We all know that the gig economy is on the rise. So many components come into play here, and one of them is the gig listing. A great gig listing can get you noticed in whatever platform you choose to work on. As a business, you’re going to search for gig workers, so their listing is the thing that will grab your attention. Here we’ll share key information on what to list and what to look for.
Gig listings for the gig worker
As a gig worker, you’ve got to get your name out there. If you don’t have listings, you probably won’t get the gigs. Of course, it depends on what you’re doing, but for many of the side hustles gig workers love, they need listings. Some of the big components of this are creating your listing, posting it, and responding to the listing. Let’s go!
Creating your listing
Depending on your gig, you have a few options with your listing and your work. For instance, you can upload your listing to one of the many gig platforms out there. You can also create your own social media or web page to showcase your gig. So, if you have a truck and move furniture on the weekends and evenings, you can list this on your own social media sites. You’ll probably want to stay local so local listings are better. But if you do something virtually, you can have a listing anywhere in the world, including some of the major gig platforms.
Regardless of where your listing is going, there are some components that you’ll want to include for sure. Some of these are:
- What you do. This should be quite clear and upfront, like college essay consultant, house painter, furniture mover, web designer.
- You also want to mention that you are providing a solution to a problem. Something like, “Is your business ready for a new website? I’ve got you covered.”
- In a concise way, mention your experience. This builds trust and lends credibility. You don’t need to list references or specific projects, but something along the lines of “Georgia tech graduate with eight years of web design experience” is quick, clean, and to the point.
- A call to action. This is a pretty important step as it’s sharing what the potential customer can do to reach you. Whether it’s a phone call, text, or email, share your contact info and invite them in. Many platforms will provide this part for you as the customer does go through that particular website or company to get to you. If you’re completely independent, give as much of your contact info as you want. You can direct them to your website or simply include your email address.
Posting your gig listing
This is where you’ll reach your customers. As we mentioned, think about if you are local or global. If you can do work for anyone regardless of geographical area, get your listing out in a global manner. That could be Facebook, LinkedIn, professional platforms, and a website. If you are more of a local service, like baking, delivery, or hands-on technology, keep your listing local. Don’t be afraid to get creative. Maybe post it at the local senior center or at your yoga studio. You can add it to your neighborhood newsletter or your Facebook page.
The most important thing here is to get your gig listing in front of the eyes of your potential customers. If your listing is for private tutoring, share it in the schools if you can, maybe sponsor a local school event, and put it on your social media. You probably don’t need an online platform for this kind of gig listing since it’s a local gig.
Respond to your listing
Always respond to people who reach out to you, even if you don’t think the gig will work. You want to keep all channels open, so the mom asking for an AP Chemistry tutor when you specifically said you are an elementary math tutor could still be a connection for you. If you respond professionally, she may have a friend who needs that elementary math tutor one day, and she’ll refer you. But if you ignore her inquiry, you’re cutting off any future possibilities connected to her.
Consider sites like Bunny Studio
You don’t have to work your gig all alone. There are plenty of freelance sites out there, like our own Bunny Studio. Here, you apply and once you are accepted, you’ll be offered freelance work. This can be a great addition to your independent gigs or maybe enough to keep you busy. One of the great things about gig work is flexibility!
Gig listings for the client
Now let’s talk about what the client should look for in the gig listing. And not only what, but where. We started with the what’s for the gig worker, but let’s start with the where for the client. After all, it’s a pretty great time to get your business involved in the gig economy.
Where should you search a gig listing to hire a freelancer?
Just like the gig worker, this depends on the job. If you are looking for a person to come in and wash dogs a few times a week for your dog boarding business, you’ll need a local gig worker. But if you want someone to write your blogs and manage your website for your dog boarding business, you can look far and wide. Of course, we recommend looking at a reputable hiring site, like Bunny Studio. Here, we’ve vetted our pros and make sure they work in timely, professional, and dependable manners.
Outsourcing sites have lots of advantages. Some of them are:
- Sites make it easy to filter freelancers by skills, cost, and even deadlines
- Freelancers have proven records that have already been checked
- You can automatically see client reviews without having to track any past clients down to check references
- There’s no negotiation as prices are usually set beforehand
- Bunny Studio has an amazing QC process where all the work is checked by Quality Control (that means another set of eyes) and revisions are always available
However, if you find an outsourcing site and it seems overly complicated or hard to get in touch with someone, keep looking. The best sites have made it easy to find and hire a freelancer.
You can also check out personal listings. This will give you direct contact with the freelancer and you can work things out between the two of you. You can find this on social media or local platforms. Just make sure to ask the right questions and feel comfortable with everything being offered. Remember, you can negotiate and ask for particular requests. It never hurts!
What should you look for in gig listings?
As we mentioned, look for those keywords. You don’t want a tutor with no educational or academic experience, or a writer with no knowledge of SEO or formatting. Just like the freelancer has to promote themself, you need to know what to look for and what questions to ask. If you’re looking for that website designer, ask to see some work. If you want the dog bather, ask what techniques they use and see how they answer you.
Remember, a gig listing is basically just a quick ad. Find the call to action if the listing interests you and reach out to the freelancer. Have a list of questions ready to ask and see how they answer them. Often our intuition is a great guide. Remember, you’re not obligated just because you reach out. You can always find someone else if they don’t resonate with you.
Another thing to look for is professionalism. You may see this in the way the listing is presented, and you may hear it when you chat with the pro. Whether you are looking at a personal, independent listing or reaching out to an outsourcing service, that professionalism should be there. Not only does this show you that the freelancer and/or company is professional and respects you and the job, but it also shows that they hold their work in high esteem.
A mini resume
A gig listing is in essence a mini resume. If you are a freelancer listing your gig, think of it that way. You want to present as much as yourself in the listing as possible while staying professional, informative, and concise. If you are the one doing the hiring, this is still that mini resume, and when you reach out, you’re conducting a mini-interview. Not only are the responses themselves important, but so is the way the freelancer answers you.
This is the chance to showcase your skills as a freelancer. Who knows, you may start out listing your gig on Craigslist or your school newspaper, but before long you may have your very own, professional website. The client and the freelancer have to click and be able o share and understand the project needs. This listing is the bridge to the connection.
Let Bunny Studio help
We love this kind of thing! Whether you are a freelancer looking to broaden your range and have some awesome skills to share or you are looking to hire an awesome pro, we can help. We know the importance of a great match and it goes far beyond the skillset. It includes understanding, adapting, and conveying expectations. Plus a lot of skill.
If you are a freelancer with skills that fall into our scope, reach out to us, maybe we’d be a great fit. If you are a client looking to hire someone, we can help here, too. Come on over and chat with us. We love making these matches, and at Bunny Studio, you’ll know you are getting top-notch work. It’s what we do!
