About CID: My Story
Welcome to my world! Brace up for a lengthy read ahead ⚠️.
I am CID, a visionary Software Engineer-cum-Digital Marketer, and I am thrilled to share my extraordinary journey with you.
It all began in a remote village in Africa, where I grew up in a humble background, facing financial constraints and limited educational opportunities.
However, fueled by boundless ambition and a deep fascination for technology, I embarked on a quest to discover the easiest and most free ways to make money online.
With an empty wallet, a Nokia Asha 201 Symbian phone, and a knack for mathematics, I eagerly explored various avenues.
From paid surveys to copywriting and freelance article writing, I left no stone unturned.
It was through iWriter, an online content writing service platform, that I experienced my first taste of success, earning my initial $1.92.
Unfortunately, my account was frozen due to inactivity, a setback that still resonates with me to this day.
Undeterred by challenges and rejection, I continued my relentless pursuit of success in the digital world; what other choices did I have by the way?
I eagerly contributed content to most of those “X Number of Sites That Pay You $100-$3000 To Write Articles.”
And I can vividly remember submitting a listicle to Listverse, hoping to see my work published.
However, after 4 weeks of waiting, I was informed that my “Top Ten Wonderful Inventions With The Most Bizarre Secrets” listicle which took me 2 months to research and write, fell short of their standards.
It was disheartening, to say the least.
Determined to find my path, I even delved into ‘spammy affiliate link promotions‘, gaining valuable insights into the world of online marketing.
And in case you are curious, this murky world of spammy affiliate link promotions thrives on tactics like flooding social media platforms with generic product endorsements, sending relentless email campaigns laden with clickbait, and luring unsuspecting users into deceptive schemes promising quick riches through a maze of affiliate links.
You could say it’s a place where authenticity and credibility often take a backseat to relentless self-promotion and dubious tactics.
Although I never reached the depths of these practices, I did dip my toes in by adding my affiliate link to nearly every Facebook post I came across.
Well, each experience was a stepping stone, teaching me invaluable lessons along the way.
At this point, I loved ‘writing‘ enough to want to become good at content writing and to achieve that I needed to write a ton.
How do I learn content creation without losing the initial enthusiasm, while also documenting my progress in a way that I can go back to in the future with the certainty that I will always find my previous work?
Driven by an unyielding spirit, I turned to blogging as an avenue to learn content writing, document my progress, express myself, and share my knowledge.
Starting with free web hosting sites, I experimented with various platforms before settling on Blogspot (Blogger by Google).
It was here that I honed my skills and found my voice, ready to make a lasting impact in the digital landscape.
You could argue whether that worked or not, but at least I followed my ‘passion‘.
More about my blogging adventure in a moment.
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In early 2017, my journey intersected with the realm of cryptocurrency.
Fueled by curiosity, I purchased $6 worth of Bitcoin when its value was a mere $4,000.
And believe me, that was a big deal.
However, fear and impatience got the better of me, and I sold my investment for $3 just 15 months before Bitcoin’s value skyrocketed to more than $8k+.
My price alert did not just get triggered, but while I never got back in, thinking it was already late, Bitcoin just went ahead to have one of its best years yet.
This experience served as a profound lesson, instilling in me the importance of patience and strategic decision-making.
My relentless pursuit of knowledge and growth led me to establish Auditorical (fka Afonne Digital) in 2018.
Starting on the Blogspot platform, I later migrated to WordPress under the domain name ‘afonne.xyz’ and as ‘Afonne Onlinebiz Hub’ with the description:
‘…your number one source of great posts for all businesses based online. We’re dedicated to providing you with the very best how to: create Highly Optimized Blogs, Unique and SEO-ready content, Blog monetizing tips and strategies, and, news.’
In 2020 ‘Afonne Onlinebiz Hub’ became ‘Afonne Digital’ and now ‘Auditorical’, and found its new home as ‘auditorical.com’ with the same goal I set out in the first place:
‘…to write and review software, create informative content, teach and empower content creators— bloggers, vloggers, influencers, and businesses— by providing resources that help distribute digital content globally and monetize it effectively in the thriving internet economy.’
But in 2021, things took an exciting turn— (all the way till 2025 and present).
Even though I have been practicing typing with Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing since I could lay my hands on a computer keyword that wasn’t even plugged into a computer and writing Python automation scripts (following YouTube videos mostly) since I discovered Python …
My tech journey started fully in 2021 with the discovery of a 12-month intensive hands-on Software Engineering program by the African Leadership Xcelerator (ALX_SE).
After graduating from the program in June of 2022, I got a job offer for a remote role that lasted for a while, then it was all job hunting here, some freelancing there until the later months of 2023.
Well, you might be wondering what happened then (?), MLH did!
I applied to the MLH Fellowship for the second time around October of 2023 and got accepted. The cohort 24.SPR.A.1 of the program officially kicked off on the 29th of January, 2024.
So, 29th of January 2025 makes it exactly a year since I found Major League Hacking— MLH and started working on OpenStack/Ironic and adjacent projects as a GR-OSS Upstream Developer.
Through MLH, G-Research found me (officially a contract employee since the 1st of May, 2024), and through them, I find myself, now an OpenSource Contributor (and Core Reviewer) 😊.
I have attempted to document the entire application process and acceptance into the MLH Fellowship program as well as how anyone who’s interested might need to go about it in this blog post.
I also pened down my experience during the program in this mid-program blog post on Medium.
There’s a video out on the GROSS OUT Podcast YouTube channel as at the time of this writing, where Jay Faulkner (Open Source Developer extraordinaire and Advocate at G-Research) hosts Alex Gornet, one of the brains behind the MLH Fellowship, and features visual testimonials from 5 of the thousands of lives the Major League Hacking programs, specifically the MLH Fellowship has touched, which I’m proundly one of.
I have embedded the video on this page, hopefully it’s still available by the time you’re reading this, :D. Feel free to give it a watch.
If you wish to get into the MLH Fellowship, get started on OpenSource development, or learn how MLH can help you discover top tech talents, watch the full interview.
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Armed with a solid foundation in software engineering, experience building software solutions, and a deep understanding of sales and marketing.
It indeed marks the intersection of my software engineering background with my passion for digital marketing.
And this seed of change where I just thought Auditorical had to do more and become more.
It is a leap into the unknown, a shift from a niche that had become familiar.
But it is a decision born from a vision—a vision of integration.
Auditorical isn’t just a name; it’s a reflection of my ambition to unite my expertise as a Software Engineer with my future aspirations.
It’s a step towards a future where Auditorical might just be that platform for aspiring creators, startups, agencies, and enterprises.
The rebrandings over the years aren’t merely a change of name; each is a transformation of identity.
It’s a way to differentiate in an industry crowded with similar voices, a means to carve a unique niche.
A step towards a global platform that envisions not just the conventional path of making money through blogging and then launching a blogging course, but (also) venturing into uncharted territories.
In the time ahead, Auditorical will evolve beyond being just a platform—it will become a hub; an authority in a world teeming with information.
And as for the name, ‘Auditorical‘ (fka Afonne Digital)—it’s not just a brand; it’s a legacy in the making.
It’s a name that transcends personal branding, ensuring that the path ahead remains open, even if one day I decide to pass the torch.
So, what do I think about this monumental goal?
I see it as a bold step toward innovation and a commitment to growth.
It’s about embracing change in a digital world that never stops evolving.
It’s about staying true to the vision of being not just a part of this journey but a guiding light in the creator’s economy.
I’m excited, humbled, and a little nervous—all the emotions that accompany monumental ambitions.
But most importantly, I’m ready.
Ready to usher in this new era, where ‘Auditorical‘ (fka Afonne Digital) becomes synonymous with innovation, inspiration, and impact.
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Throughout this journey, even now and in the foreseeable future, my commitment remains steadfast—to provide a platform that empowers creators, including bloggers, vloggers, influencers, freelancers, and businesses (agencies, startups, and enterprises), by offering resources, recommendations, and insights to effectively distribute and reach a global audience.
At Auditorical (fka Afonne Digital), my dedicated team and I are passionate about equipping individuals and businesses with the tools and knowledge they need to thrive in the attention economy.
We believe in the power of content creation and its ability to shape the thriving internet economy.
Through our platform, we aim to inspire and empower others to reach their full potential, while also sharing my expertise in software development through software reviews and digital marketing.
The process has been a remarkable amalgamation of learning, growth, and building.
Every step of the way, I have embraced challenges, celebrated victories, and cherished the journey.
I am honored to share my story with you and invite you to join me on this exciting adventure as we navigate the dynamic world of digital marketing and technology together.
Learn more about Auditorical specifically here.
Cheers!
By the way, if you want to see my “Top Ten Wonderful Inventions With The Most Bizarre Secrets” listicle, I believe it is still floating around on the internet .
Thank you for being a part of this journey, and here’s to the future—where the digital world knows no bounds, and neither do we.
