Stephen GbolagadeDo you know you can make money online in Nigeria by learning how to start freelance business in Nigeria without spending anything? Yes you can and I’m personally one of the Nigerian freelancers who are making 6-figures in a month.
Their is no lucrative business as selling your skills at your own convenient time, place, price and who you choose to work with.
Trying to start a freelance business in Nigeria is one hell of a task. It comes with ups and downs, stiff competition because of the over saturated freelance space.
I know you might feel like quitting after reading the introductory paragraph, fear not! I’m here to share some tips on how to start and grow as a freelancer in the Nigerian market.
One unique benefit of being a freelancer is its flexibility-you don’t have to work from 9-5, nobody is going to control you and your time, nobody is going to enslave you and pay for one-third of time you spends working with him/her.
There are tons of services you services you can offer as a freelancer. If you’re interested in being paid for services rendered and you don’t know where to begin, this post is for you.
How to Start Freelance Business in Nigeria Without Spending a Dime
- CHOOSE YOUR FIELD(s)
Before starting a freelance business in Nigeria it’s advisable you choose your field or fields of interest.
There are several services which you can offer, services like Writing, Digital Marketing, Web Design, Graphic Design etc.
Being a successful freelancer requires you to choose a skill(s) that is marketable. When choosing your field, be mindful of the marketability of that skill. Writing for instance has a higher market value than translation services because there’s much higher demand for writers than translators.
So whatever field you choose to specialize on, make sure it has a market value because as the title above suggest, freelancing is a business and the purpose for doing business is to make profit.
2. SHARPEN YOUR SKILLS
So you’ve chosen your field, the next step is to sharpen your skills.
The popular saying “no man is an island” is quite correct. You don’t know it all, knowledge is gained everyday. The knowledge you’ve gained over the years may have become obsolete.
As a freelancer, you’re expected to grow in your field each day, there’s a stiff competition for places and if you don’t update your existing skills, those familiar with the latest trend will give you a run for your money.
You need to know that the freelance market in Nigeria is highly competitive and those who stand out keep updating their knowledge each day.
3. ENGAGE WITH OTHERS IN YOUR FIELD
In the process of sharpening your skills, you also need to engage with others that are doing what you’re doing.
You can do this by joining Facebook groups or forums online that share similar interest to what you do. With this you get a chance to meet those who are already in the system. Inquire about the best practices in your field and be open to learning from others.
Being an open minded person will increase your creativity because you’ll learn from others(including your juniors) and see things from their own perspective.
READ: How to Build Perfect Communication Skills With Your Customers
Remember, you’ve not gotten there yet. To be the best, you have to learn from the best!
4. BUILD YOUR PROFILE
As a freelancer, you’re seen as a brand. You need to let people know about what you do during their first encounter with you.
Your social media handle should suggest to people what you do, you never know where your first freelance job will come from. As you practice your skill(s), try to market yourself by letting people know about you online. The reason I suggest online is because; most businesses are getting digitalized, you don’t want to be left behind.
The best way to profile your brand online is making use of your social media bio. Your bio should indicate the services you render, this is a form of advertising.
5. CREATE A STRATEGIC PLAN
As the popular saying goes; “he who fails to plan, plans to fail”!
Becoming a freelancer requires adequate planning. For those who have the regular 9-5 job, you don’t want to jeopardize everything because of lack of a plan. There’s a time for everything, as an aspiring freelancer you need to set out time that wouldn’t interfere with your current job.
ALSO READ: Tips to Best Negotiation Strategies
Once you’ve created your plan, you’ll be well prepared to go into freelancing.
6. SEEK OUT FOR GIGS
I highlighted the competitive nature of freelancing in Nigeria during my introduction. This is the hardest part as an aspiring freelancer- seeking for jobs.
After going through rigorous training the bitter truth is this; you don’t deserve anything, no company or individual is going is hire you because of your training, you have to go into the marketplace and prove to your clients that you deserve the job.
Thankfully, there are platforms that breaches the gap between a client and a freelancer.
Popular Platforms to Start Freelance Business in Nigeria
These sites makes it easier to find client once you know how to use them. Personally, I started with fiverr and since then, I’ve earned thousands of dollars from the freelancing platform.
Before choosing any of the above platforms, familiarize yourself with their terms and conditions, mode of payment and other requirements.
When seeking for your first job as a freelancer, don’t be selective, do as many as you can regardless of the price. Remember, you’re just starting out.
7. CREATE A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION
As a freelancer, it’s important you show your clients how go your are. Although some clients may give you time to grow, most clients judge you based on your first job.
Your first job as a freelancer is very important, it’ll decide if a client continues with you or they’ll kick you out.
Referrals is becoming a norm in the job space today, most companies request for referrals when you submit an application. Your first job may determine if you’ll get the next one, with a good performance it’ll be easier for a client to refer and recommend you to others.
Giving a good first impression doesn’t mean you do your first job well and do the rest badly, your clients will take someone else when you offer substandard services.
ALSO READ: Common Jobs’ Interview Questions
Wisdom suggest that whatever you do, do it in the best possible way you can.
Conclusion
So there you have it, the above tips will guide you to starting out as freelancer in Nigeria.
Freelancing pays a lot if you’re good at what you do, I’ve seen some freelancers who left their regular 9-5 job, focusing solely on freelancing.
If you want to grow as a freelancer, apply the tips above and you’ll get to the zenith.
Note: Do you want me to personally coach you on how you can start a successful freelance business in Nigeria and actually make millions of money online without leaving your house? kindly book for my masterclass which starts with the cost price of N5,000. There are other packages that can suite your taste.
If you are interested, click here to contact me on WhatsApp or simply add this number: 080-9134-7935 or visit my contact page here
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Stephen Gbolagade
1 comment
This is interesting. I think I’m interested in learning more about this