20 Ways to Make Money Online as a New Graduate

Are you a recent graduate looking for a job in Kenya? Well, according to data from Statista, the youth unemployment rate in Kenya has been rising steadily over the last two decades and currently stands at just around 13 percent. This means that 13 out of every 100 people aged 15-24 are unemployed in Kenya. Clearly, you have to be among the very best or “know people” to get a job straight from college.

That doesn’t mean you have to remain idle, though. The internet has made it possible for proactive entrepreneurs like yourself to make money online without needing a job.

Here are 20 ways you can make money online in Kenya and employ yourself:

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A virtual assistant is a remote worker who provides administrative and professional support to a business or individual remotely. This means that the services provided by a virtual assistant can be accessed from anywhere in the world without needing to be physically present. Virtual assistants perform a variety of tasks, such as data entry, social media management, web design, customer service, and more. You can make money as a virtual assistant by finding clients who need your services or joining an agency that specializes in remote workers. Such clients can be found in several ways:

• Through freelance websites
• Social media networks
• Job boards

Try print on demand

Print-on-demand (POD) is a type of business that allows you to make money by printing and selling custom designs. You can use this platform in various ways, such as creating and selling t-shirts, mugs, pillows, phone cases, posters, and more. All you need to do is upload your design, choose the product you want to make, and set a price. When someone purchases your item, the POD company will print it for them and ship it directly to their address.

Make money with affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing is an online business model that allows you to make money by promoting other people’s products or services on your website or blog. When someone clicks on your affiliate link and makes a purchase, you make a commission from the sale. This is an easy way to make money online as all you have to do is promote products that people are already interested in buying.

Start a YouTube channel

You can make money by creating videos on YouTube and monetizing them with ads. To make money from YouTube, you will need to create high-quality videos that people are interested in watching and have a large following of subscribers who watch your content regularly. When someone watches an ad on your video, you make money from the ad revenue. Some examples of famous Kenyans making good money on YouTube include Jalangoo, Njugush, and Bien Aime.

Become an influencer

Influencers make money by promoting products or services on their social media accounts. If people are interested in the product or service you are promoting, they can make a purchase through your link, and you will make a commission from the sale. To make money as an influencer, you will need to have a large following on social media and be knowledgeable about the products or services that you are promoting.

Create an online course

If you have knowledge that others would find valuable, creating an online course is a great way to make money. You can create courses using platforms like Udemy or Skillshare. For example, you may have studied a course such as Anthropology or Geography that doesn’t have many employment opportunities. You can monetize this knowledge by creating an online course and selling it to interested people.

Publish an ebook

Writing and publishing an ebook is another great way to make money as a new graduate. You can write about any topic you are knowledgeable or passionate about, such as business, health and fitness, or travel. You can then publish your book on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and make money through royalties when people make purchases.

Start a Blog

Blogging is an excellent way to make money online. You can create your own blog, share content on various topics, and make money through affiliate links or display ads on your website. To make money blogging, you will need to build up a strong following of readers by creating engaging content that people are interested in reading. You will also need to learn the basics of setting up a basic website such as WordPress to begin blogging.

Consider Freelancing

You can offer your skills as a service to others, such as writing, design, and coding.

Freelance writing is a great way to make money online. You can write content for websites and blogs on a variety of topics ranging from travel, lifestyle, business, health, technology, etc. To make money as a freelance writer, you will need to find clients willing to pay you for your work. You can make use of freelance marketplaces such as Fiverr or UpWork to make connections with potential clients.

Coders also make money online by developing websites, apps, and software for companies. To make money as a coder, you will need to have the skills to build these products and find clients who are willing to hire your services. Sign up as a coder at sites like UpWork or Codeable and make money from the comfort of your home.

Create an app

If you have creative skills such as graphic design, photography, or illustration, you can make money by selling digital products such as templates, designs, illustrations, etc. You can make use of platforms such as Code Canyon or Creative Market to make sales.

Another way to make money is by creating an app. You can make use of platforms such as App Store or Google Play store to make your apps available for download and make money from their sale.

Tutor or teach

Do you have expertise in a certain subject or skill? You can make money by tutoring students online. Many platforms such as Chegg and Tutor.com allow you to make money by providing tutoring services to students.

Participate in focus groups

Focus groups involve people discussing their experiences with products, services, or brands. Companies often make use of focus groups to gain insight into the needs and preferences of their target market. To make money from focus groups, you will need to find companies that are looking for participants in your local area.

Sell photos online

Do you have a knack for photography? You can make money by selling stock images and photos. Companies make use of stock imagery for various purposes such as advertisements, websites, blogs and more. You can make money by selling these images to companies that make use of them. Sites such as Shutterstock or Getty Images offer the opportunity to make money from stock photography.

Do research online

If you have strong research skills, you can make money by working as a research assistant for companies. You will need to find clients who are in need of your services and make use of platforms such as Fiverr or UpWork to make connections with potential clients.

Set up a Patreon

If you have an engaging personality, consider setting up a Patreon page where people can make donations to support your work. You can make use of Patreon to make money from followers by providing exclusive content for members who make donations.

Help Kenyan businesses sell online

You can make money by helping Kenyan businesses make use of the internet to expand their customer base and make sales. Many Kenyan entrepreneurs do not understand digital marketing. You will need to have an understanding of online marketing techniques such as search engine optimization and social media marketing to make money from this. Educate yourself first using free online courses such as the Online Digital Marketing course from Google.

Sell products on Etsy

If you have creative skills such as drawing, sewing, or crafting, you can make money by selling handmade goods online through sites such as Etsy. You will need to upload pictures of your creations and make sure that they meet the quality standards set by Etsy.

Become an online travel agent

If you have a passion for travel, make money by becoming an online travel agent. You can make use of booking sites such as Expedia or Priceline to make hotel and flight reservations for clients and make a commission on the sales.

Do transcription work

Do you have good listening skills? You can make money by doing transcription work such as transcribing audio recordings into written documents. Sites such as Rev and Scribie offer transcription services and make it easy to make money from the comfort of your home.

Start dropshipping

Dropshipping involves selling products online without having to own stock or handle order fulfilment. You make use of platforms such as Shopify to make it easy to create an online store and make money.

With these 20 ways, a new graduate can make money online and make the most out of their self-employment. While making money online requires dedication and hard work, the rewards are worth it! With the right resources and guidance, you can make a living and make your dreams of self-employment come true. So, what are you waiting for? Get started today!