Tag: freelancing

I’m Changing Everything: Why I Left the “Red Ocean” of Freelancing for Strategic Growth
If you’ve been following my journey, you know I’m incredibly grateful that this blog has grown and remained consistent in posting new valuable content. Also, if you have been following me on YouTube, my channel has grown to over 4,400 subscribers.

For years, I’ve shared everything I know—from tips and expert advise on Freelance and Business to tutorials on SaaS tools and website reviews.

But today, I need to tell you:

that’s about to change. After 10+ years in the world of online freelancing, I’m closing that chapter to build something new and more strategic.

The New blog Direction

Living in the “Red Ocean

For over a decade, platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and PeoplePerHour were my entire career. It was a good career—it paid the bills and allowed me to work with amazing clients across the world.

However, I realized I was living in what I call the ‘Red Ocean.’ This is a space crowded with thousands of talented people, all competing for the same work. The primary game becomes competing on price and speed, where you’re constantly hustling to prove your value.

Ultimately, I was simply trading my time directly for money. My income was capped by the number of hours I could work. I was building a great reputation, but it was on someone else’s platform. I wasn’t building an asset; I was just a highly-paid technician in the global gig economy.

The Crucial Turning Point

This lack of a clear focus started to create problems, even on my YouTube channel. I found myself chasing views, creating tutorials on any topic I thought might get more subscribers, even if it wasn’t my true passion or area of expertise.

This diluted my intended brand message and led to people asking me for services I don’t offer, like company registration or tax consulting. I could not leave this opportunity go, so I did them and got paid.

My ultimate “aha” moment came when I realized the same trap I was in with freelancing (chasing gigs) I was now in with YouTube (chasing views). I needed to stop just being busy and start being strategic.

The answer was right there when I looked at my most successful clients. They weren’t just buying a single video; they were the ones who understood they needed a consistent, reliable video strategy to actually grow their business. And that’s what I needed to build my entire focus around.

The Leap into the “Blue Ocean

That insight is why I founded Techtube Video Studio and why I took the leap and closed all my freelancing accounts. I decided to create my own “Blue Ocean“.

Instead of competing on price, we’re making the competition irrelevant by offering something different: scalable video services. We’re not just another video production company.

We are turning video from a chaotic, one-off project into a predictable, streamlined system for growth. We achieve this through productized packages and video subscription models.

This allows our clients to get consistent, high-quality content that delivers a real return on investment. We’re moving from being a hired freelancer to a strategic partner.

The New Direction

To fully support this new vision, I’m clarifying the purpose of my blog here and YouTube channels to provide the most value to you.
1. The Channel (@cheptionymutai): The ‘Why’
  - This is my personal brand channel, and it’s evolving to be the home for high-level strategy and thinking behind modern business growth.
  - The core pillars we’ll explore are Media, Technology, AI, Storytelling, and Business Strategy.
  - The goal is to give you the strategic thinking to build your own “Blue Ocean,” not just show you how to click a button³¹.
2. Techtube Video Studio Channel: The ‘How’
  - This is where we put the strategies into action.
  - It will feature client case studies, behind-the-scenes looks at our scalable video services, and practical breakdowns of our work.
  - It’s the proof of the concepts we discuss right here.
Join the New Journey

This is a big change, but it’s about providing focused value in the right place.

If you are a founder looking for an edge, or if you’re a freelancer feeling trapped on that ‘red ocean‘ treadmill and looking for a way to build your own “blue ocean,” this new ecosystem is for you.

I invite you to stay subscribed right here on this blog and @cheptionymutai YouTube for the strategic insights, and if you are a business owner or marketer who wants to see this in practice, go subscribe to the Techtube Video Studio channel.

The best is truly yet to come.

Which of these new strategic topics are you most excited to dive into? Let me know in the comments!

Follow me social media @cheptionymutai
September 29, 2025
Beyond the Gig: Building Sustainable Income as a Freelancer in the Age of AI
The freelance landscape is shifting dramatically, especially for content creation service providers. With the rapid advancement of AI tools, the once lucrative fields of article writing, image generation, and graphic design are experiencing unprecedented disruption. Everyone, from individual entrepreneurs to small businesses, can now leverage AI to produce high-quality content, making it increasingly challenging for freelancers to secure well-paying gigs.

Photo by Caio on Pexels.com

So, how do you not just survive but thrive as a freelancer when fewer companies are hiring for content marketing tasks? More importantly, how can you build a sustainable business model that generates income even when you’re busy, or during those inevitable low seasons?

This isn’t just a question; it’s a critical challenge every freelancer must address. The market is inherently volatile, and clients are constantly seeking the most affordable options. Landing a long-term client who provides consistent work feels like a rare blessing.

Given this new reality, let’s explore actionable strategies for content creation and marketing freelancers to build a resilient and sustainable business.

Diversify Your Income: Sustainable Streams for Freelancers

To achieve consistent income, consider building these assets and revenue channels:

1. Leverage the Power of a YouTube Channel

Many freelancers view YouTube solely as a platform for direct client acquisition, overlooking its vast potential for diversified income. Beyond showcasing your portfolio and attracting new clients, YouTube now offers multiple monetization avenues for content creators:

Photo by Geri Tech on Pexels.com
- Direct Monetization: Earn through ad revenue once you meet the eligibility criteria.
- Channel Memberships: Offer exclusive content or perks to paying subscribers.
- Super Thanks, Super Chats, Super Stickers: Allow viewers to show appreciation with monetary contributions during live streams or on uploaded videos.
- Product Sales: Directly promote and sell your own digital products (e-books, templates, courses) or physical merchandise.
Beyond YouTube’s internal monetization, your videos serve as powerful marketing tools. By consistently sharing valuable content related to your expertise, you naturally attract viewers who might eventually become clients, reaching out for your professional video production or content creation services.

2. Build Passive Income Through Blogging & Mobile App Development

Harness AI to accelerate your content creation process, but don’t stop there.
- Blogging: Launch a blog focused on your niche. Write engaging, high-quality articles, using AI as an assistant for research, outlining, and drafting. Integrate Google AdSense to monetize your traffic. While achieving significant ad revenue isn’t instant, consistency, SEO optimization, and continuous content refinement are key to success.
- Mobile App Development: If you have an idea for a useful tool or game, leverage AI-powered development platforms or AI assistance in coding to bring your app to life. Enroll in AdMob to display ads within your app and generate passive revenue from downloads and usage.
Photo by Sanket Mishra on Pexels.com

These ventures require initial effort but can yield long-term, passive income streams that are less dependent on direct client work.

3. Establish and Actively Promote Your Service Website

Having a professional website to showcase your services is non-negotiable, but it’s only the first step. A website without promotion is like a shop without a sign.
- SEO Optimization: Ensure your website is optimized for search engines so potential clients can find you.
- Content Marketing: Regularly publish blog posts, case studies, and portfolio pieces that demonstrate your expertise.
- Social Media Marketing: Actively promote your services and content across relevant social media platforms.
- Networking: Engage with your target audience and other professionals in your industry.
Consistent and strategic promotion is the only way to attract serious clients actively seeking your services, transforming your website from a mere online brochure into a powerful lead-generation machine.

4. Explore E-commerce Opportunities

Do you have a passion for selling? E-commerce offers another avenue for sustainable income.
- Create Your Own Products: Develop and sell digital products (e.g., premium content templates, niche-specific guides, online courses) or physical products related to your content creation expertise.
- Resell Products/Services: Consider drop shipping or affiliate marketing, where you promote and sell products created by others, earning a commission.
Building an e-commerce business requires dedication to marketing and customer service, but it can provide a scalable income stream that operates independently of your direct freelance services.

Conclusion: Adapt, Diversify, and Thrive

The freelance world is undoubtedly evolving, with AI tools reshaping traditional service offerings. However, this evolution doesn’t signal the end of freelancing; rather, it calls for adaptation and innovation.

By diversifying your income streams through platforms like YouTube, building passive assets like blogs and mobile apps, actively promoting your services, and exploring e-commerce, you can build a robust and sustainable freelance business.

The key is to think beyond the immediate gig and cultivate multiple revenue channels that can support you during lean times and provide financial stability. Embrace AI not as a competitor, but as a powerful tool to enhance your efficiency and unlock new opportunities.

What other strategies are you employing to build passive income online? Share your insights in the comments section below!

Need help creating professional video content or refining your content strategy? Let’s connect here! You can also support my work by exploring my services here.
July 7, 2025

Freelancing Or Business? Which Of The Two Should You Invest Most of Your Time And Money In

Freelancing and business share a lot in common. That’s why many people are capable of tackling both of them at a go. But which of the two should one invest more of their time in?

On this blogpost, I will try to demystify the strengths and weaknesses of each one of them so that you see where you need to invest most of your energy in online.

All the information I am going to share with you here is based on my experience freelancing on different freelancing platforms and running a video production business based in Nairobi Kenya.

First, I will start with the common things that freelancing and business share in common.

Common Things That Freelancers And Business People/Entrepreneurs Share

low section of man against sky — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Freedom To Make Choices – Freelancers and business people have freedom to make their choices. They choose when to work, what to work on, where to work, when to go for vacation e.t.c.
Can Propose or Set Their Rates – When a client or prospect shares details of what they want done, freelancers or entrepreneurs can propose how much they will charge for their services. If the client agrees to it, they can set up a contract based on what has been agreed upon. This is the beauty of being either a freelancer or an entrepreneur.
Unlimited Earnings – Freelancers and business people are capable of making a lot of money based on the amount of contracts they win. More contracts means more money.
Can Work Anywhere – While a business person needs a permanent business establishment/location/offices for for them to operate, individuals who own online businesses offering services can work anywhere. This is the same case with freelancers, they can work anywhere.
Can Partner In Projects– Freelancers and business people can collaborate together very well in business dealings. In many scenarios, the business owner is usually the employer while the freelancer is the contractor.

With this said, it exists important things that differentiates freelancing and business.

Difference Between Freelancing And Business

Freelancer	NO	Business Person/Entrepreneur
You are limited on the who to contact for business. Most freelancers rely on invitations for interview and bidding on job posts on a freelancing platform.	1	Depends on your aggressiveness to look for business. You are free to identify and contact as many prospects as you can.
A freelancers is governed by a freelancing platform terms of service. Their profiles are at risk if they break certain rules.	2	Businesses are governed by the rules they set by the founders. Clients have the choice of either accepting or rejecting work offered to them.
Most of the project rates are set by the client. There is little freedom to make choices.	3	Business people send quotes based on the clients brief. They are free to quote the amount they want.
Growth is dependent on your past clients reviews. You have no control of any negative review you receive.	4	You have control on the reviews. You can grow depending how knowledgeable you are in a given assignment and not on what other people say about your services.
The clients you meet or have are yours as long as you remain on a given freelancing platform. You are not allowed to contact them outside the platform.	5	The clients who hires you are fully yours. You can communicate freely with them and ask for business.
If you are hired by many clients on a freelancing platforms, you are not allowed to sub-contract the same work to other freelancers unless you have a freelance agency on the same site.	6	You are the boss. You can contract and sub-contract with your set terms and conditions. This is the beauty of owning a business.
You are exempted from PAYE tax and only required to declare income tax on all your earnings annually. In some countries, income earned from a foreign country is not taxed.	7	Your business is governed by the tax laws of your country and you must be compliant to them. Failure to comply may result in your business being closed down.
The future of your success is at the mercies of the freelancing site you are in. If the site finds any small discrepancies in your account or a client reports your account for no reason, your account will be closed or suspended.	8	You hold the future of your business as you will grow from the repeat work from same clients. When you do good job, clients will recommend your services.

Comparison Between freelancing and Business

As you can see business wins when it comes to a long term investment with high returns. However, its important to point out the roles that freelancing plays when starting up.

Why Freelancing Is Important When Starting Up An Online Business

Freelancing plays a major role when starting up an online business. Here is why it might be a good idea to invest your time in freelancing first before launching your online business.

woman inside booth — Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels.com

Raise Capital – At the early stages of starting an online business, one needs to invest money into building a system in form of a website. You can raise capital to build your online business offering freelance service online. The rule to this is; Don’t be carried away by the freelancing jobs to a point you forget about establishing your online business.
Identify a niche Within Your Skills– Freelancing platforms is the home for different skillsets. If you succeed freelancing in a given niche, it’s a pointer that there is demand for that service and others that are trending on a given freelancing platform in the same niche. This way, you can position your services in the online market place with a lot of confidence.
Income To Sustain Yourself – Before you start earning from your business, you need money for upkeep. This is the money that you can easily earn offering freelancing services.

And that is it from me. I hope this article was helpful to you.

Should people invest more of their time offering freelance services or doing business?

Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

And if you are looking for professional video production services, you can request a quote for free on Techtube Video Studio website. You will get a response within 12 hours.

Until next time, bye bye and take care.

Follow me on twitter @cheptiony.

May 31, 2022

8 Common Forms Of Debit And Credit Card Fraud in Kenya
Owing rampart cases of card fraud where individuals are billed for purchases they did not authorize, many Kenyans are afraid of using their debit or credit cards online when shopping.

Watch Video Forms of Card Fraud Cases In Kenya

One of the popular online card fraud case in the past years worldwide is carding. It originated from the dark web. Most of the activities that takes place in the dark web are not traceable. That’s how dark web infrastructure is structured.

What is Carding?

According to Wikipedia, carding is the trafficking and unauthorized use of credit cards. The stolen credit cards or credit card numbers are then used to buy prepaid gift cards to cover up the tracks. The process encompasses exploitation of personal data, and money laundering techniques.

In other words, the scammer makes sure the stolen card is working. He then uses it to purchase a prepaid card on his name. From there, further purchases with the prepaid card will be hard to trace.

Though cases of carding has not been reported in Kenya yet, scammers popularly known as wash wash are doing it.

On this blogpost, I will focus on 8 common card fraud cases in Kenya. I will cover them from the most common to the least common.
1. Card Cracking
2. Chargeback fraud or friendly fraud
3. Account takeover on e-commerce website
4. Interception fraud
5. Point of Sales(POS) Fraud
6. Phishing and Vishing
7. Keystroke logging
8. Application Fraud
1. Card Cracking

Card cracking is the use card stolen numbers.

A good case of card cracking is the one that was reported by Nation Media last year here.

Two Bulgarians, Ivan Petkov and Milko Kostadinov, were arrested and charged in a Kilifi court when they were found with 44 ATM cards and over Sh2 million.

A Screenshot of Card Cracking case reported by nation Media

The money is believed to have been stolen from various bank accounts using the cards.

When enquiries was made on the affected banks, they were unable to trace or explain how the money was getting lost. This left them with no option but to refund the affected customers.

2. Chargeback or Friendly Fraud

This is a case where a customer makes purchases using their own credit or debit card and then disowns that transaction saying that it was not them. This kind of fraud is usually easy to trace.

Evidence can found in form of – cvv/avs match, IP address match, location data, copies of e-mailed invoices, the terms and conditions the customer agreed at the time of purchase e.t.c

3. Account Takeover On a E-commerce Website

Ever heard of people complain that their account has been hacked on a merchant site like Jumia, Amazon e.t.c? If the user had their credit card registered as a payment method on the hacked account, the fraudster will make purchases from the site until the debit account runs dry.

If this is not reported early, the fraudster can get away with it. On the other hand if the case is reported early enough, the hacker can be easily traced using the delivery address he/she has entered for the ordered items or the billing address he used in purchasing a given digital product e.tc.

4. Interception Fraud

Lets say you are browsing online and you found a product you like on a given website. Let’s call the site A. You do your own due diligence and you find out that site A is safe and secure. You use your card to purchase the product. A week later, you receive an e-mail notification that your have made another purchase (that you did not authorize) on a different site (lets call it site B) using the same card you used to make a purchase a week earlier.

This is what is called card interception fraud. The site owner or admin of site A took your card details and card information you supplied and used it to make the purchase on site B.

I recently saw a tweet of a foreigner warning travelers coming to Kenya to watch out for fraudulent e-visa scam sites especially kenyan-travels.com. They site appears legit but they will scam users ID and credit card.

5. Point of Sales (POS) Fraud

Point of sales fraud happens when a skimming device is attached to the POS devices to scan and store card information while the customer completes a swipe transaction. Several cases of scammers attaching a skimming devices on an ATM machine has been reported in US in the past years.

POS machine with skimming devise attached.

6. Phishing and Vishing

Phishing is very common in Kenya especially with Mpesa users and KCB bank account holders. This is where fraudsters impersonates official communication from the bank or service provider with the aim of duping unsuspecting users into revealing their credit card details. If they succeed, they will withdraw everything from the account of the victim.

7. Keystroke Logging

In order for the fraudster to succeed with Keystroke logging, they will first need install a malicious software or hardware on the target device. The malicious software will be used to capture credit card details through recording every key pressed on their system.

Keystroke logging happens mostly to users who purchase cheap used gadgets online.

8. Application Fraud

This is a type of identity theft where fraudulent actors impersonates a genuine customer to obtain a credit card. The fraudsters uses customers stolen or counterfeit documents to make their application.

How are the banks are working to curb card Fraud

Most banks are now upgrading from 3D secure version 1 to 3D secure version 2. With 3D card authentication, the system identifies you as the actual card holder before any transaction can take place by sending a One time password(OTP) on users registered mobile number. This will prove that the actual card holder is the one undertaking an online transaction and therefore it is a genuine transaction.

Global card payment industry mandate requires all the banks to move to the newest version of 3D secure by October 2022.

Ways to Safeguard Yourself Against Debit/Credit Card Fraud
- Report stolen cards to your bank.
- Be careful when using your card online. Do not give out your credit card number online unless the site is secure and reputable.
- Memorize your CVV number then scratch it off the card to avoid misuse when you lose or its stolen.
- Setup alerts of all your transactions. This way you will be notified of any fraudulent transactions on your card.
- Be careful when responding to special investment offers especially from unsolicited e-mail addresses.
- Keep track of your documents and ensure you destroy redundant copies before disposal. This way, none of your private information will be exposed.
- Be extra careful when dealing with foreign businesses or companies outside your country.
And that is it from me.

What’s your card fraud story? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

And if you are in need of video production services, let me know here. Alternatively, you can you can request a quote for free here.

Until next time, bye and take care.

Follow me on twitter @cheptiony.
April 7, 2022
Top Tips To Subcontracting Work

As freelancers and entrepreneurs, we find ourselves in situations where there is a need to subcontract work due to growing demand. It’s not that we lack the skills to do the work, but its because we have a lot at hand and need help from other Freelancers.

So, in what occasions should you sub-contract and not to sub-contract a project?

Well, in this blogpost, I will cover when to sub-contract work and when not sub-contract work.

What’s Subcontracting?

Subcontracting Work. Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Subcontracting in the online marketplace or any other marketplace means bringing in an outside company or a contractor, to help you complete certain work or a project that you are unable to do. To help you understand this better, I will use Videography as an example. Let’s say, I get invited to shoot video by 3 clients on the same day.

Based on our work history together, each of the clients individually insists that I take the job. As an entrepreneur or freelancer, I have to find a solution. The solution will be recruiting other professionals with good skills in videography to help me out. I will then give them instructions on what to shoot.

This in a nutshell, is subcontracting. I am the one who is assigned the contract and I have other guys or agencies doing the actual job.

Watch video

When To Subcontract

When You Have More Than You Can Handle

As detailed above, when you have a lot of work at hand, its wise and healthy to subcontract. It will seem a bit difficult when subcontracting for the first time. When you have done it once, repeating the same will be easy. Take advantage of such subcontracting opportunities to make more money and build a network of like minded professionals.

When You Don’t Have the Skills Needed

Online Copywriter at work. Photo by Startup Stock Photos on Pexels.com

In the online marketplace, sometimes the skills you have can’t help you. For example, if you are a direct response copywriter and a client wants you to write a copy on a new Cryptocurrency Token- a product you are not familiar with; what will you do if the job needs to be completed urgently?

In order for you to deliver the best copy, you will need take time and learn about the cryptocurrency token in question by comparing it with other related services.

With the abundance of freelance direct response copy writers in very specific niches online, it will be worth your time to hire a professional cryptocurrency copywriter to help you out.

When You Are Ill

Sick Freelancer. Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Good health is the key to success. If you are not feeling well at the time you are awarded the contract, the only you can make that money is by getting someone else to do the work for you as you recover. In other words, you need to subcontract.

When You are Away on Vacation

Even when on vacation, freelancers and entrepreneurs still get excited when they are awarded contracts or asked to send a proposal. If the job is coming from a client you have worked with in the past, you will not want to lose that contract owing to the relationship you have with them.

By subcontracting, you will still be able to enjoy your vacation while the job is getting done.

When Not To Subcontract

When In The Middle of Contract

Any contract that you have initiated work on is not worth subcontracting. There are many reasons to this. One is the cost that comes with sub-contracting. You may lose time and money in the process. Its therefore important to factor in time and cost when planning to subcontract.

If there is a need to sub-contract, do your evaluation first and see if its possible to complete the work internally without seeking services of an external contractor. Secondly, the training that you have to give to the new contractor is time consuming and exhausting. You have to show them how far you are, your workflow process, the iterations made already so there is no repeat e.t.c.

At the end you will realize that you would have rather assigned them the project as a new contract rather than let them pick from where you left.

When Your Past Experience With a Client Wasn’t Good

Freelancer working at home. Photo by Anthony Shkraba on Pexels.com

If you have worked with a difficult client in the past, you know what I mean. If the same client returns and you previously had a difficult time working on their project, you might tempted to accept the work, and sub-contract. This might be prompted by the fact you will be able transfer the stress to the immediate contractor. While this might be a witty idea, you may end up making losses in process.

The best thing to do is not to accept the contract all together. Tell them you are fully occupied. This way, you will be able to take on work with people you enjoy working with.

If The Client is Nosey

Some clients are nosey. After you are done interviewing and they have awarded you the contract, they still follow you around to find out if it’s you who is really doing the job. This in my opinion is disgusting. A normal clients’ concern should be to get the work completed on time. Otherwise, why would someone waste their time making unscrupulous investigations on whether I am the person actually doing the job?

This is unless subcontracting conditions was stated clearly on the contract that there is no subcontracting. Otherwise, taking work from nosey clients is not worth.

If the prospect sounds nosey at the verge of hiring, reconsider accepting the contract. They will keep asking you things that are not in anyway related to the contract at hand.

Conclusion

Success comes with vigilance. I know you need money, and good money comes from making the right decisions when it comes to subcontracting. If you don’t take for granted any of the above instances, you are sure to reap most from subcontracting work.

I hope the information I have shared here on subcontracting was helpful to you.

In what instances do you reconsider subcontracting a job or a contract?

Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

And if you need help with screen-cast video production or videography, you can request a free quote here.

Until next time, bye bye and take care.

Follow me on twitter @cheptiony.

September 23, 2021
Do You Need a VPN as a Freelancer Really?

After a complete video review of close to 15 Premium VPN’s with the leading one having 10 Million+ users and others averaging at 1 Million+ users, the question that I have always asked myself during the review process is; do I really need a VPN as a Freelancer living in Africa on a day to day basis?

Each time I ask myself this question, the absolute answer is No, I don’t. But once in a while, Yes.

My answer is based on my past VPN usage. I have always downloaded a VPN only and only for use in activities connected to my freelancing business. In this I mean, if I have an assignment that requires me to access information blocked in my country, that is where I find a VPN in handy. And all the time when I am done with the project, I uninstall it.

The second reason for my No answer is that I was once suspended from a freelancing site for using a VPN. I had used it to make the site think that I was based in US-yet I was not. Being suspended means that you will miss new freelancing opportunities for more than 30 days. This really hurt my earnings. I ended up leaving the site for this same reasons.

But for a Freelance traveler, the story is different because VPN comes in handy in some countries- which is why in this blog-post, I will share with you 4 uses of a VPN as a Freelancer.

To Unblock Content Restricted in Your Country

Content can range from text, photos and videos. Also, it can be games, software’s and mobile applications. Many countries in the west restrict their content for copyright reasons.

Of-course as freelancer, it is possible to be hired by anyone across the globe. Some assignments may require you to access restricted content. You will not be able to do it without a VPN. A good example of this is reviewing a Mobile application made for users in US only. If you live in Africa, You will not be able to find it when you search on PlayStore. And this is where a VPN come in handy.

For Entertainment Purposes

If you are a fun of streaming new movie content on Netflix US, Hulu, AMozon prime and more, you will require a VPN to unblock them unless you are a resident of US. With this said, it is important to note that there some content restricted to some countries like UK, China, Japan, India and more. This thus means that even if you live in US, you will need a VPN to watch them.

To Stay Anonymous

Popular browsers like Google chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer are well know for logging users data for business purposes. That is what you get in return for using these browsers for free.

If you want your usage logs to be kept discreet i.e Sites you visit, and what you access on a regular basis, you will need a VPN. It is important that you check their Privacy policy before going ahead to purchase them. Some VPN’s logs users data and sells them to third party companies.

For Tor-renting

If you love to download torrents, then a VPN will come in handy. Browsers like chrome discourage tor-renting for copyright reasons. i.e Downloading software torrents.

Also, the download speed of torrents with a VPN is very fast. However, I must mention that not all VPNs allow Peer to peer downloading so you must consider this before getting one.

And that is it!

These are 4 instances I know that you can use a VPN as a freelancer. Of-course there are many more things that you can do with a VPN.

My question is, do you use a VPN ? What are some of the reasons you use the VPN that you choose? Share your views in the comments area below.

And if you need help to create and produce professional screen-cast video tutorials or any other type of video, let know here.

Until next time, take care.

Follow me on twitter @cheptiony

February 24, 2020
4 Pillars To Building Trust From Scratch Online As a Freelancer
A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.
Chinese Proverb

This is a common saying that originated from a Chinese proverb and it applies in our every day life. If you are starting to build up your online Freelancing business, you are making your first ‘single step‘ towards success.

Overnight successes don’t last so you should avoid at all cost the temptations to fall into it.

Watch video

This blog-post is written for people who are interested in building a long lasting reputation online. Before you read further, I am assuming that you have considered the following things before launching your business online.
- Niche – The marketplace you are going to target online. You have to be very specific. i.e Photography – Photo editing and design
- Expertise – It should be something that is giving value to people. Also it has to be something that you enjoy doing. This way, you will be able to make it better everyday without anyone pushing you to do so.
- Consistency – You are in a position to provide consistent services to your audiences/customers. Also, being prepared to do it for as long as you live.
These are key things you have to look into before launching your business online. It’s important, because once you are on, challenges will be there that will make you want to give up. With that said, lets now get into the first Pillar.

Own the Skills You Are Selling

You must first own the skills that you are selling by showing. Do a video trailer that highlights your services. Publish the best samples of your work online. Let people see that you have the skills they are looking for. Let your samples show that you truly understand the industry you are in. This way, you will have made the first impression.

Share a Short Description of Yourself or Team with a Nice Photo

Most people will overlook this but the impact it has is beyond what you can imagine. While people will love to hear about your hobbies, take time to think about how you will want them to connect with you. Let your profile description lean on your expertise and experience. It should contain at least 10% of your personal life.

Prospective customers are most interested in knowing the founder and less interested in knowing about your team. If the prospect is a big enterprise, then they may be interested in your team as a display of your capability.

Sharing this also demonstrates that you are a proud owner of the business you are running. Be happy and excited about it.

Communication Style – Be Professional

Let’s say someone stumbles upon your website. They find what you sharing is interesting. They makes an inquiry about the services that you offer.They write their inquiry in a non-professional way. Their inquiry carries a clear message. Will you toss that mail onto the trash folder and imagine that they are not serious?

With spammers getting clever day by day, you should take time to look into their mail inquiry more closely. Is the mail encrypted? Does it have the lock icon? Grey or green lock icon indicates that the mail source is secure. Also, the e-mail address should be from a real domain with an existing website.

If upon checking on the mail, you find that the features are there, don’t hesitate, reply to the e-mail. In your reply, address the sender by his/her name. Then clearly address their need. Use simple language and let it sound you are a human. Let them feel you. Your reply will inspire them to take you seriously.

Write Regular Blog-post About Your Niche

Posting a video trailer or some product demos of your work and details about your business is not enough. To ensure that your website remains optimized and up to date, you have to build consistent traffic. You can only do this by writing regular blog-posts and sharing the posts on social media to generate back-links. Also do short video highlights and share them on YouTube to generate back-links.

With time, your organic traffic with surge and you will be getting more inquiries and comments on the blog-posts you publish. This is the art of building trust online. There is no need to rush if you are already enjoying what you are doing.

And that’s it. Apply these and you will be on the right path to building your online reputation as a Freelancer.

Thanks for reading through the post.

If you need help to create professional screen-cast video tutorials for your website, mobile application or software, let me know here.

Until next time, bye bye and take care.

Follow me on twitter @cheptiony
August 15, 2019
5 Things to do During Low Freelancing Seasons

Watch Video

If there is one great advise any seasoned Freelancer will ever give you- is that there is a pattern in the Freelancing business. There is the low season and there is the high season. Both seasons may occur 2-3 times a year based on the category of service you are offering. Low seasons is that month in the year where you record low sales while high season is the one that you record high sales.

In the video production business, based on my own analysis- low seasons occur 3-4 times a year while high season are distributed into 4 different months in a year. I will not be specific on the months because it changes all the time.

High seasons are the most exciting ones because you are making good money from Freelancing. On the other hand, low seasons are the most boring ones because there is less work and the earnings are very small.

In this blogpost, I will share with you five things that you can do during the low seasons in the freelancing business to build yourself and stand out from the crowd.

Update Your Profile

It’s really hard to update your personal profile when you are busy working. It may take you a whole year to update your profile with the latest projects you have accomplished. Commit yourself to do this during the low seasons. It is the best period since you have a lot of free time to do it. Add your latest accomplishments and change a few things to make yourself stand out from other freelancers. In the video production category, take your time to create a very enticing show reel or Trailer.

Take a Vacation

You may find yourself busy and working at the time when everyone is going for their summer vacation and free when everyone is back. In such occasions, you will postpone your vacation. Plan your finances well so that you can go for a vacation on low seasons. The best thing about this is-if your vacation falls in a time when few people are travelling- you will get save a lot of money on accommodation and travel cost as the demand for the same is low. This is a good thing as you will be motivated to travel and explore more.

Learn Something New Related to Your Skill

Let’s say you specialize is in a specific niche of a particular skill. A good example in the video production business is Video editing with Adobe premiere. During the low seasons, it will be a great to learn motion graphics with Adobe after effects. You will be surprised on how much this will add value to your Freelancing portfolio. On the other hand, take your time to learn how to set up an online business and sell your skills. With more and more people gaining confidence in your skills-you will be a step higher in building a business from the services that you are offering.

Identify Long-term Investment Vehicles

While you enjoy doing what you are doing, you will not want to do it forever for money. At some point in your career, you will want to invest your income on projects that generates income passively. This will depend on your experience and a clear understanding of what you are investing in. Do your research each time you have free time and less work on your table. The result of this research is- you will have a better understanding of different investments and the price for each. Having this in mind will motivate you to work towards a goal.

Meditate/Fast

Most people don’t take this serious but it is the key. Commit your low seasons to meditation and fasting as this is the only path to enlightenment. Fasting cleanses your body and meditation cleanses your spirit. Renowned Hollywood actors take 8 days of dry fasting. This is one of the greatest challenge that you can give to yourself. Try this and thank me later.

And that is it.

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

Until next time, bye and take care.

You can follow me on twitter @cheptiony

July 4, 2019
4 Types of Freelancing Job Offers You Need to Think Twice Before Accepting

Do you keenly look into details of a Freelance job offer before accepting? Have you ever regretted after accepting a Freelancer job offer?

In this blog post, I share with you 4 types of Freelancing job offers you need to think twice before accepting.

With the competition in the Freelancing industry becoming fiercer every day, it’s very tempting to accept any job that comes your way. In fact, getting interviewed after bidding for a job is becoming harder with more qualified freelancers joining the bandwagon.

This thus means that if you get a chance to be interviewed after sending your bid, the chances of accepting the job you will be offered afterwards is high.

So, how do you vet a freelance job offer before accepting? Remember, by accepting the job offer, you are responsible for any consequences that follow which include;

Handling Poor Communication

Some clients will hype you just before hiring you then go silent after hiring. They will promise to provide additional information to help you complete the project only to end up not communicating. Such behavior is truly heartbreaking and a total waste of time.

You Ending the Contract Out of Impatience

If the client does not provide you with all the required information to complete the contract, the only option you will have is to end the contract and refund the money deposited on escrow. Your freelancing sites’ support team will encourage you to communicate directly with your client in case of any dispute arising.

Being Badly Reviewed

This is the last thing any hard working freelancer will expect. If you have a high job score for delivering great service; one bad review will hurt your score. This is something you need to avoid at all cost.

Client Refusing to Pay you the Full Amount Agreed

This only applies to fixed type of contracts. Usually, it is based on agreement and is broken down into small milestones paid upon completion of a given assignment.

All of these and more are the consequences of accepting a job out of excitement and not doing your due diligence well. Success in the freelancing industry is very dependent on your ability to look keenly on what you are being offered. Here are Four characteristics of jobs you should reconsider when you are offered;

The client is Insisting that You use a Specific Software and You are required to Buy it

Now, you will not know this until you check the software pricing. In most occasions, when you compare, the amount of money the client is offering, it is equal to 60-80% the cost of the software. This means if you accept the job, you will take home 20-40% of the pay. Unless, the client is offering to pay for software license, you should decline such job offer without event having a second thought.

The Client is Requesting Your E-mail and Skype Address

This was normal 3 years ago, but now things have changed. You can keep all your communications on the Freelancing site you are attached to. What happens is that, after you are done with the interview, they will ask that you communicate with them via e-mail and Skype. Some will even propose that you work with them directly and F**k the freelancing site that connected both of you. This is very risky depending on the Freelancing site you are using for two reasons; one, you will be violating the terms of service which discourages communication outside the freelancing site and two, you payment will not be protected. If the client fails to pay, your freelancing site will not be responsible for it.

The Client is Interviewing More 10 Other Freelancers in a Row Under the Same Job

When posting a job; the client is required to be specific on the number of freelancers he/she is looking to hire. In this case, you will find that the client is interviewing almost everyone and looking to hire only one. While some are genuine with plans of hiring, most of them will hire a number of the freelancers and deposit a small amount in escrow for each. When the freelancers deliver the first draft, they pay full amount to the one they like and dismiss the rest. If you are among those dismissed, you will feel wasted even if they pay you the small amount they had deposited as a milestone on escrow which in most occasions goes through a dispute.

The Client is Not Sure of What They Want And They Want You to do Something for Them to Gauge

This may work out at the end. With that said, be ready to do the donkey job. The client will only approve your work if they like it. So you may have to develop many drafts (if it was a video your were creating) to show the client. This is a good thing for a new freelancer, but not good for someone who has been in the business for long.

And that is it.
If you need help to create and produce professional screen-cast video tutorials with a professional voice over, let me know here.

Until next next time, bye bye and take care.

Follow me on twitter @cheptiony

May 22, 2019
4 Temptations You Should Avoid At All Cost When You Hire a Freelancer

Like the Lord’s prayer ‘...lead us not into temptations, but deliver us from evil..\’ the following temptations that comes along with sub-contracting or hiring a freelancer to work on your projects (or some of your projects) should be avoided at all costs if you find yourself falling into them.

If you are someone enterprising, and you deliver great work, then satisfied clients will refer you to their fellow businessmen. At the end of the day, you will have a lot of fulfilling projects to work on.

Obviously, as a client or an enterprising freelancer with deep knowledge in video production, you will be determined to find a fellow freelancer with the right skills to help you out.

Here are 3 common temptations that may cost you time and reputation. Each time you notice them, remember the Lord’s prayer and take action.

Everyone loves to pay less for more. Now, bargains comes with a price in the freelancing world. On the other hand, experience will teach you a lot. For example, you will know the best bargain for a certain service. New freelancers may qu o te lower prices promising to deliver the best.

Others will use other peoples video examples to convince you. You will know this during the interview. Don\’t ever be tempted to hire someone cheaper hoping to make 10X profit out of the project. 90% of them will surprise you with lower quality work. That\’s the last thing you will want to hear.

Freelance entrepreneurship can be very demanding. You are after making more sales and profits. Focusing on making more profits within a set period of time can cause you to push whoever you hire to speed up the production. This is dangerous. Creativity and inspiration to create compelling videos requires time. Give them time to utilize their creativity in order to produce quality work.

First, this is unprofessional. In the project you hired for, you are the team leader. For this case, you should take your time to thoroughly review the video and request for changes where necessary. Usually, the first draft require many revisions. Ask the contractor to make these changes. When you are happy and confident enough to share your work with the client, do so. This will save you a lot of heartache. Besides, the clients will view you as someone professional.

A bad review by a freelancer can hurt you chances of attracting high quality freelancers in future. Set your standards through your communications with them when you hire. Don\’t let them drag you to their problems. E.g some freelancers have a tendency of complaining about one thing or another after you have hired them. Don\’t let this get into you. Remind them of what your initial contract with them says. Be very stern. This will make them respect you as a client and deliver extraordinary service.

And that is it from me today.

There are many other temptations you should avoid at all cost when sub-contracting work to a freelancer. Do you know of any? Share it with me in the comments section below.

If you need help to create and produce professional screen-cast video tutorials, let me know h ere.

Till next time, bye bye and take care.

You can follow me on twitter @cheptionymutai

March 13, 2019