“Clients are not coming on Fiverr.” This is one of the most common questions freelancers ask. In this article, we will only focus on Fiverr related tips. Finding clients from other platforms or other methods is a separate topic on its own.
We will also share a unique tip, drawn from 8 years of Fiverr experience, that has consistently helped bring in orders across multiple accounts.
Step 1: Finalize Your Skill Category
The first thing you need to do is finalize one skill. You need to decide which category you want to offer your service in, and you should be confident that you can deliver service in that category in the international market.
Step 2: Create Four Gigs in the Same Category
If you are a new seller, the first thing you should do is create four gigs. For each gig, you need to know how to find the right title, how to write the description, and how to use hashtags properly.
Finding a category where fewer freelancers are offering services but order volume is high is a separate topic. If you want details on that, it can be covered in another article.
So, to summarize the first two steps:
- Finalize your skill.
- Create four gigs on Fiverr.
Add a Portfolio With Six Projects
All four gigs should be related to the same category. Do not mix categories. Whatever category you have finalized, your Fiverr portfolio should be related to that same category.
In your portfolio, you must add six projects, and each project should be related to a different brand. When you upload a project in the portfolio, there is also an option to select a category for that project. You should select the category related to that specific project. This way, when a client is searching in that category, your gig is more likely to appear at the top.
Always Add a Video to Your Gig
The most important thing is that you must add a video to your gig. About 80% of sellers do not follow this. They only upload images and skip the video.
Fiverr itself states that a gig which includes a video can see engagement increase by up to 40%.
Related: Why Fiverr Is Slow in 2026: Real Reasons and What Freelancers Can Do About It
The Most Important Mistake Behind Gig Failure
Now here is the most important and crucial point, the one that is often the reason behind a gig’s failure. You need to listen to this carefully and understand it properly. If you do not understand this point, reading this entire article will not be of much use. If you fail to understand this point completely, you will not be able to get orders on Fiverr with consistency.
The thumbnail you use for your gig should be the same thumbnail you use for your video.
This means when you attach a video to your gig along with three images, the first image becomes the thumbnail of your gig. This thumbnail image and the video thumbnail need to be exactly the same. The reason for this will be explained below, and skipping ahead means missing the whole point of this article.
How Clients Actually Choose a Freelancer
It is not necessary that a client sees your gig, opens it, checks the packages, reads the description, and messages you right away. This is not how it usually happens. In most cases, clients behave differently.
Clients analyze freelancers properly. They read the freelancer’s case, check their packages, look at their description, and analyze what has been included in the portfolio. It is not necessary that they come to your gig, open it, and immediately send a message. This is usually not the case. Some clients compare multiple freelancers over several hours or even a few days before placing an order.
Why This Matters More on Mobile
Here is the part you need to pay close attention to. The thumbnail shown in the system, meaning if you are using Fiverr on a laptop or PC, is the video thumbnail.
In our experience, using the same thumbnail for both your gig image and video helps maintain consistent branding, regardless of the device buyers use.
In other words, if a client is using a PC, the thumbnail they see for your gig is the video thumbnail. If they are using mobile, the thumbnail they see is the image thumbnail.
If a client analyzed freelancers on a PC system and your gig got fixed in their mind, most of the time, the actual order is placed through mobile. This means when the client goes to bed or has free time, they use their mobile phone, and that is when they try to place the order.
When they are searching during that mobile session, the thumbnails shown to them are the image thumbnails, not the video thumbnails.
Even though the client is trying to find you specifically, it is the thumbnail through which the client manages to find the gig again.
If your video thumbnail and image thumbnail are the same, it becomes easier for the client to find you, and they are also more likely to place the order with you.
If the client remembers your thumbnail in their mind but is searching for it on mobile and cannot find it because it looks different, here is what happens.
During that search, if they come across another freelancer’s gig instead, they will immediately place the order with that other freelancer.
This is the reason many sellers do not get consistent or new orders, because the video thumbnail and the image thumbnail are different.
When they are different, it becomes harder for the client to find the gig again, and the client ends up placing the order with someone they were able to properly analyze and remember.
This is why the client places the order with the freelancer whose thumbnail they were able to fix in their mind, and they had already analyzed earlier.
Many sellers overlook this detail, even though it can improve the consistency of your gig’s visual branding.
Common Gig Setup Mistakes New Sellers Make
Even sellers who understand the basics of Fiverr often make setup mistakes that silently hurt their performance. These are not always obvious, but they have a direct impact on whether clients find your gig and whether they choose to order from you.
Using a generic or unclear gig title: A gig title like “I will do graphic design” tells the buyer almost nothing. Buyers search for specific services, so your title should reflect exactly what you offer. For example, “I will design a modern minimalist logo for your brand” is far more effective because it matches specific search intent.
Uploading low-quality or irrelevant portfolio images: Your portfolio is the first thing a serious buyer looks at after the thumbnail. If the images are blurry, inconsistent, or unrelated to your actual service, it creates doubt. Every portfolio sample should clearly represent the quality and type of work the buyer can expect to receive.
Writing a description that focuses on you instead of the buyer: Many sellers write descriptions like “I am an expert with five years of experience.” Buyers do not care about your background as much as they care about what you can do for them. Rewrite your description to focus on the result the buyer will receive, not on your resume.
Ignoring the FAQ section inside the gig: Fiverr gigs have a built-in FAQ section that most sellers leave empty. This section is an opportunity to answer common buyer questions before they even ask. Filling it out properly shows professionalism and can reduce hesitation at the point of purchase.
Setting unrealistic delivery times: A new seller promising to deliver a complex service in 24 hours just to appear competitive often leads to late deliveries, which damages ranking and reputation. Set delivery times you can realistically meet even on your busiest days.
