Remote Work FAQs: Why Haven't I Gotten Any Orders on Fiverr Yet?

This is part of my FAQ series, where I address your questions.

“I signed up on Fiverr last week and still haven’t received any orders yet. Why is this? I get this question a lot. And I get it — you’ve created your Fiverr profile, uploaded a gig or two, maybe even added a video and some keywords. You’re refreshing your inbox every few hours… but nothing.

Truth is

Just signing up doesn’t mean the orders will flood in right away. Fiverr is a marketplace, not a magic button. You’re competing with thousands of other freelancers who already have hundreds of reviews, polished portfolios, and repeat clients. So, the first week? That’s the warm-up.

When I first started in 2018, I thought having a profile meant I was “available,” and buyers would just find me. I quickly realized that I would need to take action to receive orders and for the algorithm to recommend my profile to buyers. This meant promoting my gig myself. 

So, I told a few people about it, and three of them were kind enough to place orders with me. My first order was to create a PowerPoint presentation about a science-related topic. I don’t remember the details of the other two, but I made about $25 that month altogether.

Then the scammers found me (picture me frustrated). They eliminated the excitement of receiving messages on Fiverr. I filtered more scam messages than the many TikTok videos I scroll through each day.

Even after those wins, I still hadn’t received orders or serious enquiries and was forced to go back to the drawing board.

Here’s what helped me:

• I joined freelance groups on Facebook and did gig swaps with others who needed my services.

• Through these groups, I connected with experienced remote workers who wanted to outsource some of the work.

• I kept tweaking my gig image, title, and tags based on what top sellers in my niche were doing.

• I asked a few close contacts if they needed help or could refer me.

• I stayed active. Logging in daily, updating gigs, and responding quickly to messages.

  
  

This is what I recommend you do today:

• Create social profiles for your remote work and speak about the services you offer.

• Sign up on other platforms.

• Set money aside to advertise your service. Organic content alone won’t cut it.

• Search job boards for remote opportunities.

• Be specific about what you offer. You’re a virtual assistant, but who do you work with? Companies or professionals? Do you help with administrative tasks or just bookkeeping? Be specific.

• Ask for feedback on your profile.

• Revise your pricing structure.

• Offer incentives for anyone who places their first order. Hey, it works for retail, so it can work for you. Everyone likes to save coins.

• Please, do your research. Don’t go in flying blind. Stay updated on your niche, tools you can use, and best practices.

  
  

It’s frustrating when you’ve put in the work and nothing has happened yet. But hang in there. Keep learning and keep promoting. The first order often takes time. However, once it comes, it gets easier to build momentum.

How long did it take you to get your first order on Fiverr (or any freelance platform)?

• I got one within a week
• It took 1–4 weeks
• Still waiting...
• Haven’t started freelancing yet

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This blog serves as a mini outlet for my ramblings about my experiences as a 9-to-5er by day and hustler by night. I share my thoughts with the hope that others will feel encouraged and find fulfilling side hustle snacks here and there. I don’t claim to know it all because I’m not perfect, so please share your feedback.

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