Struggling to pay university fees, Deno took a gamble importing affordable used phones from China to resell locally in Kenya via Facebook.
Despite humble beginnings operating out of his tiny hostel room, Deno’s phone import business now boasts annual sales over Ksh5 million.
This is the story of how Deno leveraged Facebook’s selling power and cunning business acumen to convert a campus side hustle into a thriving enterprise. His journey exemplifies how spotting opportunity in adversity can pave the path to prosperity.
For aspiring young entrepreneurs across Kenya, Deno’s strategy and persistence provide a blueprint for how to turn small ideas into big success stories.
Desperate Times Call for Bold Ideas
As a 3rd year Economics student at Kenyatta University, Deno constantly stressed over scraping together enough money to pay his university fees and living expenses term after term.
His casual waiter job provided barely enough income.
Deno explains: “I was already selling personal belongings for extra cash. Taking shylock loans would mortgage my future. I needed another solution.”
In an era where university students desperately needed affordable smartphones for coursework, Deno noticed a sharp supply shortage of budget devices locally.
Sourcing them internationally and reselling on mass scale could solve this demand-supply imbalance profitably.
And so in 2017 using his last Ksh 5,000 in savings, Deno began importing high-quality budget phones from China to resell via Facebook to Kenyan university students.
Thus Deno Electronics was born out of ambition and necessity.
Optimizing His Facebook Sales Strategy
Deno tested different Facebook marketing strategies relentlessly to profitably sell his imported Chinese phones to Kenyan students.
His goal was making the phones irresistible value purchases compared to expensive models like iPhones.
Here’s how Deno expertly tailored his sales approach on Facebook:
Laser-targeted ads – He geo-targeted ads down to specific universities and hostels known for tech-savvy students.
Urgency and scarcity – Ad copy conveyed limited units and time-bound deals to spark immediate action.
Killer prices – Deno’s wholesale cost from China manufacturers was around Ksh3,000 per phone. He retailed them for Ksh4,000 – Ksh5,000, significantly undercutting typical Ksh10,000+ prices locally for smartphones.
Sample post wording – “UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ALERT! 5 units of Tecno F3 available for only Ksh4,500! DM now before stock runs out!”
This tactical sales positioning on Facebook allowed Deno to move high volumes of phones week after week entirely through social media.
Turning Challenges Into Opportunities
However, Deno’s rapid success importing phones brought new unforeseen challenges:
1. Capital constraints – Saner inventory demands outstripped his limited working capital. He badly needed financing to scale.
2. Logistics difficulties – Managing supplier communications in China and coordinating local pickup logistics from his 12ft x 12ft hostel room became a nightmare.
He approached a smaller Chinese manufacturer and negotiated 90-day payment terms to receives phones upfront without large capital outlay.
And to smooth logistics, Deno partnered with local hostel managers.
In exchange for small commissions, they provided secure on-site storage and facilitated student pickups of their phone orders.
Deno remarked: “Challenges force innovation. Leverage obstacles to unlock growth.”
Explosive Growth And Current Success
Through Deno’s marketing savvy and tenacity addressing roadblocks, his campus side hustle importing and selling phones via Facebook exploded.
Within just 16 months, Deno had grown monthly sales over 700% from 15 phones per month to over 100.
Today, Deno Electronics has become one of Kenya’s largest used/refurbished budget mobile phone suppliers with Ksh5+ million in annual revenue.
Deno operates out of a large Nairobi warehouse, sources phones in bulk shipping containers, and sells thousands of devices monthly across Kenya.
He employs a full-time team managing operations and internet sales/marketing.
Despite this success, Deno remains laser-focused on maintaining competitive pricing and providing budget options for Kenyan university students – the market he understands best.
Deno remarks: “Always stay true to the problem your business originally solved even as you grow and scale.”
3 Key Lessons from Deno’s Entrepreneurial Success
Aspiring young entrepreneurs in Kenya can extract valuable insights from Deno’s inspirational journey turning a campus side hustle into a multi-million shilling enterprise:
#1. Spot Problems, Then Offer Solutions
Deno identified an acute shortage of quality affordable mobile phones for cash-strapped university students. He crafted an innovative solution importing and retailing devices via Facebook.
#2. Refine Your Sales Positioning
Deno tested various marketing angles relentlessly until he struck gold – framing his phones as irresistible value buys compared to expensive brands.
#3. Embrace Challenges
Rather than let hurdles like financing and logistics thwart progress, Deno leveraged them as springboards to advance his business to new heights.
Final Words of Advice
When asked what advice he would offer today’s youth in Kenya hoping to achieve similar entrepreneurial success, Deno emphasized two key points:
“Bet on yourself when no one else will. The only way to prove naysayers wrong is through action and results.”
“Stay hungry. Never become complacent. There are always new problems to solve and higher levels of success to achieve.”
At just 25 years old, Deno’s journey proves how a simple side hustle addressing unmet needs can swiftly blossom into phenomenal prosperity through consistent innovation and grinding execution.
The future belongs to today’s bold digital entrepreneurs across Kenya ready to turn big dreams into online income realities one small step at a time. Your time is now!
After graduating university, Mwende landed an office job in customer care for a reputable Kenyan company. While financially stable, she dreaded the monotonous 8-hour days and long Nairobi commute.
Mwende yearned for the freedom and fulfillment of being her own boss. One evening, she came across a popular American blogger detailing how she had quit her job to work full-time on her blog.
This sparked an audacious idea – could Mwende also transition to blogging full-time and escape the corporate rat race?
That tiny seed of inspiration took root into action. Now, just 2 years later, Mwende earns over Ksh1,000,000 annually through her hugely successful travel blog while enjoying the lifestyle of her dreams!
Here is the incredible story of how Mwende leveraged her writing talent to produce a six-figure blogging income working just 20 flexible hours per week.
Stuck in a Rut
Mwende never expected to feel miserable after landing a prestigious customer service job at a Fortune 500 company branch in Nairobi.
On paper, the steady salary and health benefits gave her family financial security. But the joyless commute and hours of repetitive call center work slowly crushed Mwende’s spirit.
“I got home exhausted each evening with barely any energy left to enjoy life outside of work,” Mwende recalls.
She yearned to do something more creative and purpose-driven. A chance Google search one sleepless night led Mwende to discover a world that would change her life forever – blogging.
Could her passion for writing be turned into a viable career and income? It was time to find out.
Learning the Blogging Basics
Eager to escape her unfulfilling job, Mwende threw herself entirely into learning everything about blogging during evenings and weekends.
She researched factors like:
How to choose a profitable niche
Best blogging platforms and tools
Optimizing writing and SEO
Monetization models like affiliate and ads
Driving traffic through social media
With no prior experience, the learning curve was steep. But Mwende was determined to gain enough skills to make blogging work.
After 6 months of intensive research and strategy planning, Mwende finally took the leap and launched her travel blog about undiscovered destinations in Kenya.
The Difficult First Few Months
Quitting her job dramatically reduced Mwende’s income. The first six months grinding to grow her blog were an immense financial struggle.
Mwende reinvested every shilling of earnings back into the blog while generating little revenue initially.
After pouring endless sweat into writing stellar content, hardly anyone actually read it.
Getting that critical initial audience traction felt hopeless at times.
Mwende explains:
“I doubted whether walking away from a steady career was a massive mistake. But my passion kept me pushing through those early challenges.”
Gradually the small wins came. Mwende landed her first sponsored post for Ksh5,000. She implemented more targeted social media promotions. Her Google search traffic crept steadily upward month after month.
Things finally gained momentum after 8 grueling months. Mwende could feel the income potential bubbling under the surface.
Gaining Traffic and Financial Freedom
That big breakthrough came 11 months in when Mwende published a post titled “10 Hidden Gems to Visit in Kenya for Under Ksh5,000” which attracted 90,000 views within a week of going viral on Facebook.
Seeing tangible results from all her hard work finally empowered Mwende to make blogging her full-time focus.
She explains:
“I knew at that point I could make blog money work. I just needed to keep improving the formula and fully commit.”
Here are the key ways Mwende systematically monetized her blog over the next year to exceed Ksh1 million in annual earnings:
Google Adsense
Mwende placed promotional ads on site to earn revenue from impressions. Higher traffic = higher ad earnings.
She earned commissions promoting travel booking sites, tours, lodges and other travel brands relevant to her audience.
Sponsored Posts
Tourism boards, safari companies and brands paid between Ksh25,000 – Ksh150,000 for tailored native content and social promotion.
Brand Partnerships
Long-term collaborations with five major travel brands provided monthly retainers and cut of referral sales.
Digital Products
Mwende sold an online travel photography course and ebook to earn passive income from existing content.
With multiple income streams humming by year 2, Mwende was earning over 6 figures annually from anywhere with her laptop.
Defying Expectations Through Passion and Persistence
Today Mwende has achieved the work-life balance she always dreamed of through her booming travel blog:
She sets her own schedule and works when she wants. No more frantic commutes or angry bosses.
She gets to constantly explore new parts of Kenya and write from inspiring locations.
She doubled her old 9-5 salary through doing work she genuinely loves.
She receives stories every day from readers inspired to travel more because of her blog.
Mwende hopes her against-all-odds journey from corporate burnout to successful blogger inspires others feeling stuck in their careers.
As she says:
“Take that small step towards doing what sparks joy for you today. Even if you feel scared, lost, or overwhelmed at first, don’t give up. With passion and grit, you can build the life you truly want.”
Top Tips for Aspiring Bloggers
For those in Kenya hoping to start a profitable blog like Mwende, here is her best advice:
Research extensively – learn both writing skills and commercial aspects like SEO.
Find a niche you’re truly passionate about – don’t just chase money.
Be patient – growth takes time. Focus on small consistent wins.
Reinvest every shilling into improving your craft and content.
Leverage social media and email lists heavily to drive an audience.
Diversify income streams – don’t rely solely on one monetization model.
Collaborate with others to expand your reach.
Persevere through failures and setbacks – they lead to growth.
The rise of blogging has opened up life-changing opportunities for talented writers in Kenya to earn incomes and freedom doing what they love.
Mwende stands as a true example that with passion, grit, and thoughtful business strategy, anyone can build a wildly profitable blogging career and break free of unfulfilling work.
It all begins with believing enough in yourself to take that first step. Your future starts now!
Like many Kenyans, I was struggling financially as a university student working a low-paying campus job.
My meager savings were running dry fast.
Out of desperation, I started exploring ways to generate additional income online. That’s when I discovered day trading – speculating on financial assets intraday using technical analysis.
I achieved these staggering returns day trading options contracts on my phone for 1-2 hours at night.
Here’s exactly how I multiplied my tiny account by 150X in just one month as a beginner trader.
Discovering Day Trading
During my online research into making money, I stumbled upon videos of traders rapidly profiting buying and selling assets like stocks, forex, bitcoin, and options contracts.
This high-speed world of day trading fascinated me instantly. The ability to potentially generate income just trading a mobile app attracted me.
However, countless warnings advised beginners to avoid day trading given the difficulty and risks. But the potential rewards intrigued me enough to dig deeper.
I began studying the craft by reading books, watching hours of tutorials from professional traders, and paper trading to refine my strategy without risking actual capital.
After 2 months of extensive education outside of classes, I felt just confident enough to attempt live day trading … albeit starting very small.
Starting to Day Trade with a Tiny Account
Most experts advised having at least Ksh50,000 to Ksh100,000 in capital to day trade safely as a beginner.
But as a broke student, I simply didn’t have more than Ksh1,000 available in my bank account.
I decided to keep things simple and focus solely on trading index options.
These securities allow traders to speculate on whether an overall market will go up or down in a given timeframe.
My goal was growing the tiny Ksh1,000 account through savvy trades.
Beyond the deposit amount, I implemented key risk management rules like never risking more than 1% of capital per trade and maintaining a 2:1 profit/loss ratio minimum.
With my trading capital locked and loaded, it was time to put my strategies to the test.
The Difficult First Week
Jumping into live day trading ended up being tremendously difficult despite all my practice and research.
I immediately made a slew of rookie mistakes.
Emotions like greed and fear caused me to abandon my trading plans repeatedly. I chased trades without waiting for confirmation, moved stop losses irrationally, and improperly sized positions.
Within just one week, half my capital had evaporated through costly errors. I considered throwing in the towel on day trading before losing everything.
Sitting at just Ksh500 left in my account, I realized I needed to fully reset and re-evaluate if day trading was worth pursuing further.
Sticking with It and Making Adjustments
After a few days reflection, I decided I needed to continue pursuing day trading, but with critical strategic adjustments:
Refined risk management – I lowered my risk tolerance and implemented more defensive stop losses. Losses were capped at just 20% of initial risk per trade.
Smaller position sizes – With a small account, I minimized risk by using only 10-20% of capital per trade.
Stuck to the strategy – I printed out my trading plan and strictly followed the technical indicators without deviation. No more chasing or revenge trading.
Mindfulness habits – I meditated before each session, focusing on avoiding fear and greed. A journal also tracked learnings.
Committing fully to these adjustments required extreme mental discipline. But they were the keys to turning my remaining Ksh500 into a small fortune.
Executing with Military-Like Discipline
With a renewed focus, I put in the work daytrading 2 hours every night strictly adhering to every rule and process.
My detailed trading strategy went as follows:
Analyze charts on 1-hour timeframes using moving average indicators to assess momentum
Identify clear areas of support and resistance
Wait patiently for price to reach resistance then confirm rejection
Execute call/put options trades at reversal points with defined risk
Close 50% of trades at 1:2 profit/loss ratio and let remainder run with trailing stop
Sticking to this trading plan like a robot, I methodically executed high-probability trades. Green positions quickly started outpacing the few small losses.
Within 2 weeks, I had grown my Ksh500 account back to Ksh5,000 – a solid 10X return. My confidence as a trader grew exponentially.
I stayed disciplined and continued applying my approach. The account growth started accelerating rapidly thanks to the power of compounding.
Hitting the Goal of 150X Returns
Remarkably, that initial Ksh1,000 I invested exploded into Ksh150,000 in profits after just 30 days trading!
I was closing multiple 5-figure winning trades every week by leveraging the power of price momentum and disciplined risk management.
My meticulous trading strategy combined with military-like discipline yielded astounding results.
In one single month:
Days traded: 30
Total trades: 62
Win rate: 68%
Average trade size: Ksh2,500
Largest win: Ksh22,000
Largest loss: Ksh3,100
Final return: 150X
I was in pure disbelief seeing six figures sitting in my trading account. The dedication to refining my process paid off in ways I never imagined possible!
Lessons Learned Turning Ksh1k into Ksh150k
While unaware I’d hit this milestone so quickly, reflecting reveals several key lessons about day trading success as a beginner:
Cut losses quickly – Never let losses spiral out of control. Keep individual risk small.
Stick to the rules – Disciplined execution of a defined strategy is vital. Don’t deviate on emotion.
Start small – Grinding out gains trading micro positions minimizes risk when starting. Then compound.
Continued education – Devote time daily to expanding trading knowledge and technical skills.
Review mistakes – Write down all mistakes and extract lessons from them. Don’t repeat errors.
Patience pays – Wait calmly for your setups. Forcing trades leads to losses.
Trading profitably as a beginner is possible, but requires immense dedication, risk management, and consistently reviewing and enhancing your process.
My results proved that with relentless discipline, day trading can successfully turn tiny accounts into significant sums within short timeframes. But avoiding common errors early on is crucial.
Advice For Beginner Traders
My best advice for anyone in Kenya inspired to start day trading is to:
Paper trade extensively before using real capital
Start trading tiny position sizes to minimize risk
Stick to simple, proven strategies at first
Review your detailed trading journal daily
Study the craft obsessively like a full-time job
With the right dedication and education, small accounts can rapidly scale. But maintain modest expectations, embrace losses as tuition, and let wins come through focusing on process, not payouts.
The life-changing wealth potential of day trading is real. But success requires tireless commitment to managing risk, mastering emotions, and executing with machine-like precision.
Your prosperous trading journey begins with a single step.
Now go take it!
Disclaimer: This is a guestpost. Views of the author doesn’t represent views of freelancing.co.ke. Trading is risky.
After hearing about the explosive growth of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, I decided to try my hand at crypto investing. My goal was to steadily build a portfolio that could make me financially independent within a few years.
Incredibly, I was able to turn an initial investment of just KSh50,000 into over KSh1 million in profits in under 18 months.
Here, I outline my exact strategy and key lessons learned while pursuing crypto wealth from Kenya. With the right mindset and disciplined approach, you too can achieve financial freedom through crypto.
Starting With Strong Foundations
Before investing a single shilling into crypto, I spent months learning about blockchain technology, Bitcoin, and the overall digital asset market.
I read books, listened to podcasts, watched YouTube videos, and joined Telegram groups. I didn’t want to blindly jump in without understanding this new digital money paradigm.
Some key mindset principles that prepared me included:
Long-term, buy-and-hold strategy– I knew crypto was volatile and could drop sharply in the short-term. My mindset was to hold for 5+ years, not try to time daily fluctuations.
Dollar-cost averaging – Instead of investing in a lump sum, I deployed my capital systematically over many small buys. This smoothed out price volatility.
Portfolio diversification – Bitcoin was my core holding, but I also bought major altcoins and stablecoins to manage risk.
SECURITY – I used hardware wallets, private keys, multi-sig, and layers of encryption to keep my crypto secure. Losing keys meant losing access, so security was paramount.
With the right mental models, I felt ready to embark on my crypto investing journey.
Starting Small with KSh50,000
In March 2021, I accumulated my starting capital by depositing KSh50,000 from my bank account into a popular Kenyan crypto exchange called Paxful.
I went through full KYC and chose an exchange with solid security practices.
I started by purchasing a core position of Bitcoin and Ethereum:
Bitcoin (BTC) – KSh25,000 (0.0015 BTC at ~$20,000 per BTC)
Ethereum (ETH) – KSh15,000 (0.35 ETH at ~$1,400 per ETH)
The rest I kept in stablecoins (USDT) to hedge against volatility and to trade altcoins. My total starting portfolio value was ~KSh50,000.
Executing My Dollar-Cost Averaging Plan
With my core BTC and ETH positions established, I began a systematic DCA (dollar-cost averaging) plan on Paxful.
Every 2 weeks on payday, I would:
Deposit KSh5,000 from my bank into stablecoins
Use 50% to buy BTC, 25% for ETH, 25% to trade altcoins
This regular buying meant I steadily accumulated more satoshis (fractions of BTC) over time regardless of price. Whenever the market dipped, my buys got me more crypto for the same KSh amount.
Trading Altcoins for Short-Term Profits
To supplement my long-term holds, I also traded smaller cap altcoins through Binance and PancakeSwap. These more speculative assets offered explosive upside, albeit with higher risk.
My altcoin trading rules included:
Hold BTC/ETH core, trade alts around it
Target 3-5x short term gains
Cut losers quickly, let winners ride
Move profits back into BTC/ETH
These rules allowed me to increase my core Bitcoin and Ethereum holdings by trading altcoin volatility.
Some winning trades included:
Bought MATIC at KSh5, sold at KSh15 (+200%)
Bought AAVE at KSh10,000, sold at KSh28,000 (+180%)
Bought DOGE at KSh0.50, sold at KSh2 (+300%)
These 3-5x wins accumulated rapidly, allowing me to grow my holdings substantially.
Managing Security and Risk
As my crypto portfolio grew into the hundreds of thousands, security became paramount. Here are some best practices I followed:
Used hardware wallets (Ledger, Trezor) to secure private keys
Stored seed phrase backups securely in safe deposit boxes
Used complex passwords and 2FA everywhere
Joined a crypto insurance program for added protection
Limited account balances on exchanges to minimize risk
Diversified across assets uncorrelated to crypto (real estate, stocks)
No security setup is foolproof, but combining hardware wallets, backups, encryption, diversification, and insurance gave me confidence.
The Crypto Bull Market Accelerates Growth
After getting started in early 2021, I fortuitously benefited from the massive 2021 crypto bull market that took off that summer.
As corporations like Tesla bought Bitcoin, and adoption exploded, my portfolio rapidly appreciated:
Bitcoin went from ~$20k to ~$60k by November 2021
Ethereum went from ~$1,400 to ~$4,600 by November 2021
My systematic DCA strategy meant I was steadily accumulating BTC and ETH even as prices rose. By Q4 2021, my crypto holdings had climbed to over KSh1 million in value.
This period taught me the power of multi-year bull markets in maximizing returns. Timing is often underappreciated in financial success.
Lessons Learned Turning KSh50,000 into Over KSh1 Million
In just 18 months, my portfolio grew over 20x, far exceeding my expectations. Here are key lessons I learned during this wild crypto ride:
Have a plan and stick to it – My DCA and long-term holding strategy worked excellently through volatility
Security first – Lose your keys, lose your coins. Take security seriously from day one.
Keep learning – Crypto evolves rapidly. Stay humble and keep absorbing information daily.
Mindset matters – Don’t panic sell in fear. Have conviction in your holdings and strategy.
Diversify – Balance safer assets like BTC with calculated risks like altcoins and DeFi.
Enjoy the ride – Crypto is an exciting space. Stay balanced and enjoy participating in this technological revolution.
The crypto market is always evolving, but starting small, educating myself, and sticking to a plan helped unlock life-changing wealth I never imagined possible.
My crypto portfolio has given me financial freedom, security for my family, and a ticket to financial independence. The future is bright, on-chain!
Freelance writing can be an incredibly lucrative career if you know where to find clients and charge profitable rates. In just a few years, I’ve gone from struggling to find any writing gigs to earning over KSh1 million annually from freelance writing.
Below I outline the exact strategies I’ve used to land high-paying freelance writing jobs and hit six figures in annual income.
If you’re looking to get started or take your freelance writing career to the next level, this guide will show you how.
Build a Portfolio of Writing Samples
The most important thing when starting out is having a strong portfolio that shows clients the quality and range of your writing abilities. Here are some tips for developing a kick-ass portfolio:
Write 3-5 samples in your niche like technology, finance, health, etc. Make them around 1000-1500 words each.
Show off different formats – include copywriting samples, blog posts, SEO articles, social media posts, etc.
Highlight top skills – infographics, research, interviews, editing, etc.
Pick best work – only include your highest quality pieces. No filler.
Make it look sharp – visually polish samples. Easy to navigate and read.
** Publish samples** – add them to a personal blog or sites like Medium. Include live links in portfolio.
I spent months curating a portfolio that highlighted my finance and tech writing. This gave me pieces to share with clients when applying to writing jobs.
Learn In-Demand Skills
Expand your skillset beyond just writing. Many high-paying writing jobs require additional abilities:
SEO writing – optimize articles for search engines. Weave in keywords naturally.
Research – dig up data, statistics, expert interviews to form a solid basis for articles.
Topic specialization – develop deep expertise in finance, crypto, SaaS, healthcare, etc.
Tools – learn markup languages like Markdown. Know basics of Grammarly, Google Analytics, SEMRush.
I invested time learning SEO best practices, researching complex topics, and sharpening my finance knowledge. This made me much more hireable.
Find Freelance Writing Job Opportunities in Kenya
Once you have a rock-solid portfolio and skillset, it’s time to start finding job opportunities. The best places to look include:
Problogger job board – Great source of vetted clients hiring writers. I landed my first big client here.
Contena – Database of thousands of writing jobs from top companies worldwide.
Freelancer, Upwork, Fiverr – Freelance networks listing writing projects. Need to weed through junk but can find gems.
LinkedIn – Connect with editors, content managers, marketing directors. Pitch yourself rather than just applying to job posts.
Twitter – Follow top writers and publications in your niche. Engage and network with them.
Direct pitches – Pitch yourself to brands directly through website contact forms and cold emails.
I used a mix of job boards, freelance networks, social media, and direct pitches to source work early on.
Pitch Clients and Apply to Writing Jobs
Once you find open writing jobs, stand out by pitching clients tailored proposals:
Address them – “Hi [name], I saw your post on [site] and think I’d be a great fit to write for [brand].” Customize each pitch.
Hook them quickly – Summarize your expertise and achievements in a sentence or two at the top.
Highlight portfolio – Provide links to 3 relevant writing samples.
List skills – Mention your specialized knowledge, credentials, experience.
Explain your process – How you research, interview, optimize, deliver, etc.
Quote rates – Give pricing aligned to value you’ll provide. Offer options.
Be personable – Show enthusiasm and interest in their brand. Ask questions.
Follow up – If you don’t hear back in 3 days, send a polite follow up.
I send dozens of pitches weekly to land jobs. It’s a numbers game, but great clients do notice passionate proposals.
Negotiate Rates and Sign Contracts
Once a client wants to hire you, negotiate fair rates and sign detailed contracts before starting work:
Quote your rates – Price based on value, not hours. Avoid low-ball bids just to win work.
Be flexible – Offer per word, per post, and package pricing options.
Ask about budget – “What budget range do you have in mind for this project?”
Sell your expertise – Politely explain why your skills merit higher pricing.
Prioritize long-term clients – Offer discounts for recurring work vs. one-off gigs.
Sign contracts – Formal agreements protect both parties.
Require 50% upfront – Get deposit before you start writing to avoid payment issues.
Use escrow for big projects – Sites like SafeChain let you safely hold funds during project.
I made the mistake early on of not signing contracts and getting stiffed on payment. Now I treat freelancing like a business.
Deliver Incredible Work
Once hired, overdeliver and make yourself invaluable:
Ask lots of questions – Make sure you completely understand project goals, guidelines, tone, audience.
Thoroughly research – Dive deep into the topic using expert sources. Back up all key points.
Interview people – Get quotes that support the article narrative.
Send outline first – Let client review topical structure before writing full draft.
Send drafts in stages – E.g. share intro first, then body section by section.
Use readability tools – Like the Hemingway App to improve clarity.
Check SEO – Optimize and include target keywords.
Proofread thoroughly – Double check stats, facts, links, headers, etc.
Format cleanly – Use Markdown, bullet points, tables, etc. to make readable.
Meet deadlines – Take on work you can complete on schedule.
By overdelivering and making the writing process seamless, I built a reputation and loyal client base that kept assigning me more work.
Streamline Your Operations
Manage your freelance writing like a real business:
Track taxes – Keep records of income and deductions. Use an accountant.
Get invoices paid – Use PayPal, Wise, M-PESA. Send reminders if unpaid.
Automate billing – Use tools like Freshbooks to track time and auto-send invoices.
Build a team – Hire assistants for research, formatting, editing to scale.
Create contracts – Use templates from sites like Shake. Keep both parties protected.
Have clients sign NDAs – Ensure confidentiality when writing about sensitive topics.
Get business insurance – Covers liability if you accidentally misreport information. Gives clients peace of mind.
Be professional – Treat this like a business. Stay organized. Communicate clearly.
Systems I implemented allowed me to manage many clients seamlessly as a one-person operation.
Make Six Figures and Beyond as a Freelance Writer
If you stick to these strategies, you can realistically expect to:
Earn KSh5,000-10,000 per article as a beginner.
Hit KSh50,000 per month within your first year.
Make KSh500,000-1 million per year once established.
Charge KSh100,000+ per long project as top tier expert.
Earn multi-millions per year by managing a team and scaling.
It won’t happen overnight, but by relentlessly honing your portfolio, skills, and process, the income potential as a freelance writer is immense. The work is flexible, challenging, and immensely rewarding.
I can’t imagine doing any other career. I get paid to learn and write every day from anywhere in the world. Freelance writing has been the perfect profession for achieving location independence and financial freedom.
Hopefully this guide gave you tactics to land your first writing jobs and build a lucrative freelance writing career. Just stick with it, never stop improving, and six figures can absolutely be a reality.
Sarah, a 27-year-old Kenyan woman, earns KSh65,000 per month tutoring Chinese students online in English.
Here is her story and how she built her tutoring business in Kenya:
Sarah’s Background
Sarah graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English and Education from Kenyatta University.
She had always been passionate about teaching and helping others learn. After university, Sarah worked for 2 years as an English teacher at a local high school in Nairobi.
Although Sarah enjoyed teaching, she was frustrated with the low pay.
As a high school teacher, she was only earning KSh30,000 per month. This was barely enough to cover her rent and basic necessities.
Sarah started looking for ways to supplement her income.
Discovering Online Tutoring
One day, Sarah came across an article about online tutoring.
The article explained how tutors can earn money by teaching English online to students from China.
Intrigued, Sarah decided to do more research.
She learned that there is a huge demand for native English speakers to tutor Chinese students online.
Many Chinese parents want their children to learn English from an early age to increase future career prospects.
However, there is a shortage of English teachers in China.
Online tutoring platforms like VIPKid connect tutors from America, Canada, UK and other countries with students in China for live video lessons.
Tutors can make upwards of $20 USD per hour.
Getting Started with VIPKid
After researching several platforms, Sarah decided to apply to VIPKid.
The application process was rigorous and involved multiple interviews, mock teaching demonstrations and submission of documents.
VIPKid looks for tutors who are native English speakers, have a bachelor’s degree and some teaching experience.
It took Sarah 3 weeks from her initial application to get fully approved.
Once approved, Sarah had to complete VIPKid’s training program to learn their curriculum and teaching techniques.
She also had to set up her virtual classroom by getting proper lighting, a headset, props and rewards.
Building Her Tutoring Business
In the beginning, Sarah started slowly with just a few hours per week while keeping her high school teaching job.
She took any time slots she could get and taught a couple of students.
As Sarah gained experience and received positive reviews from parents, she was able to increase her bookings. Sarah maximized her schedule by opening up availability on weekends and late nights.
Within a few months, Sarah was consistently tutoring over 20 hours a week for VIPKid. She was making around KSh65,000 per month.
This was more than double her teaching salary.
Sarah decided to quit her high school teaching job and focus entirely on online tutoring. She aimed to continue increasing her student count and income.
Tips from Sarah’s VIPKid Success
Here are some of Sarah’s top tips for those interested in online tutoring:
Be professional – Students and parents expect professionalism. Dress appropriately, have neat background, be punctual.
Engage the students – Make lessons interactive and fun by using props, games, rewards. Keep students focused.
Communicate with parents – Build relationships with parents. Send progress reports. Ask for feedback.
Set a schedule – Open consistent availability slots. Students prefer seeing regular teachers.
Teach trial classes – Do free trial classes to get new students. Prepare demos targeted to different age groups.
Get certified – Get rewards like certificates and badges. Parents favor more qualified teachers.
Why Online Tutoring Works in Kenya
There are several appealing factors about online tutoring that make it a viable work from home opportunity:
Flexible – You set your own schedule and availability. No need to commute.
Lucrative – Tutoring rates are very favorable especially compared to local incomes.
Global demand – Large market of students worldwide seeking English learning.
Low barriers – Mainly need internet connection, computer, headset.
Rewarding – Teaching and assisting students’ progress is fulfilling.
Challenges Faced
Building a successful online tutoring business does come with some challenges as well:
Inconsistent bookings – Student demand fluctuates. Months like summer see lower bookings.
Technical issues – Dealing with connectivity problems or software glitches.
Time difference – Peak times in China are early morning or late evenings in Kenya.
Learning curve – Takes time to get used to teaching style and pacing required.
Ratings – Need to maintain 5-apple parent ratings or risk account freeze.
However, overall Sarah found it was completely worth overcoming these challenges. The pros outweighed the cons for her situation.
The Impact
The extra income from online tutoring has been life-changing for Sarah. Here are some of the benefits she gained:
Increased monthly income from KSh30k to KSh65k
Able to move to a nicer neighborhood
Built savings for the first time
Less financial stress day-to-day
Able to invest in further education
More time flexibility
Improved standard of living
Sarah hopes to continue growing her online tutoring business.
Her success shows that with the right guidance and effort, people anywhere can take advantage of digital income opportunities.
The future is very bright for online learning and remote work.
Leveraging online tutoring platforms can be tremendously empowering regardless of where you live.
Sarah’s story demonstrates that for motivated individuals, the internet can truly open doors to global opportunities.
