There are many different places out there on the internet to find freelancers that can help you with any type of project from proofreading and editing to copywriting to designing website content. These platforms are much easier to find someone when you need them quickly. While this is the case, since there are so many out there, you have to find the sites that are good and going to get you the best bang for your buck. When you are searching for great content writers, it is important that you are using a platform that has everything you need.
Some platforms for finding freelancers are better than others. Unfortunately, Fiverr may not be what you are looking for. It can be difficult to find great content writers that will deliver what you need for your business. There are many disadvantages to using Fiverr for your freelancing needs.
What is Fiverr?
Fiverr is a website where you can either post your freelancing services or look for a freelancer to help you with all your needs. It is mostly used for small tasks, which can be convenient for a freelancer that is new to the business. It is also a way for searchers to get a job done quickly. While there are some benefits to using Fiverr, there are also many drawbacks that are discussed below.
There is Little Screening for Vendors
Most freelancing sites have a lengthy and somewhat annoying process to screen and prove the identity of vendors. While I might be frustrating to go through that process when you just want to get started, it is necessary to protect both parties. Unfortunately, Fiverr doesn’t screen its vendors or sellers as well as it should. This leaves a lot of room for error when it comes to finding someone who is able to help you with what you need.
Think about most interview processes and how much a person has to go through. Not only do you have to answer questions, but you also must dress and act professionally and have references or proof of your previous experience. Fiverr does not have anything in place to prove that people are who they say they are or have done what they say they have done.
Inexperienced Buyers and Sellers
With the lack of screening comes inexperienced buyers and sellers. Sure, everyone needs a place to begin, but faking it might not be the best way to go when beginning your own business or looking for someone to help you out. Many Fiverrs report on the lack of quality of work that comes from the freelancers taking on jobs. The worst part is, they had no idea that these people had no experience because there is nothing in place to check them out. It also means that buyers and sellers are also not screened to see what their background is in writing or whatever job they are applying for.
While it does give them the opportunity to make a profile, comment after jobs are completed, and message between the buyer and seller, there is not enough put into place so that this process is smooth and guaranteed.
Due to Little Screening, there are Too Many Options
With so many people on the site, there are so many options to choose from that it can be very overwhelming for both buyers and sellers. It might be difficult to pick a person to help you with your freelancing job because there are just so many out there and not a great pool of experience. When there are fewer people to choose from with experience, it makes the decision much easier, especially when putting the work into someone else’s hands.
Let’s Talk About Pay from Both Sides
There are a few different things to discuss when it comes to the pay. First off, Fiverr takes 20% of all sales, which is a pretty large fee to be taken away from those who are working hard. In addition, there is also a limited means of transferring money. One of the only options to use for getting paid or paying a client is to use Pay Pal. While this is a way to protect personal information, Pay Pal also has fees, which are in addition to those fees that Fiverr charges clients. Not only are there fees involved, but for transactions, it takes about 14 days in order for the money to transfer and sellers don’t have a lot of control over what is happening. In fact, they can lose their seller level for some time based on the transactions.
Scams, Scams, Scams
There is not enough put in place on Fiverr that protects its users against scams. In this day and age with the internet and everything else going on, protection of users should be a number one priority. Even scams such as buyers ignoring the seller have happened, which can be super frustrating. People might even go ahead and complete a job only to have the other party tell them that they have been scammed and never asked for the job. This means that people are working hard for nothing.
Bad Customer Service
If you read many of the reviews for Fiverr, it sounds as though there is a lot of miscommunication where freelancers are being kicked off claiming that they have done nothing wrong. That can be so frustrating when you are looking for someone to help you out or looking to make a few extra bucks by completing a few gigs for people. Based on those reviews, it also seems like the site does not have clear-cut rules or protocols for when things are going wrong.
Many of the users who left reviews sound as though they are frustrated and confused as to why they were disabled from using their account for a period of time. It appears as though there are many people out there that have used Fiverr and are not satisfied with the customer service. This is always a huge issue for a company as making sure those who use your service are satisfied should be a number one priority.
Policies Change Without Notice or Warning
This can cause a company to have such a bad reputation. Have you ever experienced going to a website that you haven’t been to in a while and they make you click all these buttons that you agree? Well, while that can be super annoying and time-consuming, it is necessary because it is important that users are made aware of policy changes. This does not happen on Fiverr. In fact, the policies change often and without warning, causing a lot of headaches for its users. Since the information is not shared with users, they might violate policies, which causes their account to be put on hold.
A Bad Reputation
While the creators of Fiverr had good intentions of helping out freelancers and companies and individuals looking for help, it seems as though they did not study some of the necessary steps that are needed in order to make a business successful. Now, if you look Fiverr up, you might become discouraged rather quickly about using it. A bad reputation is difficult to erase.
Final Words
In case you are feeling frustrated about looking for a freelancer or becoming a freelancer, you should know that there are many quality sites out there where writers are screened properly, and the site is managed more effectively. As a client or user, you should feel as though you can trust the company you are using. Fiverr may be good for some, but the majority would probably not choose to use it given other better options.
