Today, we will be looking at two of these platforms, Fiverr and PeoplePerHour.

Freelance work is becoming one of the most popular forms of work these days. With the ability to work from home, flexible hours, and the chance to work with a range of huge companies, it’s no wonder why more and more people are choosing to work remotely.

And from an employer’s perspective, hiring freelancers can be a huge economical gain. It can be a lot cheaper than hiring an in-house staff.

Back in the day, it could be difficult to connect freelancers with those looking to purchase services. But now, there are many different sites that specialize in connecting freelancers to clients. 

Fiverr

What is Fiverr?

Fiverr is an online two-way marketplace that is by far the most popular freelance platform. Founded in 2010, the site is now a multi-billion dollar company. The highest paying services on the platform are social media management, proofreading and copywriting, resume writing, and website building. However, you can find a range of unique services, such as psychic readings and life advice.

When the site first started, many services started at $5, hence the namesake. But as the quality and quantity of workers on the site has grown, it is common for clients to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

How does Fiverr work for freelancers?

Fiverr is free to use, which means once you sign up for an account, you can start posting gigs.

Gigs are what Fiverr calls their job postings.

Your gig should include positive keywords, finished products of your service if possible, and include details such as your rate, the timeline you can work under, and your experience. Why should clients hire you? Remember, this is a potential client’s first impression of you, so you want to make sure you are making a good one.

Below is an example of a high rated seller’s gig posting.

Fiverr allows you to package up your gigs into 3 different pricing tiers. Basic, standard, and premium. 

The basic package will be the least expensive, and include the least amount of content. As you increase the price, your content will usually increase in quality, and also include key features such as the ability for clients to ask for revisions if they are not satisfied with the final product.

Below is an example of what your packages could look like.

Another key part of being a seller on Fiverr is their ranking system. You are automatically ranked a New Seller when you join the site. As you grow on the site, you can level up to Level 1, Level 2, and Top Rated Seller, which is the highest ranking on the site.

The higher your ranking, the more likely you are to get sales.

To reach Level 1, you must 

• Be an active seller for at least 60 days
• Complete at least 10 orders
• Earn $400 or more
• Maintain a 4.7-star rating over 60 days
• Deliver a 90% response rate score over 60 days
• Score a 90% order completion rate over 60 day
• Achieve a 90% on-time delivery score over 60 days
• Receive no warnings over 30 days

Once you reach all those milestones, you can post up to 10 active gigs. 

Read below to learn how you can reach Level 2 and Top Rated Seller.

Note – Although Fiverr is free to use, they do take a 20% cut from all your profits, which means you will be walking home with 80% of your total sales.

How does Fiverr work for Clients?

You can easily switch between being a freelancer and a client on Fiverr, so you don’t have to make two separate accounts. Instead of posting a gig, you simply search for the type of service you want to receive, and order directly from the freelancer.

Many freelancers prefer if you message them first with any extra details you may want for the project, including confirming rates and timelines, as well as if you have any special requests.

Once you confirm with the freelancer, you will be charged, but they will not receive the money until you are satisfied with your order. Make sure to handle all communication and payment through Fiverr directly so that the site can handle a conflict if any problems arise.

If you are having trouble finding a freelancer, you can also submit a request. Fiverr will do its best to match you with potential freelancers and you can contact the users directly to discuss your project further.

Fiverr will charge a 5.5% fee on your orders, as well as an extra $2 charge if the order total is under $50 USD.

PeoplePerHour

What is PeoplePerHour?

PeoplePerHour is a UK-based freelance company that was founded in 2007. Used mainly by startups, the site has helped over 3 million freelancers and claim their top freelancers make 7,000 GBP a month. The platform has been praised by Forbes, The BBC, and Business Insider.

How does PeoplePerHour work for clients?

It is free to post a project on the site. 

You can pick from a range of different services, from social media, writing and translation, and programming.

In order to find the right type of freelancers, remember to be as specific as possible for what you’re looking for, and include factors such as sample material, budget, and timeline.

Once you post your project, freelancers will start sending you proposals. You can message multiple different users, discuss more details, and then choose your freelancer. You will first pay a deposit, and the freelancer will get to work.

Once the freelancer has delivered the final product and you are satisfied with the finished product, you can send over the rest of the money.

PeoplePerHour has their own project streams that allow you to communicate, share ideas and files, and pay your freelancer all from one platform.

How does PeoplePerHour work for freelancers?

Unlike Fiverr, or other freelance platforms, you can not just sign up for the platform – you have to submit an application.

This is so that the platform can guarantee clients will have access to the best freelancers on the market. Once you are approved, you can start sending proposals to potential clients, crafting a profile, and looking through the range of different projects.

You can also create packages for clients to offer deals for your services. 

When you create an offer, clients will be more inclined to work with you as there is a fixed price rather than an hourly rate. Remember, only choose this option if you know how much your time is worth so you won’t find yourself over-working for less money than you would have normally made.

You can send up to 15 proposals a month for free. If you want to quote additional projects, you can purchase credit on the site to do so.

PeoplePerHour charges a service fee of 20 % on projects less than 250 pounds (which is about $350 USD). 

The fees decrease as the amount of the sale increases. There is a 7.5% service fee from 250–5,000 pounds and only 3.5% fee on sales over 5,000 pounds. 

Which platform will you use? 

Although the fees are higher on PeoplePerHour, the quality of work may be higher due to the strict application. However, Fiverr may have more opportunities due to the amount of people who are familiar with the site.