How can you secure online writing jobs in Kenya?

That’s a question many people ask not only in our country but across the world.

Online jobs have become a go-to safety island for unemployed youths.

Why? Because the entry barrier is significantly low. All you need is a laptop and a good internet connection.

If you are one of them, I’m glad you stumbled across this article today because I’ll show you how to secure online writing jobs in Kenya using the right platforms and strategies.

But before we dig in, do you know what online writing entails?

What is online writing?

Online writing is a term used in Kenya to refer to academic writing jobs – assignments – offered by students from universities in developed countries.

However, online writing entails more than just academic writing from a global perspective.

So many writing genres exist that we cannot cover conclusively in one article. 

But the most basic and popular online writing jobs besides academic writing include content writing and copywriting. To secure online writing jobs, you need to choose your area of specialization between the three.

By focusing on one type of writing, you improve your career growth chances. As Alexander Bell Graham once said, the Sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.

Let’s define these writing genres and where to find jobs

Online Academic Writing Jobs

University students in developed countries often work two or three jobs to pay for bills while studying. 

Hence, they seek academic writing services from content mill when there’s no time to complete assignments.

Also, students from countries such as Saudi Arabia, who struggle to do English assignments, often recruit content mills.

These are the accounts that Kenyans use to secure academic writing jobs. I have a spicy list of over 25 top online academic writing accounts. You should check it out.

The best place to start as an online writer is to work for an account owner. Account owners are experienced writers who maintain academic writing accounts.

It’s easy to find account owners in academic writing Facebook and Telegram groups.

Nonetheless, be careful not to get conned. Some will give you tasks and then refuse to pay on delivery. 

To avoid being a victim, never accept large projects from a new recruiter.

Pick a small project; 2 pages or less, do it well, and deliver. If they pay you the agreed amount, you can trust them with larger projects.

If they don’t pay you, at least you’ll not have wasted so much time working on it. And you get more experience in the process.

Consider working under an account owner as an internship.

The next stage of securing online academic writing accounts is purchasing an account. You’ll have gathered considerable experience during the internship period to know how to handle the pressure on an account.

Writers sell accounts across many platforms on the internet, Facebook writing groups being the most popular. Prices range from Ksh 5,000 to several hundreds of thousands depending on the quality of the account.

Low-quality and cheap accounts are characterized by low-paying jobs, few jobs listings, and ease of entry, while high-quality accounts such as Uvocorp have high-paying jobs, frequent postings, and low acceptance rates.

If you are willing and ready to buy an account, check out my guide to buying academic writing accounts safely.

However, the risk with buying accounts is that your account will be closed down if you cannot match the quality of work produced by the original owner, which happens very often.

If you’re not ready to risk, then consider the next stage; opening an account. Online writing accounts have requirements and tests for qualifying writers who can work for them.

The requirements may include a graduate degree, especially for high-quality accounts. Meanwhile, the test involves a written assignment typically to gauge your writing skills.

If you have a good command of English and can submit all required documents, you can easily open an academic writing account.

But remember that most accounts have limited slots for Africans. They prefer ENL writers (English as a Native Language). Hence, they will often limit, disqualify or even block applications from African countries, including Kenya.

So you might perform very well and still not get picked.

Don’t worry; it’s not always your fault. 

Just apply on another account. Also, consider seeking guidance from a seasoned academic writer to improve your chances of opening an account.

From experience, 3 or 4 application attempts should land you somewhere as long as you learn from your mistakes.

Here are some of the most popular online writing accounts in Kenya

1. StudyPool

Study Pool is a platform where you provide tutoring services to students. It’s one of the easy accounts to join and consequently has the largest pool of writers, over 50,000.

Tutors earn between $1 and $30 per page, depending on their experience on the platform. From your earning, 32.5% is charged and deducted by the account. You need to reach a minimum of $50 to withdraw your money through M-Pesa or other payment gateways.

2. Essay Shark

Essay Shark is a unique writing platform focused on improving the experiences of both clients and freelancers. It’s one of the most popular online writing accounts in the country that offers well-paying jobs.

The platform allows clients to choose freelancers based on topical experience, and the writers can bid freely on the jobs board. Payments are released twice a month through PayPal.

3. Writers Hub

It is relatively easy to create a Writers Hub account due to the low barrier of entry. No wonder it has a large pool of writers.

However, maintaining your account is challenging. First, the limited number of jobs might prevent you from securing a job, especially in the low season. 

Secondly, according to reviews from former writers, the platform is very ruthless and often closes accounts of writers accused of making mistakes.

Nonetheless, try creating your account. You might have a different experience.

4. Course Hero

Course Hero is an online learning platform where students can interact with tutors to have their assignments done. It also has a collection of over 40 million resources for research by its users.

The top tutoring platform globally requires you to meet their quality standards to own an account. If you’re lucky to open one, you’ll earn from $12 to $20 per hour on an hourly basis.

5. Uvocorp

Uvocorp is a highly rated academic writing account in Kenya. It is common among the most successful academic writers, which explains why it is one of the most expensive accounts you can buy.

To open an account with Uvocorp, watch out for the 2 – 3 times the company opens up for new registrations. Then, you’ll have to undertake the qualification test they subject all applicants, and when accepted, you’ll undertake a 2-month training session to improve your writing skills.

The best part about having a Uvocorp account is that it has a good supply of well-paying jobs, guaranteeing you income throughout the year.

Besides the five we have just discussed, there are numerous other academic writing accounts. Find out more.

Online Content Writing Jobs

Content writing is the process of planning, drafting, and editing web content for digital marketing purposes. 

In short, you write articles for online publications, blogs, and companies to post on their website.

For instance, you’ll have done a content writing job if I gave you a task to write an article for Kampusville.com.

Content writing might be the most saturated online gig there is. But that shouldn’t scare you.

Any type of business in any industry that decides to embrace digital transformation will require writers to populate their websites with content. And you don’t expect one writer to be well versed in every industry. 

Hence, a business in the health industry will need writers with experience in the health profession. Likewise, a technology company wants a writer that understands their technology well.

So the secret to success in content writing is focusing on a single or two related disciplines.

Think about your field, whether you are pursuing a university course or working. The skills and knowledge you’ve accumulated should help you decide the niche you should offer content writing services.

Once you’ve established your niche, you should create an account with the top online jobs platforms.

But before I list them, let’s find out what Copywriting is.

Online Copywriting Jobs

Copywriting is the art of writing text for marketing or advertising.

The product of copywriting, which is called copy, aims to increase brand awareness and persuade customers to take profitable actions such as signing up for a newsletter or purchasing a product.

Copywriters often work with companies to create landing pages, sales copy, social media adverts, and other marketing content.

Due to the significant and often direct impact of copy on a company’s performance, businesses hire copywriters who can demonstrate experience and expertise through their previous projects.

Often, they will look at the conversion rates of copy and gauge whether you are a good fit or not.

And just like in content writing, copywriting applies in every industry that exists. Hence, you need to specialize in a specific industry to master your niche and stand out from the crowd.

Where to find content writing and copywriting jobs

You’ll find content writing and copywriting jobs on the same freelance boards. These two forms of writing are highly related since they fall under the same agenda; digital marketing.

Some of the leading freelance boards where you can secure such writing projects include;

1. Upwork

Upwork is an online job platform offering various jobs, including writing, graphic design, coding, web development, and many more.

It’s one of the largest job marketplaces with millions of freelance and a favourite for Kenyans.

Upwork pays hourly for jobs posted by companies and displayed for bidding by freelancers. It cuts a service fee of 20% for your first billing and 10% after that.

Opening an account on Upwork is relatively easy. However, getting jobs will be challenging as a newbie, considering that companies often prefer experienced writers.

For the first couple of months, you’ll have to do some work for little pay just to build your portfolio.

2. Freelancer

Another behemoth in the freelancing industry is Freelancer, with millions of workers bidding for jobs. 

It contains many content writing jobs and copywriting projects. Standing out of the crowd through quality work and good reviews from previous clients is the only way you’ll get jobs.

However, Freelancer has been accused of charging workers hidden costs and sometimes preventing withdrawals. Hence, only use it as an alternative rather than your main writing account.

3. Fiverr

Fiverr is very popular in the Kenyan freelance space. Creating an account is very easy since you don’t need a degree to be accepted.

Also, in Fiverr, you can set your prices, giving you the freedom to determine your rate. However, considering that other freelancers will bid for the same jobs, you’ll have to set a reasonable price.

Only when you have an outstanding portfolio and excellent client approval, then you can price your writing services high.

Fiverr charges a 20% fee on projects and no other hidden fees.

4. FlexJobs

FlexJobs is a legitimate job marketplace founded in 2007. It is a reliable platform where companies can hire quality freelancers to work on projects.

Top project categories include customer service, computer, project management, marketing, and writing.

A unique feature of FlexJobs is that it charges freelancers a membership fee; $14.95 monthly or $49.95 yearly. This fee keeps freelancers on their toes as they risk making losses if they don’t secure jobs.

Nevertheless, you can request a refund within 30 days after signing up if you’re not satisfied. It speaks volumes of the platform’s level of confidence in meeting your expectations.

5. Guru

Another popular marketplace for content writing and copywriting jobs is Guru. You can create an account by simply signing up, and you don’t have to upload a certificate to get approved.

In Guru, your profile determines how likely you are to get jobs. Clients pick freelancers whose portfolios and reviews portray quality services and interview them before awarding jobs.

Guru offers many freelance jobs, including copywriting, content writing translation, web design, sales, etc. You earn hourly, fixed or task-based. You can withdraw income through PayPal or direct deposit.

Other online jobs marketplaces include

• PeoplePerHour
• PayPerContent
• Task Rabbit
• Outsourcely
• ProBlogger Job Board

Conclusion

Finding online writing jobs in Kenya can be tasking, especially for beginners. 

However, by focusing on one writing genre and exploring all avenues for jobs in that niche, you improve your chances of securing a well-paying job.

As time goes, you should build a remarkable portfolio and request your clients to recommend you so you can maintain a good flow of writing jobs.

It takes time to make significant progress and start making top dollar like in any other profession. Being patient while playing the long game will ensure you thrive in this competitive industry.