Category: Life

Access new markets in Nigeria (Influencer marketing)

Posted on by Sandra Adodo

Are you looking to reach local markets in Nigeria and do not know where to start? You just hit the jackpot, as the answers you need are right here. The first thing to know about expanding beyond your conventional market sphere is that influencer marketing is one of the best allies to have. It doesn’t matter if it is a consumer or service business; you will have the upper hand when your customers can trust you through influencers that speak their needs.

The big question is “How do you penetrate the market using influencer marketing?” Read on to find out the strategies you can implement to access the Nigerian market. 

  • Find local talent

The first approach in finding talent in Nigeria is to source for local influencers. In searching for local talent, you must remember that the same approach in your country might not work in Nigeria, so you need to move strategically. There are different kinds of influencers; micro, nano, and macro. When you know what type of market you are targeting, it will be easier to select the influencer that fits the market.

  • Risk assessment

When expanding a new market in Nigeria or any other novel market, it is crucial to weigh the risk to minimise it well. If the influencer you choose doesn’t fit your brand but knows everything about the market, that can pose a challenge to getting value for the money spent. This is a major problem for businesses in a new environment as they have a limited understanding of the targeted market. Another risk is going into the market without brand awareness. This strategy will not be a wrong move if you have something planned with your influencer marketing agency or in-house team. But if not, it is a major risk.

  • Minimise the risk

While you can’t eliminate all the risks, it is possible to minimise them. How do you minimise the risk?

  • Start with a strategy – Make sure the strategy is in line with the goals of your company and the expected result you want to gain once started.
  • Get a good number of influencers – Many times, what you need the most is not just one or two influencers but having different capable hands onboard. This doesn’t mean you will start with plenty of influencers, but the right amount is the best way to avoid wasting money.
  • Research African influencers before hiring – You need to get familiar with the influencers before you start a conversion, which can be done when you do your research correctly.

After minimising the risks in the best way possible, you should contact an influencer marketing agency to support expansion. Whether you have an in-house partner or an external partner, any of them will work well for your expansion as they have the right knowledge you need. Bookings Africa is a significant influencer marketing agency in Nigeria that provides the services of different kinds of influencers. Infact, if you need other talents, we have them readily available for easy bookings.

With our help, you can book influencers matching your brand identity and reach submarkets in Nigeria. We have access to premium Nigerian influencers registered on the Bookings Africa platform that you can collaborate with as you expand your business. The team at Bookings Africa will also help manage influencers and develop strategies to target the right audience.

With the best influencers in your team, you can speak to your consumer and be confident they will trust your brand. So, to access a new market in Nigeria, take a cue from these four points and be guaranteed the right exposure your brand needs to scale.

How to hire African professional talent from North America and Europe

Posted on by Sandra Adodo

Africa is full of talented freelancers contributing immensely to the digital world. So far, the number of African freelancers providing top-notch services relevant to clients around the globe are increasing daily. Non-African employers looking to hire from Africa’s online marketplace will benefit greatly from such services, especially if they pass through the right channel.  

 

How do you hire? 

Before delving into hiring African professionals, there are some questions to ask yourself as a client. Do I need virtual services? Do I know a platform with service providers in more than one African country? Can I effectively communicate using the chosen platform? Is the hiring platform credible with reviews to show for it? 

 

Interestingly, Bookings Africa checks the list as we pride ourselves as a reliable platform for connecting talents with clients. Whether you want to hire an influencer for showcasing your brand in the African market or a photographer to capture events in Africa, they are all readily available on the platform.

 

The hiring process is simple – 

  • Create a client profile on the Bookings Africa platform 
  • Check through the services offered to choose a talent. Once you click on a service, you will see different skills charging different prices for their services. 
  • Compare the talents’ prices, choose one or more and book them. You can be sure with Bookings Africa that you will get quality services as all the service providers are verified. Plus, payment for the service will remain in escrow until you have approved a well-completed job. 

 

What services can be rendered? 

Depending on the services you want, you can make the selection and book immediately. Check through the list of virtual services on the Bookings Africa platform. But if you are coming into Africa and want to hire physical freelancers, there are many services on the platform. Trust me; Bookings Africa gives you a seamless hiring process at a great price. 

 

Why choose Bookings Africa for professional hires? 

There are so many reasons Bookings Africa should be a no1 choice for your professional hire. Some of them are: 

  • We are the largest online gig marketplace in Africa 
  • We offer the best connection between and clients and talents with our top-notch technology 
  • You can book a service provider within an hour and get excellent service delivered 
  • You can find a service provider that fits your budget through our app
  • Our payment method is safe and reliable 

So, If you want a credible firm to link you to the service providers required for your next big project, Bookings Africa is the best partner. Hire African professionals today and reach the many incredible talents from Bookings Africa. Happy hiring!

 

Exploring money-making ventures in Africa

Posted on by Sandra Adodo

According to a Forbes article, 2030 promises to be a year of massive increase for the freelancing community. However, few people working 9-5 will still not benefit from this shift as the freelancing world doesn’t look so appealing

There are so many money-making ventures online that Africans can benefit from, and it is not limited to conventional employment. If you are a freelancer in Africa and you want to explore the many options available for you, reading this piece is the first place to start. Ready? Let’s dive in.

  • Start from your locality.

Bookings Africa is an online gig marketplace aimed at connecting talents to clients when needed. The process of using Bookings Africa is seamless as clients can book service providers (freelancers) and pay them for the services done. How does this help your exploration? It is simple! If you have skills or talents you wish you could get paid for; Bookings Africa gives you a platform to make that exchange. For instance, if you are great at making sumptuous meals and someone needs to order a chef, your availability on the Bookings Africa platform will allow you to offer physical and virtual services and get paid. Whether in Kenya, South Africa, or Nigeria, you can use the Bookings Africa platform to earn from your locality.

  • Position yourself rightly

One thing you can be sure of enjoying on Bookings Africa is proper positioning. As a registered service provider, you will not only get booked from anywhere in Africa, but the necessary tools needed to complete the task are made available. If you are booked as a tutor, you have the video call feature to make it possible for live conversations on the Bookings Africa app. Also, when you are on the platform, you are trusted by any client, can work with them, and get paid immediately after the job completion.

  • Expand to other niches

Once you start earning big in a particular niche, you can add more skills and diversify to give you more earning capacity. Bookings Africa allows you to upload more than one profession to showcase your skills. With this option, you will be on your way to doing more work and earning bigger. It becomes even more interesting to know that you can be a top trusted service provider when you are consistently delivering excellent service. This achievement will earn you more money no matter your location.

  • Refer others

To expand your income streams, Bookings Africa allows you to refer others and earn. Learn more about our referral system. By referring others, you will help other people benefit from the money venture you just found.

With Bookings Africa, your search for money-making ventures online is over. Instead of getting scammed by the many unrealistic online platforms, join the train of freelancers and earn right from your home and neighbourhood.

See what MAC cosmetics and Bookings Africa have been up to…

Posted on by Sandra Adodo

If you want to talk about makeup authorities worldwide, both for professionals and consumers, MAC cosmetics stands in the top three. Mac Cosmetics is notable worldwide and locally and has extended to the shores of Africa.

MAC cosmetics used influencer marketing agencies to penetrate the African market successfully, and Bookings Africa is one of them. Our partnership with this outstanding brand has led to the unveiling of many exciting products which are accepted in Africa and beyond. The recent expansion we worked on was on Re-think pink for makeup enthusiasts and agencies.

The redefining pink project targeted breaking the popular norm of red valentine and accentuating pink in its place. Who says pink can’t be romantic? Re-think pink has shown us how fabulous pink tones can be.

The exciting part about this project is Bookings Africa’s involvement in showcasing this fav lip shades to Africans. Bookings Africa helped with the campaign of this project, and we provided top influencers like Kaylah Oniwo. Kaylah showed lipstick lovers how great pink shades would look good on any outfit. She understood the brand’s voice and interpreted it in a way MAC cosmetics consumers could better relate to.

What not to love about this re-think pink project? The shades? The tones? The great price? The benefits? Whatever lipstick shades from these lists of pink will go well for any look or occasion. You can rock it for a romantic dinner or use a neutral tone for your everyday look. 

If you ever thought MAC cosmetics does well with producing red lipstick, you can be sure this new pink redefinition will be a boom. See what it looks like on any of our influencers and select your best look today.

 

 

 

5 Instagram Accounts You Should Check Out This Month 

Posted on by Sandra Adodo

 

Are you a service provider on the Bookings Africa platform and looking for ways to gain more recognition and scale up your niche? Then this is what you need to read. Many freelancers miss out on essential gigs because they are ignorant of certain information. But the truth is, information is everywhere, and until you get connected to the correct information, you will not scale up as you desire. In this article, we will be discussing five Instagram accounts that service providers on Bookings Africa can follow to get the right information. 

  • EbonyLife studios

When it comes to filmmaking, Ebonyliife films is one of the leading producers in Nigeria. They have produced major blockbusters in the past and the most recent one is Blood sisters that ranked first in many countries for weeks on Netflix. Interestingly, Ebony life films is one of our business partners on Bookings Africa. In fact, for Blood sisters, we provided them with more than 300 background actors from our platforms. That means if you can act but are not yet on the platform, you are not helping your brand in any way. Don’t waste any more time. Follow Ebony life studios, sign up on the Bookings Africa platform and get a chance to feature in a big debut in the nearest future.

  • Essenza

This is a top luxury retailers of prominent brands like Estee Lauder, Tom Ford, and they are interestingly, one of Bookings Africa client. Because Essenza deals with selling sophisticated beauty products, they often need social media influencers, and we make them available for them through the Bookings Africa platform. We have helped significant influencers on our platforms like Kaylah Oniwo, Denola Grey, Tania Omotayo and many more get booked to promote Essenza brands in the past. You can be one of them today by following Essenza and registering as a social media influencer on the Bookings Africa platform. 

  • Kaylah Oniwo 

We cannot stop mentioning this great social media influencer on Bookings Africa as she has gradually built a brand worth emulating. During our last #Meet a Service Provider series on our blog post, she shared how she scaled up in the influencing world and how other aspiring influencers can do the same. Kaylah Oniwo has worked for major brands like Net-a-Porter, Hermès, Estee Lauder, Pandora, Hillary says and many more. If you have not read the post, this is the best time to do so. Plus, make sure you don’t just read it; follow her and learn from the wealth of knowledge she often gives out. 

  • Africa Business Radio

Another major partner at Bookings Africa is Africa Business Radio. The Africa business radio is a big online platform that help business publish their audio messages on major platforms like Spotify, Apple and many others. We have worked with them in the past and are still in partnership for bigger collaborations. You can listen to season one of Bookings Africa podcasts on Spotify. The Episode 1 talks about how Fadé Ogunro, the founder of Bookings Africa, started the online gig marketplace we all enjoy. If you want to know about the features of Bookings Africa, listen to episode 2 and see what you will gain on the platform. You can also check the Africa Business Radio website for more podcasts to give you the information you need to scale up your brand. 

  • Zainab Ashadu

If you are into fashion, you will learn a lot from  following Zainab Ashadu. She is the founder of Zashadu Ltd and is an award-winning creative. She makes luxury handbags and is also a Bookings Africa client to check out and follow-on IG. Notable leaders like Chimamanda Adichie, Beyonce and many more have worn her designs and she has also been featured on blogs such as Lioness of Africa and you can learn fromhave written about this renowned director of fashionable handbags. By following her and signing up to the Bookings Africa platform, you get updated on the latest fashion bags and how to complement your outfits better. 

The game plan is simple! If you are looking for more accounts to follow, then one or all of these 5 can suffice. Check them out today and start following already!

 

5 Best Apps You Need as a Freelancer

Posted on by Ugochi Obilonu

There are a few things that make life easier such as outsourcing laundry or ordering food. The feeling of not having to sort the clothes or prep meals is one that is so satisfying. For you, it might not be laundry. It might be planning a vacation or getting your finances right but what counts the most is that this seemingly little assistance adds to the totality of a person’s wellbeing.

 

We know freelancers help in easing the burden of other individuals but what reduces the burden of  the freelancer? 

 

Don’t answer that because we have our answer. APPS!

 

Apps are technology’s best gift to mankind. There’s no way you’ll look at your device(s) and not see apps that are beneficial to easing your life or enhancing your work in some way or the other.

 

Hence, we have created a list of five apps we think every gig-worker, entrepreneur, solopreneur or freelancer can benefit from. 

 

Personal Finance Apps

Not everyone is exceptional with numbers and definitely, not everyone is Excel-proficient. 

 

A make-up artist enjoys shopping for new products and making people look beautiful but it does not mean that she’s a pro at budgeting or tracking her expenses. 

 

Does the makeup artist need to get a grip on her money flows? Definitely. But does she have to track her expenses, prepare a budget, automate savings, and calculate profit and expenditure, all by herself? No. There are so many great apps that can help with that.

 

Apps like Money Manager help with the day-to-day tracking of an individual’s expenses. You can record everything single thing you spend money on daily and weekly or monthly, you are able to see exactly where your money goes. 

 

Tracking your personal expenses is great for you because it helps you become more responsible with the money you earn. 

  • Money Manager for expense tracking.
  • Kippa for accounting and bookkeeping practices.
  • Cowrywise for savings
  • Piggyvest for savings and investments.

 

 

Photo Editing Apps

Take your pictures from bleh to wow in a few minutes using some of the best photo editing apps. 

 

We don’t need to preach about why photo editing apps are great for freelancers such as photographers, make-up artists, fashion designers and stylist, just to mention a few.

 

A few of our favourites include:

  • Lightroom
  • InShot
  • Snapseed  
  • Airbrush

 

 

Scheduling Apps

One thing a professional freelancer must never do is miss an appointment. You don’t want to be tardy or sloppy as well. 

 

A guaranteed way to ascertain that you are updated on all scheduled activities is utilizing editing apps. These apps keep you more productive and ease off the pressure from never ending work load. 

 

Our top picks include 

  • Calendly
  • SimplyBook
  • Doodle
  • Square Appointments

 

These scheduling apps automatically link to your calendars and keep you reminded. You do not have to manually input your meetings.

 

 

Payment Apps

A registered business can open a bank account but as you might have guessed, not all freelancers have their businesses registered or incorporated. Hence, they have to make use of third-party apps. 

 

Although these apps might take a percentage when you collect a payment, they however give your business a professional look. 

 

In Africa, apps like PayPal are a bit difficult to use in collecting payment but there are other options.

 

The user interface of these apps is superb. The best part is your clients don’t have to download the apps if they do not want to. A simple link leads them to the payment page and just like that, everyone is happy. 

  • Paystack
  • Flutterwave
  • Traction

 

 

Wellness Apps

After a long week of work, Jack still needs to recuperate from all that working. The benefits of exercising are endless. You not only stay fit and healthy for work but you spend less money on medical bills.

 

Getting a gym membership might be counter-productive and costly but most workout apps are free and show you exactly what form you need to be in for the best results. 

  • Nike Run App 
  • Women Fitness App
  • Men Fitness App

 

 

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. We’ll like to know, what are some of the best apps you use that keep you productive? 

How to Achieve Work-Life Balance as a Gig-worker/Freelancer

Posted on by Sandra Adodo

Every freelancer knows that one of the perks of their career path is being able to work from home. Yes, it comes with several advantages that sometimes surpass what a regular 9-5 worker enjoys. However, the downside is that it gradually begins to affect every other aspect of your life as burnout can set in, leading to series of health challenges. The big question is- How do you achieve work-life balance in the gig economy? Is there a way freelancers can have family time and not miss out on big clients? This article answers this question with five tips listed below.

  1. Fix work hours and stick to it

Start your week with a schedule for the week. What is the total number of hours spent on work tasks every week? If it will take you 25 hours to do a particular project, split the hours into the days of the week and make sure you don’t exceed them. By doing this, you will still be flexible with your freelancing job style, but you will also have time for other tasks. There might be exceptions on some days when the deadline is staring you in the face but ultimately, stick to what you have planned for all the tasks each week.

  1. Include vacation fees to your hourly charges.

Whether you have a fixed price or an hourly price like on the Bookings Africa platform, endeavor to include your vacation expense into your rate. When setting your rate, think of the amount you plan to spend on yourself at the end of the year or during a hangout with your friends. When you have calculated the amount, divide it by the number of hours and include it within your rate. This small additional fee will cover the time you take a well-deserved break later in the year.

  1. Create a reasonable work expectation

Suppose you are starting as a new freelancer; being selective on the project to take on might pose a challenge at the beginning. Regardless, setting a realistic expectation is always a better option. As a video editor who understands that it takes a long time to edit a video, telling your client about the feasible deadline creates a reasonable expectation. Even if you are new in the niche, it will be better to inform the client of the difficulty of doing the work. If you don’t already know what time it will take, you can monitor the time and tell your client later so that it doesn’t affect your regular everyday duties.

  1. Dedicate a section of your home as a workspace

It can be challenging to separate your work-life from other aspects of your life, especially if you are at home 24/7. The best way out is to have a workstation dedicated to only work in your home. It doesn’t have to be the whole room that would be converted; it could just be a desk or a space with friends that is strictly for work. This will help you focus on work when you are in that place and think of other things outside that environment. This tip will help you increase your productivity level and help you create quality time for your family.

  1. Create a “me time.”

The idea of self-care isn’t only for the 9-5ers. Freelancers in Africa can also benefit from it when they create time to take care of themselves. Instead of allowing work to affect your relationship, health, and general well-being, intentionally make time for those things that matter. If you have to set your alarm to eat well, drink water, call a friend, take a walk, or meditate, please do. Don’t just have your “me time” created in your head; write it on sticky notes, set reminders, be accountable to somebody, and you will gradually balance your work-life.

Most of the wealthiest people in the world do smart work because they understand how to work hard but still enjoy life. Freelancing is a gratifying opportunity that can give you great pay and a flexible working structure, but only if you follow these tips will you be able to harness its potential. Work hard but take care of yourself because health is wealth.

Four Ways You Can Achieve Your Goals Using Bookings Africa

Posted on by Ugochi Obilonu

Bookings Africa is one of Africa’s largest gig markets with over 15,000 registered service providers. Freelancers from many walks of life call it home. You can hire makeup artists, chefs, photographers, actors, event planners, accountants, and other professionals through the platform.

Since the appearance of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have been compelled to adjust to new techniques of hiring and outsourcing. The innovation of technology has also helped facilitate this quick transition. 

Irrespective of whether you own a business or work as an employee, we all have goals. These goals stem from childhood dreams and our ever-evolving ambitions. Outsourcing or hiring a freelancer is one of the many ways you can achieve your goals faster.

Reasons Why Businesses Outsource to Freelancers

Businesses and organizations discovered that their employees don’t need to be seated behind a desk, dressed in business attire, and work a standard 9-5 schedule. With the stay-at-home policies that came with C0VID-19, most employees were under obligation to work remotely to meet and exceed deadlines.

As a result, businesses turned to expert freelancers to get their new goals achieved.

Apart from running their firms, business owners have other goals and priorities, and hiring full-time employees can be time-consuming and difficult at times. Having full-on staff will usually necessitate the presence of freelancers on-site, to supervise and, on occasion, take on additional tasks that should normally be handled by their employees. Business owners will have less time to devote to other areas of their lives as a result of this.

Some business owners and even employees require time to learn a skill or engage in recreational activities with friends and family. Others want to enroll in a professional training program, or simply travel. The central objective is that people want to free up time. More and more people are looking for ways to do less but earn more.

Rather than allowing their workload to suffocate them and prevent them from pursuing these goals, they hire freelancers to relieve the pressure and provide them with the time they require.

Four Ways to Achieve Your Goals

By hiring a freelancer, you can develop a flexible schedule and make more income or profit either at your job or business.

The following are four compelling reasons to hire a freelancer.

1. Cost-cutting: Employees who work full-time require a lot of upkeep. Business owners must also pay salaries in addition to paying costs for electricity, water, and office space. 

Not only that, but business owners are also responsible for expenses such as training, end-of-year incentives, and health insurance. Freelancers on the other hand help to reduce these costs. They do not require a space in the office. They also aren’t included in company and employee benefits. 

When you engage freelancers, the terms are laid out in advance. There is no expectation of long-term work, so if your numbers decline, you can abruptly stop sourcing tasks to freelancers.

You won’t have to worry about computer log-ins, health-care issues, or potential legal issues. Hiring a freelancer is simple, and you may change the contract before making a final decision to ensure that your business is set up for success at every stage of the process.

When it comes to employing freelancers, pricing is also a significant plus. The majority of freelancers charge industry-standard rates for their services.

This means that outsourcing tasks to a freelancer will boost your profits and free up funds for other uses in your small business budget. 

Individuals who also want to cut costs can Search, Compare and Book on the Bookings Africa platform to see the best fit for their budget.

2. Scheduling flexibility: Freelancers are known for their availability on-demand. Many freelancers in their various skills provide services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These experts are used to working in a variety of environments and have a track record of meeting deadlines. Because most freelancers don’t get paid by the hour, they’re also eager to complete projects. You can expect your work to be completed on time even if you engage a freelancer on a retainer or package agreement because the freelancer isn’t paid until the job is delivered to you.

It’s a win-win situation for both you and the freelancer you hire. 

They also want to establish a positive working connection with business owners like you so that they may anticipate more work in the future. This suggests they aren’t scared to go above and beyond to fulfill a tight deadline while still delivering high-quality results.

Once you’ve established a great working relationship with a highly competent freelancer, they’ll be able to provide you with the flexibility you need so that you and your full-time workers can focus on other time-sensitive projects.

3. Specialized expertise: You might not realize it, but the majority of freelancers are just as talented and capable as full-time employees. Some freelancers are specialists in their profession because they work to develop their skills regularly.

This is because, to get new freelance jobs, freelancers must keep up with industry trends, and businesses can easily tap into the expertise of these talented freelancers. 

As a business owner, if you need help with a project, such as a web design, copywriting, or creating templates for an e-mail campaign, you know that there are times when no one is available to pick up the slack. So, it all falls on you.

Finding a freelancer who has spent years honing that skill, offers more insights into how to make that project a success and also takes the pressure off you. 

A freelancer’s experience determines how much value they can add to your business. Without investing in internal resources or adding a permanent job to their payroll, the company can profit from the freelancer’s experience.

Freelancers are flexible with their time and so can meet targets, they are resilient and often have good time management.

4. New perspectives: Freelancers are hired primarily for their creative abilities. They can see beyond the situation and generate new ideas that can benefit businesses. They appear to be always relaxed working from home because they are not in a work environment that could put pressure on their performance. As a result, they can brainstorm and find business loopholes.

Taking breaks and setting their work hours are two things that help freelancers create a clean environment in which to generate fresh ideas.

These are just a handful of the reasons why freelancers rather than full-time staff should be hired.

More than 15,000 freelance service providers are available on the Bookings Africa platform. Bookings Africa can help you find whatever type of freelancer for your business and personal needs.

Our Easter Wishlist

Posted on by Ugochi Obilonu

Holidays are the best days in the world and almost everybody is prepping for the Easter Holidays. Holidays equal lots of food, family time, fun events, laughter, and GIFTS. 

Gifts are the best part of any celebration and no matter how little the gift, it’s the thought that counts. Some people prefer their gifts to be a surprise; others determine their gifts by creating a wish list. Wishlists seemed too pushy but as it stands, wishlists are highly desirable because it takes the stress off figuring out what to buy for loved ones. 

If you have no idea what to fit someone this Easter, have no worries. We have curated the perfect Easter Basket. Each item is suitable across every demographic.

Ready? Let’s go shopping!

15 most popular Easter Basket Items

1. New gadgets: At the very top of our list, we think gadgets are a must-have on every wish list. With technology becoming more advanced and time passing by before our eyes, buy your loved ones that gadget they’ve always wished for. 

If you don’t know of any options, think cameras, Air Pods, smartwatches, consoles, phones, or tablets. Gadgets have become such a necessity that buying a new one every other year isn’t a bad idea. 

2. Shoes: What’s better than having shoes? Having even more shoes.

Irrespective of gender, lots of individuals love shoes. Shoes just have a way of making an outfit come to life. It pops not just the style of the outfit but also the personality of the individual. Shoes are such a great gift to add to your wish list or purchase for someone dear.

While shopping, you can look out for female shoe options such as pumps, ankle booties, strapped heels, kitten heels, mules, and brogues. For the guys, try shopping for black loafers, coffee brown Chelsea booties, white sneakers, or black dress shoes. Ensure to share the post-gift delivery footage with us. 

3. An all-expense-paid trip: Covid-19 has affected travel as we know it a bit. While the world adjusts to the new normal, we can creatively plan trips within Africa.

Planning trips can feel like a herculean task so you might want to use these tips:

  1. Have a budget
  2. Choose a nice resort, hotel, or AirBnB
  3. Book ahead of time
  4. Plan a few fun activities and also allow some time for rest
  5. Inform the receiver ahead of the duration of the trip and the sort of activities they would be engaging in.
  6. Be glad, you just made someone happy.

4. A gift card/coupon: It’s the little memories we create that sum up a life of happiness. You have no idea what a gift card or coupon could mean to a person in need of one. Pick out a meaningful gift card with substantial worth and hand it to someone in need. And if you need help curating a coupon or a gift card, send an email to [email protected].

5. Self-care Kit: In a cute box, place items such as a moisturizer, a scented candle, body scrub, bath salt, perfumes, chocolate bars, and maybe a bottle of wine. 

We all need pampering and a self-care kit is a show of affection. 

6. Host a house party: Adulthood comes with a lot of complexities and loneliness. It’d be great to have some friends over this holiday and host a house party inviting all of your close friends to a reunion. Plan fun activities such as charades, board games, karaoke, etc. Another fun activity which everyone will love is a fun photoshoot session. You can easily book a makeup artist and a photographer via bookingsafrica.com platform.

Encourage every guest to come with a little token that could be shared amongst everyone, and there goes a happy holiday. 

7. Shop for clothes: Upgrade a person’s wardrobe this Easter holiday. 

Tip: Shop for versatile outfits that can be restyled constantly e.g. a nice pair of jeans, a red dress, men’s wear, or multiple t-shirts. 

8. Feed the needy: True love is embedded in generosity. Make someone feel loved this holiday by being kind, offering them food, or giving them a haircut. Look outside your close circle, find someone who has no resources or family to be with this season, and show them love, by helping solve a need for them. 

You might also want to consider visiting an orphanage or old people’s home.

9. Quality time with family: The world is pretty busy but holidays provide us the opportunity to rest and to spend quality time with our families. Take care to pay attention to your family by doing one of the following:

  1. Cook dinner for the family.
  2. Plan a movie date. 
  3. Host a picnic.
  4. Help with chores.
  5. Talk about everything and anything with the family.

10. Visit an old friend: Surprise an old friend who you haven’t seen in a while with your presence. This act would mean a lot to someone who has longed to see but couldn’t afford the luxury of time or money to visit. Make this holiday extra special by executing that trip.

11. New jewelry: They say jewelry is a girl’s best friend. You can never go wrong buying a piece of jewelry for your mom, aunt, sister, niece, girlfriend, or colleague. You can choose from a range of options varying from bracelets to earrings to anklets to necklaces. 

Jewelry does not have to be expensive; have a budget and stick to it. 

12. Book a SPA session Stress is an inevitable part of life. Facials, massages, and skin treatments bring a relaxing feel to a person’s life. 

By the way, all genders need a spa treatment/pampering; so don’t limit this gift to a gender.

13. Fruit basket: Incorporating healthy eating into our lifestyle has become a Post-covid necessity. Initiate a healthy lifestyle in someone by gifting a basket full of fruits. Remember to write a heartfelt note.

14. Gift a book: Book gifts https://rhbooks.com.ng/ never go out of season. People would hold on to a book in print more than they would an e-copy. Have an idea of the kind of books the people around you would love to read, then get it. 

15. A family photo session: Don’t wait till Christmas before you book a photo session with your family. Easter is a very good time to enjoy the bonding experience that photo sessions bring. 

For that extra kick, add:

Money: When in doubt, gift cash. Money should be the first option when creating a wish list or preparing to give a gift. Gifting cash is definitely a stress reliever. 

Make this Easter Holiday a memorable one for both yourself and your loved ones. We hope this was a very comprehensive list. If you have more creative ideas, leave a comment. You never know who you’ll be helping.

Meet Kaylah Oniwo, Top influencer on Bookings Africa

Posted on by Sandra Adodo

The world of freelancing is a different yet, an exciting space that can only be truly understood from the lenses of service providers. This is why we are launching a series where you will get to meet those making waves in different fields and doing excellently with the services they provide. 

In today’s series, Kaylah Oniwo shares insights on how she has scaled up her journey to influencing, the challenges she faced and how she overcame them. If you are as excited as we are, let’s dig in already! 

Who is Kaylah Oniwo?

Over the years, I realized something about the popular phrase “ Jack of all trade, master of none”. Infact, this phrase was a turning point for my career. Before then, I was just a radio host doing my thing but when I understood that you can do so many things and still be good at it, I took up the challenge. Who am I? Kaylah Oniwo is a social media influencer, TV personality, radio host, fashion enthusiast and many more. 

How did you build a connection with Bookings Africa? 

It started with the relationship I had with the founder of Bookings Africa, Fade Ogunro. We had been great friends from way back, and I knew about her journey hosting radio shows to now, this great company she has created. Looking through the management of Bookings Africa, I can categorically say that in all my twelve years in media, this is one organization that is committed, professional and dedicated. My expectations are always met. Sometimes, I want to be selfish about the connection I have with Bookings Africa because there is so much to enjoy with the team. But recently, I have decided to tell as many people as possible about the great potential that awaits them here.  

How was your transition into influencing, and how did Bookings Africa help in the journey? 

It was an exciting journey for me as I started in the radio space because I wanted to be unknown. I wanted to be a fantastic personality on-air but still be free to move around like everyone else without worrying about being recognized.  Fortunately, people started  to identify me from Twitter and then Instagram that I couldn’t hide my face anymore. I started doing other things outside of radio hosting. I shared beauty, fitness, fashion tips and many other interests on these platforms and people started to know this other side of my personality. Messages started coming in from people that enjoyed what I do and wanted to pay for campaigns. One of such calls was from the Bookings Africa team, and they wanted me to jump on a campaign which I joyfully did. Interestingly, the call wasn’t because I knew the founder but was from the value I was already giving other brand agencies and companies. Even after I came on board for the first campaign, I was eager to join Bookings Africa full-time because of the seamless process the team provided.   

Since you started influencing, have you experienced challenges in getting gigs?

One of the significant issues I faced was brands not understanding the value I provide as an influencer. I tried to make these brands understand that there are specific logistics that need to be placed before they receive the world-class content that I create.

There were certain disparities I noticed in the industry whereby more foreign influencers were valued highly than local influencers and this affected the average influencer’s business growth. I almost gave up but got inspired by Jackie Aina, A Nigerian-American Youtuber, who didn’t stop at ensuring that black women got paid their due diligence. Learning from her experience, I became more consistent and this was a huge value-add to my brand.

Lastly, I noticed brands reaching out to me even though their objectives didn’t align with my brand. I learnt that working with brands that were keen on forcing their brand voice on me didn’t turn out well. As an influencer, I have a specific voice I communicate with to my fans and changing it for a brand will just water down the purpose of the campaign. 

How do you feel being one of the top influencers in Bookings Africa? 

I feel great! But, I won’t take all the credit because I know it is an accumulation of the team’s effort that has brought me here and is taking me to the next level. Trust me; you are not even ready for what my brand has in stock for you this year. 

What would you tell other influencers looking for ways to stand out?

This might sound cliche, but it has been a major point of my success story: authenticity and consistency. Billions of people exist in the world right now and as you are similar to many people you are also different from a bunch of others. So, your best bet is to stay true to yourself. What I have built today didn’t take a day but 12 years of consistency. Yes, I do believe in overnight success but a long-lasting success requires intentional consistent effort. I’m proud to say that if you mention top influencers in Nigeria or top media personalities, my name will pop up, but it didn’t happen in a day. So, “Do YOU” consistently and work on yourself. Pick a few people you admire, reach out to them, and learn from them. Ultimately, remember to put your version of yourself out there consistently. Also, don’t try to create an image that is not sustainable because it never leads anyone anywhere. Eventually, the bread will come! 

What brands have you worked in so far through the Bookings Africa team? 

I have worked with Estee Lauder companies, Net-a-Porter, Hermès, Pandora, MAC cosmetics and many more. I didn’t mention it all because there are so many, trust me! I also want to say something about Bookings Africa to those who haven’t joined- the time to sign up is now. Whatever skills you have, don’t wait till there are so many people in your field on the platform. When you sign up now, you will be among the top service providers displayed when you join quickly. Plus, this is not Bookings Lagos or Bookings Surulere but Bookings Africa, so somebody in Kenya or South Africa might just want what you do. So, sign up already! This is the real deal!