Heading into the world of making money online can feel daunting at first. You may wonder where to start, what is reliable, and how much time you need to invest. Fear not! You only need a stable Internet connection, some free time, and dedication.
Choosing the right method that suits your skills and schedule is important. Now, without further ado, let’s dive in and start exploring these opportunities!
Taking Advantage of Online Surveys and Market Research
Online surveys and market research can be an impactful way for Kenyans to build a stable online income. Many international companies consistently search for insights from different markets, including emerging economies like Kenya. Their goal? To understand consumer behaviour to adjust their strategies and maximise their profits. This desire has led to a flourishing market for online surveys, where you can earn money by sharing your opinions and experiences.
Here’s how it works:
Companies create surveys through online platforms, which pay respondents for their time and information. Following these steps will get you started:
- Create an account: Choose a reputable survey platform like MOBROG, Triaba, or PaidViewpoint. The account setup usually requires basic personal information like age, gender, and location. Some platforms may ask for more detailed information to ensure you fit into the categories they need for specific surveys.
- Take surveys: Once your account is set up, you can start participating in surveys. These will typically be sent to your email. The surveys can range from quick multiple-choice questions to longer, more detailed responses.
- Earn Rewards: Rewards are typically credited to your account after completing a survey. They can be in cash, gift cards, or points that accumulate and can be exchanged for cash or other rewards.
However, while there are legitimate online survey opportunities, beware of scams. Fraudulent sites might ask for upfront fees or personal information that could be sold or misused. Always remember: a legitimate online survey work opportunity will never ask you to pay a fee to participate.
Pros and Cons of Online Surveys and Market Research:
| Pros | Cons |
| It’s a flexible way to make money that fits your schedule. | The earnings per survey are generally small. |
| You’re contributing to creating better products and services by providing your opinion. | Not all surveys will be relevant to you, limiting potential earnings. |
| No special skills or experience needed. | Potential for scams or misuse of personal information. |
Remember, online surveys and market research participation have the potential to provide a steady income. However, consider combining these efforts with other online money-making strategies discussed in this article to maximise profits.
Freelancing: Tapping into the Gig Economy
The beauty of freelancing is that it’s accessible to many, regardless of skill level or area of expertise. Whether you’re an experienced professional or just starting, sites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer bring together freelancers and clients in a virtual marketplace.
Moreover, freelancing isn’t restricted to any one profession. From graphic design and content writing to data entry and software development, the range and variation in freelance gigs are expansive. Here’s how you can tap into it:
- Identify your skills: Begin by recognising and refining your skills. For instance, you could offer copywriting or blog post services if you’re a great writer. If you’re an excellent coder, feel free to provide web development services.
- Set up a professional profile: Your resume is on platforms like Upwork or Fiverr. Take the time to create an informative and professional work profile showcasing your skills, past work experiences, and any relevant credentials.
- Start bidding on projects: Once your profile is created, you can bid on prospective projects. It’s important to write personalised, concise proposals outlining how you can meet the client’s needs.
- Persistent Hustle: Securing your first few gigs may be challenging; it’s part of the journey. Keep bidding on new projects and be persistent. Over time, as you accumulate positive reviews and build relationships with clients, securing projects becomes much easier.
Now, it’s crucial to remember that freelancing is more than a quick way to make money. It’s more of a business that requires time, dedication, and continuous learning. The upside? There’s a high earning potential, and you have full control over your time and workload.
How to make money online with Virtual Assisting in Customer Service
Virtual assistance provides support and assistance to businesses or individuals remotely. As a virtual assistant in customer service, you can manage client relationships, handle inquiries, streamline administration and even process orders—all from your home. Let’s dive into how it works and how you can make it a lucrative avenue for your online income.
What does a Customer Service Virtual Assistant do?
A Customer Service Virtual Assistant often manages a wide range of tasks. Some of these tasks could include:
- Responding to customer inquiries via phone, email, or social media
- Addressing and resolving customer complaints
- Managing customer accounts, including payment processing and refunds
- Scheduling appointments
- Collecting customer feedback and sharing it with the relevant departments
This list shows that good communication skills, proficiency in customer service technologies and problem-solving abilities are fundamental to success in this role.
Initially, finding clients may seem challenging. Yet, with numerous job platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or Freelancer, you can find businesses and individuals worldwide seeking virtual assistants.
So, how do you make money online, and how much can you earn? One of the advantages of being a virtual assistant is that you can often set your rates based on your skills and experience. On average, virtual assistants in Kenya earn between KSH 1,000 and KSH 8000 per hour, depending on their duties and responsibilities.
Start by equipping yourself with the necessary skills, create a compelling profile on freelancing platforms, and make your pitch to potential clients. With persistence and a commitment to excellence in customer service, you can solidify your space in this online money-making field.
Harnessing the Power of Digital Marketing: SEO, SEM, and Affiliate Marketing
Embarking on the digital marketing journey can be a lucrative way to earn money online in Kenya. Like a treasure chest, it is full of opportunities, particularly in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Search Engine Marketing (SEM), and Affiliate Marketing.
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
SEO involves optimising your website to rank higher in search engine results. It’s a knowledge-based strategy where you need to understand how search engines work and what your target audience is searching for. Here’s how you can make money from it:
- Offering SEO consultancy services to businesses or websites that want to increase their online visibility.
- Running your website and optimising it to attract organic traffic can then be monetised.
Search Engine Marketing (SEM)
SEM, on the other hand, is a paid strategy. It involves promoting websites by increasing their visibility through paid advertising on search engine results pages. This can be a valuable skill to sell as a service, or you can use it to drive traffic to your monetised website.
Affiliate Marketing
Essentially, Affiliate Marketing is getting a commission for promoting other people’s or company’s products on your website, blog, or social media account. It’s one of the most popular ways to make money online, and here’s how:
- Signing up for an affiliate program, like Amazon or Jumia, and promoting their products.
- Setting up a niche website and filling it with content to attract a specific audience, then marketing related affiliate products to them.
Bear in mind that the key to success in digital marketing lies in maintaining an ethical approach, staying updated with the latest trends and algorithms, and consistently learning and improving your skills.
Therefore, by harnessing the power of SEO, SEM, and Affiliate Marketing, you can unlock multiple income streams online from the comfort of your home in Kenya.
Monetising Your Social Media Presence: Influencer Marketing & UGC
Learning how to monetise your social media presence can be a game-changer. Think about it: your Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube account may already draw considerable attention. Why not turn those likes and shares into a steady income? Below, we’ll explore ways to turn your social media game from attention-grabbing to revenue-generating.
Influencer Marketing is quickly becoming an extremely popular online earning avenue, especially in Kenya. As an influencer, brands will pay you to promote their products or services on your platform.
- The first step in becoming an influencer is growing your following. That can be challenging but can be done with consistent, engaging content.
- Once you have an engaged audience, you can reach out to brands aligning with your online persona and audience interests.
- Always remember to remain authentic and relatable. Your audience values your opinions and trusts your recommendations, so only promote brands you believe in.
Another amazing way to monetise your social media presence is through User-Generated Content (UGC). UGC involves brands using content consumers create to promote their products or services.
- To get started, you can begin as an ordinary consumer by sharing your experiences with various branded products or services.
- Easy connectivity: there is no need to have a high engagement profile. Several platforms (Trend, Influee, Insense, UGC Shop) connect people who produce content with brands who want to have marketing content generated by ordinary people for their campaigns.
- An added benefit of generating UGC is that it lends credibility to the advertised product or service, as it comes from a real user’s perspective.
Monetising your social media platforms requires hard work and patience, but the results can be strongly rewarding.
Online Gaming: Turning Playtime into Paytime
Have you ever wondered how your knack for online gaming could become a means to earn money online? You’re probably shaking your head in disbelief, but the truth is that the game you spend hours immersed in can become a lucrative venture. The online gaming industry is rapidly expanding, with opportunities for great earnings.
Many online platforms are willing to pay you fairly for your gaming skills. Consider PlayerAuctions, a marketplace which allows gamers to sell game assets and accounts, or Swagbucks, where you can earn rewards for playing particular games.
Note: Always ensure that selling game assets or accounts does not violate the game’s Terms of Service or user agreements. It’s important to stay within legal bounds.
Let’s delve into some of the methods through which you can earn from online gaming:
E-Sports
E-Sports is a form of competitive gaming where teams or individuals play against each other for a prize. Players can make money through sponsorships, prizes, and additional bonuses. It’s like becoming a professional athlete, only in the virtual world.
Game Testing
Game developers need individuals to test-run their games before they are released to the general populace. As a game tester, you must play the game and spot any bugs or issues. If you are good at finding problems, this could be a gold mine.
Streaming
Live streaming platforms such as Twitch and YouTube are favourites among gamers. If you build a large fan base that loves watching you play, you could make money through ad revenue, sponsorships, or fan donations. You don’t have to be a pro gamer – many people enjoy watching others play, regardless of their skill level.
| Method | Potential Earnings |
| E-Sports | Varies (depending on sponsorships and prize money) |
| Game Testing | Est. 500 – 1000 KES per hour / Depends on the game developer |
| Streaming | Varies (depends on the number of followers, ads, donations, and sponsorships) |
Turning your passion for gaming into an income stream is not a far-fetched dream. While it may seem like all fun and games, success requires commitment, consistency, and a strategic approach. So, are you ready to turn playtime into paytime?
Teaching and Tutoring: Becoming an Online Educator
With the emergence of e-learning platforms like Udemy and Skillshare, there’s a growing demand for knowledgeable professionals who can share their skills and passion with others. Teaching or tutoring online is a great way to earn income. It offers the opportunity to impact learners’ lives worldwide significantly.
Here’s how you can capitalise on your expertise and become an online educator:
- Identify Your Niche: The first step to becoming a successful online educator is identifying what you’re good at and passionate about. Are you highly skilled in mathematics, programming or perhaps a polyglot? Your subject of expertise can vary from academics to leisure activities like gardening or playing musical instruments.
- Choose Your Platform: Next, choose an online platform to share your knowledge. Websites like Udemy, Skillshare, and Coursera allow anyone to create and upload courses. At the same time, platforms like VIPKid connect educators with students seeking one-on-one tutoring.
- Develop Your Course: With your niche and platform decided, it’s time to start developing your course. Plan each lesson, create engaging presentations, and consider incorporating interactive elements such as quizzes and assignments. Remember that high-quality, interesting content is key to attracting students and positive reviews.
- Market Your Course: It’s time to attract students once your course is ready. Use digital marketing strategies, like social media advertising and email marketing, to reach your target demographic. Don’t forget to utilise SEO strategies to help your course stand out in platform searches.
Being an online educator requires dedication, but the rewards are substantial. Not only can you earn money, but you also gain the satisfaction of helping people develop new skills and achieve their goals. Start exploring this rewarding path today!
Conclusion: Taking the First Step on Your Online Money-Making Journey
As you journey into making money online in Kenya, it’s okay to feel overwhelmed with all the options and possibilities listed above. The first step will always seem the hardest, but remember, success in any field starts by taking that important step.
Start where you are. You don’t have to master everything all at once. Identify your strengths and interests. Are you passionate about creating content? Or does the idea of cracking SEO strategies excite you? Are you more interested in sharing knowledge through online teaching? Whatever the case, start there.
Learn as you go. The internet is overflowing with free and easily accessible resources to help you develop your skills and understand the online money-making domain better. As Confucius said, “Wherever you go, go with all your heart”.
Stay persistent. Like any other job, online work requires dedication, patience, and persistence. You might not get it right the first time, and that’s completely fine. Remember, consistency is key.
Connect with others. Networking with others online can provide a wealth of knowledge and mutual support. Your next big break could come from a referral or collaboration with someone in your network.
Invest wisely. While many online opportunities are free to start, some do require investment. That could mean buying a domain for your blog, investing in marketing courses, or upgrading your gadgets for better production quality. Whatever the case, ensure you are financially prepared and always make informed decisions.
Be ready to learn, adapt, and grow with the evolving digital landscape. Take a deep breath. The world of online money-making is waiting for you. Pack your digital tools, fasten your seatbelt, and venture into this exciting journey. Oh, and remember to enjoy the ride!
Get informed on how to do more with your money.
