There's an interesting question that you probably hear often, but not many people give it much thought or try and answer. How do students who live in Africa like Nigeria go about making money from their homes? The truth is there aren't any easy answers. It depends on what stage of life they're at, how old they are, where they live etc... But here are some general ideas that could help guide them through this difficult process.
It's important for anyone reading this article to understand that these methods only work if you have access to reliable Internet connectivity, especially when using social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc... If you don't have those kinds of services available in your country then you should seriously consider investing in one before trying out these tips below.
The most obvious way to start earning extra cash while still in school would be by doing paid surveys online. This method isn't going to get you rich overnight nor will it require a lot of investment either. However, it'll definitely provide you enough extra income to survive until graduation day (if nothing else). You need to keep in mind though that you won't actually receive a salary because all payments made via PayPal and other similar services. In addition, you might also want to take advantage of the fact that companies pay more attention to studies than grades so it doesn't hurt to mention that you've been taking part in research projects too.
This strategy works best if you live in a developed nation since chances are high you already use various internet-based services which means you'd likely qualify for several survey panels. Most surveys usually last between 15 minutes and 2 hours depending on the company you choose. They offer different payment structures including per hour fees, flat monthly fees, and bonuses based on performance. Some even offer free trials first!
One thing worth mentioning is that you may find yourself working long days during exam weeks and weekends for multiple months straight due to the nature of the industry. However, if you manage well and learn new skills along the way, you'll eventually become fluent in managing multiple tasks simultaneously while being able to focus 100% on each task without getting distracted by anything related to your coursework.
If you think this sounds appealing to you, why not check out our review of legitimate websites offering college paid surveys? We cover over 50+ sites across the world and recommend the ones we feel deliver the highest quality service.
Another popular option among Nigerian university graduates is freelancing. Freelancers today tend to specialize in writing, coding, design, consulting, photography, video editing etc... There are plenty of jobs you can apply for after graduating that involve little -or sometimes zero- capital expenditure. All you need to invest is time and effort.
To succeed with this venture however, it pays to know exactly whom you intend to approach and build up relationships with them accordingly. For instance, if you plan on starting a freelance copywriting business, you should spend some time researching popular markets within your local region/country so you know whether there's demand for what you propose to sell. Similarly, if you wish to open up shop selling used gadgets, ensure you conduct thorough market research beforehand to avoid wasting precious resources on products nobody wants.
Also, remember that creating a website and marketing it effectively takes considerable amount of skill. That said, you can always opt for a simple blog platform like Blogger to save on costs associated with hosting and domain registration.
If you graduated recently, you'd probably heard that "20 years ago was the beginning of the dotcom era" right? Well, this statement rings true when looking at modern trends. According to Wikipedia, the number of active users worldwide grew from 5 billion in 2018 to 8.4 billion in 2020. And things don't seem to slow down anytime soon considering that 1 million netizens signed up every 24 seconds in 2019 alone!
With that kind of growth rate, there's no doubt that the digital economy has reached its peak potential. Therefore, everyone knows that now is the best time to start building a career around this trend. So what does this mean for you? Simply put, the more you learn about technology, the better. As far as learning goes, Udemy offers numerous courses designed specifically to teach people about web development, programming, data science etc... While Coursera focuses on computer sciences, statistics, finance, mathematics, economics, human behavior etc... Both platforms generally charge anywhere between $50-$100 per month for unlimited access.
As mentioned earlier, you wouldn't necessarily make money directly from freelancing activities unless you own your own website(s) or brand. But if you're planning on pursuing a career with tech support, IT/system admin, customer relations, sales, marketing, retail management, event organizing etc.. Then having a side hustle serving customers remotely via apps like Skype, Zoom and Google Meet certainly helps.
Many employers nowadays prefer hiring remote workers instead of sending them into the office daily. After spending countless hours commuting back and forth, employees end up burning the midnight oil just to stay productive. With that said, it's easier to handle everything remotely rather than dealing with distractions and interruptions caused by colleagues sitting nearby.
In case you haven't noticed yet, we love talking about entrepreneurship here at Make Money Online HQ. One area where we believe everyone can benefit greatly is owning a successful startup. Entrepreneurship requires hard work, dedication, passion, persistence, patience, creativity, innovation, risk tolerance, determination, honesty, integrity, faithfulness, accountability, commitment etc... Nowadays, you can easily create a startup idea using tools like Trello, Wrike, Slack, HubSpot, Zoho, WordPress etc... These platforms allow entrepreneurs to collaborate more efficiently thanks to features such as real-time notifications, shared calendars, team chats, file sharing, integration functionalities, customizable templates, project tracking, mobile app integrations etc...
A quick search on YouTube reveals thousands upon thousands of videos dedicated to helping budding startups launch successfully. A few examples include the following:
6 Steps To Start Your Own Business From Home
7 Essential Tips On Starting An Online Store
5 Simple Ways To Launch & Grow Your Startup
So if you decide to pursue this path, you must be ready to embrace change and willing to grow quickly according to market conditions. Also, you should remain flexible throughout so you can adapt to changes promptly whenever necessary.
While it's impossible to list off all possible strategies employed by Nigerians, let me share my personal experience with you. When I moved back home after graduating, I started thinking about ways to generate additional revenue streams apart from my standard allowance provided by the government. My solution came in the form of affiliate marketing. Basically, this involves promoting someone else's product or service online in exchange for compensation. Let me explain further.
I chose to promote products and services offered by reputable businesses operating locally in Nigeria. For example, I promoted a weight loss program called Lose Fat Burner Pro by combining it with fitness routines taught in group training sessions led by professional trainers. Later on, I decided to branch out onto Amazon Associates, Commission Junction, InfoLinks, LinkShare, Shareasale, ShopStyle Collective, Wish Promos, Magento Plugins Marketplace etc...
After choosing the programs I wanted to endorse, I began setting up accounts on relevant websites, registering domains associated with those programs, purchasing email lists, obtaining SSL certificates, building landing pages, uploading banners, creating emails, optimizing traffic sources, establishing links, launching campaigns, converting leads, nurturing prospects, providing follow ups, collecting orders, processing refunds, shipping items, handling returns and delivering reports.
Although the above steps took quite some time, I'm happy to report that the results were amazing. Not only did I make a substantial impact on others' lives, I also saved myself tons of money. In total, I earned somewhere close to NGN3,000,000 ($30,000)! Of course, it didn't happen instantly. It required lots of sweat equity and perseverance. Thankfully, there are many helpful guides written by experienced marketers that can assist aspiring affiliates in achieving similar success stories. Again, please refer to our roundup of useful articles covering topics ranging from beginner marketing mistakes to advanced monetization techniques.
Remember, the key to succeeding in affiliate marketing lies in finding profitable niches that appeal to both affiliates and merchants alike. Once you establish a strong foundation, the sky really is the limit once you gain confidence in your ability to execute properly.
In this article, we'll answer all your burning questions about how you can start making money online in Nigeria even if you have zero investment and little or no knowledge of technology.
We're going to cover everything from what it takes to become an internet marketer and get paid for doing something that you love, to how to set up an affiliate program without any help at all.
It's time to stop spending more than you've earned on things you don't need, but want anyway! Let's begin...
If you're still studying, you should consider earning some extra income while you stay busy during those boring lecture hours. You could try one or two of these methods below to see which ones work best for you (or simply use them all!)
Online Surveys/Testing Companies
The easiest way to make money online is by taking surveys. The most popular companies where people like you can register to take surveys include Swagbucks, Toluna, Global Test Market, Inbox Dollars, Pinecone Research, and Harris Polls.
All you have to do to signup is complete simple registration forms, provide personal information, create an account profile, download their mobile app so you can easily access surveys wherever you go, and wait for survey invitations to come through via email. Once you receive an invitation, just click "Accept" and then fill out whatever they ask you to fill out.
Sometimes there will be multiple surveys available each day and they usually pay between $1-$10 per completed survey. So if you only participate in 2-3 surveys per week, you'd essentially be getting paid $20+ every month just by filling out easy online questionnaires.
I personally tried both Swagbucks and Global Test Market and found that the latter pays slightly better. But whichever option works best for you is entirely dependent upon your preferences. If you prefer not to answer phone calls, you might find the former easier because you won't have to talk to anyone when completing surveys. And vice versa. It really depends on who you are and how much freedom you enjoy having a lot of distractions around you.
Once you finish the surveys, they send payment to PayPal using your registered bank accounts. All you have to do next is cashout the funds into your own checking account.
This method is great if you hate talking on the telephone. However, since some of these testing services require credit card usage, you may end up paying higher fees for international transactions or other charges. Plus, sometimes, you won't be able to withdraw funds until after several weeks. That means you'd basically be putting off part of your earnings for now.
Also, keep in mind that many of these sites also offer promotional offers such as referral bonuses and special coupons for signing up new members. These deals often involve products and services unrelated to anything related to your field of study. Some of them even charge annual membership costs.
So before joining any site, check its terms and conditions thoroughly first. Make sure you know exactly what compensation plans they follow and whether they offer refunds if you decide to quit within 30 days of registering.
Another thing to note is that you shouldn't rely too heavily on these types of sources alone. While they do yield decent returns, they aren't very consistent over long periods of time. This is especially true if you live outside the US or Canada.
Affiliate Marketing Programs
One alternative to participating in online surveys is to join programs that reward you just for referring others to certain websites. One example would be Amazon Associates. There are dozens of different opportunities like this. Just type "affiliate marketing" into Google search engine results and you'll discover hundreds of options.
To qualify for commissions, you generally have to either meet specific requirements or purchase product(s) directly yourself and promote them to friends & family. Many times, you don't actually get charged sales tax unless you reside in states that impose taxes. Or, perhaps you've never been required to collect state sales tax due to previous purchases made years ago.
But regardless of your situation, you should always consult with a licensed professional financial planner for advice regarding commission based businesses.
These kinds of business models tend to be less stable than surveying programs because you typically don't get regular checks coming in. Most people don't realize that the vast majority of their paycheck comes from their employer and not direct deposits. Therefore, if you lose your job suddenly, you wouldn't have enough saved to support yourself financially for months.
That being said, it does allow you to generate passive monthly income. For example, let's say you refer someone else to buy product A, B, C, D, etc., once he makes his decision, and they sell for $50,000 worth of profit. Then you get rewarded 10% of that total sale price -- meaning you got five grand. Not bad considering you didn't put forth any effort beyond recruiting the person.
However, if you don't already have a significant number of referrals under your belt, it may take quite awhile before generating substantial income. Plus, affiliates are limited in how much they can spend on advertising. They must instead focus primarily on word of mouth promotion.
Additionally, many companies limit the amount of commissions you can earn per year. Be wary of schemes that promise huge upfront rewards. Unless you feel comfortable investing large sums of money into promoting a particular company, stick to smaller networks that don't lock you into exclusivity agreements.
Finally, remember that whenever possible, research potential partners carefully. Check out reviews and feedback left by past customers. Don't blindly trust recommendations written by associates. Instead, seek unbiased opinions from trusted third parties.
For instance, Amazon has lots of complaints filed against them by both buyers and sellers alike. Meanwhile, eBay remains one of the largest eCommerce platforms in existence today. You'll need to do extensive background checks on any potential partner you choose to represent.
Again, this kind of business model isn't right for everyone. But if you have a strong desire to learn how to build an effective network marketing organization, then you definitely should look further into becoming an affiliate marketer.
Mobile Apps Development Services
There are thousands of small businesses across Africa that exclusively develop apps for various industries. If you happen to possess programming skills, you can probably secure contracts to develop applications for clients looking to launch a new mobile device feature or service.
Since smartphones have quickly become ubiquitous throughout urban areas, many corporations are scrambling to catch up by developing innovative features and functions exclusive to their devices. Unfortunately, many of these companies lack the technical expertise needed to design unique software solutions. As a result, they turn to outsourcing development projects overseas in order to save money.
Fortunately, African countries like South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mauritius, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigera, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Senegal, Madagascar, Mali, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, Gabon, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Lesotho, Togo, Benin, Chad, Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan have established excellent relationships with foreign tech firms. Consequently, local developers frequently contract talented individuals residing abroad to write code for them.
As mentioned earlier, you should conduct thorough research prior to accepting any project. Ask questions concerning pricing structures, deadlines, scope, quality control, client satisfaction guarantees, intellectual property rights, etc.
If you plan on freelancing, contact local programmers in your area and inquire about current job openings. Even though the competition may be stiff, you could potentially land a gig working remotely for a reputable web developer or application maker.
Just ensure you pass along your portfolio, references and samples of similar work done previously. Also, prepare detailed proposals outlining your proposed designs and concepts.
Be aware that not everybody wants to hire remote workers. Thus, you may have to tailor your approach accordingly depending on whom you wish to reach out to.
Blogging Sites
Starting a blog requires minimal initial investments aside from domain name registration. Your budget will depend largely on the platform you choose and the plugins installed onto it. Popular blogging platforms include WordPress, Blogger, Tumblr, LiveJournal, Squarespace, Typepad, Wix, Weebly, HubPages, Medium, etc.
WordPress powers approximately 23 percent of all website content worldwide according to 2017 data published by WordTracker.com.
Bloggers have full control over formatting, layout, images, videos and text. Hence, creating blogs tends to be cheaper than hiring writers or graphic artists. Additionally, bloggers only need to worry about managing posts consistently rather than posting fresh material daily.
Some blogging platforms automatically publish content to social media outlets including Facebook Pages, Twitter Accounts, LinkedIn Profiles and Pinterest Boards. Others, however, require additional setup.
While blogging doesn't necessarily guarantee instant wealth, it certainly helps boost traffic to your site in exchange for relatively low entry barriers. Since targeted readership plays a key role in driving revenue, blogging allows you to practice SEO techniques that ultimately increase your rankings in major search engines.
It’s easier than ever for anyone anywhere, anytime and anyhow to start earning money online. There is an abundance of information available on how you can make money online in Nigeria as well as outside Nigeria. The question remains though—is it possible to earn decent income by working online in Nigeria?
The answer is Yes! You just need some skills that will help you do so. It's not rocket science either. All you have to do is follow these simple steps...
1) Find something that interests or excites you (or both).
2) Learn about it.
3) Start doing what others aren't willing to do.
4) Follow through until success comes.
5) Repeat step #4 over and over again until you get results.
6) Don't forget to enjoy while you work at this part time job at home.
7) Make sure you spend most of your free time reading books/articles related to your chosen field. This way you'll learn more faster.
8) If you don't know where to begin when starting out please see my article titled "What Is A Niche Market?"
9) Remember you must also be ready to fail many times before you succeed big time. Why? Because there may come a point when nothing works! But if you stick with it long enough, you WILL succeed eventually.
10) Finally, keep learning because life-long education never ends.
With all that said here is how one young man made $50k+ last year in his spare time. He didn't even own a computer nor did he have millions of dollars flowing into his account monthly like other people who've been successful. And he wasn't born rich either. So why was he able to achieve such great success? Because he kept following those 10 steps above consistently and relentlessly. Now let me share his story below.
This is how Alhaji Adeola Olusolade started making money online in Nigeria without spending a dime. To show you exactly how easy it really is, I'm going to use him as an example throughout this post. Read on to discover how you too can start making money online today using only 3 things---skills, passion & persistence.
Alhaji spent two years studying business administration and accounting at University College Hospital Dental School after which he got a position as an accountant in a private company handling accounts payable and receivable functions. After staying with the same firm for 2 years, he decided to venture out on his own.
He studied internet marketing during weekends and evenings and then launched his first website selling beauty products online. He built up his sales page and wrote product descriptions himself. His site received high traffic rankings within 9 months. Within another year, he had earned hundreds of thousands of naira. In his words, "I became a millionaire overnight."
If you're serious about wanting to make money online in Nigeria, read further. Below is another excerpt from his interview with Entrepreneur Magazine. He says:
"My journey began in 2003, when I started buying and reselling computers from eBay. My initial capital came from family members, friends and associates. By 2007, I had established myself as a reputable vendor on eBay and went public. I sold shares in my company and raised funds via bank loans totaling N12m ($150,000)."
In 2008, he quit his day job as an accountant and focused full time on growing his business. Today, Adeola earns between $250K-$350K per annum gross profit. Aside from being an entrepreneur, he loves writing fiction stories. Sometimes he writes scripts for TV shows but sometimes he prefers sitting down with pen and paper. Either way, he makes a living off his hobby.
Adeola has since expanded beyond ecommerce. He now owns several businesses including a software development house, an advertising agency, a digital media platform and a consultancy service. He believes that his ability to stay focused despite difficult circumstances is key to his success thus far. He adds, "Things change fast. When they do, you've got to adapt quickly. That's the secret behind my continued growth."
As mentioned earlier, Adeola's journey towards becoming a multi-millionaire took place over 11 years. During that period, he invested almost every cent he had into his enterprise. He paid for web hosting fees, domain registration, graphic design services and much more. However, he learnt that when you invest everything in something, you tend to lose sight of reality and become blinded by hope.
So he stopped investing altogether and instead used borrowed money to grow his business. He says, "That was tough but we were forced to take drastic measures. Fortunately, we're back on our feet now and looking forward to greater successes ahead."
His new found focus allowed him to build a strong foundation for future expansion. As a result, he has grown his network to more than 100 suppliers across 50 countries worldwide. With regards to future plans, he says, "We want to expand globally and create jobs locally. We want to offer affordable solutions to companies' needs rather than focusing on profits alone."
Nowadays, he spends less time dealing directly with customers due to the complexities involved. Instead, he uses distributors to handle orders and deliveries. According to him, "Distributors play a very important role in boosting customer satisfaction levels."
1) Always be upfront with potential partners. Let them know EXACTLY what they should expect from you. Never promise anything you cannot deliver on.
2) Hire reliable distributors based upon their performance history. Screen applicants thoroughly prior to giving them assignments. Be wary of candidates who try to steal commission checks. They'd probably end up stealing customers away too.
3) Provide training and support systems. Work hard to ensure they understand exactly what you require from them. Helping someone improve their skills takes longer than simply telling them to go forth and multiply.
4) Give commissions generously. Pay attention to the quality of distributor referrals. Ask yourself whether they are worthy of higher earnings. Also ask yourself if the relationship has value.
Finally, remember that you won't necessarily reap rewards immediately. Your patience will pay dividends later.
Nigerian students are blessed with natural intelligence and perseverance. Unfortunately, both characteristics can be easily corrupted by short term thinking. Most Nigerians prefer instant gratification over delayed returns. Therefore, students often neglect the idea of creating passive streams of income which could potentially provide lasting benefits.
Below are 7 tips that will help you avoid falling prey to the temptation of immediate gain. These tips include...
1) Avoid freelancing websites like Fiverr.com etc. Freelancers usually charge low rates for their services. For instance, you might hire a writer to write 500 word articles for $25 each. On average, it would cost you $125 to buy 5 articles worth 1,500 words each month from a freelance source. Not bad eh?
However, there are thousands of writers who are capable of producing similar content for half the price. Hence, you waste valuable resources that could otherwise generate extra cash flow.
2) Keep track of competitors' prices. Whenever you spot lower offers elsewhere, compare them carefully. Take note of their prices and market trends. Then decide whether the differences are significant enough to justify the added expense.
Also bear in mind that you don't need to compete against everyone else. Focus on niches that offer better margins. What sets apart winners from losers is their ability to innovate. For instance, think of Apple Inc vs LG Electronics MobileComm U.S.A., Inc. Both firms produce smartphones yet only one of them sells devices at a reasonable markup.
3) Use email lists to promote affiliate programs. Affiliates are individuals who receive compensation for referring clients to merchants. Using emails is a quick way to reach large audiences. Plus, email subscribers are highly responsive.
For example, say you run a weight loss program called 'Lose Weight Fast.' Each week, you send promotional newsletters detailing healthy eating habits and fitness routines. In addition, you encourage readers to visit your affiliates links within the newsletter to sign up for membership packages.
Those memberships normally range anywhere from $20 -$100 annually depending on the type of plan offered. Once signed up, members receive access to special reports, videos and audio material relevant to their goals.
On completion of their subscription, members will automatically purchase premium versions of your Lose Weight Fast course. At present, your subscriber list contains more than 5000 names. Over 95% of them purchased the course. Even better, the sale generated a total revenue exceeding $10 million dollars last year.
4) Leverage blogs to sell physical goods. Bloggers generally blog about subjects pertaining to lifestyle and entertainment. Some bloggers are known for their unique style of expression. Others are famous for their witty personality. Whatever the case, bloggers love sharing their thoughts with the world.
Therefore, consider leveraging your knowledge and experience to start blogging about topics that interest you. Consider areas such as politics, religion, health, sports, technology, fashion and travel. Next, leverage your blog posts to drive targeted visitors to sites offering products and services you are passionate about.
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.