Cecily, known on Fiverr® as Cecilyjamelia, is a graphic & web designer, a “WordPress Queen,” a PR professional, and a comedian. She’s also the mother of three children, ages 17, 15 and 2. Laid off from her job and feeling desperate, Cecily turned to Fiverr and changed her life around.
Cecily’s Fiverr Journey
I had run out of options and had no idea how I was going to feed my family. It was December, 2011, and I was laid off again-the second time in a two-year span. To add to my problems, I found out I was pregnant with my third child. My son’s father had moved in with me and was also experiencing some issues of his own. His mother had passed away unexpectedly a few months before, and he had trouble focusing on work, so the financial responsibility fell on my shoulders.
Having been a single parent for most of my adult life, I was no stranger to struggle, so I quickly took to the Internet to find ways I could make money. I posted ads on Craigslist, but no one responded. I searched for new freelance platforms and all types of new sites popped up, including a site called Fiverr. I thought long and hard about what I could do and for how much. I wasn’t sure if offering WordPress Answers was worth the trouble for $5, but I figured it would be a great way to open the door for business and build up my services.
Within hours of launching the Gig®, I began receiving notifications. I decided I’d work as much as I could and for as long as I could, and I created additional Gigs based on what I thought people wanted and the common questions and queries I received.
I haven’t had to promote my Gigs. I’ve been very lucky that way. I just respond to people as soon as I can. The testimonials and my ratings on Fiverr help me secure clients because it’s an objective place where people can read what my past clients have said and actually see examples of my past work.
Advice for Newcomers
Be flexible and patient, and respond to people as soon as you can. Also, when people hire you, turn over the jobs as soon as you can. Aim for perfection, but it’s not the end of the world if you can’t always reach it. Good sellers get recognized fast.
The Impact of Fiverr
Fiverr was a godsend! It has allowed me to really compete by my own rules and make my own money. The fast pace and varying needs of my Fiverr clients gave me the confidence to open my business, WordPress Queen. It’s funny. So many Fiverr clients were calling me the WordPress Queen that I decided to adopt the moniker for my business. To this day, it makes me giggle when someone calls me that. I think fondly about the days and nights I worked on Fiverr, sometimes to pay my cable bill, other times to give my kids bus fare. The additional income saved my family, helped my kids go to school, and helped me pay things we needed to survive.
I am forever grateful for the opportunity to work on Fiverr and to be able to support my family.
Join us in congratulating Cecilyjamelia in the comments below. If you have a great story you’d like to share, please send it to us by email at community@fiverr.com.
The post “Fiverr Was a Godsend!” – Cecily’s Inspiring Story appeared first on Official Fiverr Blog.