What would you do for five dollars? Fiverr, a new site that still is beta, is asking people around the world this question. And if you have a compelling answer to this question, you could be five dollars richer in 48 hours (okay, four dollars richer after Fiverr takes a cut.)
Online and social media have made it easier than ever to hire a freelancer or crowdsource a project. Platforms like Mechanical Turk and Elance are good solutions for more complicated, long-term projects. But there are times when you’re in the market for something less involved than building a database or programming an ActiveX script.
If the kind of script you’re looking for is someone writing your message on their body in Sharpie pen, then Fiverr is the place for you. This marketplace allows users to post a “gig” for five dollars, and sellers to commission the work. Sellers pay upfront, and the financial end of the transaction is handled through PayPal. Buyers and sellers are able to provide feedback and ratings, and this social functionality helps to police the community.
So, what kinds of things are people willing to do for five bucks a pop? A man in Las Vegas will send you a video singing telegram featuring his accordion. A young kid will have his dog spell out your message (up to 10 letters) in kibble. Are you in a relationship you don’t know how to end? This helpful fellow will break up with your significant other for you!
Are any of these things worth five dollars? I suppose it depends on who you ask. Job providers and businesses are already beginning to see real value. This actor from New Jersey has earned nearly $800 doing personalized Christopher Walken impressions. Maxxo, a Croatian tech start-up launching this week, has hired all the creative services for launch from the Fiverr community. According to a press release from Maxxo, this global collaboration has already generated more than 3,500 “likes” on the brand’s Facebook page.
As a PR professional, I’m both interested in how brands can engage this community and racking my brain to figure out what unique skills I can start selling in the micro-sourced marketplace.
