- Fiverr’s 13th Business Trends Index reveals the fastest growing services shaping the way UK businesses operate
- Searches for architectural and construction drawings increased by 1,176%, indicating new investment in brick-and-mortar stores
- Demand for faceless automated YouTube channels surges +294%, followed by Instagram +203%
- Shopify website development soared 454% as businesses built digital storefronts around social audiences
- As AI accelerates production, UK companies seek human expertise for quality control
The next wave of UK business growth is being built on YouTube channels, Instagram content and Shopify storefronts, but new data from Fiverr also shows renewed investment in brick-and-mortar stores. Searches for YouTube automated faceless channels have increased by +294% over the past six months, while Instagram content has increased by +203% and Shopify website development has surged by +454%. This shows that businesses are not only using social content to reach their audiences, but also to build revenue around social content. At the same time, searches for architectural and construction drawings increased by +1,176%, suggesting that companies are also investing back in physical space.
The 2026 edition of Fiverr’s Business Trends Index is drawn from millions of searches across the platform from November 2025 to April 2026, revealing how UK businesses are investing in platform-led channels, always-on video and talent expertise as core drivers of growth.
The top 20 UK search trends over the past six months reveal four clear changes. Social content turns into commerce, AI moves into execution, human expertise remains important, and design demands become more connected to physical and brand-building projects.
| search term | uk growth |
| architectural and construction drawings | +1,176% |
| Shopify website development | +454% |
| YouTube automated faceless channel | +294% |
| instagram content | +203% |
| Website production (within digital marketing category) | +112% |
| virtual assistant | +111% |
| graphic designer for apparel brand | +99% |
| TikTok (in the Programming & Technology category) | +83% |
| essay writing | +78% |
| logo design | +71% |
| TikTok | +45% |
| logo and brand identity | +42% |
| UGC videos | +41% |
| book editing | +33% |
| AI automation | +29% |
| short video editor | +28% |
| AI music video | +23% |
| AI video | +21% |
| sales closer | +21% |
| british accountant | +12% |
Expert design skills hint at the revival of physical stores
Demand for architectural and construction drawings is rapidly increasing, with searches soaring +1,176%. The surge could signal new investment in brick-and-mortar projects, from high street retail refurbishments to office redesigns, as mandatory return-to-work orders continue to reshape workplace plans. Demand for graphic designers for clothing brands also increased by +99%, with logo design increasing by +71% and logo and brand identity by +42%. This suggests that companies are investing in the design of their physical spaces and overall brand assets.
Creator commerce becomes a new growth engine
Companies are also investing heavily in always-on social content, as searches for Instagram content grew +203% while TikTok grew +45% overall. In particular, TikTok’s demand in the programming and technology categories increased by 83%, suggesting that tech companies are placing more emphasis on the platform.
There has been a notable increase in demand for YouTube automation in the UK, with searches for YouTube automation faceless channels increasing by +294%. Both the digital marketing category (+306%) and the video and animation category (+283%) showed strong growth, demonstrating that companies are looking to expand their video output without building costly production teams.
Support services such as short-form video editors (+28%) and UGC videos (+41%) also increased, demonstrating that companies are investing in the content infrastructure needed to quickly create, monetize, and distribute content.
This trend extends beyond commerce, with UK businesses moving from simply having a website to investing in digital storefronts built for conversion. Shopify website development jumped +454%, and website development within the digital marketing category increased +112%. This suggests that businesses and independent entrepreneurs are building their e-commerce channels around their audiences.
AI from experiment to execution
AI remains a clear growth area for the UK; pressure mount Demand for practical applications will be strongest as business leaders move on to the next area to prove ROI. From experiment to implementation. Searches for AI automation increased +29% overall and +40% within the programming and technology category. Meanwhile, AI-related creative production also increased, including AI videos (+21%) and AI music videos (+23%). This suggests that companies are moving beyond experimenting with AI to execution, using AI to automate workflows and scale creative output.
Human expertise remains critical to cutting through the AI noise
While AI makes it easier to automate and speed up day-to-day tasks, UK businesses still rely on skilled freelancers for discerning support across operations, sales and finance. Demand for virtual assistants increased by +111%, suggesting businesses are looking for on-demand support to manage their workloads, while increases in searches for sales closers (+21%) and UK accountants (+12%) indicate continued demand for specialist skills in areas where human oversight remains key.
As AI accelerates content creation, writing-related skills are also gaining momentum. UK businesses are turning to human expertise to overcome the common ‘AI slop’, with searches for book editing up 33% and essay writing up 78%.
Jinjin Qian, Chief Business Officer at Fiverr, said: “British businesses are moving rapidly to turn content, commerce and AI into measurable growth. They’re using YouTube, Instagram and Shopify not just to reach their audiences, but to build revenue channels around them. But AI… “As companies accelerate outcomes, professional human expertise becomes even more important. Freelancers are helping companies fill that gap and bringing the skills they need to make a real business impact.”
complete economic trend index This includes further rapid growth trends in the United States, Australia, France, Germany, Italy and Israel.
About fiber
Fiverr’s mission is to transform the way the world collaborates, creates, and works. We are shaping the future of work with the world’s leading open platform, seamlessly connecting top talent with cutting-edge technology. With companies around the world. from Fiverr provides the most advanced and comprehensive talent and tools for digital services, from expert freelancers in over 750 skilled categories to best-in-class GenAI models and agents, helping businesses complete mission-critical projects quickly and cost-effectively.
From small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, millions of people trust Fiverr with projects in software and AI development, digital marketing, finance, business consulting, video animation, music, architecture, and more.
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