“The moment I opened the screen with zero English, I froze.
Of course — everything was in English. I didn’t even know what I was supposed to type.
And yet, my Fiverr page https://www.fiverr.com/ is now live. This is the record of how I got through it, one step at a time, together with Claude.
First, I Stumbled on the Display Name…
After registering on Fiverr, the first thing to do is set up your profile.
I went to enter my name — and immediately hit a wall.
When I typed “morirancru,” an error appeared in red letters.
“Please choose a different name that complies with our guidelines.”
I had no idea what it meant, so I asked Claude right away.
“Fiverr’s display name sometimes requires a format close to a real name (first name + surname). Using a space to make it look name-like often gets it through.”
I typed “Mori Rancru” — and it went through.
That alone took 30 minutes.
If I’d been on my own, I would absolutely have given up right there.
But I didn’t break — because Claude answered me immediately.
I Made the Profile Text (Bio) with Claude
Next was entering the profile text (Bio).
Writing a self-introduction in English. With English skills below junior-high level, I couldn’t write a single sentence. (Tears.)
So I told Claude this:
“I’m a Japanese illustrator who’s good at Showa retro and motorcycle illustrations. I live in Ehime. Please write an English profile with that content.”
The answer came back in just a few seconds.
I’m Morirancru, a Japanese illustrator specializing in Showa retro, anime-inspired characters, and mechanical illustrations such as motorcycles and racing vehicles.
My style blends nostalgic Japanese aesthetics with detailed, expressive linework — perfect for book covers, merchandise, posters, and brand visuals.
Based in Ehime, Japan, I bring a unique perspective rooted in classic Japanese pop culture. I work carefully and communicate clearly to deliver illustrations that exceed your expectations.
Let’s create something memorable together!
Wow!!! This is writing I could never produce myself (laughs).
I copied and pasted it as-is, right away.
Of course it was OK! So I moved on to the next item.
What to Do About the Gig Title
Once the profile was done, next came creating the gig (the page that introduces the service).
I showed Claude the first title I came up with.
“I will draw Showa retro illustration”
Claude’s reaction was this:
“Not bad, but making it more specific will help it appear in searches. Adding “portrait” or “Japanese vintage” makes it easier for clients to picture what they can order.”
I had them propose a revision.
“Draw your portrait in Showa retro Japanese illustration style”
By including the words “draw your portrait,” clients understand “I can have myself drawn.” Honestly, I thought: I see.
Struggling with Pricing
Gigs have three pricing tiers: Basic, Standard, and Premium.
I asked Claude: “What’s an appropriate price for a new seller’s illustration gig on Fiverr?”
“For a new seller, accumulating the first few reviews is the top priority. Start Basic at a low price, around $20–30, and once you have more than 5 reviews, gradually raise it — that’s the standard approach.”
I learned that setting a high price from the start and getting zero orders is worse than starting cheap and building a track record.
The Gig Description Was Also Made Entirely with Claude
The description needs to be written in English, roughly 500 to 1,200 characters.
What I did was write the content as bullet points in Japanese and hand them to Claude.
“It’s this kind of service. The audience is overseas collectors and brands. Delivery is PNG. Up to one revision. Please turn this into an English description.”
I checked the returned text and, for the parts that bothered me, just said “make this a bit more polite.”
Repeating that, the description was finished.
If I’d done it alone, I think it would have taken days. With Claude, it was done in a few hours.
I Relied on Claude for Choosing Tags, Too
A gig can have 5 search tags.
“Tell me the 5 best Fiverr search tags for a Showa retro portrait gig — ones with little competition that still get searched.”
From the suggestions that came back, I chose these 5.
- showa retro
- japanese illustration
- anime portrait
- retro art style
- vintage japan
Watch Out for Scam DMs, Too
A while after publishing the gig, a message like this arrived.
“Your work is amazing! I have a big project for you. Please contact me on Telegram…”
I couldn’t read English at all, so I consulted Claude.
The answer: “This is a textbook scam pattern. Messages that try to lure you off the Fiverr platform (to Telegram, WhatsApp, etc.) are 100% scams. You can ignore it.”
Overseas side-job markets have traps like this too. All the more if you can’t read English.
But if you ask Claude, even scams like these get spotted for you.
Where Things Stand Now
Currently, 2 gigs are published.
- Showa retro portrait illustration
- Mechanical illustration (motorcycles and vehicles)
A few weeks since publishing. Impressions (views) are 22, clicks are 1.
The numbers alone may look lonely. But the fact that “a product page is published to the whole world” is something I couldn’t have imagined three months ago.
Even without English, I got this far. Thanks to Claude!
It was the moment I first stepped into a world I could never have reached alone.
Next: The 4 Fiverr Scam Message Patterns
The big comparison of 5 overseas platforms is here
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