5 Things You Might Want to Buy off Cheap MicroJob Websites

You're just starting out, and there's so much to do: logo design, business cards, a website, website content, social media ... and clients. You'll of course need clients. But to get the clients, you have to do a bit of preparation, a bit of marketing, and a bit of branding. And for those of you who are cash-strapped, there is a solution: microjob websites.

Now, you're not going to get a Monet for $5 to $10, but sites like Fiverr, and its less popular competitors Gigbucks and Fourerr, are all sites where you can get "microjobs" done for a nominal fee.

What are some things you could have handled for $5? Here are a few ideas to consider:

5. A logo. Your logo is your brand, and while you'll want to avoid a generic or outright plagiarized look, going with a well-reviewed individual, especially one that offers free revisions, minimizes the risk. Besides: it's $5 -- you can always hire a second or third artist if you're unhappy. (Tip: ask for a vector-based logo, as these are scalable for large posters and signs, or for tiny business cards.)
4. Business card layouts. Yeah, a lot of services, like Vistaprint, will offer templates, but you may not want a template-based design. Take your new logo and have your $5 graphic designer prep you a fantastic, modern, balanced layout.
3. Video content. Few of the the available options would be helpful on a law firm's website, but if you dig long enough, you might find something usable, such as a "cartoonish explainer video" ("What are the consequences of a DUI?").
2. Voiceover talent. Speaking of website multimedia, we've seen more than a few lawyers trip over their own vocal cords, or sound so somnolent that we, too, were tempted to sleep. Hire a pro, especially if you're trying out one of the animated video services.
1. Proofreading and editing. If you're going to be writing your own website content (you really should), you may want a second look. There are a number of well-reviewed proof readers and editors available that can find and fix those embarrassing typos.

Now, for the caveat: Are you going to get a truly magnificent logo, on par with MoFo and the rest of the BigLaw crew? Or an award-winning Pixar-esque Web video?

For the cost of a latte? Probably not. But again, for someone just starting out, this beats trying to DIY everything. And maybe, if your firm takes off in a few years, you can do a rebranding when your budget supports it.

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