Since 2015, I’ve had some GREAT experiences on Fiverr…
…A logo design that the Fiverr designer “nailed” on the very first iteration, …a poster I presented that won an award at a professional conference, …and a subsequent poster for another conference presentation…later, several orders for online research and company data—all with good or great results.
Since 2015, I’ve had nothing but praise for Fiverr…
So, when I was behind on my intended Substack deadlines and decided I needed help setting up my newsletter, I confidently sought a collaborator on Fiverr.
(And-- understand—I AM a picky consumer of products and services.)
When picking a collaborator on Fiverr, normally, I look at results others have experienced working with particular providers. Typically, I note length of time on the platform, positive reviews from clients, and how the Fiverr seller presents their offers.
AI seems to have changed the Fiverr Collaborator Landscape
Finding the field of providers for Substack newsletter setup and promotion quite “thin”, I allowed myself to succumb to what was most likely “AI-generated hype”.
The first “highly-qualified” hire seemed to start OK, then came up with all matter of “excuses” for his unavailability and inability to make progress on the order: first he “had an emergency” and disappeared for 2 days with no communication (When he resurfaced, I was relieved to hear he was OK, and granted grace for the unexplained absence); next he was “on vacation”—(OK, I thought-- I work on vacation, too.) …but on vacation he was not available and did not produce … With the third “excuse” I asked for the order to be canceled. (And that Fiverr seller claimed not to know why I was upset…)
Fiverr refunded my order, and with those funds in my account, I looked for a replacement...
Soon, I was delighted to engage a new collaborator who worked in a seemingly opposite fashion—an attentive Fiverr seller that was like a lover…responding well (way “too well”, but I didn’t notice—I felt SO relieved to have a communicative collaborator after the “ghosting” one with all his “excuses”)…
Before long, I got a sense that my new Fiverr “lover-collaborator” was an AI bot…
I asked him directly, “Are you a Bot?”…
He flat out denied it, insisting he was a person…Yet all communication was “super-AI-slick” and ALWAYS ended with an obsequious question about what he should do next—sounding just like ChatGPT!… (I was suspicious. If he wasn’t a bot himself—he was a Fiverr seller who ONLY communicated using ChatGPT…)
There were many red flags—most I ignored or didn’t want to see…I was intent on keeping my deadlines and I was already behind…(I even thought—I do not care if he IS a bot—as long as the work gets done to my satisfaction and on schedule...)
My final message exchange with that “lover-Fiverr-collaborator” was not pretty; his polished AI-generated speech fell by the wayside, and his true voice showed up, finally…clearly-not-native, somewhat broken English—perhaps West African or Asian ESL)…indignant that I had requested cancelling the order—while he had done NOTHING for it. A real whiner spewing polished AI-generated over-promises.
For the second time, I asked that the order be canceled, Fiverr refunded the amount of my order, and I shopped for my third replacement Substack setup collaborator.
The field of providers was still sparse, and when I found my next potential collaborator, I (frankly) let down my selection criteria…I did NOT require a long time on Fiverr, nor did I require positive reviews from previous clients. (Stupid of me, yes, I know)
I thought I had learned something from my previous two failed Fiverr encounters—I was ready with some info and concise, clear directions that would help the process.
To ready this new Fiverr gal for the project, I provided a “to-do list” noting each Substack newsletter setup task and indicating which items I had already completed myself. The list of tasks was about half complete.
The order was for a 6-day Substack setup and coaching project for $100.
After my preparation, my explanation of what I needed, my detailed to-do checklist, and my experience of the prior 4 weeks—together with this gal’s stellar promotional pitch—I felt, I’m in—I’m good, I’m on my way…FINALLY..
I felt GREAT…
‘Till I didn’t feel great—or even good-- any more…
I was needing to respond to questions from my 3rd-Fiverr-collaborator several times a day…for the silliest, most obvious and common-sense things…My Substack newsletter setup was not going well.
SICK about it, I could hardly believe I had likely fallen for an AI-generated pitch by this seller… (and I was embarrassed to realize I had picked three “duds” in a row…)
I didn’t dare to complain to Fiverr, fearing I might get tossed off the platform. Afraid to get banned from buying services from Fiverr sellers ever again.
So, I persisted; I coached; I communicated; I corrected; I “babysat” my order till the day before it was due, then agreed to its delivery and accepted it.
We had, in fact, made some progress.
I gave the gal some honest feedback about how her self-promotion had set my expectations. She seemed to receive my feedback well, acknowledged shortcomings, and shared how she could use our experience improve her work for future clients. We ended the project on good terms with an opening to perhaps collaborate again in the future.
They taught me I needed new Fiverr Collaborator Selection Criteria
AI has apparently changed how Fiverr collaborators present themselves. You can no longer rely on a seller’s description of their expertise.
Based on my last six weeks’ experience with three Fiverr sellers slickly claiming to have the skills and willingness to help set up my Substack newsletter--I now have some new rules for picking collaborators:
1) Regardless of their online presentation, self-promotion, and claimed experience, collaborators MUST be willing to engage in a pre-order Zoom meeting to get to know each other and to discuss my project needs, requirements, timelines and any constraints the seller might foresee. (like power blackouts common in some countries that can impact WiFi service)
2) Collaborators must demonstrate understanding of the project scope to my satisfaction and agree to ask questions if anything is not clear.
3) They must agree to ask for what they need from me—and stay in communication.
4) Collaborators must agree to communicate in their own voice—not ChatGPT’s.
Reflections and Takeaways
There’s some slow growth and learning that happens when your project or collaborative engagement doesn’t work out as hoped…NOT ALL IS LOST…and you did NOT “waste” your time, nor your money. Those lessons have value and will serve you…
Projects, decisions, paths, or strategies that do not pan out are just “things that did not work”…
You are not a failure.
All your results are just “data”…perhaps data that say, …”not quite”…”Not yet” …”No, not that”…”next”…
I have been disappointed that getting my Substack newsletter off the ground has not been faster…I was looking for a quicker fix to getting set up…and it hasn’t been at all quick…
…yet I have learned important and valuable lessons.
For that I am grateful. I look forward to learning more…
and to becoming a successful publisher on Substack.