Creating Services

What Is a Service on Opengates?

A service on Opengates is a listing that describes a specific piece of work you offer as a freelancer. It is your way of telling potential clients exactly what you can do for them, how much it costs, and how long it will take. Think of a service as a product listing in an online store — except instead of selling a physical item, you are selling your skills and expertise.

When a client finds your service and decides to purchase it, an order is created automatically. You then complete the work according to the package the client selected and deliver it through the platform.

Creating well-crafted services is one of the most effective ways to earn money on Opengates, because clients can discover and purchase your services at any time without you needing to actively search for work.

Before You Create a Service

Before you start building your first service listing, take a few minutes to prepare:

• Identify your core skill. What is the one thing you do best? Focus your first service on that skill. You can always create additional services later.
• Research the market. Browse existing services in your category to see what other freelancers are offering, how they price their packages, and how they describe their work. This gives you a sense of what clients expect.
• Gather your portfolio samples. Have a few examples of your best work ready to upload. Portfolio samples are one of the strongest factors in convincing clients to order.
• Plan your packages. Think about what you can offer at three different levels of service. What would a basic version of your work look like? What extras can you add for a standard or premium tier?

Step-by-Step: Creating a New Service

Step 1: Navigate to the Service Creation Page

Log in to your Opengates freelancer account. From your dashboard, click on "Services" in the main navigation menu, then click the "Create New Service" button. This opens the service creation form where you will fill in all the details about your offering.

Step 2: Write Your Service Title

Your service title is the first thing clients see, so make it clear, specific, and compelling. A good title tells the client exactly what they will get.

Good examples:

• "I will design a modern logo for your brand"
• "I will build a responsive website using React"
• "I will write SEO-optimized blog articles"

Avoid vague titles like:

• "I will do design work"
• "Web development services"
• "Writing"

Keep your title under 80 characters. Use plain, straightforward language. The title should answer the question: "What will the client receive?"

Step 3: Write Your Service Description

The description is where you go into detail about what your service includes. This is your chance to convince clients that you are the right person for the job. A great description should cover:

• What you deliver. Be specific about the final output. Will the client receive a logo file, a complete website, a 1,000-word article?
• Your process. Briefly explain how you work. Do you start with a consultation? Do you provide drafts for review?
• What makes you qualified. Mention relevant experience, tools you use, or any special expertise.
• What you need from the client. List any information or materials the client needs to provide so you can get started (e.g., brand guidelines, content briefs, access credentials).

Write in a friendly, professional tone. Use short paragraphs and bullet points to make the description easy to scan. Aim for at least 200 words in your description — clients tend to trust more detailed listings.

Step 4: Set Up Your Three-Tier Packages

Every service on Opengates has three pricing tiers: Basic, Standard, and Premium. This tiered structure gives clients flexibility to choose the level of service that fits their needs and budget, while allowing you to earn more from clients who want additional features.

For each tier, you will set:

Price

Set a price in USD for each tier. Your Basic package should be your most affordable option, and your Premium package should be your most comprehensive. Consider these factors when pricing:

• What is the market rate for this type of work?
• How much time will each tier take you?
• What is the value to the client?

There is no minimum or maximum price, but be realistic. A well-priced service is more likely to attract orders.

Delivery Time

Set the number of days you need to complete the work for each tier. Be honest and realistic. It is better to set a slightly longer delivery time and deliver early than to set a short time and miss the deadline. Late deliveries hurt your ratings.

• Basic: Might have a longer delivery time since it is the most affordable option.
• Standard: A moderate delivery time.
• Premium: Clients paying premium prices often expect faster turnaround, but this depends on the complexity of the additional features included.

Features

List the specific features included in each tier. This is what differentiates your packages from one another. For example, if you are offering logo design:

Make sure each tier provides clear additional value over the previous one. Clients should be able to easily see why the Standard package costs more than Basic, and why Premium costs more than Standard.

Step 5: Upload Images

Add high-quality images that showcase your work. Your service can include multiple images, and the first image serves as your service thumbnail — the image that appears in search results and category listings.

Tips for great service images:

• Use high-resolution images (at least 1280x720 pixels).
• Show actual examples of your work, not generic stock photos.
• If your work is not visual (like writing or consulting), create a professional graphic that describes your service.
• Make sure images are well-lit, clean, and professional.

Step 6: Choose a Category and Subcategory

Select the category and subcategory that best fits your service. Choosing the right category is critical because it determines where your service appears in search results and browse listings. If your service is listed in the wrong category, the clients who see it may not be interested, and the clients who would be interested may never find it.

Browse through the available categories carefully. If your service fits into more than one category, choose the one where your target clients are most likely to search.

Step 7: Add Tags

Tags are keywords that help clients find your service when they search. You can add multiple tags to each service. Choose tags that accurately describe your work, the tools you use, the industry you serve, or the type of deliverable.

Examples of good tags:

• "logo design," "brand identity," "minimalist logo"
• "React," "Next.js," "responsive design," "web app"
• "blog writing," "SEO content," "article writing," "copywriting"

Use a mix of broad and specific tags. Broad tags reach more people, while specific tags attract clients who know exactly what they need.

Step 8: Review and Publish

Before you hit the publish button, review every section of your service listing:

• Is the title clear and specific?
• Is the description detailed and free of spelling or grammar errors?
• Are the three packages logically structured with clear differences?
• Are your prices competitive and fair?
• Are your delivery times realistic?
• Do your images look professional?
• Is the category correct?
• Are your tags relevant?

Once you are satisfied, click "Publish" to make your service live. It will now appear in search results and category listings for clients to discover and order.

What Happens After Publishing

After your service is published:

1. It becomes visible to all clients and organizations on Opengates.
2. Clients can browse, view, and place orders for any of your three packages.
3. When a client places an order, you will receive a notification with the order details.
4. You then complete and deliver the work within the agreed delivery time.
5. After the client approves your delivery, the payment (minus the platform fee) is added to your available earnings.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Vague descriptions. If a client cannot understand exactly what they are getting, they will not order.
• Unrealistic delivery times. Missing deadlines damages your reputation and ratings.
• No portfolio samples. Clients want to see proof of your skills before they commit.
• Identical packages. If all three tiers look the same, clients have no reason to upgrade. Make each tier offer clearly more value.
• Ignoring keywords. Without good tags, your service will not show up in search results.

Still need help? Contact our support team and we'll be happy to assist you.