The craziest first Month experience on Fiverr
You too could have experienced them.

I joined Fiverr on June 2017, one month ago with lots of hope and expectations. A friend had introduced me to the freelancing community after reading one of my article on a local news outlet and had recommended I join. Initially I wasn’t interested not until he showed me the testimonial of a Fiverr user who made 100k last year.
I have been doing digital marketing for the last 1 year, reading articles by Neil Patel. Teaching myself how to grow Twitter followers and writing guest post to be published on a local news agencies for nothing less than having them link to the home page of my website.
What Fiverr meant was that I am now going to write for a few dollars but earning could be a difficult challenge for someone new to the system.
Being a new seller is a very difficult experience, sometimes people just give up freelancing after months of not having anyone buy from them.
After 2 weeks of creating Fiverr account and setting up my profile. I wasn’t visiting the website anymore because no one ordered my Gig. The next time I checked Fiverr, someone had already ordered and it was almost deadline. It was required I write 1500 word article on a Digital marketing topic I knew little about. I did a little research and came up with the article before the 6 hour deadline elapsed. But she never reviewed, she didn’t even reply my messages. I lost my first review.
Reviews is a way to measure up professionalism and a greater part of Fiverr algorithm to determine what shows first in their feed, search or tags.
A new seller would be struggling with this, a new seller would also be struggling to convince people that they are capable of doing something better without those 5 star ratings. It is More like saying “Be my first customer”.
I received a message from someone desperately in need of reviews. I also needed reviews but not as bad as faking it.
Buy my own, I buy your own, rate me 5 star and I rate you 5 star.

Sounds more like a communal conspiracy against a freelancing community whose algorithm works better for old members. The gig economy like the capitalist system, flawed in deciding quality with a 5 star rating which can easily be manipulated.
Sometimes, manipulating yourself to the top could be the only option. Creating fake and multiple accounts to buy your own Gig and give yourself a 5 star rating.
You won’t sell, you are Nigerian.
Once, joined a Fiverr Facebook group, shared my gig. Had someone inbox me on how am not going to make any sale with Nigerian profile.
Nigerians have a very bad internet reputation, don’t pretend you are hearing it for the first time.
Seem the only way to jump this stereotype is by creating a fake US account as an overweight single Mom with 3 kids and a pet. Then Google a corresponding picture of a plump middle aged woman to be used as profile photo. I thought of it, but never did it. I thought If I was going to become successful and relevant in the digital world then I must be a real person.
This stereotype is not common with only Nigerians but other developing countries.
Even the assumption that using a female profile will make one sell faster. Or even creating a profile of an older woman with a perfect single mom story which is aimed at provoking the emotion of buyers.
Selling is Difficult, Manipulating is also difficult
Tried promoting myself as a writer in the buyers request section only for my request to be declined. The sixth time I tried this, I received a noreply email from Fiverr that my account may be deactivated if I continue sending such request.
The most annoying thing is not that my request was declined but watching others who couldn’t write a grammatically correct description scale through the review.
Poor spelling, poor grammar with a God given talent. And sometimes a show of spirit.

The Worst message I ever received
And someone sent me a message, an offer to write 500–600 word article for one dollar. 20 of such article for 20 dollars.

What the heck ? Dude was looking for cheap writing service which he nicknamed a deal. And here is the crazy statistics
600 × 20 = 12000 words
That’s enough to write a new book.
To me, this is the funniest deal of the century.
Fiverr means an opportunity to learn and earn
I made my own Gig Video, Learnt how to negotiate a few deals to make extra bucks, still studying the Gig economy, maybe somewhere lies the opportunity to make it bigger, deal with more task, improve my conversation rate, improve my skills as a digital marketer and then launch a Digital Marketing Startup with lessons learnt from being part of Fiverr Freelancing community.
Follow me on Twitter @MrOfoegbu
