How to get freelance jobs in Africa

Freelancing is on the rise in Africa as many people are now offering their services out to freelancers instead of the companies. There are many advantages of freelancing both to clients and freelancers. Here are some tips on how to get freelance jobs in Africa.

1. Freelance platforms

Today, there are many freelance platforms where freelancers can get jobs. These platforms differ from each other and each has its own peculiarity. Most freelance platforms allow you to register your service and bid for projects which are posted by clients. People or companies looking for services of freelancers can also contact freelancers through the platform. A certain percentage of the money paid for the job will go to the platform as payment for being a member of the platform and while most freelance platforms provide a system to ensure that freelancers deliver their services effectively and also ensure that clients pay for the services they have ordered, some are just platforms connecting freelancers to clients. Popular freelance platforms include Upwork, Fiverr, Guru, Freelancer and so on.

2. Networking

Another means that has proved efficient for getting jobs is networking. Networking can double your chances of getting freelance jobs because you get to meet a lot of people who could be potential clients. Before you begin to network, certain things should be noted. First, it is important to be prepared before going out to network. Simple things such as having a business card ready can improve the success rate of your networking. Also, it is important to have a well-prepared pitch which you can use to sell yourself to people. As we all know, first impressions are important, it would be a bad impression to create if you sound unsure or appear badly prepared, also it is very important to appear clean and presentable. There are various places where you can go in order to network. It could be the local event organised by freelancers in your area or an event where you know potential clients would attend. Regular social events are also a good location to network, after all, you never know who you may be talking to.

3. Social media

Social media today is not only a form of entertainment but many people are now conducting businesses on social media. Social media is another platform where freelancers can get jobs from. There are many groups for freelancers where jobs are constantly advertised on platforms such as Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter. These platforms also enable you to post your services for other users to see. The messaging feature on these platforms allows you to pitch your services to users and discuss terms of agreements with them. Freelancers are however advised to be extra cautious when dealing with clients from social media as these platforms do not provide any form of security or assurance that you are not going to be swindled.

4. Cold email: A cold email is an email that’s sent without prior permission from or contact with the recipient. In many respects, a cold email is the same as a cold phone call – it’s just much less intrusive. This means it’s almost unanimously favoured by both the sender and sendee. A cold email is an efficient way of finding new clients for your business. Some people have reported a 29% response rate, others have seen a 10% increase in open rate when the e-mail is personalised, and still, others have enjoyed up to 60% response rate and 80% engagement rate from cold emails. A cold email may lead you to successfully marketing your services, however certain things need to be done to ensure this success. First, Cold email shouldn’t be confused with spam, which is sent to countless addresses at once, without researching the relevancy of the recipient or confirming that the email address itself even exists. In contrast, a cold email is generally sent to a qualified prospect, meaning that at least some research has been done on whether the recipient is a fit – and that email address has been confirmed. in order to define who your recipients of the email would be, you would have to develop a buyer persona. A buyer persona is a semifictional representation of your ideal customer based on market research and real data about your existing customers. When creating your buyer persona(s), consider including customer demographics, behaviour patterns, motivations, and goals. Furthermore, you have to ensure that you write a well-crafted email. In order to do this, you must ensure that your mail is personalised, you include an enticing subject line, write a convincing email body, and include a call to action at the end of the mail. This improves the chances of getting your mail successfully read and ensuring a positive response. Finally, it is important to follow up on your mail. It is common for first emails to be ignored and a study found out that the sixth email got more response than the first mail. So don’t be discouraged if you get low replies on your first mail, don’t be scared to try again after.

With the four methods discussed in this article, any freelancer in Africa can get more jobs by implementing them. Although some of these methods are traditional, others are evolving every day and the opportunities are increasing. Adding a personal touch to your efforts and being determined to get results will definitely increase your chances at success. Which one of these methods have you tried before and which ones are you willing to try? Also, do you have any suggestions on how to get freelance jobs in Africa? Let us know in the comments!