When searching for “Swedish SEO freelancer”, the first result on the Google SERP is currently Fiverr. I’d say that’s a pity for both the freelancers and the clients, but why is that? Well, I have my reasons, and they strecht well beyond the fact that I’m writing this article to sell you on hiring me directly instead. Let’s dive into it!
Stefan Nordström
- Freelancing digital marketing consultant
- 10+ years of in-house and freelancing experience
- Expertise: Content marketing, SEO, copywriting, localization, translation, newsletters
- LinkedIn | Mail | Instagram
Why hiring a Swedish SEO expert directly beats Fiverr
So, I’m not going to waste your time: let’s go straight for why you skip out on Fiverr when hiring a Swedish SEO freelancer. The three main reasons are:
- Higher fees/lower ROI: Fiverr takes fees from the freelancer that are often passed on to the client. You will pay more than necessary for the exact same service
- Communication barriers: you cannot fully discuss strategy before purchase, and discussing work on e-mails, Slack and other useful platforms might be impossible
- Limited flexibility: gigs are preset. A fixed gig makes it hard to perform ongoing SEO or work strategically
Hiring a Swedish SEO directly eliminates these issues. No middleman fees, plus direct communication where and how you like. You can tailor the work after the SEO strategy and workflow, e.g. invoicing monthly to adapt to ad hoc work.
I choose to work directly to avoid overcharging my clients. Freelance SEO is not cheap, and adding another huge chunk on top of the invoices is not an option for me. Hopefully, I can make potential clients understand this, too. We are very much in the same boat, as we want to provide/invest in high-value services with a good ROI. Additional fees, like the ones on Fiverr, does the opposite of that.
SEO is not an isolated one-time task
The nature of SEO services is also important to consider. Fiverr, Upwork and similar platforms are aimed at isolated gigs, with a clear objective and delivery date. That’s where the responsibility, and usually the collaboration, ends. But that’s rarely how successful SEO is done.
Organic SEO and content marketing are long-term endavours, requiring a strategic mindset and patient efforts. It’s not a one-time, bang for your buck investment that will work forever. Sure, a one-time effort can make a difference, but in my opinion it’s not the optimal way to work with SEO or content marketing.
Can you trust direct freelancers more than Fiverr?
I wouldn’t say that one way necessarily is more trustworthy than the other. My recommendation is always to look at customer testimonials and previous work, to ensure that the freelancer is a good fit, both in terms of skillset and personality. It’s worth doing this research, because finding the right fit will likely provide you with high-quality work.