Fiverr Gig Requirements: What I Learned the Hard Way

Let me start with my biggest
screw-up on Fiverr.
Back in 2022, I launched my logo
design gig with just three simple questions:
- What’s your company name?
- What do you want?
- Upload any files you have.
Sounds straightforward, right? I
thought I was making it super easy for buyers.
Then my first order came in — a guy
named David wanted a logo for his coffee shop. His answers?
- “Bean There Coffee”
- “Something cool”
- "No files uploaded"
I spent six hours putting together
what I thought was a sleek, modern logo — clean lines, trendy font, a perfect
coffee bean icon.
David hated it.
“This looks like every other coffee
shop logo,” he said. “I want something that feels local and vintage. My
customers are mostly retired folks who come here to read newspapers.”
So I redesigned it. Still no good.
We went back and forth eight times before I finally nailed what he wanted.
That’s when it hit me: I wasn’t a
mind reader. I needed better questions upfront.
Why
Gig Requirements Matter More Than You Think
Here’s something most sellers don’t
realize — your gig requirements aren’t just boxes for clients to fill out.
They’re your best defense against vague orders that waste your time.
When someone places an order, Fiverr
forces them to answer your questions before the clock starts ticking. That
means no more “make me a logo” with zero info to work with.
But many sellers either ask way too
many questions (scaring buyers off) or way too few (ending up in endless revisions).
After trying a bunch of different
approaches and talking with other sellers, here’s what actually works for me
now:
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My
Logo Design Gig Requirements (Steal These)
- What’s your business name and industry?
I need both because “Mike’s Place” could mean anything — a bar, a daycare, or a pizza joint. - Describe your typical customer in one sentence.
This changed the game for me. Knowing who I’m designing for makes all the difference. - Pick the style you like best:
- Modern & Clean
- Classic & Traditional
- Fun & Creative
- Bold & Edgy
Multiple
choice saves time for everyone.
- What colors should I use or avoid?
I always ask what they hate too. I once designed a pink logo for a guy who couldn’t stand pink — lesson learned. - Where will the logo be used most?
Website, business cards, storefront sign? Different uses need different designs. - Optional:
Any competitor logos to avoid?
This keeps me from accidentally copying a local rival’s style.
Just six questions, and they cut
revision headaches by 90%.
Before vs After (Work Time Comparison)
Before, here’s how my orders usually
went:
- Order placed: 10 minutes
- Hours messaging to figure out what the client really
wanted: 3 hours
- First design draft: 4 hours
- Revisions based on new info: 6 hours
- Total time per order: 13+ hours
Now it looks like this:
- Client fills out requirements: 10 minutes
- I design based on clear info: 4 hours
- Minor tweaks: 1 hour max
- Total time per order: 5 hours
That’s cutting my work time in half
just by asking better questions upfront.
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What
I Learned from Other Sellers (Writing, Video, Social Media)
- Writing gigs:
My friend Jake used to just ask, “What topic?” Now he asks about target
audience, word count, tone, and what action the reader should take — and
it’s helped him nail client expectations on the first draft.
- Video editing:
Sarah had a bride send 8 hours of footage with no direction. She guessed
wrong and had to start over. Now Sarah asks about video length, key
moments, style, music, and audience — saving her hours of work.
- Social media management: Tom used to ask, “What posts do you want?” Now he digs
into business goals, favorite Instagram accounts, posting frequency,
off-limit topics, and content resources.
The
Questions That Changed Everything for Me
- Who’s your customer?
Designing for “busy moms buying organic baby food” is totally different from “college students hunting cheap pizza.” - What do you hate?
Asking this saved me from unwanted fonts, colors, or styles. - Where will this live?
A logo for Instagram is different from one on a storefront sign or business card.
Mistakes
I Made So You Don’t Have To
·
Too
many questions:
I once had 15 requirements, and buyers dropped off mid-form. Limit it to 5-7
essentials, along with optional additions.
·
Being
unclear: Rather than asking “Describe your
style,” I now phrase it as “Choose one: minimalist and neat, intricate and
elaborate, whimsical and vibrant, or formal and serious.”
- No examples:
Adding examples when I ask about the target customer gets much clearer
answers.
- Ignoring file quality: I learned to specify “Upload high-res files — 300 DPI
for print, 1080px minimum for digital.” Otherwise, blurry pics cause
headaches later.
Handling
Different Client Types
- Indecisive clients:
If they say “I don’t know,” I ask them to pick what feels right. We
can always tweak later.
- Over-explainers:
For people writing essays in answers, I ask them to keep it short and
sweet with just key details.
- Last-minute panics:
Rush orders need all info within 2 hours, or I have to extend delivery
time.

My
Current Process
When an order comes in, I don’t jump
into design immediately. I read their answers carefully, looking for:
- Vague or incomplete info
- Unrealistic timelines
- Missing details
If anything’s unclear, I message
them before starting. Spending 5 minutes clarifying upfront saves hours
later.
Why
Good Requirements Make Clients Happy
Good questions don’t just make your
life easier — they show buyers you’re a pro.
Clients tell me things like, “I
never thought about my target audience before. This really helped me clarify my
brand.”
The
Bottom Line
Hoping clients will magically give
you a perfect brief? That’s wishful thinking.
Your job is to ask the right
questions before starting, not guess and waste time.
Since improving my requirements, my
revision rate dropped from 75% needing major changes to 15% needing small
tweaks. My client ratings went way up, and I actually enjoy the work now.
Spend 30 minutes fixing your gig
requirements, and you’ll save dozens of hours in headaches later.
Your sanity is worth it.

“If you’re setting up your first Fiverr gig, try these requirements. Got your own gig fail story? Drop it in the comments — I’d love to feature the best ones in a future post.”
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