⏰ It won’t be like this forever
What happens when you don’t need to “build a brand,” you need to pay rent?
If you just got laid off—or your client pipeline dried up overnight—you don’t need a six-month reinvention plan. You need money coming in yesterday.
A lot of people will sell you side hustles promising “passive income” or some drop shipping scheme. But I’m here to show you a backup plan that takes very little time to try out and can actually work quickly.
Post a really simple gig on Fiverr.
Hear me out.
Yes, Fiverr. The land of $5 logos and weird voiceover requests. It’s not glamorous, but it’s fast.
In 2020, like many of us, I just needed some extra cash. Putting something mindlessly basic on there turned into a constant flow of work. I called it my Fiverr monster.
Did I get the rate I deserve? Not even close. But did I pay the bills that were due? Sure did!
A lot of people have been losing their jobs recently so I thought now would be a good time to share how to do something concrete when you just. need. some cash.
Obviously, you can also offer to do these things for your existing network, but not everyone feels comfortable doing that!
Here’s how to create your own Fiverr monster:
Step 1: Pick the most mindless, basic thing you know how to do
If you’re a designer, don’t offer “full brand identity systems.”
Offer “I’ll make you five YouTube thumbnails”
If you’re a copywriter, don’t pitch “thought leadership strategy.”
Offer “I’ll rewrite your About page to sound human.”
If you’re a marketer, don’t list “end-to-end funnel creation.”
Offer “I’ll audit your email subject lines.”
Whatever you specialize in, think about the most annoying, repetitive, boring task you do all the time—and make that your gig. Something someone would pay $25–$50 to not have to think about.
Here are some examples:
🖋 Writers / Editors
Proofread a blog post or email newsletter for grammar and flow
Write product descriptions
Turn transcripts into clean blog drafts
Write LinkedIn “About” sections that sound natural
Reformat blog posts for SEO or readability
🎨 Designers / Creatives
Create 5–10 simple social media templates in Canva
Design branded Notion covers or folder icons
Format a presentation or PDF proposal
Resize and optimize images for web or email
Update existing logos into new formats (SVG, transparent PNG, etc.)
📈 Marketers / Strategists
Audit an Instagram or LinkedIn profile bio
Build a content calendar in Notion or Google Sheets
Create a basic lead magnet layout (PDF checklist, one-pager)
Write welcome email copy for new subscribers
💻 Admins / Ops / Project Managers
Set up task boards in Trello, ClickUp, or Notion
Re-organize someone’s Google Drive
Build a simple Airtable or Notion CRM
Create SOPs from existing notes or Loom videos
You can also include a listing for a consulting call, but what most people on Fiverr are looking for is technical help. If you know a specific platform really well, offer 30-60min of help troubleshooting or setting up that piece of software.
A lot of these are probably not how you want to be spending your time. But they’re generating cash.
Odds are you can do something like this in your sleep and it leaves you time to focus on the long-term.
Step 2: Set it up like a pro (but stay mysterious)
Username: Not your full name. Create a new Gmail address and a username that doesn’t tie back to your real identity. Remember, this is your Secret Fiverr Hustle.
Thumbnail: Bold text, clean design. Don’t put your face on it. It’s not LinkedIn—it’s Craigslist in a blazer.
Description: Keep it clear, credible, and helpful. Use keywords that people will likely use when searching.
Look at similar gigs: Look at how other people have similar gigs set up - what category are they in? What keywords to they use? Figure out what people will be searching for and you’ll get more requests.
📌 I made this Canva template for Fiverr gig thumbnails - tweak it so it’s relevant to your service and you’re done.
Example Fiverr Description:
Hi there! I’m an experienced [insert role here] with [X] years of experience helping [type of clients] do [thing you do]. I know how much time small, repetitive tasks can steal from your day, so I created this gig to take that work off your plate.
When you order, you’ll get:
– [Deliverable #1] (e.g. a cleaned-up, formatted document ready to send)
– [Deliverable #2] (e.g. a short Loom walkthrough of what I did and why)
– [Deliverable #3] (e.g. quick turnaround in 48 hours)
I’m offering this gig at a discounted rate while I build my Fiverr profile, but I bring professional-level experience to every project. Clear communication, quality work, and fast delivery are my priorities.
Let’s get your [thing they’re struggling with] handled so you can focus on the stuff that actually moves your business forward.
If you’re interested in a larger project than what’s described above, please message me!
Step 3: Price low, then raise it
Start under $50. Do three to five gigs, collect good reviews, and bump your price. Then again.
A little cash, a few clients, and the reminder that you can make something happen today.
You can typically create up to three tiers for each gig, so you can sell larger packages. I recommend starting with things in the $50-150 range just to get some customers and reviews for evidence you’re real.
⚠️ Heads up, a lot of people don’t read what the different packages are and just go to the lowest one or message you for more info.
You’ll have the option to create a “Custom Offer” if people want something different than what’s specifically listed.
Step 4: Don’t overthink it
You don’t need your own logo. You don’t need a landing page. Just post the gig.
Someone, somewhere, will pay you to do the thing they don’t want to deal with.
Note: Fiverr typically takes about two weeks after a project finishes to pay you. That’s probably faster than some freelance clients, if you think about it!
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