Redd: Hello and welcome to Fiverrcast, the official Fiverr podcast for sellers by sellers. My name is Redd. You can find me on Fiverr as Reddhorrocks.Adam: And I’m Adam, also known as Twistedweb123. Today we’re joined by voiceover artist and recent super seller Donald. Welcome to the show Donald.Donald: Hey Adam. Hey Redd. What’s going on? I’m so happy to be on today.Adam: It’s great to have you on. Why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself today?Donald: So guys, I’m a husband, a father, an educator and a voiceover artist on Fiverr.com. By day I’m in the classroom teaching the little ones and by afternoon and night I morph into the booth into a voiceover fanatic. I’ve been on the platform for about four years now, top-rated seller and as you guys said, just a recent super seller. So that’s pretty awesome and I’m so happy to be here with you guys.Redd: Well, congratulations on becoming the newest super seller. So today we want to talk about connecting with the community and how getting involved in the community can benefit you both online and offline and Donald, you are a recent host of a community event. So you’re one of those wonderful people out there who has helped put together an official event for Fiverr and we want to kind of talk about like how all that came about and what it involved and how it went. So why don’t you tell us a little bit about the event that you recently hosted?Donald: Absolutely. So first thing is this. It is so awesome to be on Fiverr because you really do see how Fiverr is a global phenomenon in so many ways. So with that being said, it’s like I got a chance to sit back and to look at the events happening in the UK and in New York and all these different places and I was like, man, I cannot wait until they do – the keyword there is “they do” an event here on the East Coast of the US.So long story short, a feeler was put out to the Fiverr community for people who were interested to do an event, to host an event, to kind of respond back kind of like what they would do and kind of how they would have fun with the opportunity and long story short, I responded. So my idea of “they doing” an event turn into me having the great honor of doing an event on behalf of Fiverr here in Orlando, Florida.So the home office and I kind of got on everything and it took us about a month or so to kind of get a date down and then an invite went out to people kind of in the area here in Central Florida and that’s when the process started.So it started with really me figuring out, “Hey, do I want this to become kind of like a meet-up? Is it going to become a thing where we kind of just sit around and have drinks? Is it going to be a thing where I kind of stand up there and talk and bore them to death? Like, what kind of event is it going to be?”So I was able to kind of whittle it down. I was like, “You know what? I want it to be a mixture of both.” So, it became a thing where one, after securing the venue, I was able to kind of go to the drawing board and see, OK, this should be a lot of fun. I want to be able to inspire. I also want people to be able to tell their Fiverr stories.But then I also want to be able to tell people, “Hey listen, at the end of the day, here’s how you succeed on Fiverr both as a seller and also as a buyer.” So it was a little bit of mix of both and so back in October, we hit it off in Orlando and had about 25 people come out. It was a great time where we shared hors d’oeuvres and pictures and videos and we talked about Fiverr as a platform and I think people left inspired, empowered and they left with more information.Redd: So when you did the event, did you find that you had more sellers or more buyers or was it kind of a mix of both?Donald: It was actually a mix of both and let me just say it was so fun seeing them interact offline because now as you guys know, a lot of what we do happens online. So how cool is it that people can get in the same room and to really have a great time like with feedback from each other as a seller and as a buyer? So it was a mix of both and seeing that was so awesome.Redd: So it must have been kind of nice to be able to get a bunch of people in one room who all kind of speak the same language.Donald: Absolutely, absolutely. Here in Orlando, we aren’t short of awesome resorts and palm trees and nice, sunny weather. So people were really excited for that. But then secondly like you said, how cool is it to get people in the same room who are business-minded, who are creative and then like you said talking in the same language? Really, really cool experience.Adam: So having met people at the event, have you kept in touch with any of them since then, since they’re already in the local area?Donald: I have been able to, I have been able to. I think as a seller like that’s what’s really, really cool about it is that really for a day I really in a way served as like – almost like a Fiverr ambassador which is kind of cool because it’s like people have so many questions about like the platform, how to be successful. So yes, I have been able to keep in contact with some of those folks who were sellers to kind of help them to – whether it’s like going into their Gig and helping them to kind of modify, to convert more.Then there were a few cases where people were buyers and they kind of had questions about my particular Gig and kind of like how they could use my Gig in order to be successful in whatever they were doing. So it has actually been a mixture of both.Redd: So when you are putting together the event, I know that you did speak with like Fiverr HQ a little bit about it. Like how much support did you get from them? What was kind of involved in that process?Donald: Let me just say guys. Like as you guys know, Redd, and as you know Adam, like the headquarters of Fiverr is so behind anyone who is on the platform like – whenever they entrust you with something like a Fiverr-sponsored event, they really get behind it. So there was never a moment where I felt like I was alone if there was any question that I ever had, if there was anything that maybe I was coming against a brick wall or something.Everyone there was so hands-on and they were so supportive. I think probably the biggest thing that I ran into was being able to whittle down what type of event we wanted to have here in Orlando. I don’t like to be the center of attention but then also understand that somebody has to kind of be the emcee.So they were so great at helping me to say, “You know what, Donald? You don’t have to be the center of attention but we do want you to explain kind of like your story and talk about your experience.” So I think once I got past that, figuring out what type of event we wanted to have, I was able to go from there and then obviously there was a whole lot of help in terms of when it came down to like having giveaways and all that fun stuff to kind of get – to kind of send people away with something.So cool T-shirts and stickers and all kinds of stuff. So from the actual planning stages, when it came down to securing a spot, all the way down to the giveaways, it was such a supportive, supportive thing going on there from the headquarters.Adam: So typically Fiverr kind of has three different kinds of events whether a workshop, a meet-up or a party. So would you say yours came under the workshop kind of banner?Donald: It did. It did and let me just say that we – although it was a workshop – there is a really cool page that Fiverr now has up and you will be able to see some video footage. We also had a really good time of a party. So although it was a workshop, we also had a really, really good time.In doing the workshop, what it developed into Adam was people really began to air out maybe some issues that they were running into and then at the end of the day, I was able to kind of give them answers and then sometimes I was like, “You know what guys?” I really don’t know but then I was able to go back to headquarters and say, “Hey guys, here are a couple of issues or a couple of questions that I had that I wasn’t able to answer.”So it’s so cool because maybe sometimes somebody can get – they can get maybe an answer that maybe will satisfy them from customer support or something like that. So to have someone in the room who they feel like is maybe more like of an arm’s reach away, I was able to kind of go back and say, “Hey listen, what about this or what about that?” and then maybe serve as a mediator. So yes, it served as a long shot but again it was a mixture of all three.Adam: I’ve been to a couple of events. I’ve spoken at a few as well and one of the things that I loved about the events was kind of touching upon what you were saying there where I found a lot of the people attending almost made it into like a mastermind type event where there was a collaboration of ideas and they were fleshing out their own problems and finding each other’s kind of solutions to them and it became a whole kind of circle of everyone helping each other for the greater goal of doing better on Fiverr.Donald: Yeah. And how amazing it is to see that, that a platform that is online-based, to be able to take that same culture offline and they like to see what happens where people are solving some of the issues of business and of culture and some of the things that they’re running into but then to also leave with solutions. It’s a really, really cool thing to see.Redd: So I know that like – obviously the benefits are that you like make connections and things like that. But like for you personally, did you find this like this really amazing growing experience?Donald: Yes. You know, in so many ways, I walked away from that event, one – you know, having never really done an event like that, I felt like one, I just felt more knowledgeable about what it is that I do. As you know Redd, as a voiceover artist, like a lot of our time is spent talking to a microphone. So it’s kind of like we hear our own thoughts in a script and the sounds and sound effects in our headphones and speakers.So to be able to actually be around people and to be in a room, it’s like wow, this is really cool. I never thought that I could actually do this. That’s the first thing. But then secondly, I just walked away just such a big fan. I mean obviously I was already a big fan of Fiverr but just such a big fan of the culture of Fiverr where you really do – you really have created a platform where people just feel empowered.So as a buyer or as a seller, like people really walk away with a sense of like wow, like this is really a marketplace where not only are creative things being done but like we’re really out here like changing the trajectory of people’s lives in so many ways. So that was another really, really big takeaway for me.Redd: You can’t see but I’m currently nodding emphatically because I completely agree with you about that for sure. Was there anything that stuck out when you did your event like as a fun moment or a story, like something that you like got to witness or be a part of that really sticks out in your head that you can tell us about?Donald: So about 2.5, 3 years ago, I had a guy contact me who is a videographer and I ended up doing a voiceover for him. But we ended up keeping in touch on Fiverr and just kind of having like great conversations back and forth and I later found out that he is here in the Orlando area.So when I found out that Fiverr was going to allow me to do the event here, I reached out to him and that guy actually ended up serving as the videographer for the Fiverr event. Again that’s just one really cool way about how the platform really does connect you with so many different types of people. But then for him in his business as a videographer, he was also able to connect with people from the Fiverr platform that were at the event that ended up serving him in his business as well, to kind of get his business out there with people who may not necessarily be super, super active on the platform. Like, they use it. But it gave them a chance to have an offline experience with someone that they maybe know and like and trust because of my endorsement of him.So to me, that was one really, really, really cool story and takeaway. Then I think two, just to see the diversity in the room whether it was ethnicity or age or profession. Just seeing that is just so, so cool and again, it really speaks to how unique Fiverr is as a platform.Adam: So when you were putting the guest list together for the event, is that something that you had to handle or is that something that Fiverr actually did for you?Donald: Fiverr did it all for me Adam. I mean here’s the deal. So – and I could be corrected about this but I think there was an Eventbrite page that was created and so when people signed up in order to attend the event, I was able to get the full roster of those particular individuals who had RSVP-ed for the event emailed to me. So it was as simple as hitting Print, taking that paper to the actual event and checking them off on the guest list. That was all handled by the Fiverr team at headquarters.Adam: Because I can imagine when you’re creating an event, one of the biggest worries you’re going to have is – you know, is it all going to turn up? Is it just going to be me? So having that kind of responsibility or that task taken away from you and handled for you must have been a massive benefit.Donald: Absolutely. I was able to just totally focus on the event and executing and just kind of being the person there who was the go-to. It helped so much.Adam: So for other people out there who kind of hear your story and love the idea of creating their own community hosted event, do you have any particular advice for them?Donald: I would just say this. I would say that although it’s a Fiverr event, Fiverr does their due diligence to make sure that you’re the kind of person that they would want to host the event. So I would take that with a great amount of proud-ness and appreciation. Then from there really, they do a great job of just saying, “Hey, like, go for it. Make it your own.”I think for me, that was super freeing. So what I would say to other people who are so interested in doing an event is this. It’s that one, you definitely should know your why. Why do you want to do it? And hopefully it’s to add value to everyone else who’s attending. The number one people who are going to be coming – the number one thing that people who are going to be coming are going to be asking is this, is “What’s in it for me?”So you want to make that Fiverr event all about them. Obviously, yes, like you’re going to come with a great sense of expertise because you’re kind of the man or lady up there in front and kind of being the host. But you have to make it about them. I would say two, if you are interested in doing an event, not only should you know why you’re doing an event but I think really locking down a great location is important because you – as much as you can.Now obviously there are going to be different dynamics of this but something that could be centrally located is always good because then you will be able to have more people who are able to attend as opposed to having people who had to drive near and far to get there.Then three, have fun. Although it is more of like a meet-up type thing depending on what type of event you’re going to do, I think at the end of the day, people – if they’re spending their evening to come out to an event, maybe after a hard day’s work or whatever the case is, they want to be able to unwind and enjoy themselves. So knowing your why, locking out a great location and then obviously having fun.Redd: So other than this community event, have you had any other opportunities to be interactive with the Fiverr community or was this kind of the first dip in the pool for you?Donald: So being involved on the forum as much as I can has been lots of fun. I haven’t really posted anything in the last maybe 2 years, 2.5 years on the forum. But I do remember this event, maybe 2014. I did post kind of like my experience of first becoming a top-rated seller or what I felt like one of the ten things that helped me and just seeing people’s response and appreciation to that. That was really, really awesome.I think also Fiverr did a – I want to say it was a live tweet thing at the end of last year that I took part in and that was also a lot of fun to kind of encourage people along the journey. Then obviously recently here being featured as a super seller where again the people at headquarters kind of wanted to hear my story and my journey. That involved me opening up parts of my life that at times kind of doing things virtually. Like, you can kind of pick and choose what you want to release. But I was like, “You know what? At the end of the day, this is going to inspire people and encourage people to stay the course. Let’s do it.”So being able to put that together and to see our story highlighted there on the blog. Not only was it just a reminder of like of how hard work pays off but then also how this whole thing is really a process. I think a lot of people look at success stories on Fiverr or just in life and they forget that at the end of the day like people have really put in a lot of work and a lot of sweat equity into that journey.So being able to see that article on the blog was really, really awesome and I took an extra step where as people commented, I just kind of responded to everybody personally just to kind of thank them and then that also developed into people kind of contacting me here on the Fiverr – in my Fiverr inbox and I was kind of having conversations back and forth.Then it’s also really cool because that also developed into some sales on my end as well. So at the end of the day, I think it’s really being a part of the community, celebrating what Fiverr is but then also realizing the power that you have to share your story no matter if you are a level one seller or no matter if you are a top-rated seller. I think it’s something about being able to share in that story as a community to encourage each other towards our dreams and goals.Adam: So the online aspect of the community that has really influenced you in a similar way to how the offline aspect did back in October where you had the ability to be featured on the blog as the Fiverr super seller and you’ve engaged in those previous events based on Twitter as well as poking around the forum.Donald: Yeah. It was huge. Something else that I would say is this, is that sometimes especially as – in the voiceover subcategory on Fiverr, a lot of times we are able to be on Twitter or whatever the case is. So I remember maybe six months ago or so, Linnea Sage, the amazing Linnea Sage. I believe she’s out in New York. She had just created this really cool app that her voiceovers were featured on and she was giving away kind of this free coupon code that like if you download the app, like you got it for free. Well, I was trying to kind of help to get her some people to take a listen and review it.So again, that was just an example where she kind of put it out there on Twitter. I reached back out there and we had a great conversation but I think it’s also a part of again celebrating other people and then also seeing the opportunity of not just supporting the seller like what they do only on Fiverr but hey, a lot of Fiverr sellers – you know, Fiverr is a part of their particular thing that they do.So I think in doing a research, in being able to support that as well, at the end of the day, that all circles back around and it comes back on Fiverr and we all help to support each other. So this is another really cool, cool story.Redd: Yeah. I think that’s one of the things I really enjoy about the Fiverr community too. You get an opportunity to kind of check out what everyone else is doing and check out other people’s work and see where people are taking their direction. For example like Linnea and you and I, we’re all voiceover artists but we all do such very, very different things at times and we all have different ways that we choose to engage and it’s kind of fascinating seeing all the differences between those things while all still being in the same root category.Donald: That’s so true because at the end of the day Redd, as you know, there’s enough work out here for all of us to get a piece of the pie. So why not be able to encourage each other in the process?Redd: Exactly.Adam: I mean I would go as far to say that when it comes to things like engaging with the community, Fiverr is boundary-less because you have the ability to engage in online places such as the forum or the blog. If it’s available to you then have the ability to go offline in community-hosted events.But also this year as well, we’ve seen the introduction or within the last year, we’ve seen the introduction of the online events inside the forum where we’re also setting up live streaming to these community events where it’s Fiverr-led events and other type of events like workshops where “Customdrumloops” actually did the workshop live on the forum about six weeks ago.Donald: Yeah, that’s so huge Adam because people who are able to maybe have an offline event in the city or in their area, they get a chance to become a part of something that is happening live. So there’s like more of a personal type of feel to it and they get to experience what a lot of people are able to experience offline and then I think again, that increases their belief level. It increases their buy-in and then it also at the end of the day, it gives them an encouragement to stay the course, whether they’re a buyer or to buy more into the platform to spend the money as a seller. It’s phenomenal.Adam: So getting down to the nitty-gritty just to trail back on to your actual events, can we go through a little bit of the process of how you get started if you wanted to host a community event?Donald: So the first step is for people to go to the Community Events page via Fiverr and to opt in to that particular page and to submit their information. Once they get a response back from headquarters, I think from there it’s definitely to be patient because this is definitely something that at the end of the day a lot of people want to do and as you’re being patient, I think it will be great for you to start to formulate kind of like a dream list. Like hey, if I could do this event, here’s kind of what I will want to accomplish.Then once you start having that conversation with those who will be giving you the access to do it, I think that will definitely morph and shape what the event will become. So whether it’s doing a lot of research upfront, finding a venue, figuring out what kinds of food if it’s going to be a food type of thing and like that, that you’re going to be able to provide or at the end of the day, I think it’s also a really big question of – going back to what we were saying earlier, what type of event are you going to have.Then also would you be OK with being the point person for the event? And then also pulling in maybe another Fiverr seller to be the actual host because at the end of the day, some people don’t like being the center of attention. They don’t like hosting. So maybe you’re really good at organizing and maybe it could become a team effort.But I think maybe the first few things are definitely hey, responding on the Fiverr event page, being patient and then also while you’re being patient, you’re waiting on a response, which they’re really, really good about getting back to you, have a game plan in place because that will only increase your chances of potentially doing an event.Adam: So yeah, looking at the Fiverr event page, which can be found at Fiverr.com/community_events, submitting yourself for an event is actually quite simple. I mean we just enter our – uh, our gnome? I mean we just enter our name, the city which we prefer the hosting, the estimated amount of people who are going to attend and our kind of preferred dates that we would like to kind of shoot for as well as what we kind of envision that event to be.Now the thing that really strikes me about the attendees is that if you want to, you can either aim to kind of set up a small kind of meeting that’s maybe over something like coffee where there’s say only ten of you or it could be something a lot larger where you’re aiming to get 50 people in a room and have a big party. There really are so many different options out there to cater for exactly what you want to do.Redd: The other thing I like about it too is it’s really – this is an anyone-can-do-it type situation. I mean you don’t have to be a Fiverr super seller or a TRS. Like if you’re involved in the community and you want to be more involved, I know that they want to hear from you. I mean there are so many opportunities for so many meet-ups all around the world. It just seems like a really great way to get people together. So just for everyone out there, if you do want to get involved in a Fiverr community event, you can check out the events calendar for information.The link again for the website for community events is Fiverr.com/community_events. If you’re wondering how you get invited to events, it’s based on location. So be sure to keep an eye on your email for events in your area because that’s where notifications will come.We want to thank Donald so much for joining us this week. You can find him on Fiverr as Donaldjr. Our jingle was made by Ryan AKA Customdrumloops and we were edited today by the wonderful Dansha. Thanks so much and we will see you next week.Transcription by: Trans-Expert
