E-commerce, social media expert freelancers in greater demand

Inside Small Business

23rd Apr 2024

A significant increase in searches for e-commerce, AI and social media marketing specialists on online freelance hub Fiverr suggests Australian companies are actively seeking to grow their prowess in such fields.

In its newly-released 2024 Business Trends Index, Fiverr also noted that Australians in general are taking advantage of the demand for their expertise, especially in the aforementioned fields, as they enter into side hustles in a big way to combat cost-of-living pressures.

Globally, AI services have seen a huge spike in demand, as the understanding of the benefits and efficiencies of AI have become more apparent to more businesses. According to the Index, searches on Fiverr for ‘AI influencer’ have skyrocketed by 6305 per cent. Inquiries for ‘AI SaaS’ – a combination of artificial intelligence and software-as-a-service – have grown by 1461 per cent and searches for ‘AI chatbot’ have increased by 85 per cent, all signs that businesses across the world are harnessing the power of AI to enable market progression.

“After a turbulent year, the Australian economy grew in December 2023 and those green shoots are reflected in the way businesses are using Fiverr,” Matti Yahav, CMO at Fiverr, commented. “Searches show that they are harnessing the power of skilled freelancers to drive their business forward, especially in the areas of AI, e-commerce and social media marketing. And, with the cost-of-living crisis still very present, it’s clear that innovative Aussies are using their skills to make an additional income through freelancing.”

The Index found that Fiverr searches indicate that businesses are seeking skilled freelancers who will help them in their social media campaigns, with a particular focus on Google or Facebook ad campaigns and website SEO. Fiverr says that freelancers with these skills can earn up to $2000 per project due to the increase in demand.

The Index also noted an upward trend in e-commerce investment, with Shopify becoming the go-to platform for small businesses. Searches for expert freelancers in Shopify design and marketing on Fiverr have notably increased, reflecting this growing trend. Freelancers with these skills can earn up to $3000 per project, underscoring e-commerce as a lucrative avenue for them.

In addition, the Index found that Australians continue to capitalise on side hustles to supplement their income. The skills required by businesses from side hustles are varied, from female voiceover work to proofreading and wedding video editing, which the report notes is an indication of the breadth of the potential for continued growth in this area.

This story was originally published on Inside Small Business.