Opening an online shop is the modern entrepreneur’s dream – reach global audiences, automate processes, and clock sales 24/7 even in your pajamas! But hopes of turning side-hustles into fortunes shatter when the costs of a custom-built ecommerce site tally over $10,000.
So, in this scenario, should I order my e-commerce website from Fiverr? As an ecommerce expert I felt that stab in my heart too when web agencies quoted astronomical rates that would gobble up my slim startup budget in one bite. But what if that sky-high price tag was slashed by over 80%, with an added bonus of on-demand experts just a few clicks away?
Imagine my shock browsing Fiverr and stumbling upon ecommerce site builds for as low as $500! Could this global talent mine of budget-friendly freelancers be the holy grail for cash-strapped solopreneurs to craft beautiful online stores?
So As an ecommerce expert I dug into the experiences of fellow entrepreneurs, filtered wisdom from web artisans around the world, and emerged with an insider’s guide to the pros, cons, and alternatives for crafting affordable ecommerce sites that don’t compromise quality or security.
Join me in exploring if Fiverr can fund your online business dreams without nasty surprises!
Contents
- 1 Should I order my e-commerce website from Fiverr?
- 2 What is Fiverr?
- 3 Pros of Ordering an Ecommerce Website on Fiverr
- 4 Cons of Ordering an Ecommerce Website on Fiverr
- 5 Vetting Freelancers on Fiverr
- 6 Which type of website is best for eCommerce from fiver?
- 7 Alternatives to Hiring on Fiverr
- 8 FAQs:
- 9 Conclusion
Should I order my e-commerce website from Fiverr?
If you’re looking to build an online store and sell products or services, one of the first things you need is an ecommerce website. Building a custom website can be expensive if you hire a professional web development agency.
So you may be wondering if ordering a site on Fiverr, the popular online freelance services marketplace, is a good option. There are definite pros and cons to weigh when considering using Fiverr freelancers for a project as crucial as your ecommerce site.
Let’s dive in and explore them so you can make an informed decision.
What is Fiverr?
For those not familiar, Fiverr is basically an online platform that connects businesses and individuals with freelance service providers all over the world. Fiverr freelancers offer a variety of digital services, like graphic design, programming, writing, video editing, and of course, web development.
Sellers create Fiverr “gigs” detailing the specific services they provide, and you order and pay for gigs that meet your needs. One of the biggest upsides of Fiverr is reasonable freelancing costs – gigs can start at just $5, hence the name.
But there are also freelancers offering more advanced services for higher price points.
Pros of Ordering an Ecommerce Website on Fiverr
Low Cost and Convenience
The most obvious pro of getting your ecommerce site made on Fiverr is the low cost and convenience compared to hiring a web development firm. You can easily browse Fiverr profiles and order a basic shopping site built for potentially under $500.
Whereas custom site builds with web agencies often cost several thousands at minimum. The pre-defined gig model also simplifies and streamlines the process versus defining project scopes. And you have access to freelancers at all experience levels and price ranges.
Access to Global Talent
Ordering services through Fiverr also gives you unprecedented access to talent globally. You’re not limited to web developers in your city or country – you can tap into skilled freelancers from rapidly growing markets like Eastern Europe, Pakistan, India, and more.
This global talent pool brings widely varying skillsets, cultural nuances, language expertise, and more for your ecommerce site copy and design.
Cons of Ordering an Ecommerce Website on Fiverr
Quality and Support Concerns
However, one of the biggest worries with building your online business’s foundation using bargain basement freelancers is quality and support. Complex platforms like customized ecommerce sites take advanced web development skills.
But head-scratching challenges frequently pop up after site launch too. And sellers on Fiverr have little incentive and fewer resources for extensive post-project support or fixes compared to a full service agency.
Not fully vetting freelancers can leave you with bugs, missing features, sloppy code and other quality issues. So while it’s fast and affordable, the low costs could come back to bite you without diligent reviews of freelancers’ expertise.
Potential Security Issues
There are also potential security pitfalls of outsourcing your ecommerce site build to minimally vetted Fiverr freelancers located in lightly regulated global locales. They will have full access with your customer and financial data integrated into the backend of the site.
While professional agencies also handle sensitive info, they typically have tighter security controls, accountability, and compliance safety nets in place. Slavishly chasing bargain prices could expose your customer data if freelancers mishandle security protocols.
Vetting Freelancers on Fiverr
Clearly there are some real advantages but also major risks to navigate with ordering your custom ecommerce website from Fiverr. So is it worth trying if you take thorough precautions in selecting and screening freelancers or agencies?
There are a few key steps that can help control the major quality and security worries to some extent.
Check Ratings and Reviews
Don’t even consider profiles without strong 4+ star ratings and extensive positive reviews. Preferably focus on levels 2 or top rated sellers that have the highest performance records on completed orders.
Beyond numerous 5 star ratings, read through detailed comments from previous buyers on specific freelancers’ communication skills, development capabilities, timeliness, and helpfulness addressing issues that surfaced after order completion.
The Fiverr rating system and transparency on reviews are extremely valuable tools with insights no agency could match. So use them thoroughly before placing any orders.
Interview Extensively
Do not take gig descriptions and portfolio samples at face value no matter how impressive they look. Engage promising freelancers in DMs and ask probing questions about
- Capabilities
- Development Methodologies
- Ecommerce Platforms They Have Built On
- Years Of Experience With Various Frameworks
- Payment Systems
examples of past security exposure checks and performance optimization, any post-launch support services, etc. An initial round of 15-20 interview questions can help filter candidate readiness across technical qualifications, language proficiency, communication clarity, and professionalism.
If you don’t have a technical background, hire someone who does for selecting and overseeing contractors.
Review Portfolios Closely
Lastly, comb through with a fine-toothed comb the actual live sites and code samples in candidate’s posted portfolios plus any anonymous samples they provide in interviews. Pay attention to
- Code Efficiency
- Security Protocols Visible In Samples Shared
- Seo Elements Utilized
- Mobile-friendliness
- Site Speed Benchmarks
- Test Order Completion Flows
You likely don’t need fully custom code for an average ecommerce store so existing templates they reuse and modify should be reasonably clean and streamlined. Don’t green light anyone to build from scratch regardless of prices quoted.
Which type of website is best for eCommerce from fiver?
When ordering an ecommerce website design from freelancers on Fiverr, keep scope limited to templatized solutions on proven ecommerce platforms. Rather than totally custom builds from scratch, here are ideal targets:
- Shopify Store Setup – Shopify makes selling simple with everything integrated from secure hosting to payments. Experienced Shopify developers on Fiverr can customize sites.
- WooCommerce on WordPress – Open source WooCommerce plus WordPress is developer-friendly. Find freelancers skilled at optimizing its flexible framework.
- Specialized Turnkey Solutions – For specific niches like real estate or food ordering, turnkey SaaS ecommerce products simplify launching quickly.
The limited scope lowers project risk and post-launch site management needs. Vet freelancers thoroughly on experience with proposed platforms and ability to customize branded designs following best practices. Reach out with detailed requirements and development questionnaires before hiring.
Alternatives to Hiring on Fiverr
If juggling complex vendor selection processes plus ongoing quality and security oversight still makes you hesitant about building your online business on Fiverr, what are the alternatives? There are a couple options besides solo freelancer marketplaces to consider.
Local Web Development Agencies
Hiring a local web development agency gives you access to an integrated team covering end-to-end strategy, design, development, launch, and support. Account managers provide a single point-of-contact direct from the start versus vetting individuals.
But specialized ongoing maintenance contracts and additional service fees add up fast. Small business ecommerce sites built by local firms often start at $5,000+ for even basic builds. And timelines tend to be lengthier depending on agency workloads managing many other clients.
Self-Build With Ecommerce Platforms
Rather than outsourcing site development altogether, another option gaining popularity is self-building an ecommerce presence using SaaS platforms like Shopify, Wix Stores, or BigCommerce. DIY site assembly with their templatized tools and integrated hosting, payments, + fulfillment partners lets you maintain control.
If you invest some upfront time learning system capabilities, you can handle much of the setup yourself and leverage freelancer help piecemeal only where needed. Though managing the end-to-end process and ongoing optimizations takes commitment.
And extensive customizations can get quite costly with some vendor lock-in.
FAQs:
Q1: Should I get hosting from Fiverr too?
No, use managed hosting from an established provider. Fiverr developers may set sites up on unreliable servers.
Q2: Can I find an ecommerce specialist on Fiverr?
Yes, many skilled developers list experience with platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and custom frameworks.
Q3: How do I ensure my site works well and is secure?
Conduct detailed technical interviews, review portfolios, check freelancer ratings, and don’t fully pay until delivering each milestone.
Q4: What if my site has problems later?
Negotiate support terms upfront, use established platforms that you/other developers can troubleshoot, and allocate budgets for ongoing maintenance.
Q5: Should I just build on Shopify myself?
Shopify requires less technical skill to assemble than custom code options. But you still need some web design experience for the best outcome.
Q6: How much should an ecommerce site cost?
Basic templatized sites can be under $1,000. Custom builds are $5,000+, and complex enterprise sites $15,000+
Conclusion
Determining if ordering an ecommerce website from Fiverr makes strategic sense needs careful evaluation of key factors highlighted above like risk tolerance, required investment certainty, customization needs, post-launch support resources, security essentials, etc.
While Fiverr opens doors to flexible and affordable access to global freelance developers compared to alternatives, the burden lies largely on you as the buyer to navigate quality uncertainties.
With eyes wide open to the tradeoffs plus disciplined vetting processes, tapping into Fiverr’s talent marketplace can be feasible for many sole online entrepreneurs. Though for larger or highly customized sites, alternatives like local dev firms or strategic self-build options may prove strategic.
Ready to explore your ecommerce site development options? Contact us for a free consultation.
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