Fiverr’s study of hunt freelancers finds that a greater figure of respondents have seen an addition in client requests for generative motor optimization (GEO) compared to Google-ranking tasks. This understanding is part of Fiverr’s 2026 Holiday Marketing Index, released on September 21.
Sixty-seven percent reported a increase in GEO requests complete the former year, while 56% saw an addition in requests to enhance Google rankings. When considering long-term investments, 61% accept Google SEO is the strongest, and the study advises backing both. Those specialists additionally detect that clients lean to anticipate lesser prices whenever AI is involved.
The indicator polled hundreds of Fiverr’s top-rated freelancers in the categories of search, user-generated content, and e-commerce throughout eight countries. Fiverr notes that the results are “self-reported and not projected against the broad population.”
What Search Specialists Told Fiverr
Sixty-one percent of surveyed hunt specialists reported that clients anticipate lesser prices merely since of AI involvement in their work. The study notes that hunt specialists use AI additional frequently than another surveyed groups and cognition the top pricing pressure.
Eighty-three percent of hunt specialists say clients are “increasingly hiring them for direction and ability versus uncomplicated execution,” which is higher than the 79% in e-commerce and 76% in user-generated satisfied (UGC). Half of the specialists accept that businesses underestimate how lengthy it takes for the activity to pay off. Sixty-one percent of hunt specialists study representative project expenses ranging from $150 to $300.
Apart from the survey, the study additionally mentions that GEO services in the market grew by 29% from November 2025 to April 2026, according to inner market data.
What The Report Doesn’t Say
Both the study leaf and the September 21 media release omit key particulars specified as the total example size, figure of hunt specialists, study periods, exact inquiry wording, and whether results were valued by country. The publish mentions that the study was carried out “ahead of the 2026 holiday season” in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Australia.
Earlier Fiverr holiday surveys offered additional transparency concerning methodology. For example, their 2024 survey, run alongside the investigation resolute Censuswide, stated example sizes and gathering dates. Their June 9 media release concerning the Business Trends Index states that petition figures stemmed from millions of searches on Fiverr, comparing data from May to October 2025 alongside November 2025 to April 2026. Nevertheless, the holiday study does not explain if its 29% GEO fig was derived from the identical search-based method.
I have contacted Fiverr for particulars on the example sizes, dates, inquiry wording, and how the 29% fig was calculated. As of publication, the business has not responded.
Investment Ahead Of Results
According to Search Engine Journal’s State of Search 2027 report, published on September 18, 2026, 43% of those surveyed shared that they scheme to allocate in or prioritize GEO in the coming year. And 14% highlighted optimization for AI answer engines as one aspect contributing to their finest results.
That study polled hunt professionals fairly than freelancers, and it asked concerning their own plans and results fairly than client requests, so the two sets of numbers can’t be set against all other. Both surveys display GEO moving up the agenda, alongside SEJ respondents preparedness to allocate in or prioritize it and Fiverr freelancers reporting additional client requests for it.
Why This Matters
The study shows a strain for hunt freelancers. On one side, additional of them study expanding petition for GEO, and pricing is under force about AI-assisted work. On the another hand, 89% of surveyed hunt specialists mentioned that clients prioritize results complete whether AI was involved.
The study measures client requests, freelancer perceptions, and project rates, but it doesn’t measure if GEO activity leads to risen visibility or improved endeavor results.
Looking Ahead
Fiverr recommends starting hunt activity a few months in advance, alongside 28% of surveyed hunt specialists advising a guide period of at smallest three to four months. The study emphasizes that hunt activities have to be prioritized first, afterward creator hiring should run through November, and store-related activity have to be scheduled from October to December.
