Online writing jobs in Kenya: 10 best freelance sites for writers

With the high rates of unemployment in the country, online writing jobs in Kenya provide freelancers with the opportunities to be self-employed. It is a field filled by people of all ages, hobbies, and even professions. Thanks to the high internet penetration in the country, you can write online from almost everywhere in the country as long as the connectivity in the area is good. This has also opened up the market for internet providers such as Safaricom, Telkom, Faiba, and many others to woo their clients with unbeatable offers in a very competitive market. In recent times employment opportunities have been hard to come by, but when they do, Kenyans take them with both arms. This has been the case with online writing. A few years ago, it was a field whose potential had not been utilized, but now almost everyone knows a thing or two about the trade. Since all you need is a computer and the internet, there is no reason why one shouldn’t try online writing to make extra cash. There are many high-paying writing jobs online with diverse categories, such as article writing and blogging. 10 online writing sites for writers Here are the 10 best freelance websites for writers: 1. Falcon Writers Falcon Writers is one of the best online writing sites in Kenya with a constant and reliable supply of jobs. There are many writing categories, and the content creator is at liberty to choose what he or she wants. The site is managed by experts with extensive experience in the industry. They pride themselves in providing the best rates and timely payments weekly. Also, the site has a bonus scheme for writers who have an excellent rating. Joining Falcon Writers ensures that you do not only make money online but also get a chance to train with the best. 2. Nerdy Turtlez Nerdy Turtlez has more than 400 employees. It hires both experienced and inexperienced writers. The site describes itself as a one-stop solution company for online education. Categories found here include SEO writing, marketing reports, technical writing, blogging, and whitepaper writing, just like other online writing job sites. Although based in Kolkata, they also have a presence in Kenya and recognize the reputation the country has garnered in this field. 3. Upwork Upwork is an online platform that offers diverse opportunities in writing, design & creative, sales & marketing, web, mobile & software development, and customer service, among others. Companies or individuals post jobs at Upwork for free, and then writers make their bids. Pay can be hourly or a fixed price, but invoices have to go through Upwork. Since this is a global company, there is a wide range of tasks, and there is a mobile app to make things even easier. Upwork is among the sites with online writing jobs in Kenya that pay through Mpesa. 4. Guru Guru is a writers’ paradise with opportunities in writing and translation, design & art, administrative & secretarial services, business & […]

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7 Effective Invoicing Strategies for Freelancers

Ask any freelancer why they’ve chosen this path. You’re bound to get responses like: you get to do what you love, and you can set your own schedule. Or a freelancer may tell you that they can work wherever they want. Sometimes it feels like there are many negatives to freelancing, such as finding work, keeping work, getting paid on-time, and paying taxes. In other words, there are a lot of responsibilities that need to be taken into account if you want to thrive as a freelancer. The good news is that getting paid on-time is one less thing you have to worry about. Implementing these seven effective invoicing strategies for freelancers. 1. Set clear payment terms. Your new clients should read your freelancer payment terms before the start of any work or agreements that are signed. Your terms will define your payment processes and what you expect from your clients. Terms can include everything from payment timeframes, payment methods, and late payment fines. These terms can be published on your website and in documents, such as project proposals and deposit invoices that you send to your clients. To get paid faster, keep your terms short and straightforward. For example, clearly state that you expect payments to be made 30 days after the invoice date has been sent. 2. Run a background check. Before beginning work for new clients, perform an essential client screening. This process may sound a bit overboard, but it will protect you from potentially working with a deadbeat client. Running a background check may take up some of your time, but it will prevent a lot of headaches when it’s time to bill your client. Do a little investigative work by checking out the clients’ website and social channels to verify if they’re legit. Ask your fellow freelancers if they’ve had any experiences with the client. Use your communication skills and interpersonal skills, along with your gut, when discussing the project. I always chat with a new client on the phone before agreeing to a project. It gives me a better idea of who they are and if we’re a good fit. It also allows me to ask more detailed questions on the scope of the project and their payment habits. 3. Automate and delegate. Invoicing and accounting software is a godsend for freelancers. It keeps all of your invoices, taxes, and other relevant documents organized. Some tools even come with features like time tracking so that you can accurately invoice billable hours. Most importantly, invoicing software also comes with powerful automation features that will save you a ton of time and money. The software lets you create recurring invoices , send upcoming payment reminders, and automatically follow-up on late payments. Don’t rely solely on automation. It’s still your responsibility to manage your bills. You will need to call a client when the invoice is late personally. If you don’t have the time or desire to keep track of these details, you can also consider […]

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Trends in Freelancing in the Era of Digital Transformation

eWEEK DATA POINTS: In order for enterprises to stay at pace with the competition, they need to have a pulse on what the IT workforce looks like today and what their teams will need in 5-10 years to prepare and retain talent. Digital transformation has been a buzzword and a reality among the enterprise community for several years, with many companies investing in cutting-edge technology to become more agile and efficient. With its potential benefits, digital transformation is not tomorrow’s strategy but is a real and critical need now. However, this transition requires specialized IT skills that are challenging to find in light of today’s tight labor market. In order for enterprises to stay abreast of their competitors, they need to have a pulse on what the IT workforce looks like today and what their teams will need in five to 10 years to prepare and retain talent. As an on-demand, online talent platform, Upwork has a birds’ eye-view on how the workforce is evolving. Tech is the largest category on the platform (everything from mobile development to information security and network admin), and executives are seeing a lot of demand driven by digital transformation initiatives In this eWEEK Data Points article, Upwork VP of Engineering and Product Mike Paylor offers five freelancing workforce trends to watch and what they reveal about the larger tech industry. Data 1: Distributed Teams At this critical moment in the talent war, “location” should not be an obstacle for hiring. According to Upwork’s Future Workforce Report , younger-generation managers are 28% more likely than their Baby Boomer counterparts to include remote workers on their teams. Additionally, with the current attempts to contain the spread of COVID-19, we are seeing early signs that this could accelerate businesses adjusting to allow for distributed work. Teams that put the right infrastructure and processes in place to be remote, will not only have a competitive advantage for talent, but will be set-up for success when it comes to longer term talent strategy. By not confining your business to a specific location, it opens the door to a larger and diverse talent pool, as well as unlocks more economic opportunities. Data Point 2: Upskilling with Independent Professionals With an evolving skills gap, enterprise companies are needing to look for unique ways to attract and retain the right talent. One way is to implement internal programs that provide current employees with education and new training to reskill. Another option is to hire external independent professionals who are equipped with the specific skills employers are looking for. Independent workers recognize that they are business owners and as such, they are more inclined to refine and grow their skills to stay competitive. According to Upwork’s “ Freelancing in America ” survey, “independent professionals are twice as likely as employees to have done skills training in the previous 6 months.” Data Point 3: An Increase in Cloud Experts In order to understand what enterprises are prioritizing in terms of technology, just take […]

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SPONSORED: A Guide to Accounting Basics for Freelancers

Freelancers have more to consider when it comes to accounting than the average employee. Here’s how to keep your business and personal expenses separate as a freelancer. For many people with full-time jobs, filing taxes requires little more than submitting W-2s, since full-time employers deduct taxes from paychecks. Freelancers, on the other hand, have no money withheld from their payments, and this lack of withholding is a huge reason why, when you’re a freelancer, accounting involves so many moving pieces that can be tough to understand and track. For starters, as a freelancer, you’ll need to properly organize personal and business expenses so you don’t confuse one with the other. Additionally, you’ll pay quarterly taxes to make up for the lack of money withheld from your payments. And if you’re new to freelancing, or you experience a large shift in your annual freelance income, you’ll also pay one large lump sum of taxes on or around Tax Day. If this all seems overwhelming, rest assured that many technologies exist to make accounting easie r for you. If you master the basics of freelancer accounting before using these technologies, you should have minimal issues when it comes time to file your taxes. Freelancer accounting basics As a freelancer, chances are that none of your clients are withholding tax money from your paychecks. Therefore, you’ll need to track all money your clients pay you so that, come tax time, you don’t accidentally underpay your self-employment tax. This tax includes federal income tax and your contributions to Social Security and Medicare, all of which full-time employers automatically withhold from their employees. Although your clients won’t withhold money from their payments to you, they’re still legally required to report the amount they pay you to the IRS. To make sure they can properly do so, you’ll need to file your Form W-9 with each of your clients. This form shares your Social Security number or Taxpayer Identification Number with your clients so they can successfully inform the IRS of their payments to you. Unlike a Form W-4 that you’d file with a full-time employer, a Form W-9 signifies that you’re a freelancer working as a separate business, not a full-time employee. Any clients who pay you $600 or more during a calendar year will use your Form W-9 and income information to issue you a Form 1099-MISC or 1099-K. (You’ll only receive the latter if you take payments by credit card.) Your clients will also file these forms with the IRS to show how much they’ve paid you, so it’s crucial that you include all 1099 forms with your tax return. Perhaps more importantly, you’ll still need to report all of your non-1099 income on your tax return. Your income comprises all the money that you earn, not just money that your clients report to the IRS. For example, if one of your clients pays you less than $600 during a calendar year, you still need to include this amount in your yearly […]

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8 Things That Will Make Your Freelance Life Easier

If you’re a freelancer then you know just how hard it can sometimes get. The life of a freelancer is filled with highs and lows and we are very much prone to mood swings and negativity. As a freelancer, you are all on your own. It is your duty to find new work, deal with the clients, regulate your schedule, and take care of all the technical stuff. Despite all that, we also know just how liberating and exciting freelancing can be. It is both the blessing and the curse, and that usually depends on our approach. I’ve personally experienced both sides of it and I’ve learned how to make things easier for me. Here are eight things that will make your freelance life way easier. 1. High-Quality Equipment There is nothing worse than being stuck with a malfunctioning piece of equipment right in the middle of a project. There’s really nothing you can do at that point but postpone the work until you get it fixed. I’m talking about your computer, laptop, mac, phone, or whatever it is that you’re using to get the job done. And even if your equipment works, it can still be slow or glitchy causing you to lose both time and patience when you should be focusing on the task. That’s why it’s essential to invest in high-quality equipment, whether that be your laptop, phone, or your car. It may cost more in the short term but it will surely benefit you in the long run. Carrying high-quality equipment enables you to work more efficiently by minimizing downtime and you don’t have to worry about replacing it for years to come. With the best equipment on your hands, you can focus on delivering your best work. 2. Productivity Tools There is no doubt about it that freelancing gives you freedom and flexibility to choose your client and working hours, but it is also a truth that it takes a lot of self-motivation and dedication to be successful as a freelancer. You must stay productive every day because if you don’t work, you don’t get paid. Fortunately, there are some tools that help you stay focused and organized on the job and they’re all field-tested. Tools like Toggl help you track time, you can use Evernote to take notes, Todoist for management, Trello for project management, Omnifocus for keeping track of personal and professional projects, and there’s a lot more. There are many other options out there, so I suggest you figure out what exactly is draining your time and then start with that. A simple Google search will do the trick. Speaking of tools, some of my favorites are used for invoicing and contracts in general. Some other things you can do to stay productive apart from using tools include: Set a Schedule As a freelancer, you must set a daily schedule to keep yourself organized. Each morning, you can spend about half an hour to plan your day. You can set a […]

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Scott O. Hirsch Offers Advice on Working with Freelancers

In times of disruption, Scott O. Hirsch believes freelancers are a smart answer to fill temporary gaps in employment needs. DELRAY BEACH, FL / ACCESSWIRE / April 1, 2020 / With the current Coronavirus pandemic, many Americans find themselves stuck at home due to social distancing. While some people are working from home for their regular employers, those who have lost jobs are turning to the gig economy. This could be a big opportunity for businesses to start working with freelancers, and Scott O. Hirsch took to his medium to share some advice for large and small businesses that are now turning to this readily available workforce. Scott is a serial entrepreneur who clearly has what it takes to run a successful business. He’s also an internationally-recognized expert in digital data marketing and has used freelancers in the past to start several companies that have gone on to be acquired by industry leaders. He shares that businesses struggling in the current economy should think about the money they save by working with freelancers. “The math is pretty simple,” says Hirsch . “You don’t pay freelancers benefits, nor do you pay their taxes.” Additionally, freelancers are usually responsible for paying for their own office supplies, including things like computers, internet, and software. It’s clear to see why Scott Hirsch believes that hiring freelancers can be a positive decision for business owners. If you’re nervous about hiring new workers remotely, Hirsch notes that working with freelancers gives you the opportunity to “try before you buy”. In this day and age, companies need workers who are flexible. They need people who are go-getters and able to manage their own time wisely. It’s hard to assess these skills in a job interview. Unlike those who have always worked in traditional office settings, freelancers have been completing projects without heavy-handed oversight for years. They usually have the skills, but you can check out those skills without a big commitment. Hirsch says, “Working with freelancers gives you a chance to see what kind of people you want on your team and what kind of people you don’t.” If you really like the freelancer you’ve hired, you may have the opportunity to hire them full-time. If you don’t think they’re a good fit, you can simply move on to the next person once their project is complete. Scott O. Hirsch also believes that freelancers may also represent a natural source of brand advocates. Once a freelancer has a positive experience with your company, they’ll become loyal supporters. “This means they’ll be proud to include the work they did for you in their portfolios, and they’ll probably be glad to share your social media content via their own channels.” There’s never been a better time to work with freelancers, and by following the advice of Scott O. Hirsch , you’ll see positive impacts on your business. To learn more great business tips you can follow Scott on Twitter or his website http://scotthirsch.com/ . CONTACT: SOURCE: Web Presence, […]

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The Gig Economy: your startup’s survival guide during coronavirus

If there’s one thing that the current coronavirus pandemic is showing, it’s that remote work can be done on a massive scale. Remote working might be new for a lot of people but it’s the norm for about 11 million people in the EU currently working in the gig economy – the fastest growing segment in the EU labour market . It’s no longer seen as an alternative work option to supplement full-time jobs, but rather appreciated as a viable choice to earn a living, as well as provide a strategic source of global talent for startups and companies alike. According to the European Commission’s report on trends shaping the future of work in Europe, jobs are increasingly broken down into projects , meaning that more and more startups will be contracting freelancers for project-based support. During development phases and countless product iterations, freelancers can test out new ideas or change existing ones at minimal risk. For communication or marketing projects, companies can bring on copywriters, bloggers, digital marketers and graphic designers. Startups can take advantage of the gig economy. And they should, especially during the early stages. Freelancers level the playing field for startups, allowing them access to world-class talents and specialists at a fraction of the cost of hiring full-time employees. In the study released by Malt on European freelancers , over 52% have Masters or PhD degrees and on average have over 4 years’ experience before freelancing. Given the current climate, your team may not have full-time hiring on their mind. However, working with a freelancer could give your team the opportunity to continue to grow with external expertise, as well as support the freelancers out there whose projects may have temporarily dried up. However you look at it, the gig economy is here to stay, so here is our take on how you, the founders, can best use it to boost your growth right now. See working with freelancers as a stepping stone Due to the current pandemic, full-time hiring might not be on the cards right now. That said, finding a short-term freelancer in a certain market to help boost one aspect of your business, can bring a fresh-eye, some much needed creativity, and act as an extra pair of hands during a difficult period, for as many hours as you need. On the other side of the coin, supporting freelancers whose projects may have temporarily dried up will allow them to stay afloat and could potentially act as a new stamp of approval on their CV. And who knows, if the collaboration is successful, it could help you think about an old problem in a new way, or lead to something bigger, like the expansion of your business or product in an unexpected but welcome direction. 2. Breakdown the project into manageable tasks Break down the big picture into easily digestible chunks. This way it is much easier to match the task to the freelancer you will need. It is also easier to […]

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