Takeaways from the International Freelancer Day Virtual Summit

Freelancers are the heart of today’s economy, and International Freelancer Day 2024 was all about celebrating us – the creative, dedicated professionals shaping the future of work. As a Fiverr writer, I find there's a lot of concern right now about AI taking over our jobs. So when I saw the theme for Fiverr's International Freelancer Day summit – Humans Are Our Business – it really caught my attention.

The event celebrated human talent and creativity in a world that often seems obsessed with machines and robots. Even when the speakers did talk about AI, they emphasized that, at the end of the day, it’s still us humans who are driving the freelance economy. It was so refreshing to attend an event that gave the focus back to us and our unique, creative human intelligence.

At the virtual summit, the speakers dove into the latest tools, trends, and strategies designed to help us freelancers succeed and stand out. From embracing AI as an effective tool to building stronger client relationships, the day was packed with practical takeaways aimed at helping freelancers thrive in the ever-evolving freelance world.

Building for Freelancers

Micha Kaufman, Fiverr’s CEO and Co-Founder, kicked off the event by reminding us that “Fiverr exists because of you.” Freelancing has moved beyond just a stopgap between jobs – it’s now a lifestyle, empowering millions of professionals to pursue their passions while driving the global economy forward. “We’re here to celebrate you,” he said, “the entrepreneurs, small business owners, and freelancers who pour their hearts into their work.” As someone who’s freelanced on Fiverr for years, the recognition that it’s the people on the platform that help drive the industry was validating.

Next up, Dan Oron, Fiverr’s EVP of Product, introduced tools designed specifically to support your freelance journey. Whether you’re just starting or scaling up, these tools were built to help you work more efficiently and connect with clients faster. With Kickstart, new freelancers get the jumpstart they need to land their first gig, and Neo, Fiverr’s AI-powered assistant, helps you match with clients based on your unique skills – cutting down the time it takes to find the right opportunities. These tools are designed to fast-track your path to success, letting you focus more on doing the work you love.

Freelancing in the Age of AI

One of the most insightful sessions for me was led by Fiverr’s verticals team, including Aidan Dugan, Jacky Guttmann, and Adam Fine. The focus was on freelancing in the age of AI. While many worry about AI replacing human jobs, Aidan was quick to remind us that human expertise remains irreplaceable, pointing out that while simple tasks can be automated, complex services like consulting and strategy are thriving. For those of us in creative and specialised fields, that’s a reassuring message. Aidan made it clear: “There’s no substitute for human connection and deep domain knowledge.”

For you, this means that while AI may be helpful, it’s still your unique skills and experience that clients value most. Jacky added to this by highlighting how AI can actually support freelancers, emphasizing that AI isn't here to replace us but to make our jobs easier. Whether it's using AI for faster research or more efficient project management, the goal is to enhance – not eliminate – human input. Jacky’s point hit home for me: AI can handle the repetitive tasks, but it’s our human creativity, problem-solving, and deep domain expertise that clients really value.

Finally, Adam explored how us creative freelancers can integrate AI into our workflows, especially in music and video. AI tools can boost productivity, but clients are still looking for our creativity. Adam encouraged freelancers to embrace AI, not as a replacement but as a way to push creative boundaries further and deliver even better results.

Freelancers on Building Long-Term Success

Next up, my fellow freelancers Grace Abbott, Sarah Jutras, and Jamie Brindle shared actionable tips from their freelance journeys, focusing on what works for freelancers like us in today’s competitive market.

Grace Abbott stressed the importance of setting financial goals: “Know your expenses and save up a financial cushion before you go full-time freelance.” Her practical takeaway is to have at least 3-6 months of expenses saved before transitioning to freelancing. This gives you the flexibility to take risks and go after the projects you’re passionate about without the stress of immediate income.

Sarah Jutras underscored the importance of building a community. She advised freelancers to “find people who are going through the same challenges – freelancing doesn’t have to be lonely.” If you’re looking for support, connect with other freelancers who can offer insights, referrals, or simply motivation. It’s easier to thrive when you’re not doing it alone.

Jamie Brindle shared strategies for keeping clients long-term. His key tip is to always offer solutions to your clients’ next problem. “Clients aren’t sitting around thinking about how to pay you more,” he reminded us. The takeaway: proactively suggest new services or projects that will help your clients, showing them how you can continue adding value beyond the initial job.

What’s Next for Freelancers?

As the summit wrapped up, host Terry Rice left freelancers with one powerful message: take action. The strategies, tools, and insights shared during International Freelancer Day are here to help us all thrive. It’s not just about attending the event – it’s about using what you’ve learned to build a more successful freelance business.

Whether it’s leveraging Fiverr’s tools like Neo to connect with clients faster, exploring new ways to integrate AI into your workflow, or focusing on nurturing long-term client relationships, the practical takeaways from this year’s event can be implemented right now to help you grow your business.

I found it especially meaningful that Fiverr chose to highlight a human voice – mine – to reflect on this experience with you. They could have used AI to throw a quick event summary together, but instead, they featured a freelancer from their own community, proving that human creativity and insight really do still take centre stage.

Fiverr makes it clear that humans are our business – and that means helping us all succeed.