On the day after Christmas in 2014, I hit the “Submit” button and leaned back. It didn’t matter that I had just turned sixteen or that I didn’t have any samples for customers to see. I was hoping to save up for a computer, I loved writing, and starting a fiction-writing service on freelance site Fiverr.com seemed the perfect way to combine the two.
Almost right away, I started studying the competition and noticed some important differences. Sure, my rates were consistent with the top sellers, but without the volume of five-star reviews, there was no way I could make a sale. I took notes of the rates of different sellers, taking note of their rates, levels, and number of sales. The best way, I figured, for a beginner to make sales was to sell cheap, but no so cheap that I burn out. I tweaked my prices accordingly, and that day I made my…show more content… In the meantime, I learned several other inside tricks; I added an editing service for additional revenue, and I constantly improved my writing talents. I was courteous to customers, but firm when they demanded something from me that I couldn’t deliver. I made sure to communicate clearly and effectively, and was always honest. I was modest and upfront, and put in the extra effort to make sure my writing was top-quality. I delivered early whenever I could.
For the rest of the year, sales kept pouring in, and I acted accordingly. I earned several repeat customers and booked multiple long-term gigs. And every now and then, I increased my prices. By now, I’ve made over 70 sales and counting. I became a Fiverr Level 1 Seller, and soon a Level 2 Seller, both which earned me prestige and more traffic. My next goal is to become a Top-Level Seller, which would mean I’m one of the ranks of Sellers hand-picked by the Fiverr.com staff for providing quality service. It will take some time, but I’m confident that as I keep writing and learning, I will reach
