In today’s “gig economy”, Fiverr has quickly risen to become one of the more prominent opportunities for young people.
Its ease of use, massive audience and large pool of highly talented providers have made it an ideal solution for entrepreneurs of all abilities, allowing people to earn everything from a decent living to huge full-time incomes from it.
To that end, if you’ve heard of Fiverr or are looking for ways it could potentially help you make the most of your time and skills – it’s definitely an opportunity worth considering. This guide will explain what Fiverr actually is, how it works, and what it means for service providers around the world.
Founded in 2012, Fiverr has grown to over 3 million listings, and is headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel. The company’s name comes from the starting price of each of its listings ($5) – although it’s a common misconception that this is the “only” price you can list your services at. The reality is that you can list services at prices up to $1500+. The $5 price is just a token initial fee.
The way the system gives “providers” the ability to list their services as “performances”. In these gigs, providers promise to perform tasks ranging from digital marketing to creative writing for a nominal fee.
The buyer will pay the provider and the money will be kept by Fiverr until the job is done. The provider then has a certain amount of time to provide the client with their work. The customer can then request a review or simply give a “star” rating for the service they received.
The most important thing to remember about Fiverr’s business model is that it’s short and sweet. People go there for “simple” jobs and generally won’t pay for anything too ambitious. Although it started as a simple way to make a quick buck as a struggling student, it quickly grew into the massive platform we see today.
Some of the most popular services purchased on Fiverr are copywriting and creative/article writing. People want native English writers to produce “perfect” copy for their product listings, websites, and general business portfolios. Providing these services on the platform gives you a direct way to earn an extra few hundred dollars with relatively little outlay.
If you’re interested in how it works, there are 3 tips you can use to get ahead on the platform.
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Be personal
The most important thing (for long-term growth) is to be personable. Using your face, credentials and real portfolio is one of the most important ways to get ahead on the site. While you can thrive by being anonymous – or hiding behind a company name – it’s a far better option to ensure you’re investing in yourself. Some of the most prolific sellers on the site are people who just put up their credentials and offer a service.
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Sell what you know
Instead of trying to copy what other people are doing, sell what *you* know. It takes a few tries to get a gig that people will actively seek (for example, a friend of mine was a financier and I set him a gig on Fiverr selling articles about “cryptocurrency” – orders started coming in very quickly). The most important thing to say with this is that if you’re trying to “fit in,” you’ll actually end up chasing a job that isn’t really your forte. Instead, you really need to do your best in a creative way (so that people are looking for you).
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Always experiment/test
Finally, you need to keep trying new gigs, new ways to promote your work, and new ways to showcase what you’ve done before. There’s no point in stagnating, because in the end you’re just wasting time and getting nowhere.
The most important thing to remember is that you can sell what everyone is buying (which usually leads to short-term success). If you have real skill, you can take advantage of Fiverr’s opportunity to allow yourself to improve your core brand.