Just like many others, I was once very broke, doing low paying jobs and unable to make ends meet. Success in online freelancing was nothing but a distant dream.
Whatever I was earning monthly could barely help us survive for two weeks. I was in a financial rat race. Always in debt, struggling to pay bills and wondering whether one day I’ll get to live a better life.
One thing that I never lost though is hope. I was always very optimistic.
And that big break came in form of online freelancing.
It’s been four years and counting and I do not regret starting my online business. It has helped me to live a much better life, and get to some levels that I couldn’t even imagine.
On the other hand, I have seen many come and go. Few survive their first year of freelancing. Fewer get to the second year, and even fewer cross the 5 year mark.
So, how do you survive your first year as a freelancer?
1. Put aside some cash
You don’t start a business and expect it to bloom immediately. Businesses take time to grow. And shrewd businessmen start small but have big dreams and plans. Therefore, you don’t just quit your job, with no alternative, and get started online. It’s advisable, if possible, to have some cash saved up somewhere to cushion you as you go through the teething problems of the business.
2. Try out a skill that works for you
There are different things that one can do online. Some of the most famous ones include article writing, academic writing, transcription and graphic design. Others also choose to go for internet marketing instead, where they either sell their products or market other people’s products online.
If you’re confused about what will suit you best, you can take some time with a close friend and analyze what you’ve done best in your life.
For example, writing came naturally for me. From way back in primary school, I would excel with flying colors in anything writing related – English compositions and English literature were a walk in the park for me. I never even used to revise for them.
With real life data backing up my writing skills, it was easy to decide to venture into online freelancing as an article writer.
Whether you settle on writing, transcription or internet marketing, it is always best to have real life data that shows you what to choose.
If you’re unsure of what’s best of you, test different areas and take up what works best for you.
3. Optimize that skill
Once you’ve discovered your skill, you need to optimize it.
When I decided to become an article writer, I discovered that writing for the web is totally different from writing for school or for fun. I had to start afresh and research to know how exactly people write for the web. Graphic designers can do their research and know exactly how web graphics are done. The same thing applies in any area of freelance work you choose.
Whatever you do, make sure you find out how exactly people do it online. Always make Google and YouTube your friends. Look at the best in your area of expertise and aim to emulate them, and eventually even do better than them. You need to also be good in marketing your skills. Each legitimate platform has lots of resources online that indicate how to perfect your work in those platforms.
4. Have a career trajectory
Do not be stagnant my friend. Aim to always grow. Have a career trajectory that you want to follow. My former high school principal always used to say,
When you’re not growing, you’re dying
That’s true in every area of life. Even your body keeps growing daily, and when your body stops growing and developing, you slowly start dying.
Transcribers, for example can use the career trajectory below when they’re starting.
- January to March – Start out as a transcriber. Get trained and start working in freelancing websites.
- April to June – Do transcription as a business. Instead of doing all the work, you can pick jobs from different clients in online work platforms and hire them out to your own transcribers at half the amount. E.g. get a transcription client from Upwork.com paying $60 per audio hour, and look for writers, either online or locally, and pay them $30 per audio hour for the same job.
- July to August – Start a blog where you give thorough insights on transcription. Work on creating a good following.
- August to December – Create a training on transcription. Charge people a training fee.
- and the list goes on….
This will help you become more and more stable in future. And eventually you’ll end up earning more with less effort. If you were to, for example, follow the trajectory above, you’ll be having four streams of income by December i.e.
- Personally transcribing for your highest paying transcription clients
- Earning from the work that you outsource to other transcribers
- Making money blogging
- Getting paid to train
On your second year, you can work on even bigger and better things.
5. Keep track of your finances
Online freelancing is interesting, especially the fact that you don’t get paid at the end of the month. Some clients pay you every day, others every four days, and others bi-weekly. Others still just pay randomly, whenever work is approved.
Most people do not keep track of how much they earn and even how they spend it. The money comes in randomly and is all quickly spent. They even end up making these 8 excruciating mistakes.
Keeping track of your income and expenditure will help you to plan yourself better, make wise online and offline investments and experience steady growth in your online adventure!
6. Have a goal to get DCs only
DCs stands for direct clients.
Aim to get your own direct clients only, and to stop working for freelancing websites eventually.
As I write this, I don’t work for any freelance website, but only have direct clients where freelancing is concerned. Below are some of the advantages of DCs:
- They usually don’t have very tight deadlines
- They pay extremely well
- They hardly reject your work
Once you have many direct clients, you will discover that you earn much more, with much less effort.
I personally got most of my DCs from:
- My blog
- Emailing potential prospects
- Forums such as Affilorama and Wazua
- Social media, especially Facebook and LinkedIn
- Referrals from other direct clients
- Real life friends and family who need some work done that’s in my area of expertise
- Job boards
- Googling sites that pay writers and applying
- Craigslist
7. Network
Don’t be selfish. Network heavily and let people know what you do. Speak it out in blogs, forums and social media. Help out as many people as you can. If possible you can even organize seminars and train people on an area you’re good at. Train for cash and also train for free. In fact, most of your efforts should be done for free, but don’t forget to properly monetize other efforts.
As much as you give, you’ll also receive lots of helpful information from others. Be very open to learning. None of us knows everything. Even your own trainee can teach you more than you’ve ever learnt elsewhere. Humbly listen to others. Celebrate other people’s success stories and mourn with them in times of sorrow. Make lasting friendships with people in your networks. Real friends will literally do anything for you.
Most successful people build solid networks. Most successful people are built by their solid networks.
8. Persevere
This point can be repeated many times. It needs to sink in deep.
Success is never easy. You have to persevere through the trying times. Life is never predictable therefore you may be faced with lots of challenges in your quest to survive this online adventure. Below are some of the common challenges:
- Not having a computer
- No access to reliable internet
- Being scammed online
- Having offline problems such as sickness and even death of loved ones
- Poor planning
- Not investing in yourself properly
- Confusion
- Burnout
- Power blackouts
Sometimes you literally feel like screaming your lungs out and giving up.
However, do whatever it takes to stay focused. It doesn’t hurt to take a break once in a while to re-energize. It also helps to keep improving your skills and increasing your charges periodically. Take advantage of the various tools that will make your work easier.
Real online soldiers persevere through the stormy weather. Real online soldiers eventually get rewarded for their perseverance and smart work.
9. Keep learning
This is self-explanatory. You need to always try and learn something new. Learn what you can about online freelancing. Go on and learn as much as possible about internet marketing. Know about new marketing trends, new ways of making online payments (e.g. right now you should be researching on bitcoins), new freelancing websites e.t.c. Make everyday a learning experience.
Final thoughts
Making money online is never easy. In fact it can be really hard sometimes. However, if you follow the above tips, you will not only survive your first year of freelancing, you’ll also enjoy and survive many more years online. You will mentor many others and play a big role in helping many to join your noble profession and be able to earn a better living. Do you have any more tips that helped you to survive your first year online? Any queries? Be sure to share this post using the social sharing buttons above and also make your thoughts known in the comments.
Thanks for sharing. Am on my third month of academic writing so far so good though someone who i write for delays payment and sometimes claim that some assignments are not yet paid. Am aiming to open my account and work with direct client. Thanks once more for the tips.
Hi Tom,
Thanks for your comment.
You can also try out article writing which is amazing.
Hi Walter, i am a newbie and would like transcription training. Kindly give me more details and costing. I would also like to know what one requires to do writing.
Hi Gladys. Sorry I don’t offer transcription training. Mine is on writing. See here https://freelancerkenya.com/training
hello walter i look forwardn to working hand in hand with you
thank you
Thanks Baxter. I hope you found the post useful.
hi Walter am a beginner and look forward to perfecting my writing skills and i am sure you could help, please tell me what i need to do.
Hi Josephine,
You can follow the tips I wrote here https://freelancerkenya.com/money-online/how-to-make-money-online-in-kenya-as-a-freelance-writer/
Hi just started reading your blog yesterday and I must say I cant get enough. Really inspiring with it I know I have just found a mentor
Hi Belinda. Thanks for reading my blog. I’m happy to know you’ve found a mentor in me. I’m always happy to help.
Walter…fantastic insights. But let’s face many writers, transcribers and graphic designers plunge into their respective field by default.
The employment situation in Kenya is close to “decrepit” even with all the right papers or qualifications or lack thereof.
Truth be told you aren’t even given a chance to stuff a “cushion.” It’s more like swim or sink.
Any word of wisdom for those in this boat.
Thank you very much Marilyn for your comment. I agree the employment situation can be quite hectic. Kindly clarify the question so that I can better answer it.
Hi.Am a stayhome mum and in the rat race.I.have heard about online incomes but I don’t know where to
even start.I barely know how to type fast but I own a laptop.Where can I begin? Am determined!
Hi Agnes. What online job are you interested in?
I think I can write pretty well;so writing.Problem is don’t know the ropes.Got a good ear too so I could probably do some transcring.Question is,where to start.Am completely green.
Sorry for the late response. Have you started doing writing jobs?
Dear Walter,
I was introduced to this blog by a friend just the other day. I must say that I’m inspired. My interest is in Sales and Marketing.
Please allow me to ask, what steps can I make to avoid being conned?
Thanks Victor for your kind words. This article will help you with how to avoid being conned https://freelancerkenya.com/advice-on-online-jobs/how-to-protect-yourself-from-online-scams/
Thanks alot Walter. Am only getting started and am grateful for the great advice.
You’re most welcome Rahab.
_Sometimes you literally feel like screaming your lungs out and giving up._
I have felt this way at times.
Thank you for this article, to help us soldier on.
Most welcome Gathoni. I know that feeling.
As you say Walter it is really good to pick something you are good at, optimize it (which means spending more time on the practical sides of thing – which one can’t do without learning) to get better at giving the market what it wants (or something better) and be trusted.
All these require focus and just doing the basic things that work avoiding the many impulses that pull many a freelancer to different directions online leading to lots of frustration and wonder whether they’ll really make it.
Thanks Philos. Great pointers right there!
Hi Walter, thank you for an insightful article. You are indeed God sent.
I would also appreciate it if you could create an article on where to source images for articles (like the one you have below the title) and how to resize them.
Thanks!
Hi Mugweru,
Thanks for your kind words.
Well noted. I’ll put that into consideration.
Hi, Walter. Thank you so much for the info- really appreciate it. I have a two questions- one short and one quite long. If I may ask, do you make money from your blog (this one)- and if you do, is it through ‘Google Adverts’ or ‘AdSense’ (I think that is what its referred to as), or is it through the contributions of Kenyans?
Question 2- I have asked around and I have heard people with blogs saying that the kind of traffic required to garner money from Google is not little. Since Kenyan blogs usually contain material that exclusively concerned with Kenyan lives and can only be understood and enjoyed by Kenyans, their traffic is usually just Kenyan. Since not everyone in Kenya is online, that naturally means that the traffic does not reach 1 million everyday- and Google may not attach adverts to such sites. I had a guy suggest that Kenyans have to come up with a way of profiting from their blogs through “Kenyan” ways instead of waiting for Americans to approve of the traffic to authentic Kenyan sites in order for them to pay money to these sites. My second question is, do you know what the Law says about Kenyans leaving Mpesa numbers directly on their blogs – yaani is it legal or illegal? I know businesses leave phone numbers on their blogs for people to contact them- but that is formal business. Let me give an example with your blog- if you wanted to make a business out of this blog and so decided to give just a little information to curious Kenyans about online writing and then charge for the rest if they wanted to learn more, is there a way (apart from writing an e-book) that you would be able to block the rest of the info. on this blog until a visitor or subscriber pays to your Mpesa number or Paypal email and then they would be able to access the rest of your site?
Hi Elodie
Thanks for your email.
I earn from my ebooks, trainings, services, affiliate marketing etc. As at now, I’ve never used AdSense.
If your target audience is Kenyan, you can earn from it in different ways. You don’t need a million views per day! Only a few sites in the world get there!
There is no problem with putting an MPESA number on your blog. You can have a “subscribers only” area of your blog where access is only granted to paying members.
Thanks.
Hey walter that article is so much encouraging, i am looking forward to become an academic wrriter and a blogger hope 1 day i will be successful as you men!
Hey Adikym. Most welcome. Yeah, keep working hard and you’ll definitely succeed one day.
Hallo Walter, great article, just wanted to say that I also came across a video on youtube of you talking about your journey in online business from the small baby steps back then. I must admit the video is so inspirational, was thinking that maybe I could embed the code here so that other aspiring freelancers can watch and hopefully learn a thing or two.
Thanks Dancun. I remember the video. You can embed if you want. I can also put it up in a future blog post if necessary. Thanks and stay blessed.
2013-2014=1
2014-2015=1
2014-2016=1
Three full years online with a break of 2 weeks to go and try to get an offline job only to be conned 5000 recruitment fee.
2016-?= soldier on.
Hi Dennis. Sorry about being conned. Stay safe both online and offline.
thanks will follow your tips
what does SWIFT mean in skrill when entering bank details
Hi Festus. Every bank has a unique swift code. Call your bank they give you their code.
thanks I called and they responded well
Most welcome
hi Walter .need help.have been writing articles in iwriter but all rejected.my blog is in a mess.need a link to skrill
Hi Festus
So sorry for your situation. You may need to first improve your writing to get good ratings in iWriter. Also write for requesters who have good approval rates.
You can revamp your blog with the tips on this site.
Link to Skrill is simply http://www.skrill.com.
Excellent post (as usual). Please pay a visit to my website.
Thanks Joyce. I have visited your site and it looks alright. I hope you have a great content and monetization strategy. All the very best!
Hi, i really love you post and i really need training to start off. please help!.
Thanks a lot Nessy. Email me we talk about training.
Thanks walter for the info. I love this site because I learn from every post. Thanks again but i need someone to train me properly on academic writting.
Hi Tom. You’re most welcome. I’m glad you love the site. For academic writing training look for my friend Ren Mumbo on Facebook. All the best.
Hey Walter thanks for the support you are giving to guys out there my worry is where to i begin cos am eager to work online,or where can i get this training?
Hi Enoch. Thanks a lot for your comment. Email me I train you on article writing and blogging.
Whoa!! you did it again Walter. Your insights are simply god-send . I’ve been following your blogs “chini ya maji” for almost a year now, and the experience has not only provided me with a steady online income, but has also enabled me create invaluable contacts within and abroad.
I just want to encourage everyone starting out on this bumpy venture that everything is possible, you only need to be smart and courteous!
Thanks a lot Kelvy for your comment and for following my blog. I am so happy to learn that you’re now doing well. Great encouragement!
Hi Walter.
Thanks for your ever encouraging articles. I can confess following your advice am somewhere now though not there yet. I have been doing creative writing but want to train on Transcription and academic writing.
I owe you a big one but wait till I get there.
Merry Christmas.
Esther Muchai.
Hi Esther. You’re most welcome. Sure get the training ASAP so that you can continue growing. You will definitely get there with hard work. Stay blessed and Merry Christmas once again.
Walter, thanks for the info. Highly noted! Will reach out the others to assist them. Its a poverty eradication program u know..
Thanks Stephen once again.
Hi Walter,
I always take your advice seriously. Its helpful; not only to me but others. The most amazing thing is that when the network is enlarged, poverty is eradicated – (in a way). Thanks for the poverty eradication program 🙂
Thanks a lot Stephen. Great way of putting it.
Hi Walter,
I think this message was meant for me. For sure it has come at the right time. It is really hectic to survive online the first year for the newbies! Thanks a lot for this encouragement.
Hi Nickson. Thank you very much. I’m glad it helps.
This info is just invaluable. I’m currently working on fishing out DCs from those sites, but what keeps holding me back is the fear that some may at some point disappear with some cool cash. I sometimes feel that the sites charge a bit too much (even 17%), but compared to the possibility of losing the whole $100 makes me freak out.
Again some of these repeat clients are too faithful to the site to agree to transact elsewhere and you look bad trying to pull them aside.
The pope should have prayed for this!
Thanks Walter for the stream of pieces you’ve been doing in the past weeks.
Hi Kim. I’m happy to see you here. DCs hardly ever pay the same as those clients in websites. Some of the tips I use to stay secure are as follows:
1. If I charge $4.3 for each 500 word article in iWriter, I’ll charge DCs 2 or three times that figure. The first payments are either on delivery or approval, therefore they never stay with my cash for long.
2. When I feel most insecure, they pay before work i.e. they order all jobs with a payment with an assured money back guarantee in case they reject (which they hardly do).
3. I ask some for 50% deposit before starting work then 50% on approval.
Lol ati the pope must have prayed for this. Most welcome. I want to strive to be doing weekly posts here. Stay tuned and refer all your friends here. It’s gonna be ssssssmooooking (Jeff Koinange voice).
3. For others we do
Great lesson there!
Asante.
Anytime Kim.
Walter,
What can I add? I just got every bit sinking…. and sinking… AND SINKING…. You have strengthened me where I was getting weak.
Sure, you also got me… I do not always share what I learn, I think people learn on their own. I have been selfish.. A daylight confession. Let me forward this to my friends……..
Regards,
Motuka.
Hi Motuka. Great to see you here as always. I am glad you’ve gained some strength from the post.
Don’t stress yourself, we’re all selfish at some points in our lives. However, it’s good that you’ve seen the need to share. Strive to keep networking and sharing and you, plus your network will see unbelievable growth. Thanks for sharing with your friends. I am sure they will also learn something.
Walter I have something against you!
You should add a messaging service on this blog so that if I want to send somebody a private message it is convenient since some private information cannot be posted. This is how it should work: On the title of the comment poster, there is a link to send message… Your blog handles the message writing which will be delivered to their inbox (the email they post with) and they can get back to my email. Another alternative is to have a plugin that handles profiles and all private communication takes place here without revealing any personal data… I hope you understand me. I raised this because there is somebody who posted here (today) and I was looking at her blog. I wanted us to talk a few things about it, but I cannot get a contact form on her blog, nor can I spam here.
Hi Motuka. Great insight. I’ll put it into consideration. For now you can reply to the lady here and ask for her contacts or give her your contacts. To avoid spam bots you can ask her to contact you at something like “example at gmail dot com”.
No, I did not want to avoid spam bots. But I wanted to avoid spaming this post. That is not ethical, starting to ask somebody to contact you openly on somebody’s blog. It is like attending a festival and snatch the MC the microphone and start shouting your own things, not pertained to the occassion, in an effort to get attention toward your idea…..
Because of that, I will still reserve that. You can arrange with me to do something about it. You have my email.
Hehe…alright. I’ll look for you in the back office someday about that.
Hi Walter,
Great advice as always! I will definitely keep these tips in mind. Points 6, 8 and 9 are my favorite.
Keep up the fantastic work. Many of us rely on you for sound advice.
Hi Winnie. Thanks for your polite feedback. Glad you loved those points. It’s people like you who keep me working hard for the industry. Stay blessed.
Thanks for the insights Walter. From God’s will and your advice, I managed to get a long term writing project in my area of specialization- Geospatial Engineering. This has really helped me as a student to explore more knowledge and earn at the same time, keep on with the good works and do not get weary in blessing other peoples lives. Gratitude!
Hey there Vincent. I am so happy you managed to get a long-term writing project. Wow! Congrats! Keep it up too and you’ll have no limits to what you can do. God bless you too abundantly.
Walter,
I keep learning from you and God bless you for sharing,
I can relate to most of the areas spoken above and perseverance is the key.
Thank you.
Be blessed.
Kind regards
Your Friend
Florence
Hi Florence. I am glad you can relate to the areas above. I agree perseverance is very important. God bless you too.
Wow, this is deep stuff brother, am now even challenged to give writing a serious consideration and not a side hustle. It is of great insight, I have also been conned, felt the pressure but the only way is to go on and on
Hi Marx
Thanks for your kind words. Yeah, writing can be a great full-time income earner, better than many office jobs. Never give up!
Hi Walter
Am not much of a writer and although this article has been helpful I would like to know of anyone you know who has specialized in internet marketing, that you can refer me for some ideas.
Thanks
Hi Origa.
Thanks for your kind tips. I do internet marketing and sell an ebook on the same for Sh. 1000. However, I’d recommend you head over to QuickSprout University for amazing free tips on internet marketing.
Great tips Walter. I’d also recommend that you treat your freelancing as a business from the word go. Have a separate bank account for your business and pay yourself a salary. At the beginning you may need to pay yourself more money, but you can settle on a steady figure as business stabilizes. This will help you scale up your business once you get other freelancers working for you
Great additions Caroline. Always good to be business minded and manage finances well.
Screaming my lungs out is something I feel often. Glad to know it’s not absurd! You’re always encouraging Walter, thanks. I started my blog after reading yours.
Hi Njeri. Haha we’re in the same boat. How’s it going with your blog. Thanks for your kind words.
Walter, this is very insightful. It take genuine care and good will to be of help to others, and free of charge for that matter. Keep the fire burning. Saying thanks a lot is not enough.
Regards
Most welcome John. Always happy to help 🙂
Walter! You have a great financial IQ. Being in the rat race is not always good. Even though it seems as playing safe, surely its has a long term effect.
Thanks Evanson. Never good to be in the rat race. As much as we play safe we need to focus on growth and sustainability.
Very insightful. Thanks Walter.
Thanks a lot Joe