Author: Cheptiony Mutai

  • How to Negotiate For a Good Pay on Freelance Contracts

    How to negotiate for a good pay

    If you want to get well paid for offering freelance services on contract, then you need to be a good negotiator. When negotiating for a contract, its good to have a long term perspective in mind.

    In this blogpost, I will share with you my freelance contract negotiation approach. This formula has helped me to steadily raise my hourly rate from $20/hour to $125/hour. Its important to note that the hourly above is determined by many factors.

    Key among them is value, competition, communication, reliability and guaranteed satisfaction.

    So how can one confidently negotiate a contract and win?

    Is your Client Asking you to Rush a Project/Contract? Hold on, Here is How to Make More From It

    Step 1; Set your Basic rate First

    Set Your Freelance Hourly Rate

    This is the starting point for new Freelancers. For me it was $20/hour. If the client requested me to give them a fixed rate, then it was $20 per min of video. When you are clear on the rates you charge, then, the client will show more interest in working with you.

    From here, the client will start asking you questions like, what does your cost cover? Base your answer on the clients original requirement. e.g Video editing. You may then start by saying it will cover video editing and 3 rounds of revisions.

    If you notice that the client is happy to pay $20/hour for video editing, think of charging them for any other request they make on top of video editing. e.g Adding background music. To begin, ask them if they are able to supply background music of their choice. Always have in handy a place you can refer them to get the music incase they don’t know.

    Once you are able to convince a few clients that your rates are purely for video editing, then now, you are ready to move on to the next step.

    Wonder How Clients Get Value For their Money? Here is How Clients Apply ‘Carrot And Stick Policy’ To Induce Freelancer Excellence

    Step 2; Introduce a New item To Top Up Your Original Offer

    If you are asked to breakdown your cost, will you be able to do so? That’s the importance of pricing each item in a project.

    For example, in video production, you need many components in order to put together a video. Among the components is the source video to be edited, script, voice over(if needed), background music and animated graphics.

    Price each item in the list. From there, you can have different prices with different combinations. e.g

    Video editing – $20/Min

    Scripting and video editing -$35/min

    You see the trick? That’s how negotiation goes. Additional components doesn’t have to be done by you. You can hire a script writer and negotiate a rate per number of words. e.g $3/100 words.

    Looking For A Quick Way to Write Explainer Video Scripts Like A Pro? Here is How to Write an Explainer Video Script that Stands Out

    Step 3; Target Clients Willing To Pay Per Hour

    Practically, you will make more money when you get paid on a hourly basis than when you are paid on a fixed price. This is because you will be paid for the time spent working on a given project.

    For example, if a clients wants a 1 minute video edited. They will pay you $20 fixed. If they pay you on hourly rate, then you can negotiate. In this case, it will be unrealistic to tell a client that it will take 1 hour to edit a video unless its just cutting out unwanted sections.

    So it will make sense to propose 3-5 hours and see how the client reacts. In many occasions, the client will offer to pay you for 5 hours max. This means you will be paid 5x the fixed amount.

    Thinks That Hiring A Freelance Video Production Agency is Expensive? Here are 10 Things A Video Production Agency Will Do To Save Clients Time And Headache

    Step 4; Listen to Clients Feedback And Use it For Profits

    In video production, before you work with some clients, they will ask if you provide scripting, animation or voice over if needed in the video. Such clients are good and love to get a whole package from one producer.

    Its ok if you don’t provide. But ask yourself, can I find someone to do this and make profit out of it? You don’t have to do everything yourself. You can find other skilled freelancers to help you out.

    When you find one, add a profit margin on their charges when giving a quote to your client.

    A Freelancer and Don’t know How to Hire Fellow Freelancer? Here is How to Work and Hire at the Same time as a Freelancer

    Step 5; Review Your Rates Every 3 Months

    Deliver quality work and get stunning 5 star reviews. From there, review your hourly rates. You can increase it by $5 every 3 Months. In a year, you rates will have doubled. Base your rates on your expertise and experience.

    Getting Many Applications on Your Job Post? Here is How to Sift Through Many Applications When Hiring a Freelancer

    Step 6; Capitalize on Timelines

    Some clients are willing to pay more for fast delivery and guaranteed satisfaction. When setting your rates, let the client know how long they will wait for the video to be delivered. e.g $20/Min and 2 days delivery. Then add an extra of say $5 for delivery within 1 day.

    Have data to back yourself up when negotiating. Use the data to demand for a good pay.

    And that is it from me.

    How do you negotiate for a good pay? Do you have a long term formula that is applicable?

    Let me know in the comments section below.

    If you need help to produce professional screencast videos, request a quote here. Alternatively, you can send me an e-mail to connect@cheptiony.com

    Until next time good bye and take care.

    Follow me on twitter @cheptiony.

  • Six Great Lessons I Have Learnt From Reading Books

    In this blogpost, I will share six memorable lessons I have learnt from reading books that you can apply in your life. These lessons are drawn from six different books.

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    10 years ago, I was not used to reading books. In short, I was poor reader. This affected my whole level of concentration in everything.

    For example, it took me a lot of time to comprehend a long feature story in a newspaper. I had to read 2-3 times in order to grasp it.

    No one could help me on this. I had to fix it myself.

    Want to start Editing Videos like a Pro with Camtasia Studio? Click here to earn How to Edit Videos Fast With Camtasia here.

    Luckily, I found out the root Couse of my problem after attending a Middle Level Marketing training. There, we were thought how to start a reading culture.

    Overtime, I have read several books in the category of self development and fiction. Here are six powerful lessons I have learnt from reading books.

    Lesson #1: A Part of What I Earn is Mine For Me To Keep

    From the Book The Richest Man in Babylon -By George Samuel Clason

    Before your spend your earnings from business or salary, put aside part of it. It should be not be less than a tenth no matter how little you earn. It can be as much more as you can afford. The point is, pay yourself first. As you can see, it is pretty straight forward concept of acquiring wealth. Its simple yet powerful.

    Applying this in life will teach you patience and discipline.

    Feeling Insecure Online? Here is why you should not Sign Up Everywhere Using Your E-mail and Phone Number. Here’s Why.

    Lesson 2: The Theory of Next

    From the Book Winning Through Intimidation -By Robert Ringer

    The theory of NEXT states: The key to maintaining a positive mental attitude is to recognize that no one deal is important. The person with a true positive mental attitude possesses the power to say ‘NEXT!’ and quickly move on to the next deal when things don’t work out.

    Robert Ringer -Winning Through Intimidation

    The author writes; The reason its okay if a deal falls through is because day-to-day ‘failure’ is an integral part of a long-tern success. So part and parcel of to a true positive mental attitude is to quickly move to the next deal when the deal you’ve been working on blows up.

    I recommend to you go get the book and for other additional lessons.

    Looking For a Way to Cash in Your Earnings in Kenya or Around the World? Here are Top 5 Leading Global Money Transfer Services For Freelancers

    Lesson 3: Know Where You Fall in The Cashflow Quadrant

    From the Book Cashflow Quadrant – By Robert Kiyosaki with Sharon L. Lechter

    CashFlow Quadrant By Robert Kiyosaki

    No matter what you do in life, its very important to know where you fall in the cashflow quadrant. It represents four different methods in which income or money is generated. These are Employee, self-employed, business owner and investor. For example, an employee earns money by holding onto a job.

    The concept behind cashflow quadrant is, different methods of income generation require different frames of mind, different technical skills, different educational paths, and different types of people. Different people are attracted to different quadrants.

    When you know the quadrant you fall in, you are in good position to frame your conversation and appeal to different type of audiences. Also, its easy to plan your future.

    Have You been Auctioned because of the Covid-19 Pandemic? 5 Lifetime Lessons Learnt After Auctioneers Stomped into Our Offices and Collected Everything

    Lesson 4: Have a Formula When Launching a Product

    From the Book Launch -By Jeff Walker

    Jeff Walker is the creator the best selling course ‘Product Launch Formula.’ Many great brands in the world have a marketing plan put down for their products before its launched. This includes writing a long form sales letter that tells a story and highlights the problems that the product will solve.

    Also, before beginning to sell, creating a series of 4-5 free valuable training videos is key. The videos are only sent to users who opts in with their e-mails addresses in a span of 2-4 weeks to create rapport.

    Having a formula that is automated is the key here.

    Want to appeal to more viewers on Youtube? Here are 4 Reasons Why People Love To Watch Your YouTube Videos

    Lesson 5: Implement The 80/20 Principle in All areas of your Life

    From the Book The 80/20 Principle – By Richard Koch

    The 80/20 principle asserts that a minority of causes, inputs or effort usually lead to a minority of the results, outputs, or rewards. Taken literally, this means, that for example, 80 percent of what your achieve in your job comes from 20 percent of the time spent.

    The 80/20 principle can and should be used by every intelligent person in their daily live by every organization and by every social grouping and form of society.

    It can help individuals and groups achieve much more, with much less effort.

    Bored at home because of Lockdown? Take sometime out. Here are 10 Animals You Will See When You Visit Nairobi Safari Walk

    Lesson 6: To win in Life Learn and Master the Spiritual Law

    From the Book, The Game of Life and How to Play -By Florence Scovel Shinn

    Most people consider life a battle, but its not a battle, it is a game.

    It is a game however which cannot be played successfully without the knowledge of the spiritual law, and Old and New Testaments in the Bible gives the rules of the game with wonderful clearness. Jesus thought that it was great game of giving and receiving.

    The author uses simple language to help readers understand the spiritual law. We are our on saviors.

    And that is it from me.

    What lessons have you learnt from reading books?

    Let me know in the comments section below.

    If you need help to create and produce professional screencast videos, let me know here.

    Until next time, take care.

  • How To Apply For A Tax Compliance Certificate In Kenya -Video

    In this video, I show you how to apply for a Tax Compliance Certificate in Kenya.

    Its now easy to apply for a Tax compliance certificate in Kenya. Watch the video to learn how.

    If you have any questions or concerns regarding to this video, let me know in the comments section.

    Thanks for watching.

    Not sure if the PIN number given to you is real or fake? Here is How to Check if KRA Pin and Tax Compliance is Valid

  • How to Check if a KRA Pin or Tax Compliance is Valid

    Watch the video tutorial

    With technology now part of our life’s, anything can happen. The probability of someone using your Tax PIN or Tax Compliance Certificate to carry out unscrupulous business activities is very high.

    That’s why it is important for hiring managers and tendering companies to check validity of the Tax documents submitted by the applicants.

    Doing this will protect them and PIN holders from the consequences of identity theft.

    Statistics on Identity Theft

    The figures released last year (2020) by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a consumer protection agency, show that identity theft reports were more than triple the number from 2018. Cases reached 1.38 Million in 2020 compared to 444,344 in 2018.

    This is 2,920 percent annual hike in the number of identity theft cases. The victims said their information was used to apply or receive government benefits such as unemployment compensation, obtain driver’s licenses, passports and other government-issued documents.

    The disturbing trend likely stemmed from the trillions of federal dollars unleashed in COVID-19 relief.

    According to Kenya Market Analytics report released by Transunion; an American consumer credit reporting agency in 2020, Fraud is an ongoing and increasing concern. Annual losses from identity theft and loan stacking amount to approximately KES 13.3 billion.

    What can you do about it?

    We can change this story if me and you can utilize use the tools available to verify documents as CEO’s, Human Resource Executives and procurement officers of the companies we represent.

    That’s why in this blogpost, I will show you how to check validity KRA Tax compliance certificate and PIN number.

    Please watch the video to see how.

    If you have any questions or concerns? let me know here.

    Need help to create video tutorials like these? Request a quote here.

    And if you need videography services in Nairobi, request a free quote here.

    Until next time, take.

    Follow me on twitter @cheptiony.

  • Why You are Not Getting Prequalified For Tenders in Kenya

    Its not easy to qualify for a tender as new entrepreneur in Kenya. This is owing to many requirements that one needs to submit in order to be prequalified. On top of that, some of the mandatory requirements are paid.

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    For instance, a new entrepreneur with excellent skills in a given category will not qualify for any open tender without providing trading license issued by the government. Fact is, for one to get a trading license, you must have an physical office.

    So how can one afford to pay for an office if he/she is starting up?

    This takes to the well known category of AGPO (Access to Government Procurement Opportunities). For this, you does not need to have a trading license to be prequalified. One can use their own residential address as the location of their business.

    But is this all? What if you have all these requirements yet still don’t get invited to quote for tenders?

    Why is it that despite you submitting all the required documents in order to be qualified for a tender, you still don’t get it?

    That’s what I will be focusing on this blogpost. Here are things that might be barring you from being prequalified for a tender.

    Expired Tax Compliance Certificate

    Tax Compliance Certificate expires after 1 year from the date of issue. If within the year, you have defaulted from paying tax, you will deemed uncompliant until you clear your tax debts.

    This thus means that once you clear your tax debts, you will be issued with the mandatory Tax Compliance Certificate. Some entrepreneurs take the risk of attaching expired TCC when submitting prequalification documents thinking that the procurement officers will not countercheck and verify all documents attached.

    Don’t be fooled. They do and this might be the reason you have not been prequalified.

    Fake Business Address

    Most people don’t take their business addresses seriously. I have learnt this the hard after I closed my business due to the covid-19 pandemic. When I closed down offices and began operating from home, it meant that my business address also changed.

    I never thought it was serious so I didn’t bother to update my business address on the registrar of companies portal. While many tendering companies will not notify you the reasons behind you not being prequalified, its good not to take anything for granted. Each time you change business location, update address with the registrar of companies.

    Officers from the tendering company will use the address details that you have provided in the tender document to trace your office. If it is not existent, they will treat your application unresponsive.

    Lack of Clear Track Record

    Track record demonstrates how you are experienced in the said field. Some companies registered with ‘Enterprises‘ or ‘General suppliers‘ at the end of company name usually don’t specialize on anything.

    People registering such company names pry on those tenders that requires no training and probably on loophole in the tendering process. If you are keen, most corrupt practices are linked to such companies with ‘Enterprises‘ or ‘General suppliers‘ at the end of the company name i.e Kingaste Enterprises. They are not specific on the services they provide.

    If you lack solid track record in a particular field, it will be hard to qualify due to competition.

    Forgery

    While forgery is illegal and can land you in jail, some people still forge documents to date. There are many software’s out there that you can use to forge documents. Depending on the procurement officer’s level of experience, you might get away with forged documents.

    If your deliver quality services, you will be lucky with your forgery. But if you deliver poor services they will get back to you and investigate further on the documents you submitted. At the end, your case might end up in court and the procurement officer who awarded you the contract will be retrenched.

    Attempting to Bribe

    With all said, ‘bribery‘ and ‘who do you know‘ narrative is still rooted in Kenya. After submitting all the mandatory required documents, some entrepreneurs will still take a step further and try to bribe someone in the procurement department in order to get that tender. If you have this habit, then, that explains why you are not getting that tender.

    I must applaud the Jubilee government for using all the tools available to fight corruption. Technology in a big winner and has really helped minimize the level of corruption and bribery.

    These are five main reasons you are not getting prequalified for any government tender. Did I miss out something? Please let me know in the comments section below.

    Until next time, take care.

    If you need help to create and produce professional screencast videos, let me know here.

    Follow me on twitter at @cheptiony.

  • Video Editing Formula To Edit Videos Fast With Camtasia Studio

    Like mathematics, video editing needs a formula which is different based on the software you are using to edit your videos. If you are new to video editing with Camtasia studio, the formula I am going to share with you here is going to save you a lot of time in editing your YouTube videos.

    video

    In this blogpost I will share with you the simple formula I use in editing and creating videos for clients and myself.

    It is important to note that the reason people edit videos is to communicate the message in the shortest time possible. How best can the story be shared? It all starts with a script.

    Script/Outline

    Effective communication starts with a plan in form of an outline or a script. If you are working for a client, its recommended that you request for an outline or a script for use in video editing. This will be your guide as a video editor.

    Script outline

    It gives you an idea of what the client wants to communicate. If its your video, then come up with an outline in point format so that you can save time when recording and producing the video. This way, you will know if the information you are sharing is making sense.

    With a script or a project outline ready, you can now start producing your videos. Let’s now focus on the formula.

    Titles

    This usually comes first. What is the video about? The viewer need to know what the video is about so as to decide if the video is right for them or not. This is key. In Camtasia studio, you can modify and use existing ‘premade motion graphics templates’ under library or create your own custom titles.

    Video Titles

    If you are working on a project repeatedly, its best to create a library for your custom titles. This way you can easily import them to your timeline when working on a new video.

    Background Music

    Its good to have background music especially if you are having titles in between the video displaying for 3-5 seconds with no narration or voice over. Before starting to edit your video, find a suitable music that you will use on the background.

    Keyboard shortcuts

    Keyboard shortcuts will save you a lot of time. For instance, instead of clicking on a video and then moving your cursor to click on split icon. The easiest way to do this is to click on the video then tab on CTRL+S on your keyboard and the video will be split. Learn and master the shortcuts one by one.

    Adjust Audio Volume Accordingly

    You will need to know how to add and adjust audio points. This is key when having a background music playing all through your videos. This way you can raise and lower the music volume as you wish.

    Audio volume adjustments

    Animate titles or Add Transitions

    Adding transitions is easy. You can therefore start with transitions as a newbie then advance to learning custom animations as you edit and produce more videos. Animated titles are always professional.

    Video Transition

    You can create a couple of animated titles and save them on your Camtasia studio library. Great brands use and reuse animated titles i.e logo, lower thirds e.t.c. This finally becomes their brand identity.

    Sound Effects

    This is a bonus. Its not necessary unless you are a pro in video production. Sound effects requires a lot of accuracy. The effect or transition you apply needs to match with the sound. If you have enough time, you can add sound effects to your video.

    When you know how to do the things I have listed above, then you have the formula at your fingertips. When you insert or create each item as needed when editing your video on the timeline, you will save a lot of time.

    Did I miss anything in my formula? Let me know in the comments section below.

    That’s it from me here. Until next time, take care. Follow me on twitter @cheptiony

  • 3 Ways To Customize Camtasia Studio Motion Graphics Templates

    If you own Camtasia studio 2020 or later, then you might have tried and used the many premade motion graphics templates that comes with the software. If you haven’t tried them out, it’s now high to do so. You can find the templates by clicking on ‘Library‘ on your Camtasia studio editor.

    In this blogpost tutorial, I will share three ways that you can customize Camtasia studio motion graphics templates.

    Basic Customization

    Basic customization includes making changes like the template’s text and color. To achieve this; first, click to the folder containing the template you want to customize to open.

    video tutorial
    Open the templates folder

    Next, click the template of your choice and drag it to the Camtasia studio timeline.

    Drag the template to the timeline

    From here, you can change the text, font and color of both text and background. To do this, click the ‘plus’ (+) button on top of the template you selected.

    Then choose the item you want to change. For instance, When I pick one item it will display in the preview window. From here, I can make changes on the ‘properties‘ section to suite my needs. This includes changing things color, theme, outline thickness, font type and more.

    Select and make changes from the properties menu

    Follow the same procedure to format the text. First, click on the text title from the template group on your timeline. Then from the display window, double click to activate the text and start typing in the new text you want to see appear on the video.

    Customize text on Camtasia

    Once done click on the minus (-) button to close the group.

    Close template

    Change Template’s Duration

    Another thing that one may want to customize is the templates duration. For instance, you may want the template to be 5 seconds and the original template is 12 seconds. How can you reduce this time while retaining the animations inside the template?

    video tutorial

    The first option will be rendering the template after completing your basic customization. When rendered, import the file into your media bin as .mp4 file then to timeline.

    Change clip speed

    When you right click on the imported video on your timeline, you can add ‘clip speed’ to it. Adding ‘clip speed‘ enables you to enter custom duration from the ‘Properties‘ tab.

    This procedure works well for someone who is not tech savvy. Sadly, it’s a lot of work if you are overlaying the motion graphics template to a project on your timeline. Exporting the template will require that you open a new project, then cut the modified template and paste on the new clean timeline. From here, export it individually.

    This takes to another alternative option.

    The best way you can customize the motion graphics template to match the duration of your choice is is doing it directly on the timeline of you main project.

    Open the template on the timeline using the plus(+) button. Right click on each item one by one and add clip speed. Enter the duration you want from the properties tab.

    Customizing motion graphics templates duration on Camtasia studio

    Once done, close the template then click and drag from the right to trim and to suite it to your timeline.

    Creative customization

    With Camtasia studio, you can creatively customize the motion graphics template beyond the original authors concept.

    video tutorial

    After making changes to the template i.e color and text. You can creatively move/crop/remove items on the template. For example, if it has a motion video on as the background, you can remove it and overlay it to your video or image.

    Before removing motion background
    After removing the background

    Finally, another way would be to creatively blend the motion background with the image by reducing the motion video opacity to 50%. This works well with images.

    Blends motion graphics background and a video

    Once you have mastered these three ways, you can do a lot on an existing Camtasia studio motion graphics template.

    That’s it from me.

    If this tutorial was helpful, let me know in the comments section below.

    If you need help to create and produce professional screencast video tutorials, let me know here.

    Until next, bye and take care.

    Follow me on twitter @cheptiony.

  • Why Fixing Your Tax Impediments Will Save Your Freelance Business From Collapse

    The only way online business owners can succeed in 2021 going forward is by getting used to paying taxes. If you a have tax impediment, fix it. That’s a responsibility most online business owners find hard to accept.

    top view photo of person holding earphones
    Photo by fauxels on Pexels.com

    Many people thought that online Freelance businesses boomed during the Covid-19 pandemic because most people were working from home. Fact is, it was only in some niches that business boomed. Otherwise, most of ‘then booming‘ online businesses went under and no one dares to talk about them because the tax man is involved.

    So, what do I mean when I say many online businesses owned by freelancers went under?

    Government Intervention

    This is one of the biggest disruption in the digital workspace and no one has control of. 5 years ago, a freelancer or a business owner operating online could get away with all their earnings without paying any dime to the Taxman.

    There are many reasons why this was possible;

    1. No proper laws to govern online businesses was in place thus it was hard to penalize someone for not remitting their taxes from their digital earnings.
    2. There was no local agents to international foreign companies selling their services locally. A foreign company cannot file returns using their PIN number when selling locally in a given territory.
    3. Lack of proper systems in place to trace transactions coming to Kenya or getting out of the country as a result of a Kenyan making a purchase overseas.

    In 2021, the story has changed. Banks are now able to process most transactions being made online. Banks have all your details including your ID, PIN and active phone number for Mpesa transactions.

    If you are trying to carry out business online without putting proper tax measures in place, the taxman will come for you. The tax man can access your transaction statements both for mobile and bank.

    Its important to note that government institutions utilized the lockdown period to tighten their online presence. Its now easier to access most government services at the comfort of your home. This is including procurement of services.

    Also, most governments internationally used the period to enhance partnerships with companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook e.t.c. This way, they are able earn tax revenues from the sales these companies make in their territory.

    So What’s is The Way Forward?

    If you did and still do illegitimate business online targeting unsuspicious users, then you need to stop and put yourself together. Fraudulent businesses are now being targeted by security forces in a crackdown to make internet workspace safe. Its therefore important to focus on doing legit business that you can proudly charge tax.

    Ask yourself? Which category does your business fall in? is it entertainment, trade, travel, e.t.c?

    Remit Relevant Taxes From Your Digital Income

    Run a business that qualify to be taxed. This is unless you are operating an NGO and you are offering humanitarian activities. Government institutions love and promote businesses that are tax compliant. When you pay taxes, you support your governments vision and they will love to do business with you.

    Which One is Easy?

    If you have had your business collapse in the past, ask yourself, am I remitting taxes? Forget about the political story of ‘your taxes end up in the pockets of the corrupt few.’ Paying or fixing your tax impediments may be the solution to your collapsing business.

    On the other hand, do a self analysis;-paying taxes vs not paying taxes; which is easy? In my own analysis, paying tax is easy. Its better to be honest and declare NIL return than not do it at all.

    Conclusion

    The analysis here is based on my personal experience doing business online for now close to 10 years. After looking at the amount of information that the taxman can access about my transactions via bank and mobile money transfer, I saw there was no way to escape unless I declare my taxes and pay.

    That’s it from me. Until next time, take care start fixing your tax impediments.You will thank me later.

    You can follow me on twitter @cheptiony

  • Top 5 Methods To Withdraw Money Online in Kenya

    A lot of things have changed in how freelancers transfer their earned income online since the year 2013. Then, if a client paid an independent professional directly via Paypal, or on a freelancing service platform; it was really hard to withdraw the funds directly to your bank account.

    Watch Video

    When bank transfer feature was introduced- it could take up to 7 days for the funds to clear and show on your bank balance. That was it,unless you withdrew the money to Paypal (if you were paid via a freelancing platform) and then spend it on purchasing products online to be shipped to you in your country of residence.

    But now 7 years down the line, in Kenya, freelancers have more ways of withdrawing their earnings-thanks to the fast growing trust on the online marketplaces by various investors.

    In this blogpost, I will explore the history of cash transfers remotely.

    Early Birds in Global Money Transfer Market

    Payoneer Mastercard

    Before Upwork, there was Odesk and Elance. Those were the most preferred freelancing platforms in the year 2010-2013 in Kenya before the two companies merged to form Upwork. During this time, Payoneer had partnered with the two freelancing platforms to process freelancers earnings in any country. As a freelancer, one could apply for a Payoneer Mastercard which was sent to his/her respective country.

    This way, wherever a freelancer withdrew their earnings to their payoneer account, the funds could automatically load to their card. From here the freelancer was able to withdraw them in any ATM outlet with a ‘Mastercard‘ sign. Good news about this way of receiving funds was and is still the fastest and most convenient way to access your money within an hour of withdrawing them from Upwork or a freelancing platform in partnership with Payoneer. Additionally, you can use the card to shop anywhere.

    Skrill

    Skrill came in later in the year 2014 when they partnered with Mpesa to process payments for people living in Kenya. So the idea was, you could withdraw money to your Skrill account from the freelancing site of your choice. Then from your Skrill account send the funds directly to Mpesa.

    It came second after Payoneer because of its speed and convenience. This was little before Skrill customer support became unreliable and this payment method was removed from Upwork.

    I still see Freelancing platforms like Freelancer having this option as one of the withdrawal methods.

    And did I mention that they used to issue Visa cards as well? Yes they did.

    If you are considering a global digital payment processing service, you should consider Skrill.

    Paypal

    Paypal was there from the time I joined the internet marketplace. In any occasion, after everything has failed, the only ‘last man standing’ here is Paypal. The problem I had with Paypal was- I could not access the money in my country Kenya.

    Later, things changed to better when they partnered with Equity bank. To date, that’s the only bank that allows direct money transfers from Paypal. Another way of withdrawing money from paypal is via mobile money transfer to M-pesa account which takes less than 5 Mins to process.

    Direct Money Transfers to your Local Bank (EFT)

    This came much later in the year 2016. At the time, payments could take 5 days to appear in your bank balance. But due to competition and enhanced security measures put in place by banks, it now takes 2 days to process the payments and the conversion rate is very good.

    For any digital service provider making his money online, I fully recommend having EFT as your first option because of the many benefits that comes with it. You are protected from all forms of fraud.

    Moreover, your bank will favor you anytime you need their assistance.

    MPESA Global Mobile Money Transfer

    Mpesa is the fast growing Kenyan Mobile Money Transfer service owned by Safaricom PLC. This way of withdrawing money is only available in some freelancing platforms. Also, they process most payments originating from Kenyan citizens. While their systems are very secure, there is a long list of growing fraudsters prying on unsuspecting customers.

    Most of the kingpins being former Safaricom employees who call users acting as Safaricom customer care.

    And that is a summary of Global Money Transfers services from the eyes of an independent professional living in Kenya.

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