Using Buyer Requests Effectively
Estimated reading time: 3 min
You came to Bricoly because you needed a quality service at an affordable price, in a reasonable amount of time. You have a wide choice of sellers who can meet your needs, and a variety of ways to find them. You can use Bricoly’s recommendations, search for Services by keywords or categories, filter sellers by level type and service inclusions, and by just generally browsing and clicking on Services you think may fit.
Also check out buyer requests, which are a great way to find a seller. However, just placing a request is not as simple as putting up a few words and sitting back while sellers come to you. Buyer requests take some thought and consideration to have them work effectively. You can find the buyer request feature on the drop-down menu next to your username. You will then see an option that says requests. Click on that, and you will see an option for posting a request. Below are some key points to consider to make this feature work for you.
Stop and Think
Before starting a request, know what you need for your project. The clearer you can describe your need, the more accurate bids you will receive. Consider the following.
- The nature of your project
- Your budget
- Your deadline
- Any sample documents that may help clarify your needs
- What category you think your project best falls under (Pro tip – don’t be afraid to list your request in multiple categories!)
Be Concise
Bricoly is kind enough to allow you ample room to write what your needs are in the request. A good rule of thumb is to keep it at a couple paragraphs with key bullet points. If you want to provide a more detailed brief, do so in a separate document and attach it. Moreover, links to any samples of what you are looking for or to the project you want worked on helps sellers decide if it is something they are able to do.
Disconnect
Please do not include any contact information in your request or attachments. This is fodder for a seller to lose their account. Sellers are forbidden by Bricoly terms of service from communicating outside of the platform. Even a message from a buyer with an email or Skype account information in it can be flagged and cause account closure.
Take 10 of These
Did you know that sellers can reply to only 10 buyer requests a day? Ask yourself, if you were a seller, what would you ignore because it was just too unclear, too long, too short a time period for the work involved, or too open-ended. Keep this in mind, as sellers may have access to hundreds of requests in a day.
I Get No Respect
Showing respect is important in a digital marketplace. A True Doer treats kills others with kindness because they know that gets more done!
Sort It Out
You thought out your needs, placed a concise request with all the information clearly stated, and you were respectful in your request. Now the bids start coming in. What do you do? First, eliminate the ones from sellers you know did not read your request. You want sellers who show they read your needs, addressed how they can help solve them, and shared experience to back that up. Second, visit the sellers you think have merit. Read their reviews, study their Services, and if you like them, favorite them.
Continue this process until you have a handful of potential candidates. From here you have two options. Option one is to message the sellers and find out more about how they can help, what it will cost, and what samples they have if not already provided. Option two is to order $5 basic Services from each seller as a test. See what the experience is with each, and choose your preferred seller. If you are still getting flooded with bids, you can pause your request. You do not have to make a decision or respond to each bid as they come in.
Also:
- Don’t ask for sample work for free.
- Don’t low-ball. The minimum purchase price of a Service is $5.
- Do not ask to purchase reviews. It is against Fiver’s terms of service, and sellers lose accounts over it.
Congratulations on finding a marketplace of services that is second to none in this writer’s opinion. The buyer request tool allows you to have sellers come to you based on criteria you establish.
Establish the criteria well to process your bids right, and you just may find a long-term partner who can help you achieve beyond your wildest dreams.
