation may take a few days once submitted.

For more on tax requirements: W-9 collection and Freelancer taxes

What does a warning mean?

A warning is issued when your account activity violates Fiverr's Community Standards or Terms of Service. One warning typically doesn't have major consequences. It's more of a heads-up to avoid repeating the behavior. Warnings remain active for 90 days, and repeated offenses while your warnings are active can result in permanent account suspension.

Common reasons for warnings include feedback boosting, trying to do business off-platform, and using offensive language.

What should I do if my account has been flagged or restricted?

Account flags and restrictions can only be addressed by Fiverr's Customer Support team. We're not able to provide account-specific details through the Community Hub. You should have received an email from the support team explaining what happened. If you haven't, or if you need to escalate, reach out at [email protected].

For a full breakdown of what each type of account sanction means: Warnings, restrictions, flags, and disabled — what do they all mean?

What should I do if have I contacted Customer Support but haven't heard back?

Response times vary depending on how much volume the support team is dealing with at a given time, so some patience goes a long way. The most important thing: don't submit multiple tickets for the same issue. It can feel like it'll speed things up, but it actually pushes you further back in the queue. Same goes for sending repeated follow-ups on an existing ticket, each message resets the clock.

For a full breakdown of how to get the most out of your CS interactions: Your guide to approaching Customer Support

Why can’t I withdraw funds?

To withdraw your earnings, you must have at least one payout method set up, including PayPal, Payoneer, or a Fiverr Revenue Card. You'll also need to have funds available from completed orders before you can add a withdrawal method. You can check this under the "Available for withdrawal" section on your Earnings page. If that balance is at zero, you'll continue to see an error when trying to add a method.

A couple of other things worth knowing: adding a payment method through the Billing and Payments page won't work for withdrawals. It needs to be set up through your Earnings page. If you're running into issues, try clearing your browser's cache and cookies, then log back in and try again.

Still stuck? For more details, visit our full withdrawal guide , or reach out to Customer Support at [email protected].

What should I do if my preferred payment method is not available?

Payment method availability varies depending on your country of residence and the device you're using, so not all options are available to everyone.

For a full breakdown, check out the payment methods page in the Help Center.

Why have I received an alert about reaching my limit if I have only two published Gigs?

New freelancers can have up to four listings total, but that limit includes all published, paused, in draft, pending approval, requiring modification, and denied Gigs.

If you've reached the limit unexpectedly, check all your Gig statuses to see if there are any inactive ones you can delete to free up a slot.

Still see the error with fewer active and inactive listings? Reach out to Customer Support at [email protected].

Visibility and ranking

How does the Fiverr algorithm work?

Keywords and client satisfaction have the biggest influence on where your listing ranks. Client satisfaction is measured by your Success Score and reflects the quality of your work and the experience you deliver to clients. Strong reviews, on-time deliveries, and overall great customer service all contribute to it. Keywords are about how well the algorithm understands what you offer and who to show it to.

For a deeper dive: Understanding the Fiverr algorithm .

Why aren’t my services showing up in search?

If you're a new freelancer with no orders yet, keywords are the one lever you can actually pull.

Here's where to start:

Use the search bar for research. Type your service into Fiverr's search box and pay attention to what auto-populates. Those suggestions reflect what clients are actually searching for, and they're a solid source of keyword inspiration.

Study successful Gigs in your category. Click into your subcategory and look at what keywords freelancers who are consistently getting orders are using.

Put your strongest keywords in your title. The algorithm scans titles first, so lead with what clients are most likely to search for.

Use your tags to add context, not repetition. Tags help the algorithm further understand your Gig. Try not to repeat the exact keywords from your title. Instead, use them to cover related search terms, which broadens your reach.

Avoid over-editing your services. Changing listings too frequently can confuse the algorithm. If you make updates, give it 3–4 weeks before judging the results.

For a deeper dive: Let's talk keywords: the optimization strategies every Fiverr freelancer should know

Why aren't my Gigs getting impressions, clicks, or conversions?

These three metrics each tell you something different about where things might need attention.

Low impressions mean your Gig isn't showing up in search results often enough. This usually comes down to two things: demand and keywords. If you do some market research and find that very few freelancers offering similar services are consistently busy, it may signal that demand for that service is low. On the other hand, if you notice demand is fine, it may be time to revisit your keywords. Make sure your title leads with what clients are actually searching for, and use your tags to cover related terms rather than repeating what's already in your title.

Getting impressions but no clicks means clients are seeing your Gig but scrolling past it. This could be due to many factors, such as your thumbnail, title, and even price. All of those things are making an instant first impression, and if you’re not seeing the results you want, it may be time to revisit the elements of your Gig card.

Take a hard look at your visuals. Are they clean and eye-catching or cluttered?

Optimize your title. Is it clear and readable so clients can easily understand what you’re offering?

Evaluate your pricing. Is it in line with where you are in the market?

Getting clicks but no conversions means clients are visiting your Gig page but leaving without ordering. At this point, the issue is usually trust or clarity. Strengthen your description by focusing on what you can do for the buyer, not just a list of your skills. Make sure your gallery showcases your best work, your FAQs address common hesitations, and your profile looks complete and professional. A profile video also makes a real difference.

Fluctuations in any of these three metrics are normal and don't always require action, but if you're seeing a consistent drop over time, it's worth a closer look. For a full breakdown: What to do if your impressions, clicks, or conversions are down

A few other resources:

The power of adding a Gig video

Crafting the perfect Gig visuals

Pricing mistakes you may be making (and how to fix them)

Why aren’t my messages from potential clients turning into orders?

Getting a message is a great sign that your listing caught their attention, but the conversation itself is where the order is won.

Responding quickly is one of the best things you can do. Clients often contact multiple freelancers at once, so replying promptly—even with a Quick Response acknowledging them while you prepare a more detailed response—can keep their interest. It's also important to show professionalism, express enthusiasm, and ask the right questions.

For more tips on how to effectively communicate during the pre-order phase to close more orders: Mastering communication: before the order

How do I get a Fiverr’s Choice badge?

Fiverr's Choice badge is awarded automatically based on quality signals like client feedback, order completion rate, and communication quality, and more. You can't apply for it. . Focus on delivering consistently great work and a positive client experience and you’ll be considered.

Platform safety

Why am I getting suspicious messages after recently publishing my services?

It's not uncommon, especially for brand new freelancers. While we work hard to detect and remove bad actors from the platform, it's always worth staying vigilant. Many scammers target new freelancers because they know you're eager for that first order and may not recognize what a legitimate client interaction looks like.

This scam usually involves someone pretending to be a client and asking for your email or payment details, saying they need them to place an order or make a payment. They don't. There is no legitimate reason for a client to need your email or payment information to order on Fiverr.

Here's what to do:

Do not share your email address, phone number, or any personal information. Not only is this against our Terms of Service, but it can also compromise your account.

Do not click any links sent through your inbox, especially ones that look like Fiverr but feel off. Always check the URL carefully.

Report suspicious messages directly to Customer Support at [email protected]. Include screenshots.

Be aware. Fiverr will never contact you through your inbox to request payments, passwords, or private information.

For more safety tips: Avoiding spam and staying safe on Fiverr

How do I know if a message is a scam?

Most scam messages follow a pretty predictable pattern once you know what to look for. Common red flags include:

They ask you to move the conversation off Fiverr to Telegram, WhatsApp, email, or another platform

They claim Fiverr is having a payment issue and ask you to resolve it externally

They send a link to what looks like a Fiverr page, but the URL doesn't match fiverr.com

The offer sounds too good to be true. Think big budget, very little detail, urgent timeline

They ask for personal information before any order has been placed

A good rule of thumb: if something feels off, it probably is. You're never obligated to continue a conversation that makes you uncomfortable.

What should I do if I get a suspicious message?

The most important thing is to not comply with the suspicious request. Don't click any links, and don't share any personal information. Instead, report each suspicious message directly in your Fiverr inbox to flag the user. This will allow the team to act quickly and protect other freelancers too.

Reported spam messages do not affect your response rate , as long as they are reported within 24 hours. You can choose to respond briefly to the message as an extra precaution.

What if I already gave someone my email address or bank information?

Don't panic, but act quickly. Report the conversation to Customer Support and monitor your inbox and any accounts connected to that email. Do not engage further with them.

If your bank details were shared or compromised, we encourage you to contact your bank as soon as possible to let them know what's going on. Unfortunately, we are unable to assist with bank-related scams.