Freelancer Tips

Stay Relevant: Advice for Scaling and Adding New Services

By
Fiverr Team
|
September 6, 2019

For most new Fiverr sellers, getting started seems like the hardest part. After the first few sales and repeat clients, it’s time to break out the champagne – right? Wrong. (Well, yes… you should definitely celebrate, but then get back to work!) It’s important to take active steps to maintain your momentum and build on your previous success. As you grow and change, your business should too.

Here are four tips to help you keep moving forward and stay relevant in the marketplace.

Update your Visuals

Chances are, you’re getting better, faster, and more professional with every client interaction and delivery; so, why are you selling your elevated services with the amateur imagery that got you started?

Once a year, take a moment to audit your professional appearance. Does it match who you are and what skills you offer today? If you’ve added new gigs to your portfolio, a full branding refresh can help you bridge the gap between new and old for a cohesive, confident look.

If custom gig videos are still on your perpetual to-do list, don’t waste another day! Keep tabs on your analytics to make sure that your impressions are turning into clicks. As momentum builds, don’t let dated or missing visuals hold you back.

Take Requests

You’ve heard that more gigs are the key to more opportunity, but how do you know what to offer? Let your base of friendly, repeat buyers be the guide.

If a repeat customer reaches out to you with a custom request that’s a little outside of your wheelhouse, but still relevant- go for it! This opportunity provides insight to know what extra services your clients need, and it gives you the perfect cushion to try something new with a friendly audience before opening a new gig.

It’s best to offer a special price and be upfront with them about your lack of proven experience, but eagerness to try. If they’re willing to take the gamble, then you should too!

Trim the Fat

Just like your visual branding, your gig catalogue might not be the perfect fit anymore. Just because it worked for you in the past doesn’t mean it’s best for your future. Consider the value of your services and what your time and skills are worth.

Many sellers start with lower-than-ideal price points just for the opportunity to get new clients and start building a review base. As you grow, hone your skills, and show a track-record of proven success, you should be updating your services and prices to match.

Take a time-cost (and passion-cost!) analysis to make informed changes:

  • Is there a better way to price your best-selling gig to encourage upsells?
  • Do you really have to offer the gig extra that always leads to difficult revisions?
  • Can you optimize a low-performing gig to match a new trend in buyer requests?

Fix Persistent Problems

As you get busier and earn more consistent work, you’ll find yourself asking and answering the same questions over and over again! Your ability to scale comes down to efficiency.

Take the time to correct mistakes and clarify the stumbling blocks that keep tripping buyers up:

  • Customers shouldn’t all be asking the same questions. Update your gig page FAQ and stop wasting time by answering each person individually.
  • If you frequently find yourself asking buyers for more information, something is unclear. Update your order form requirements and re-read prompts for clarity.
  • (If you’re not utilizing quick responses yet, you’re not prepared to scale!) Be proactive and put buyers at ease by addressing common concerns in your initial message.

Take a well-deserved moment and pat yourself on the back for what you’ve achieved thus far! Now it’s time to leverage what you’ve built and create a sustainable, scalable freelance business that you love.

Carrie French (carrieblogger) is a career freelancer on Fiverr Pro. As a specialist in website content, sales copy, and blog writing, she has helped thousands of small and medium-sized businesses tell their stories and make an impact. Carrie has been recognized by Forbes and Entrepreneur Magazine about her success as a top-rated copywriter. When Carrie isn’t working on her laptop, she’s out walking her dog, running, playing the oboe, and searching for the world’s best truffle fries. Follow her on Fiverr, YouTube, and Instagram @carrieblogger.

Fiverr Team
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