FreelancerKenya

Helping You to Make Money Online in Kenya

Where to Start as a Kenyan Freelance Writer

Last Updated on By 43 Comments

make money online in kenya as a writer

So where do you start being a Kenyan freelance writer?

Well, there are so many options for you. I will tell you the ones which have worked for me.

First of all we’ll look at the site from where you will get work fast. It will encourage you as a new Kenyan freelance writer. For more details on freelancing writing in Kenya, click here to check out this other post.

When starting out, I was afraid that anything involving making money online was a scam. I decided to later give it a try after being encouraged by a few friends

Well, it wasn’t a scam. I quit most of what I was doing for an online business. I started at Freelancer.com and later did an affiliate marketing course which has really helped me make it online. Note that I no longer recommend Freelancer.com as a site for long-term use because it pays peanuts.

A great alternative bidding site is Upwork.

Tips to Success in Bidding Sites

1. Create a good profile. Make sure you really sell the services that you offer.

2. Write an article. This must be original content. The most famous topics to write about include health, money and relationships. Make sure if you rewrite you don’t repeat 5 words in a row otherwise Copyscape Premium will detect it and no client will employ you. Make sure that this article has top notch content so that you can be using it as your sample. My advice is you don’t rewrite (reword an existing article), but rather do a proper, well-researched article.

3. Bid for jobs. Make sure you attach the above sample.

4. Satisfy the clients. You may start with low paying jobs but do your best with these clients. When you finish the projects and get good reviews you can easily get other better-paying clients. When you get to 6 reviews and above, the employers will be looking for you.

5. Go long term. Some clients will ask you to go long-term. It is good to take this option when they are paying well and in good time.

6. Look for other online options. It is always good to diversify. You can later grow from being a simple freelance writer/transcriber/VA etc to being a blogger, affiliate marketer or even an owner of big sites like Google, Amazon, AWeber etc. Never limit yourself.

As earlier stated, there are many other sites which can help you make money online as a Kenyan freelance writer. You can also earn well from direct clients who pay way more and value you more as a freelancer.

About Walter Akolo

I'm a freelance writer, blogger, trainer, and internet marketer. My joy is to see you making money online. Feel free to browse around and leave a comment. I strive to reply to all queries. You can also follow me on Facebook and Twitter .

Comments

  1. basil says

    I am a teen with good writing skills but most sites don’t seem to favour us. Is there any that I can rely on you have tried and worked with limited requirements , am encouraged that you tried it and worked I was almost giving up but I now have a mentor to guide me through ,am jobless so u have enough time for this an d I also need the money quick to fund my collapsing science project .I would also appreciate other means to make money fast ,,,,, thanks in advance mentor ur site is surely a place to be thanks again for the great work.

    Reply

  3. Susan Nyabuti says

    Hi,
    I am one those who are paranoid in regards to earning online. Reading your article has motivated to have faitb. I guess trying never hurts.

    Regards,
    Susan

    Reply

    • Walter Akolo says

      Sure, Susan. It can be confusing and scary at first but just push yourself to try. It can be your gateway to success in life.

      Reply

  4. Bonface says

    Hi Walter, I really admire your work.
    I have never done freelancing but, am interested …… I request for your assistance .

    Reply

  7. Carolyn Chiri says

    Hi Walter, Thanks for your continued support. I have a small (Big) problem. I signed up with iwriters and all my articles have been rejected. I dont want to give up since i know that online jobs can pay well. if you could assist me on how to write for such sites. thanks

    Reply

    • Walter Akolo says

      Hi Carolyn

      I am humbled by your kind words.

      I’d suggest you first work on improving your writing. Just take your time and Google “writing tips” and keep implementing them. From headings, to introductions, to body to conclusions. After that learn a bit about SEO writing too.

      After that you can attempt again. Otherwise iWriter will automatically close your account if your ratings remain too low.

      Reply

  8. Ireri says

    Great work Walter. I have put a few of your suggestions to practice and still have a lot to learn from your website. I think we Kenyans need to also consider the ethical dimension of the work we do online before rushing to rake in on the cash. It’s not just the money but the legacy we leave behind to those who will come after us. I am greatly inspired by your example and keep informing us.

    Reply

    • Walter Akolo says

      Hi Mr Ireri

      Thanks a lot for your kind words.

      I agree that ethics is a really big issue that should always be put into account when choosing any job.

      Thanks again and keep taking action with what you learn.

      Blessings.

      Reply

  9. robinson says

    Hello, i need help on how to start working at freelance.com. i opened an account recently but i dont know the basics. please assist me i am desperate.

    Reply

  10. victor says

    hey walter,thanks so much on your advice,i have followed keenly on the articles which have been put forward earlier on and its like i don’t get it straight btw elance and fever which one should i start with

    Reply

    • Walter Akolo says

      Victor,

      Just out of concern, I see a lot of grammatical mistakes in your comment. You may want to work on your grammar and writing skills before getting into any of these sites.

      After working on that, Freelancer.com would be a great place to start as this article states since it is softer than the others. Once you start making it in Freelancer, you can go to Elance and Fiverr at the same time and keep looking out for better opportunities.

      Reply

  11. victor says

    hi walter,I have already seen your articles and felt encouraged to start the whole thing.my question now is if you could guide me on how i can very fast be a standard writer and also on the process to go to earn using saffaricom epay service provider.

    Reply

  12. Collins says

    Each moment I get myself onto websites of this type I get great knowledge and encouragements, all I now need is a serious advice. I am dearly interested and willing to know on how to get into these online jobs, the best to sign up with.
    Advice please.

    Reply

    • Dennis says

      @Collins your not alone but I have decided to experiment it by signing up on freelance for academic writings only since am still a student.

      Reply

  13. Elodie says

    hi Walter, i have gone through Chris Farrell’s site but i don’t really get how the clients end up making money- could you just simplify it for me so i can understand? How much exactly does a person who wants to participate in it pay to get in- because it seems there are times when the amount is reduced for the sake of promotions…Thanks

    Reply

    • Walter says

      Elodie,

      You can try it out for one week for $4. After that you’ll pay $37 per month.

      You end up making money through implementing what you learn – internet marketing. If you are shrewd you can make thousands of dollars. Simplified further, you identify a profitable niche, find a product to market, create an even one page website and drive traffic to that site. When guys get to that site and buy stuff, you get your cut.

      This is not one of those get rich quick schemes, you’ll take time before earning a cent, even up to six months. But if you are patient enough you can make unlimited cash.

      Reply

  14. Elodie says

    hi Walter. Recently i have been getting spam about a young working mother – Adila Adoyo- who makes above 2000- dollars working part time from home. They show her working with a kid who looks like a point five, and even show her check. Are these advertisements for real- coz that’s just one of the emails i’ve been getting. Do you know much about such advertisements? I noticed that in one of your posts you recommended membership in Chris Farrell’s group- do you know much about these advertisements from newsonlineweekly.com?

    Reply

  15. Elodie says

    Hey Walter, thank you so much for your assistance. I followed your advice and now i am officially starting today. I wanted to ask about the pay. I have seen that there is a place where they indicate the amount that someone has earned as they work on more articles. Now, you had said that when i am applying that there is a place where they will request for my paypal address. Where exactly is that site coz i have not seen it? Do you know if banks like ‘Family Bank’ in Kenya can receive paypal payments? If not, please could you tell me which banks tend to work well with paypal? Also, please let me know the process of getting an authentic paypal account in Kenya, and if fees are involved, how much fees are required…THANK YOU SO MUCH ONCE MORE FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE…

    Reply

  16. Elodie says

    Me again, i visited the iWRITERS SITE AND I SAW A SET UP LIKE THIS

    PROJECT TITLE
    Press Release – http://www.corbingrimes.com
    Project type: New articles
    Category: Business
    Date posted: 2012-05-17
    Requester: cg5000 (17 reviews)
    [4.82 stars]
    Approved: 22, Rejected: 50 (Approval rate: 31%)
    Writer Type: Elite

    PROJECT INFO
    Word count: 700 (English)
    Writer’s earnings: $12.15

    ARTICLES REQUESTED
    Available: 1

    could YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHAT ALL THESE EXPRESSIONS MEAN AND WHERE IT IS THAT I AM SUPPOSED TO APPLY TO BE THE ONE WHO DOES THE WORK? BECAUSE I JUST CANNOT START AND HOPE TO FINISH FIRST AND SEND TO THE SITE BEFORE ANYONE ELSE DOES.

    Reply

    • Walter says

      Sorry you can’t do that one. As a first time writer there you’re a standard writer by default. That means you can only access the articles that are specifically for standard writers. This one must be an Elite writer project, right?

      Scroll down to the ones for standard writers (writer type: Standard). Click on the + button on the left and check special instructions to see what the article is about. Click “Write article” to start writing.

      Reply

  17. Elodie says

    WARNING- LONG POST. Oh, i just went thru what you said about milestones and i now get…BUT i am not very clear about the paying thing. if it is not too much trouble, please explain for me step by step. Like, if i want to start writing for , by the way the first thing i came across is ‘ sorry you are logged in with too many accounts- and i checked what you had said about that and so i’m waiting for the reply. But when i want to start writing for i writers, where do i go click to search for work? Do i have to bid for it then wait for a reply from the owner to reply that it is me that has been chosen b4 i start writing? no. 2, do i supply them with my bank details at the end of, or at the beginning when i am starting to work? I notice that for most sites, the money has to accumulate to something like kedo 500 or 100 dollars b4 the writer can withdraw. Is this the case with iWriters? If it is, so many first time writers will withdraw their first salary from iWriters like 2 months after first beginning. Then, please explain for me SLOWLY how one withdraws their money from all the way abroad. I also noticed that you know so much about freelancers. I have also started an account on Freelancers? Should i just bid immediately after registering for the jobs that i see i can do? Or should i first do a number of examinations provided by Freelancers? By the way, if there are examinations provided by freelancers, on which side are they? Can you withdraw money through E-pay from freelancers like in iWriters or do they prefer to use Bank accounts? I’m sorry i have asked so many questions, but you are the only Kenyan know who is conversant with such things and you don’t seem like liar…

    Reply

    • Walter says

      Milestones

      I am happy you get this. Thanks for your question. In these sites, asking for a milestone is quite easy. When bidding or submitting a proposal in their system, you’ll see a place where you can request for milestone. In Freelancer.com for example, you can set the percentage.

      iWriter

      This is not a bidding site. Take some time and go to http://www.iwriter.com. There is a video that you’ll be directed to which will explain how things work. Also check this article out:

      http://freelancerkenya.wordpress.com/2012/05/05/iwriter-com-review-the-best-article-writing-website-part-1/

      iWriter works only with PayPal. You will give your PayPal ID when signing in.

      You need to have at least 20 dollars to be able to withdraw. You set the withdrawal interval that you wish to receive to either weekly, twice a month (every other Wednesday), or once a month (on 25th or 5th). The system will be sending cash to your PayPal ID on the time you set.

      Freelancer

      Before bidding create a unique, high quality sample that you can upload to clients they see your writing style. If it is academic, you can use the work you did for others as samples. Make sure you ask for a milestone. Freelancer.com clients pay poorly, you may get a maximum of $2 per article which is very low. As a new member, you can start with gigs for 1.5 and above and increase slowly. Check the pages on freelancer and click on the one for exams to take an exam. You don’t have to take them to start, your sample can do for now. If you want you can take though. Here is the link to those exams

      http://www.freelancer.com/exam/exams/index.php

      I also highly recommend you start a blog or start using web 2.0 sites. You can use your blog and web 2.0 links as samples to clients. Check this post out for more on that

      http://freelancerkenya.wordpress.com/2012/06/27/6-freelance-writing-tips-that-no-one-else-will-tell-you/

      From freelancer.com, the best way to withdraw is either through moneybookers.com or through a Mastercard that they’ll give you for free. Their minimum for withdrawal is 30 USD. When you get to this amount. Click on withdrawals and choose the methods to withdraw. Direct transfer to bank account is not available for Kenya from Freelancer. Freelancer to PayPal is another withdrawal option they’ll give you. You can then transfer to ePay. There is no need for this since you have the moneybookers which you can use to send cash to your bank and the debit card which you can withdraw directly from a Mastercard ATM with.

      Always feel free to ask questions 🙂 All the best 🙂

      Reply

  18. Elodie says

    Oh yes, and i also almost forgot, can you suggest which sites you have found to be sincere money making sites on the net? So many of them promise heaven, and then one gets duped. I have heard of so many pitiful stories that though i have some resources i would like to invest, i have been too afraid of doing so in the past. Which ones have you yourself seen a sincere return from and after how long? Are there any with Kenyan addresses so that if people need legal redress they know that the owners of the said sites are nearby yet? Alternatively, since you seem so knowledgeable (i am not being sarcastic) have you ever thought of starting a Kenyan branch of such outfits? It is so frustrating because i know that people are making millions from the net! But it is hard to believe that some one who is a million miles away in the U.S. will send me my money when its time. If we get problems just among ourselves in this country whenever payment is due, what about with people who have never even seen us?

    Reply

    • Walter says

      hi, i am so very glad about your article and very excited to move into other arenas of writing. I have been writing for another for a while but now wish to branch off on my own. I really need your advice since it seems that you have been doing this for aeons. You mentioned the better fees that are given in ‘iwriters’ when compared to freelancers. Could you tell me exactly how to go about it? Which site (in both i writers and freelancers) to go to etc.? I want to start immediately and you did mention that with iwriters one just can start article writing immediately- so it seems to me the place to be…what do you think?

      Oh yes, and i also almost forgot, can you suggest which sites you have found to be sincere money making sites on the net? So many of them promise heaven, and then one gets duped. I have heard of so many pitiful stories that though i have some resources i would like to invest, i have been too afraid of doing so in the past. Which ones have you yourself seen a sincere return from and after how long? Are there any with Kenyan addresses so that if people need legal redress they know that the owners of the said sites are nearby yet? Alternatively, since you seem so knowledgeable (i am not being sarcastic) have you ever thought of starting a Kenyan branch of such outfits? It is so frustrating because i know that people are making millions from the net! But it is hard to believe that some one who is a million miles away in the U.S. will send me my money when its time. If we get problems just among ourselves in this country whenever payment is due, what about with people who have never even seen us?

      Hi Elodie,

      Thanks a lot for your comment.

      iWriter

      Yes, iWriter gives better pay than most other freelance writing websites. I am preparing a post on how to be successful on iWriter. Kindly click on “follow blog via email” to get full details when I do that post.

      You can start immediately but only when you are sure about your writing. The best way to judge your skills would be to write for other sites like Freelancer.com first and listen to what the clients say. If most like your work, you can move to iWriter. The problem with going to iWriter when you are unsure is that most articles will be rejected and you may never get to a top writer status where you can start earning some good money.

      Kenyan sites

      I love this country but I’m still cautious on writing for Kenyans directly unless I know them personally. You can market yourself to your friends who are in managerial positions in companies. Tell them you’re a freelance writer and show them samples. You may end up getting your personal clients and charge them whatever you want.

      Freelance Websites

      Kindly check my post on the best verified freelance writing websites. I have proven that these have great returns. How long depends on how good one is. You can take roughly a month to start getting good clients.

      Safety/Legal Redress

      Work with milestones (I’ve defined in the “Verified Sites…” post) or sites like iWriter which are highly secure. It is almost impossible for someone to con you when they sent a milestone. In iWriter, if someone “rejects” your article and uses it, inform support and they will be banned from the site. Support will then send you the cash for the article.

      Feel free to ask any more questions

      Reply

      • Elodie says

        Hi, its Elodie, thanks for your prompt reply. You mentioned milestones…could you give me the full name or address of the site- is it a site or account holder? I have not worked for freelancer yet but for a person who had a number of uvocorp accounts. I am conversant with the various citation styles (Harvard, Chicago, Mla, Apa, Oxford etc.) I usually use Grammarly to correct my work. I have two questions concerning this- You mentioned Copyscape- how do you use it (where to copy paste and then click for the check on plagiarism to start) AND, does Iwriters deal in academic papers like those i have mentioned or just ARTICLE WRITING FOR THE NET?

        Reply

        • Walter says

          Hi Elodie,

          You are most welcome.

          Websites like Elance and Freelancer.com use milestones. These are payments that are made to the site but not directly to the writer. After the writer delivers work as expected, the payment is released. If the writers fail to deliver, the pay is not released. The good thing is that the client cannot cancel a milestone, only you the writer. It protects both writer and client.

          Copyscape is a paid service, you will need to pay at least 10 dollars which will help you do 200 checks. It is a service that checks for plagiarism. If you copied a paragraph from somewhere word by word and run through Copyscape, it will show you exactly where you copied that paragraph from. You can also use it to see if a client used your rejected article.

          Sorry I don’t do academic writing for ethical reasons. I find it unethical and you will find nothing about it in this blog. That’s just my personal opinion therefore I am not judging anyone. What I do and advocate for is article writing, ebook writing, product reviews e.t.c.

          You can also check out these two posts for more on starting freelance work.

          http://freelancerkenya.wordpress.com/2012/04/13/verified-sites-where-you-can-make-money-online-in-kenya-by-walter-akolo/

          http://freelancerkenya.wordpress.com/2012/04/01/where-to-start-as-a-kenyan-freelance-writer/

          Feel free to ask any more questions

          Reply

  19. Elodie says

    hi, i am so very glad about your article and very excited to move into other arenas of writing. I have been writing for another for a while but now wish to branch off on my own. I really need your advice since it seems that you have been doing this for aeons. You mentioned the better fees that are given in ‘iwriters’ when compared to freelancers. Could you tell me exactly how to go about it? Which site (in both i writers and freelancers) to go to etc.? I want to start immediately and you did mention that with iwriters one just can start article writing immediately- so it seems to me the place to be…what do you think?

    Reply

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