This month we are discussing how to gain clients. In today’s episode, we discuss the pros and cons of using websites like Upwork and Fiverr to get work.
I, personally, have gotten work through Upwork but have only hired people off of Fiverr. Because I have never used Fiverr to get work I wanted to be able to fully give this episode the justice it deserves so, I did some research. I did find an interesting article which you can read here if you would like.
This episode will have information based on this article as well as some of my own thoughts and findings from my interactions from these sites as well.
Upwork
This is a beginner-friendly freelance job platform.
They will give you a certain amount of connects (connections) per month, which you will use to bid on jobs. Each job “costs” a certain amount of bids.
Their jobs are listed by categories. You can also choose to search for jobs within the United States or in foreign countries.
While you are able to search for jobs in other countries there are also freelancers from other countries searching for jobs here. These are some of the people you will be competing with to win jobs. This can sometimes be a downfall because they are sometimes able to do the work for lower wages.
In Upwork, you are able to charge by the hour or by the project. Once your job is completed Upwork takes a 5%-20% commission fee out of your pay.
This platform is very extensive with many opportunities available.
While I do not recommend trying to find all of your work on Upwork I do feel as though it is a good jumping-off point.
Fiverr
While Fiverr and Upwork are different they do also have similarities.
Fiverr is a gig platform in which to sell your services.
In this platform, you create the types of work you want to do then people are able to come to your profile and purchase your services.
There are no fees on Fiverr. The only form of payment is a 20% fee they take out of your payment once the job is completed.
You are unable to charge by the hour in this platform. Everything is project-based.
The Four Levels of Fiverr
- New Sellers: These are the inexperienced sellers who are new to Fiverr. This is where everyone begins when they start selling on Fiverr.
- Level 1 Seller: This level is for sellers who have successfully completed 10 – 1 time high-level gigs AND have had an active account for a minimum of 60 days.
- Level 2 Sellers: This level is for sellers who have successfully completed 50 – 1 time high seller gigs AND have had an active account for 120 days.
- Top-Rated Seller: This level has successfully completed 100 – 1 time high-level gigs for a minimum of $20,000 AND has had an active account for 180 days.
Fiverr allows projects to range from $5,000-$10,000 and is simple to use.
What is right for you?
- Both platforms have a free plan.
- The fee for Upwork ranges from 5%-20% based on the project/job while Fiverr is always 20%.
- Both platforms have 24/7 customer service.
- Fiverr creates a welcome environment for gig work (meaning by the job) while Upwork is more focused on hourly and flat-rate work.
I don’t think that it would be a bad idea to try each platform to get your feet wet.
I hope that this information helps you to decide what is right for you and your business. I appreciate all of you for tuning into the Pros and Cons of Upwork and Fiverr here on the Virtual Assistant Advantage podcast. Have a great rest of your week and I look forward to seeing you back next week!
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