10 high-paying online jobs that pay through M-Pesa

1. Copywriter

Do you have a way with words? If so, you can learn the art of copywriting, which is simply salesmanship in text or using words to convince, persuade, and sell. There is great demand for copywriters for content such as:

• Newsletters,
• Product pages,
• Product descriptions,
• Social media copy,
• Ebooks
• Advertising copy

If you prefer writing less salesy copy, you can try your hand at SEO copywriting, which is writing content optimised around specific search phrases and designed to appeal to both human readers and search engines.

Read our guide on how to become a freelance writer to learn more about how to get started with online writing.

2. Editor

If you are a practising journalist or have worked in an editing capacity before, you could get a job on Upwork as an editor. Editors revise and polish written texts before they are published. As the amount of written content published online increases, the demand for editors will only grow.

If you learn how search engines work and rank content, you could also add on-page optimisation to your skills and find more work. Other complementary skills you can add that will boost your CV are proofreading, WordPress publishing, and keyword research.

Editors earn up to $40 an hour on Upwork, but you can live well in Kenya earning a quarter of that per hour. Here are some of the jobs you can apply for right now.

3. Mobile app developer

Some people are in their element writing computer code than articles and sales letters. If you are one of those people, you could do worse than working as a mobile app developer.

The mobile app craze may have quietened, but their developers still earn decent money. An entry-level mobile app developer on Upwork can earn $18 per hour, which is much higher than the average developer salary in Kenya.

Don’t have a degree in software engineering? You don’t need one as long as you can code, which can be learned. Speaking of that, Kotlin and Swift are some of the best programming languages to learn for a mobile app developer.

4. Social media manager

You are missing a trick if you spend hours on Facebook consuming other people’s content and helping it trend. You could be earning money doing that as a social media manager for brands and influencers.

A social media manager helps brands produce and promote their content on social media. They also moderate comments and manage the client’s communication to gain more followers, boost brand visibility, and promote it most positively.

5. Accountant

Accountants have traditionally worked in a physical office setup, but the role is evolving rapidly with the rise of e-filing and other digital tools that enable accounting tasks be completed virtually.

One of the oldest jobs in commerce, more companies are choosing to hire online accountants because of the cost savings remote work offers. This means an accountant in Kenya can now work for a company in Singapore, Canada, Australia, South Africa, or the USA, which opens up opportunities for more lucrative jobs.

6. Web designer

Web designers design new websites and update old ones with new features and fresher aesthetics. Both of these have never been in greater demand than they are now. To be taken seriously as a business, you must have a website, even before you incorporate.

While people with experience with JavaScript, Python, and SQL have a clear advantage, you don’t need to be an expert in those programming languages to find clients. Using pre-made themes and plugins, you can now design and publish a fully functional website without touching any code.

7. Web developer

While web designers create the visual architecture that gives websites their form and look, web developers have a more broad skill set that can include coding. Basically, the code they write determines how well a website functions.

Web developers can focus on the front and backend processes that run a website. When you do this, you are known as a full-stack developer, a role that attracts higher-paying jobs.

There are hundreds of web designer jobs posted on Upwork every week. You can find Kenyan web developers crushing it on Upwork here.

8. SEO specialists

SEO is one of the most in-demand skills right now, with jobs posted on Upwork every other minute. SEOs analyse websites and content to identify weak points to improve so the business can rank high in search engines for search terms that bring more qualified traffic.

Thanks to the growth of the internet that has seen businesses doing most of their marketing online, SEO has grown into a multi-billion industry. As a result, you can now get a wide array of SEO jobs on Upwork, like technical SEO, on-page SEO, link building, mobile experience optimisation, and guest post outreach.

9. Virtual assistant.

Virtual assistants provide administrative and other support services to clients online. As it gets easier to work from home, on the go, and from remote locations, there is a corresponding surge in solopreneurs running entire businesses virtually and without a full-time staff.

These solopreneurs rely on virtual assistants to perform day-to-day office tasks like responding to emails, booking accommodation and travel tickets, organising their calendars, and scheduling meetings.

There is such an incredible variety of tasks a virtual assistant can do that the role you accept will depend on your experience. Some clients will require a VA with more specialised skills, like proofreading, WordPress editing, payroll administration, customer list management, blog comment moderation, or market research.

Virtual assistants on Upwork can earn between $10 and $20 per hour, but there are Kenyan VAs earning as much as $50 per hour. We have an extensive guide on how to become a virtual assistant in Kenya here.

10. Data analyst

Today’s data-driven businesses collect and process gigabytes of customer and product data every month. These businesses need data analysts who can apply statistical analysis tools to analyse that data, uncover key customer behaviour trends, and draw useful insights that can inform operational, product, and marketing decisions.

If you have the right qualifications, Upwork is a great platform to launch a freelance career as a data analyst. One of those freelance projects can even grow into a full-time role if you desire the security of full-time employment.

Data analysts on Upwork can earn between $20 and $50 on Upwork, but what you charge ultimately depends on what you believe you are worth.

Other in-demand skills clients seek on Upwork include mobile game developers, machine learning engineers, virtual reality developers, video producers, and automation specialists.

Other ways of earning money online

There are multiple other ways of making money online that don’t necessarily pay through M-Pesa. Here are some of them

• Taking online surveys. There are many websites that offer paid surveys, such as Survey Junkie and Swagbucks.
• Completing online tasks. There are also websites that offer paid tasks, such as Fiverr and Guru. You can find tasks that range from simple tasks like data entry to more complex tasks like writing articles.
• Teaching English online. There are many companies that hire English speakers to teach English online. You can find these jobs on websites like VIPKid and Qkids.
• Writing articles or blog posts. You can write articles or blog posts for websites or online publications. You can find these jobs on websites like Textbroker and ProBlogger.
• Creating and selling digital products. You can create and sell digital products like e-books, online courses, and software. You can sell your products on websites like Amazon and Shopify.
• Become a social media influencer. Social media influencers build a large following on social media platforms such as Instagram and YouTube. They then partner with brands to promote products or services to their followers.
• Start your own online business. You can start your own online business selling products or services. You can sell your products or services on your website or through an online marketplace like Jumia.

These are just a few ways to earn money online, albeit without the advantage of getting paid directly into your M-Pesa mobile wallet. With a little effort, you can find a way to make money online that fits your skills and interests.

Tips for earning money online in Kenya

When you look for work or business opportunities online, it is crucial to recognise that you are no longer dealing with the local market. Targeting clients from all corners of the world entails knowing how to deal with people from different cultures.

There are also language barriers, currency exchange rates, nuances of foreign politics, and time differences to navigate. Here are some additional tips for earning money online:

1. Choose a reputable website or company to work with.

There are many scams out there, so it’s important to research before you sign up for any online job or opportunity. Upwork has some of the best protections for freelancers.

2. Be patient.

It takes time to build up a following and earn significant money online. Don’t expect to get rich quickly; otherwise, you will get discouraged if you don’t get clients early.

3. Be consistent.

The more you work, the more money you’ll earn. Set aside time daily to work on your online business or job, read widely, watch YouTube videos, and take online courses.

Clients care very little about your qualifications; they are concerned about what you can do for them. So it is critical to clearly explain what you will do to solve their problems when you apply for jobs.

4. Be creative.

There are many different ways to earn money online. Be creative and find a way to make money that you enjoy. Do not rigidly stick to one job role and description. Add new, complementary skills, and always be on the lookout for roles that might fit your expanded skillset.

I started as an article writer, but I can now genuinely call myself different things, from SEO, conversion rate optimizer, SEO copywriter, content marketer, to digital marketer.