Tag: Nigeria

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.

Bookings Africa Referral Code System: Its Structure and Benefits

Posted on by Sandra Adodo

Do you know that as a service provider on the Bookings Africa platform, you have several things to benefit from the referral program? If you don’t already know, here is an opportunity to get informed and start making extra cash. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of engaging in the referral program and the system’s structure. If you are ready to learn more, keep reading. 

Structure of the referral code

What is the referral code on Bookings Africa? 

Referral code on Bookings Africa is your username. This referral code is needed if you want to refer someone to the platform. All the person has to do is input the code into the referral section, and you automatically become the person’s referral on the Bookings Africa system.

Who can use the referral code? 

Whether you are a new service provider or not, you can benefit from the structure of the referral code from any part of Africa. So, as far as you are a registered service provider on the platform, you can use your unique referral code to invite someone else to the platform. 

What will I benefit when I share my referral code? 

Most freelancers in Africa are quick to do referral programs when an incentive is involved. That is a smart move, but you get more than that on the Bookings Africa platform. 

When you refer another freelancer to the platform, it shows some key things, some of which are:

  • It shows that you have a connection with other freelancers in your field, which is a plus for you. 
  • It helps other African freelancers get informed and earn on the wide online gig marketplace.
  • It helps to bring in more talents needed for clients to book.
  • It increases your chances of getting gifts and promos depending on how much referral you make.
  • It adds more monetary value to your account (i.e., When you refer a freelancer to the Bookings Africa platform, you get 2% off the referred freelancer every payment). Interestingly, this 2% commission is for life as long as the person gets booked on the platform.

Here you go – all you need to know about the Bookings Africa referral code system. If you have any more questions, chat with our customer service team. Join the train today and increase your earnings in the process. Happy freelancing!

Over 40,000 Freelancers Earning Daily! 

Posted on by Ugochi Obilonu

Currently, we have 46,374 thousand freelancers signed up on the Bookings Africa platform and earning daily. This is such a huge deal for us as a company and for Africa as a whole.

Africa is rich and vast with so many talented people who have much to offer the world, and we love how Africa is taking shape already. Bookings Africa is on a mission to ensure that by 2040, African freelancers will be the most sought-after Freelancers. 

This is a defining time for Africa and there’s no better time to join the train than today. Become a part of the finest gig workers on the planet by joining Bookings Africa today. 

With every service provider that is signed up, we have twice the number of clients willing and ready the book them. This just goes to speak of the open playing ground and the boundless opportunities that Bookings Africa has to offer to both clients and service providers. 

Don’t sleep on it. Take action now! Sign up today. 

Ratings and Review: Its Importance

Posted on by Sandra Adodo

Reviews are valuable assets service providers in any industry do not joke with. Why is that? Having a great review in a world full of many other freelancers in your niche sets you apart in the competitive market. When you are given an excellent rating, it is an affirmation for other clients to book you based on the excellent feedback. Beyond these, there are several other benefits of chasing client reviews. Read more. 

  1. It improves your credibility.

If you haven’t yet built a strong portfolio, find out how to create a standout profile before sourcing for reviews. When your profile is set, your client needs to know you are not just full of words. Having positive reviews will boost the credibility of your brand. Most clients look for freelancers with at least 80% positive reviews, and if you have that, you are good to go. Always remember to ask your client for feedback after providing any service on the Bookings Africa platform.

  1. It contributes to a solid social media presence. 

Whether you are delivering a service online or offline, you need to build a social media presence, which can be achieved by consistent good feedback. If you are a comedian or an entertainer and have videos of past events with reviews from customers, posting them on social media is another stand out strategy. If the clients are social media savvy, tell them to mention you on their posts so it will form an extensive network of social media reviews for your brand. You could also create a blog post that encompasses many of your testimonials and share it on your social media pages. Any of these strategies will help attract clients to your brand.

  1. It helps your brand stay consistent.

The beautiful part about feedback is that it is contagious. If potential clients meet good feedback, they will unconsciously be interested in booking you, which affects them if the feedback is negative. Also, to keep your clients hooked to your profile and be ready to book you, your profile must show that you can deliver. When they finally book you, remind them to leave feedback and watch how your brand builds up to be a consistent service provider in your niche. 

  1. It helps with your brand SEO 

If you have many mentions of your brand or name on a different website, it will be great for your overall SEO. The way it works is simple- if client A praises your job on Bookings Africa and client B takes your works to Instagram and tags you, before you know it, you will be appear on the search results. This is why reviews are essential for any business. 

Hopefully, you are convinced that good reviews are non-negotiables for building a credible brand in any business sector. But, note that before a client can be willing to give positive feedback, you must have also played your part in delivering good services. So, invest in yourself, provide value and see how clients return the hard work with positive feedback. 

How to Conduct Yourself During Service Delivery

Posted on by Sandra Adodo

 

Congratulations, you have finally gotten booked! But before you go to deliver your service either physically or virtually, there are some service delivery checklists to consider. Every freelancer needs to get familiar with the dos and don’ts of service delivery if they want to retain any clients. Some of these tips are common but emphasizing them again will guide you to delivering what the client needs and getting booked again. Ready or not to dive in? Let’s go!

  1. Timeliness

If a client requests a mobile beauty therapist and explicitly uses the locator map on the Bookings Africa app to get someone close by, they only want the service provider quickly. If you are available and finally get booked, the first thing that should be on your mind is creating a first impression involving timeliness. Some situations might delay you a bit, especially in Lagos, Nigeria, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make an extra effort to show up on time. If you have to take Uber to make it faster, invest in that because getting there on time is a priority. Note that it is best not to accept a booking if you can’t get there in good time.

  1. Friendliness

Even if you deliver the service virtually, let the client feel warmth in your tone; determine to stay friendly throughout the service and keep out distractions that might want to change your mood. If you are unsure of what the client wants, read our blog post that answers how to give the best customer service to your clients. Also, when delivering physical services to your client, start with a smile and end the service delivery with a smile always.

  1. Respect

Every freelancer should aim at making their client feel respected, not only providing services. For instance, if you go to a groceries shop and the attendant rudely asks for your card or starts shouting at you for taking time to drop off your goods. How would you feel? The point is when they meet your needs by receiving payments, you also indirectly expect them to show a level of respect. That act alone can make you choose another store the next time. This is the same understanding every service provider must have before providing service. Give your best at all times.

  1. Be clear

To maintain clarity during discussions, it is imperative you communicate with your client especially if you are going to be a little late for your appointment. Also, let your clients know how you will deliver the job. For instance, as a voice-over artist, you can get the project done without leaving your apartment or go to the client’s studio, as it is a flexible delivery option. If you only do home service, let your client be aware and if it is the other way round, still duly inform your client.

  1. Set a Standard, don’t over-promise but over-deliver 

Most freelancers make a mistake when they go for service delivery because they commit too much and deliver less. If you set a deadline for a client, you should be more than able to deliver at the stipulated time and not plan to ask for an extended time. If you have agreed on a time of meeting, you can exceed the client’s expectation to go before time. As a chef, you can overdeliver by making an extra plate which wasn’t expected before. Also, photographers can decide to snap more than the proposed number of pictures to give the clients varieties. The list goes on and on for other service providers to over-deliver when delivering service. If this is not a sure-fire way of retaining your client, I don’t know what is.

Here you go- the five service delivery tips you need to know as a freelancer. If you have other things on your checklist you want to share, feel free to drop them in the comment section. Nevertheless, don’t neglect any of these five if you want to get booked consistently.

How to Develop a Standout Profile for Bookings Africa 

Posted on by Sandra Adodo

 

With over 15,000 service providers on the platform, the competition is considerably high. 

The first significant step to being noticed in your niche on the Bookings Africa platform is to develop a profile that stands out. A professional profile will not only grab the attention of potential clients but will make your profile distinguished.                                                                              

In this article, we will highlight the top six tips every freelancer on the Bookings Africa online marketplace needs to know to create a stand-out profile.

Keep reading.

  1. Introduce yourself briefly

The first thing to keep your profile unique is to create a clear and direct bio.  It is true that you have a lot to say but more than just writing different irrelevant things, pick the important ones and keep it short. If you are a makeup artist, there is no point talking about your photography skills if that is not the skill you are selling. Remember to add a call to action at the end of your bio to encourage the client to book you.

  1. Share your experience 

As a service provider, you have many features to enjoy on the Booking Africa platform. Those features will accommodate all the experiences the clients will find valuable. If you have been practicing this craft for long, you can state the number of years in the business. Also, listing the prominent people you have worked with will be a major boost to your portfolio. Another experience worth sharing is the publications you did in the past that went viral or the total number of engagement it got. If you don’t have all these, you can talk about your vocational education background and how that has propelled your career. 

  1. Use a professional tailored profile picture.

Uploading a professional headshot to your profile has a significant impact on how your client views you. Your profile picture is like the first interview you get with the client. Though, it is not required that you take a full picture but having a random picture placed in the profile picture section is not a good idea. If, as hairstylist, you don’t have a professional picture displaying the craft, going to the studio now is the best call to action. Also, a chef needs to have a picture of either a well-made food alone or you carrying the food. The professional picture tailored to your talent will show the client that you know your craft and they can trust you.

  1. Upload the best sample in the portfolio section

Sometimes, it can be tempting to want to show off, especially when you want to create a stand-out profile. But, first, calm down!  If you are yet to explore the Bookings Africa features, the perfect time to do so is now. You can add images, videos, audio and documents to your portfolio section. But, as you upload, look for the best of the many that will make you standout. So, if you are a voice-over artist, the primary asset that your portfolio requires is not a document but the best of the audio and videos if they are available. Also, for a model or an actor, you will concentrate on videos and images of you acting. Ultimately, fill your portfolio with rich quality information the client will need not everything you have done over the years. 

  1. Analyze your profile one last time

Once you have followed all the tips listed above, it is time to review your profile again. This time around, make sure you are client-driven. This means that from the bio to the call to action, let your client know that you want to help them. Yes, you are showing your skills in the process, but you are also building trust in all that you put on your profile. Also, remember to set up your availability and prices by completing your profile. Finally, make sure you check for errors. Proofread your bio section and all other sections that need review.

So, you see, creating a profile that will stand out is as simple as A-B-C, and you can get yours done today. Take note that the update doesn’t stop here. Once you get booked after making these adjustments, update your profile with the recent job and keep standing out on the Bookings Africa platform.

Make Money as a Bookings Africa Digital Influencer

Posted on by Ugochi Obilonu

Unlike celebrities, influencers/influencing is one of the fastest-growing professions in the 21st century. If your goal is to become an influencer in 2022, you need to be armed with the resources to launch you to success.

In your quest for financial freedom, be sure to explore all options available and influencing is one of the ways to financial freedom. 

Influencer as the word implies refers to an individual who can convince a set of people to like a service, product, or person without sounding like a salesman. Influencer marketing is the newbie digital marketing method that is making a lot of waves in such a short while. 

Once an influencer has a large and loyal following, can sway people’s decision-making process, and is known as an industry leader, brands and businesses are willing to pay their rates to grow their businesses. 

Now, you might ask, “How much do influencers make?”. Influencer marketing industry grew from $1.7 billion in 2016 to $9.7 billion in 2020. In 2021, it soared to $13.8 billion and has reached $16.4 billion in 2022. This is an indication of steady growth and it will only keep growing as the world keeps growing digitally and advancing in technology. In fact, our Bookings Africa top influencer spoke about this here.

Ways to Become a Digital Influencer

Here a few ways to kickstart your journey as a social media influencer:

1. Pick a niche: In Influencer marketing, niching is a big deal. You can decide to influence in two or more related industries but brands interested in working with you must know you for a particular niche. 

For instance, you can decide to become a beauty and fashion influencer (this is one of the top influencer jobs). Your branding or social media posts can revolve around hair tutorials, make-up hacks, and fashion tips. Alongside beauty influencing, you can also add a few lifestyle posts. These two industries: beauty & fashion and lifestyle, are closely related and do not have so much disparity. 

Niching is important because it helps your visibility. It assures your potential partners and collaborators that you know your stuff and it establishes your position as an industry leader. If you are just starting as an influencer, take some time to learn about industries, then find one that matches your skills and gifts. If you already started without having this knowledge, it’s okay to start over or rebrand from where you are.

 

2. Start Branding: You’ve picked your niche. The next thing is to start building your brand. This will involve you creating clean, crisp content regularly and posting it on your feed. In this digital age, videos reach a wider audience so you might want to infuse lots of high-quality videos on your page. 

At the stage of branding, you should decide what your brand tone and voice would be. Be intentional about being authentic and real because if you start a brand in a certain way, then you have to maintain it. 

Tip: No one likes fake people so be yourself every time. 

 

3. Build a community: Since influencer marketing is big on loyalty and numbers, you should be focused on building a community. Your community is your tribe. You build one by responding to DMs and comments as respectfully and as often as you can. 

People like to be acknowledged. So if your content is relatable and speaks to your audience’s gain and pain points, they’ll appreciate you. Influencers are known for adding value to the lives of their communities so ensure that your posts are interactive and engaging.

Talking about engagements, most brands will only work with influencers who have a high engagement. So ensure that you can notice the active contributors in your community. A fair engagement rate for an influencer is between 6-7%. Any percentage above 10 is considered to be viral. Use influencer engagement tools to calculate your rates frequently.

 

4. Networking: The world is a global village and you never know who views your content. As much as you can, support the craft of other influencers, collaborate, and partner with other influencers. 

Attend events relevant to your niche and network. Talk about what you do as often as possible and just enjoy being you.

 

5. Sign up: If you are looking to take your influencer work seriously, then you have to sign up on the Bookings Africa Platform as an influencer. 

Ensure that you set up your profile properly and set comparative prices. This will help your visibility and help you make more money.

Becoming a Bookings Africa influencer is a great way to grow in your career but you need to have something going for you. You can become a Digital Influencer on Bookings Africa by registering on the website or filling out this form.

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.

How to Attract More Clients for Your Business and Make More Money

Posted on by Ugochi Obilonu

There’s no debate that the freelance industry is highly profitable and almost everyone is asking, “How do I make more money online?”

There are several ways to make money online these days but for the purpose of this article, we will focus on freelancing as a source of income. It’s exciting to see the projections in the Gig industry and there are several ways you can partake in this growth. Before we proceed, you must understand what qualities clients look out for when choosing a freelancer to work with. 

How to earn from home

1. Become a Freelancer: One of the best ways to earn extra income right now is by freelancing. Becoming a freelancer is relatively easy. If you are still wondering why you should become one, you should read this.

Bookings Africa is one of Africa’s finest gig markets; created by Africans for the betterment of Africa. After you sign up, follow the steps below to begin your journey of earning from home.

2. Set up a professional booking page: In the online space, there are lots of distinguishing factors and presentation is one of them. Potential clients will sieve through your appearance i.e. your profile before they take a look at your offer (price).

Always put your best foot forward when setting up an online profile and by best foot, we mean to get all the professional help you can. You might want to hire a professional photographer to help out with your display picture. You need a clean and crisp image with all your facial features displayed clearly. 

In addition to a great headshot, you also need a great bio. Your bio should immediately tell us what you are about. A great bio should contain your name, your role as a service provider, and your biggest aspirations. 

Fun fact: You can also include a quirky fact about you that will help your target clients easily relate to your personality.

3. Create an inviting offer: Your offer is the unique selling point that distinguishes you from freelancers offering the same services as you. 

To set up an offer, you’ll need to ask the following questions:

i. What can I do effortlessly? Can I sell it as a service?

ii. Who will I sell this service to?

iii. At what price will I sell this service? What are my competitors offering?

Based on your expertise and brand, your offer will differ from other service providers. Ensure that you do not charge lower than your worth just because you want to get clients but set competitive prices that make your offer attractive to your target clients. 

In setting an offer, it is also important to package your services in a bundle. A make-up artist should not only offer make-up as the only service. You can include complementary or other services such as gele-tying. This way, you can charge higher and your clients will be happy to pay because you are saving them the cost of hiring more than one service provider. Likewise, a French Tutor can offer tutoring services and sell French materials that will aid learning. Whatever the offer you create, ensure that your clients will be happy to book your services. How you do that is up to you and your creativity. A great offer helps you to make money from home.

4. Excellent customer service: Clients love to be treated like royalty even if they aren’t.  As a service provider, it is your responsibility to assure your clients of first-class treatment regardless of the nature of your offer. 

From inception, always remember to speak politely, be honest about what you can do, and be your authentic self. You might not always like all the things your clients do or demand but you can learn to manage client expectations by being clear about what you offer and then taking your clients through an onboarding session. 

Always endeavor to keep your clients at ease and satisfied. Excellent customer service always brings about referrals and great reviews/ratings. 

At the end of every service, ask for a review.

5. Import clients: Before setting up your gig account, you might have had a few customers. If you do, inform them that they can only book you through your Bookings Africa page. This way, you add credibility to your sales page and you have access to analytics of how your freelance business is doing. 

Furthermore, importing these clients will give your freelancing a professional touch. To make the import stress free, you can offer to set up their customer profile on the Bookings Africa platform and also offer discounts to clients who book you through bookingsafrica.com. 

The use of referral codes will further boost your sales online. This is one sure way to make money online.

6. Broadcast: Do not sit on your hands waiting for clients to search you out. Be proactive. Post your business on your social pages, and tell your friends and family about what you do too. At events, network by informing people about how your freelance services can ease stress in their life. 

No matter what you do, never be silent about your work.

The Gig industry is gradually becoming saturated but that’s not a reason not to join this winning team. It has however become your responsibility to position your services in an attractive way potential clients cannot resist.

Working from home is very profitable. Play your cards right and you’ll earn more while doing less. 

What Clients are Looking for in Gig-workers | The Client’s Perspective

Posted on by Sandra Adodo

Freelancers in the gig-market often have similar expectations and goals. They are either looking for ways to land a good client or to retain the existing ones. 

None of these thought patterns is bad. But, Let’s think about the client and what they want when they make the decision to book a freelancer. 

Here are 5 things clients consider before booking a gig-worker or freelancer.

  1. A great portfolio 

Whenever clients source for talents, they require proof of work done before. First on the list is the freelancer’s portfolio. You might have done great things in the past worth sharing, but a client would not know those things if it is not in your portfolio. It is safe to say that clients are moved by what they see, and a good portfolio is a perfect depiction of your skill. If a client would be ready to spend their time hiring you or giving their money, there must be evidence that they will get value for their money. Hence, constructing a well-crafted portfolio is the way to go. 

  1. Timely delivery 

Some clients hire freelancers not because they are incapable of doing the jobs themselves but because they don’t have time to get them done. Therefore, it would be ineffective to hire a professional who couldn’t meet a particular deadline. If as a freelancer, you want to get great reviews and referrals from your existing clients, you ought to get all their tasks done quickly to meet the deadline. Plus, when you finish your work on time, it will allow you to pick up another gig and earn more. 

  1. Affordability

As a freelancer, offering work that is not overly out of budget is vital. This doesn’t mean you will reduce your value because a client isn’t ready to pay more. Instead, you should give them as much value as you charge. If as a makeup artist, your client is prepared to pay (NGN) 20,000 [$ 50] for simple makeup, you ought to do all you can to ensure the client is getting the value for that amount. So, you should always provide quality and value that is reasonably priced.

  1. Friendliness and professionalism 

What many clients notice among freelancers, which is a complete turn off, is the act of extreme professionalism. It is vital to maintain a professional relationship with your client, but you should try to create a balance with friendliness. Clients often see freelancers that are too formal as having a high level of rigidity which is not what they want in a business relationship. It is not wrong to show a level of openness so the client can interact freely. Yet, it doesn’t mean the client is ready to learn about your private life, so keep that to yourself. 

  1. High-quality results 

What every client wants to see is good results. Yes, you need to be friendly, push out affordable prices, have a great portfolio and be timely, but the apex is to deliver high-quality results. The clients will know these by checking the testimonials of other clients, which will help them see if they can bank on you. This means you need to have built a good rapport with other clients and delivered excellently for good feedback. Clients want to do business with capable freelancers, and if you have what it takes, they won’t hesitate to book you. 

So, if you ever thought clients have favourites, think again! What they have is a checklist, and these five are at the top of their list. If you have all these, you will become an employable freelancer. Good luck!