AJIRA DIGITAL PROGRAM NEW

ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANT

TRAINING MANUAL 2018
ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 MODULE I: INTRODUCTION TO ONLINE WORK .....................................................3 1.1

Online work ............................................................................................................... 3

1.2 Advantages of online work ......................................................................................... 3

1.3 Disadvantages of online work ..................................................................................... 3

2.0 MODULE II: GETTING STARTED AS AN ONLINE WORKER ........................................3 2.1

Basic tools to get you started ...................................................................................... 4

2.2 Basic skills you require as an online worker ................................................................. 4

3.0 MODULE III: SOFT SKILLS ........................................................................................5 3.1
Organizational skills ................................................................................................... 5

3.2 Communication skills ................................................................................................. 6

3.3 Online Ethics and netiquette ...................................................................................... 6

3.4 Problem-solving skills ................................................................................................. 6

3.5 Leadership skills ......................................................................................................... 7

3.6 Stress management skills ............................................................................................. 7

3.7 Collaboration and teamwork ..................................................................................... 7

3.8 Negotiation Skills ....................................................................................................... 7

4.0 MODULE IV: JOBS AVAILABLE ONLINE ....................................................................9 4.1

Common jobs you can find online .............................................................................. 9

5.0 MODULE V: POPULAR ONLINE JOB PLATFORMS .................................................. 12 5.1

Online Job Platforms ................................................................................................. 12

6.0 MODULE VI: SIGNING-UP ON ONLINE PLATFORMS .............................................. 15 6.1

Upwork .................................................................................................................... 15

6.2 Fiverr ...................................................................................................................... 20

6.3 Guru.com ................................................................................................................ 23

6.4 Figure-eight ............................................................................................................. 25

6.5 Brighter Monday ..................................................................................................... 27

7.0 MODULE VII: ONLINE JOB CATEGORIES (INTERMEDIATE) ..................................... 30

7.1 Transcription 1 ......................................................................................................... 30

7.2 Translation 1 ............................................................................................................ 32

7.3 Online Content Writing 1 ......................................................................................... 34

7.4 Data management 1 ................................................................................................. 36

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

7.5 Digital marketing 1 ................................................................................................... 38

8.0 MODULE VIII: ONLINE JOB CATEGORIES (ADVANCED) ......................................... 40 8.1

Data management 2 ................................................................................................. 40

8.2 Content writing 2 .................................................................................................... 47

8.3 Translation 2 ........................................................................................................... 58

8.4 Transcription 2 ......................................................................................................... 61

8.5 Digital marketing 2 .................................................................................................. 73

9.0 MODULE IX: BIDDING PROCESS AND ONLINE WORK SECURITY (ADVANCED) ....... 83
9.1 Procedure for Bidding .............................................................................................. 83

9.2 5 Tips on writing successful bids ............................................................................... 92

9.3 How to accept and view a job offer and contract ..................................................... 93

9.4 How to submit work and request for payment on Upwork ....................................... 93

9.5 How to get consistent online jobs and maintain long-term clients .............................. 93

10.0 MODULE X: MODE OF PAYMENT ....................................................................... 95 10.1

Two common modes of payment for freelancers. .................................................... 95

10.2 Safety Rules of online payments .............................................................................. 96

10.3 Withheld/Delayed Payment: ................................................................................... 98

11.0 MODULE XI: FINANCIAL EDUCATION .................................................................. 98 11.1

Taxation ................................................................................................................. 98

11.2 Managing your finances .........................................................................................100

11.3 Book keeping ........................................................................................................ 101

12.0 MODULE XII: ENTREPRENUERSHIP .................................................................... 102 12.1

Steps involved in setting up online business agencies /internet businesses and BPOs .. 103

12.2 Intellectual Property .............................................................................................. 104

12.3 Digital and Digitally Enabled Analog Jobs .............................................................. 106

13.0 MODULE XIII: MENTORSHIP AND FOLLOW UP ................................................. 107

TESTIMONIALS ........................................................................................................ 108
REFERENCES AND INFORMATION PACK FOR ONLINE WORK .................................... 112

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

1.0 MODULE I: INTRODUCTION TO ONLINE WORK

1.1 Online work

Online work is a source of employment that allows one to work from anywhere, at any given
time and for whomever as long as one has a computer or a smart device, and an internet
connection. Online work offers a level of freedom and flexibility not usually found in the
traditional workplace where one has to work from 8 am to 5 pm.

Note:
- Freelancing –Freelancing is a fast and affordable way to get started working as your
own boss
away from a conventional workplace setup. - Freelancer – A person, agency, or
organization involved in freelancing. - Client- A person or an organization that outsources
work to a freelancer. - Online Work Platform - These are websites that connect
freelancers to clients and vice versa.
1.2 Advantages of online work

• You can get started quickly...even today - As long as you already possess the digital skills you
plan to offer, getting started is simply a matter of finding your first client.
• Flexibility - With Online work a freelancer can work from anywhere any time even in the
comfort of their homes.
• Pick and choose clients - In the beginning, you may have to take on any client that hires you,
but as you grow, you can opt to avoid the difficult ones. You can even fire them.
• There is a high demand for freelancers - Although the marketplace for freelancers is
competitive, the need for quality, reliable freelancers is growing. Many businesses opt to save
on operational costs by hiring teams of freelancers.
• Minimal to no start-up costs - Working online does not require one to have a specified amount
of capital to start. With a computer or smart device, and an internet connection, you can easily
access online work platforms and start earning.

1.3 Disadvantages of online work

• It can take time to build a steady clientele pool. Getting enough clients to make freelancing an
avenue that supports you and your family may take a while.
• Managing multiple clients and projects can be a challenge. While some people like the variety
of working on several projects at a time, others may find it difficult to keep track of deadlines and
pace themselves to deliver quality work on time. Great time management systems and
organization is key.

• Pay may be low when starting out, especially in today's economy where many people expect
to pay less for more when it comes to new freelancers.

2.0 MODULE II: GETTING STARTED AS AN ONLINE WORKER

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

2.1 Basic tools to get you started

• Computer- This is what you will use to access online platforms. The device needs to be
equipped with the necessary software and hardware tools based on the jobs you will be doing.
• Reliable Internet- This is a key communication tool that will allow the freelancer to access the
online platforms and resources required to work efficiently.
• Mode of payment - A service that will enable you to receive and accept payments.
• Working space - A comfortable desk or table and a chair/ space within which to complete
online tasks away from distractions such as noise.
• An email address – This will be used to sign up on platforms, verify payment modes and
communicate with clients.

2.2 Basic skills you require as an online worker

• Good communication – Similar to conventional jobs, verbal and nonverbal communication

affects how clients view you. Good communication skills are necessary for all online workers to
be able to articulate the kind of value they will be able to bring onboard whenever they are
speaking to clients. An online worker should also be able to utilize different types of
communication technology in order to collaborate and work with the client. Examples of such
technologies include Skype, Join.me, and Gmail hangouts.

• Critical thinking – When working at home, you should be able to think creatively on your own.
You can set aside some time to think and use tools such as Mind Mapping to help you bring out
new ideas quickly.

• Outcome-oriented – When starting your day, you should clearly outline what you plan on
accomplishing. This way you will be more productive and will be able to avoid non-work tasks
such as spending excessive time on social media.

• Flexible- While being rigid gives structure to your day, you should not be afraid to rearrange
your day when necessary. Set boundaries if need be but don’t forget to create time for family
members, friends, and emergencies when they arise.

• Self-discipline – This is by far the most important skill when it comes to resisting the numerous
distractions that are vying for your attention. You should find a way to create a work schedule
that is aligned with your goals, and seek to stay on it as much as possible.

• Computer skills – This are essential for all online workers to be able to utilize computers and
related technology efficiently.
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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

3.0 MODULE III: SOFT SKILLS

Unlike hard skills which can be measured and proven, soft skills are intangible and are difficult
to quantify. They can best be described as attributes that help one to interact effectively and
harmoniously with other people. As a freelancer, you need to be able to sell yourself and win
contracts on your own. Here are some soft skills that you should definitely pay attention to.
3.1 Organizational skills
Once you decide to become a freelancer you need to understand that you are the only person
responsible for keeping yourself organized and getting the job done. You have no supervisors
watching over your shoulder or assistants to share your workload. If you don’t learn to be self-
disciplined, you will quickly realize that missing deadlines will become a trend and will be unable
to keep up with the growing workload.
Being organized is simply coming up with a work routine that is realistic and sustainable.
Learning how to prioritize is another key to having a well-organized day.
Ways to prioritize your time
Identify urgent vs important
Identify the tasks that require your immediate attention. These include those that if not
completed by the end of the day or in the next several hours, will have serious negative
consequences (missed client deadlines). When creating your list of tasks, these can be placed
at the top. Create a list of all your tasks
You should consider coming up with a list of all the activities you intend to accomplish in the day.
In this list, you can also include how much money you intend on making on that particular day.
Tasks that require immediate attention or those that require the most effort to complete can be
placed at the top. Stifle your Distractions
To be honest, you are more likely to get distracted at your home than in a conventional
workplace. If you allow yourself to be distracted, you will end up spending time on
God-knows-what when you are supposed to be finishing a client’s job. With a bit of
determination, you can prevent yourself from getting distracted and spending lots of time on
non-work-related activities. You can uninstall all those distracting apps from your smart device
and create a sperate profile for work on your chrome browser using a plugin such as
LeechBlock. Track your time
You need to figure out how much time you need in a day to complete your daily goals. Having
this information at hand can help you reduce time wastage. You can consider installing a time
tracking software on your device to help you accomplish more in less time. Be flexible and
adaptable
Uncertainty and change are a given. Your priorities could change when you least expect them
to. You should find ways to counteract certain situations to remain focused on the tasks you are
committed to completing. Choose your clients wisely
Finding clients as a newbie is challenging, therefore you may not need to do this when starting
out. However, there will come a time when you will need to start turning down work. This will be
necessary when a project is not worth spending your time on. At this point, a good strategy
would be to concentrate on well-paying clients who give jobs regularly while still looking for
better variants.
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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL
Schedule time for distractions
Realistically, you will face distractions as you work. A good way to avoid them during your
productive hours is to allocate time for them on a daily basis. Preferably, this should be at the
same time. Knowing that you have allocated time for your distractions will lessen the time you
get the urge to steal a glance at your favorite pastime every five minutes. Segment your time
It is better to break up your time into blocks dedicated to particular tasks than to switch from one
kind of task to another every now and then.
3.2 Communication skills
As a freelancer, you will have to communicate directly with a client at some given point. Every
client you work for will be different and they will probably have different requirements too.
Consequently, you will have to develop good communication skills to ensure that their
requirements are met and that they remain happy.
Most of the complains that may arise may be due to the fact that certain aspects of the
collaboration may not have been communicated earlier. Try and discuss everything in advance
especially when it comes to expectations and avoid assuming that clients will automatically
know what working together with you entails.
Delays in communication are considered to be unacceptable and indicators of poor
communication skills. If you want to work as a freelancer, you have to master the art of talking to
others.
As a new freelancer good communication skill will help you:
• Attract new clients more easily
• Get clients from referrals
• Get better reviews from clients you have worked with
• Negotiate better terms, conditions and pay rates
• Execute projects and follow-ups more efficiently
• Form long-lasting partnerships with your clients
3.3 Online Ethics and netiquette
Netiquette can best be described as acceptable online behavior. It focuses on the acceptable
use of online resources in a social environment. Similar to acceptable social norms, the internet
should be used productively and responsibly. Here are a few pointers to help you maintain good
online ethics.
• The internet should be recognized as an extension to the existing society.
• Use the same standards and values that are acceptable in normal society when you are
online. This means you should avoid hate speech and bigotry, child exploitation, child
phonography, copyright violations and other forms of theft.
• Follow online rules and laws that have been put in place to protect the rights and dignity of
online users. This means you should avoid bullying, harassment, stalking, being abusive and
tormenting other online users.
• Cultural differences are something that you may not be accustomed to but you have to learn to
accept social values and norms that apply to other netizens.
3.4 Problem-solving skills
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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

As a freelancer, you should be able to identify a problem, understand its scope and come up
with a viable solution. A problems solver will be able to think analytically and creatively, and
have the project management ability to finish projects. During your career as a freelancer, you
will be faced by highly specific challenges from different clients, your ability to come up with
solutions will determine whether you will be able to keep these clients of lose them somewhere
along the way.

3.5 Leadership skills

As a freelancer, you should adopt some leadership skills. You should be confident and capable
of demanding attention. When faced with challenges, you should be stimulated and ready to
push forward. You should also keep in mind that you will be 100% responsible for all your
success and failures.

Lastly, you should focus on self-improvement to remain competitive in the freelance market.

3.6 Stress management skills

Successful freelancers have to formulate ways to deal with stress in an effective and productive
manner. They should also formulate ways to deal with burn out and the feeling of being
overwhelmed by everything that comes with freelancing.

Ways of dealing with stress

Be organized Being organized is one of the best ways of dealing with stress. Scheduling and
taking enough time to cool off will help you maintain a balanced lifestyle.

Indulge in a physical activity Some sort of exercise or a physical exercise can be used to restore
your mind and body to a much calmer, more relaxed state. When you feel stressed or tense you
can take a walk and take in some fresh air.

Get enough sleep Sleep deprivation can make your body feel stressed. It is important to get a
good day’s rest after working so that your body can have time to rejuvenate and recover.

3.7 Collaboration and teamwork

As a freelancer, you will often find yourself in a project where you will need to work with others
regardless of the fact that you will be in remote locations. Your interpersonal skills should be
good enough to help you interact with prospects, clients and other freelancers. If you are not
good at communicating and collaborating well with others, then chances are that the client will
not hire you again.

3.8 Negotiation Skills

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

Negotiation is a key part of freelancing. A good freelancer should be able to establish

acceptable work agreements and terms with clients.
ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

4.0 MODULE IV: JOBS AVAILABLE ONLINE

4.1 Common jobs you can find online

Job Category Jobs Title Description Main Skills required

Virtual Assistant Data entry This involves

entry and
updating of data Content Writing/Article Writing
Office suite know-how, Good Typing speed Developing materials for websites,
magazines, news articles, social media
forums, letters, CVs, memos, promotions,
adverts etc.
Personal Assistants Serves as PA for Web research, grammar, Time
potential management, spelling, syntax, good
Online clients english writing skills, Office suite know-how
Time management, Web research, Data and Data mining
mining client relation, Affiliate Marketing Web research, grammar, Time
customer service, and Proofreading management, spelling, syntax, good
english writing skills, Office suite know-how
Web research Gathering data using and Data mining

Internet-based tools and resources

Data mining, MS Excel, and Access, Good
Transcription This is the conversion of
organization skills
audio formats into text
Listening skills, proofreading, grammar,
Video Captioning Capturing texts on a typing speed,

video
Writing and Translation
Translation skills, Listening skills, Typing
Editing and proofreading
skills, Ability to note and translate different
This involves working on documents such
languages
as reports, minutes PowerPoint
Presentations
Affiliate Marketing
This involves working on documents such
Marketing products and services on behalf
as reports, minutes PowerPoint
of other companies and brands.
Presentations
Web research, Data mining, office suite
Office suit know how, Editing skills, English
know how.
spelling, English grammar and PPT graphic
Web research, Data mining, office suite
development
know how.
Office suit know how, Editing skills, English formats that can be
spelling, English grammar and PPT graphic Language fluency (English, Spanish,
development French and Italian) Office suit know how
Office suit know how, Editing skills, English Editing and gr5ammar skills
spelling, English grammar and PPT graphic
development

Translation Conversion of specific 9

forms of languages (audio or video) to
ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

understood or Interpreted)

Social Media Marketing

Digital Marketing and ecommerce
Email and marketing automation Marketing of products and services using
This is the use of Email resources to social media platforms such as Facebook,
implement and manage automatic Twitter, WhatsApp, telegram, and
marketing systems this is a core Instagram
component of customer relationship Facebook page management skills
management and is usually used in co- Facebook page management skills
operation with a large Email database
Twitter as a marketing tool
This is the use of Email resources to
implement and manage automatic
Instagram as a marketing tool
marketing systems this is a core
component of customer relationship
How to generate interactive content, Online
management and is usually used in co-
activities or games and how to develop
operation with a large Email database
concrete marketing strategies
Conversant with one of the following email
automation software
Ecommerce website creation
Conversant with one of the following email
Product listing, categorization and creation
automation software
of ecommerce platforms and websites.
Conversant with one of the following email
Good web design skills, a good
automation software
understanding of payment gateways.
Good web design skills, a good
• Hubspot
understanding of payment gateways.
• Callidus Cloud
• Adobe Campaign and finally have good
data mining skills Data management
Data Categorization
This process involves organizing data into
categories in which will be most effective subsidiary companies of a business, or by
and efficient for users. flagging duplicate business records.
This process involves organizing data into Good analytical skills, good typing speeds
categories in which will be most effective Good analytical skills, good typing speeds
and efficient for users.
Good analytical skills, good typing speeds
Good analytical skills, good typing speeds
Good analytical skills, good typing speeds

Data collection and enrichment

This involves collecting new data or
enhancing a company’s current databases
by finding social media handles on LinkedIn
10
or Twitter profiles, locating parent and
ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL
Good analytical skills
Data Validation This involves checking Good analytical skills
the accuracy and quality of source data
before using, importing or otherwise
processing data.
Data base management skills, SQL, Data
Content moderation
entry skills, MS Excel skills
Content Moderation involves monitoring
and applying rules and guidelines to user-
generated submissions or content to
determine whether the communication is
Image Annotation/Image tagging permissible or suitable for a certain
Image annotation involves classification, audience
captioning or tagging of images using Good analytical skills and research skills
keywords. Good analytical skills and research skills
Others • Display advertising

• Ghostwriting

• Legal jobs

• Accounting and consulting

• Tutoring and Consultancy

• Micro jobs

• Becoming a YouTube personality

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

5.0 MODULE V: POPULAR ONLINE JOB PLATFORMS

5.1 Online Job Platforms

Online job platforms or freelance marketplace websites allow freelancers and clients to freely
interact and transact. These websites will need one to sign up and fill in their profiles in order to
get access to various jobs and projects.

Platforms Type of job available Link

Upwork Data entry

Virtual Assistants

Web research
People per Hour Blogging
Video Captioning
Web development
Affiliate Marketing
Market research
Content Writing
SEO
Transcription
https://www.upwork.com/ Creative Arts
https://peopleperhour.com

IWriter Article Writing

Fiverr Graphics and designs Ebooks

Digital marketing Blogging

https://iwriter.com
Writing and translation

Video and animation

https://www.fiverr.com/
 https://cloud factory.com

Casting words

Scribie

Transcribe me

Go transcripts
Transcription
https://workshop.castingwords.com Speechpad.com Transcription and Video
captioning
https://scribie.com https://speech pad.com

https://Transcribe me.com

https://gotranscripts.com Kuhustle Content writing, digital marketing,

web design, tutorial and programming
https://kuhustle.com
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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

Rev nikkoworkx Microtasks, transcription,

https://rev.com data entry, ocr, content writing
http://nikkoworkx.com
Quicktate
https://quicktate.com

Cloud factory Audio transcription

Bluejobs

Video transcription
olx
Housekeeping, Delivery jobs, Masonry,
Data categorization
Storekeeping, Plumbing, Chef
https://bluejobs.co.ke/
Virtual assistants
https://bluejobs.co.ke/
Web research
https://www.olx.co.ke/
https://www.olx.co.ke/
Content writing

Imaging and Video tagging Fuzu Open jobs, insights into the
East African job market, tailored career https://www.jumia.co.ke/
advice and skill training. https://www.jumia.co.ke/
https://www.fuzu.com/jobs
https://www.masoko.com/
https://www.masoko.com/

https://www.kilimall.co.ke/
Brighter Monday
https://www.olx.co.ke/
Careerpoint Kenya
accounting jobs, internships, hospitality
jobs, teaching jobs vacancies in Kenya,
banking jobs, office & admin jobs
https://www.brightermonday.co.ke/ 13
https://www.brightermonday.co.ke/ ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

https://www.careerpointkenya.co.ke/ Uber
https://www.careerpointkenya.co.ke/
Taxify
Transport, driving jobs, logistics
Jumia Kenya https://www.uber.com/en-KE/
https://www.uber.com/en-KE/
Masoko
https://taxify.eu/
Kilimall https://taxify.eu/

olx
Drop shipping Note:

Affiliate marketing

- You can view more platforms and job boards here:

https://ecommerce.university/job-board-
list/?utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=blog&utm_source=fb&utm_content=48-underrated-
job-boards&utm_term=online-worker
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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL
6.0 MODULE VI: SIGNING-UP ON ONLINE PLATFORMS

6.1 Upwork

This is a global online work platform where businesses and independent professionals referred
to as freelancers connect to offer services to online clients who are their contractors or
employers either on short-term or long-term projects.

How do you sign up? Here we go.

Go to www.upwork.com

Step 1: Click on sign-up, enter your credentials and click get started. On the following page,
enter your password and choose the “Work as a Freelancer” option. You will then be promoted
to create a username.

Tips for creating a professional username

• Always use official names.

• The name should follow the standard structure preferably your email account.

Example: Good use of professional names vs unprofessional names

Monicah Musembi vs Pretty Musembi

Which email address should you use?

• Should be official account bearing ones’ official names. It is advisable to use the names that
appear on your national identity card when creating your email account for Upwork.
• You should avoid the use of pseudo names or aliases.

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

Step 2: Once completed you will get a notification message, prompting you to verify your email
address. You will have to check your email to confirm your email.
Step 4: Click on the link provided to complete the profile creation process. You will need to add
the main service you offer then select all applicable skills that you have, such as copywriting,
creative writing, editing and proofreading. For example, if you are good at writing you can create
a profile similar to the one shown below.

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL
Step 5: Add the skills that you can offer clients. Some of the skills that can be offered by a writer
are shown below.

Step 6: Choose your experience level and click the save & continue button to proceed.

Step 7: Attach your photo.

Tips of uploading a professional portrait

• The photo should be taken at close range

• The person whose photo is being taken should be smiling

• You should not be leaning in the photo

• The photo should be clear

• Needs to be taken on a plain background

• Should be a passport size photo

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

• The photo should be of an individual and not of a group.

• Ensure that the photo is at least 250px by 250p

Step 8: Create a professional title that best describes your skill set. The title should follow
normal punctuation and relate to the skills mentioned in the overview. You should also ensure
that it is attractive to help you market yourself better to clients. A good example of a title for a
website content writer would be ‘Experienced SEO writer to help you drive more traffic to your
website’.

Step 9: Add a professional overview.

An overview is a freelancer’s introduction on the online platform to potential clients when they
come across the freelancers’ profile.
Tips to creating a good professional overview

• Needs to be brief

• Observe proper punctuation

• Should have a set of skills and attributes relevant to the job title

• Should highlight your top skills, experience, and interests.

Profile Overview Sample

Thank you for viewing my profile! I am a detailed and thorough professional with over 25 years
of administrative experience- the last four in a “virtual office” environment. I specialize in
delivering quality services with respect to strict deadlines and high expectations. I am equipped
with a dedicated home office complete with a computer, copier/scanner/fax, and color printer.

I provide creative and detailed administrative, writing, proofreading, and editing services. I excel
at working under tight deadlines with strict expectations. I possess the self-discipline and time
management skills necessary to have served as a virtual employee for the past two years. I can
bring value to your business and help solve your administrative assistant issues. I have
extensive experience in marketing, the healthcare field advertising, real estate and small
business management.

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

Step 10: Add your educational and professional background. Describe vividly your educational
training and any other professional qualification or experience you possess. Finally, select your
English proficiency, set your hourly rate, availability and contact details.

Step 11: Send your application for review by clicking the review application button. It typically
takes around 24 hours for Upwork to review your application. They will send you a notification
indicating whether your account was approved or not. In most cases Upwork will not accept an
application if the system detects that the marketplace does not have opportunities for you based
on your combination of skills and experience. If declined you can resubmit your profile for
another review after gaining more experience and skills outside of Upwork.

Setting your method of payment on Upwork

Step 1: Click view profile

Step 2: Click the profile settings button

Step 3: On the left menu click the Get paid link

Step 4: Click setup now. It may take up to 3 days to activate the payment method you choose.

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

Tips on how to get your Upwork profile approved even after a rejection

• Never choose just one work subcategory

• Go beyond the bare minimum when writing your profile overview. It should read more like a
resume
• Try your best to list the maximum number of skills
• Don’t undersell your experience level – go for intermediate or expert level.
• Let Upwork calculate a personalized “rate tip”
• Make sure your title isn’t too vague (or too specific)
• Prove yourself with Upwork’s skill tests
• Keep improving your profile and try again when rejected.
• Include ALL your education qualifications and certifications (not just your college degrees)

How to create the perfect freelancer profile that will attract clients

• Use your real name

• Upload A Professional Photo
• Your headline should describe your job title. Try to find one that is as specific as possible to
make it easier for your prospective clients to understand what you do.
• Write Your Bio in First-Person
• Describe your qualifications and experience in your bio
• Showcase your best work in the portfolio
• Connect Your Social Networks if they will help enhance your profile

Notes:
- This work platform you will require you to bid for jobs.

6.2 Fiverr

Fiverr is a marketplace where freelancers who are referred to us sellers offer services to online
clients who are buyers, beginning at a minimal cost of $5, which literally defines the origin of its
name.

How do you sign up? Here we go.

Go to www.fiverr.com

Step 1: Go to the Fiverr website and click on Join.

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

Step 2: From the popup dialog box. You can either sign up with your email address or with your
social sites.
Step 3: Now, you have to enter the username, the password for your account and click on Join.

Step 4: Confirm your account with the confirmation email to fully activate your account

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

How it works

For a freelancer’s profile to be complete on the Fiverr platform, a gig (the service that you sell
on Fiverr) must be created. This is where you will have to show off your talent and provide
buyers with information that they will use to decide whether to do business with you or not.
To create a Gig:

• Log in to your account and click “selling” then “Gigs”. Click” Create a new Gig” to begin the
setup.
• The title should be attractive; you can peruse through a number of titles made by top sellers
relevant to your gig to get ideas. Here are some examples of titles you can use for your gig.
o I Will Write Eye Catchy Meta Title and Description for Your Website o I Will Create Your
Digital Marketing Strategy
• Select a relevant category and subcategory for your gig then add all other relevant data such
as the service type, metadata and search tags. This will allow clients to find you more easily.
• When pricing as a newbie, it is advisable to provide more work for lesser pay. This will attract
more customers to your gig. Pricing should range from $5 to $995.

Notes:
- You can charge more for Extra fast delivery and add an additional fee for shipping &
handling if you provide a product. - You can add an extra gig to your gig using the Add Gig
Extra button.

• Add a photo or video to your gig and a catchy description to garner more attention.
• Once you are done, you can publish your gig.

Example of a completed gig for a marketer

Some popular job categories on Fiverr include:

• Graphics and Design

• Digital marketing

• Writing and Translation

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

• Video and Animation

• Music and Audio engineering

• Programming and Tech

6.3 Guru.com

Guru.com is a freelance online marketplace for businesses and freelancers to connect,

collaborate, and get work done.

Go to www.guru.com

How do you sign up? Here we go.

Step 1: Go to www.guru.com on your web browser

Step 2: Select the join now link to create a new account on Guru.com
Step 3: Select “I want to work” option to create a new freelancer account.

Step 4: Once completed you will get a notification message to verify the account by going to
your email.

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

Step 5: Enter your contact information.

Step 6: Add all the information that is required to complete your profile to start bidding.

Here is an example of an attractive profile for a writer on guru

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL
Notes:
- To create an attractive profile, you can browse through some profiles of the highest
earners
here: https://www.guru.com/d/freelancers/. Use the search function and the dropdown
select tool to find the highest earners in your niche. - This work platform you will require
you to bid for jobs.

6.4 Figure-eight

Figure-eight is a data mining platform that uses machine learning and human input to complete
micro tasks.

Go to https://www.figure-eight.com/
How do you sign up? Here we go.

Step 1: Go to https://elite.figure-eight.com/?view=register

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL
Step 2: Input all your credentials including a valid email address and a PayPal account. Once
you have input this information correctly, a verification email will be sent to your email address.

Step 3: You will then need to send activation to your email address in order for you to access
the platform.
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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

Step 4: Once you login after activation, click the task bar to view available tasks.

Step 5: Select a project from the task wall that interests you, read the instructions, and
you’re ready to start. Once you have completed answering the questions within the
Task, submit your answers. The platform will keep track of your accuracy so you can
level up and get better paying tasks as you continue. You can task for as long as you’d
like and log out whenever you want. Some of the tasks you can find on the platform
include:
• Social media categorization
• Content moderation
• Audio transcription
• Image tagging

Notes:
- Payments are only made through PayPal - Check on the platform regularly to see what
tasks are being offered

6.5 Brighter Monday

Brighter Monday is a platform that offers the latest job listings in Kenya.

Go to https://www.brightermonday.co.ke/

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL
How do you sign up? Here we go.

Step 1: Go to https://www.brightermonday.co.ke/customer/sign-up, here you will sign up as a job

seeker

Step 2: After filling in your credentials you will need to fill in your work information, ensure your
CV is up to date so that you can upload it on the platform. One you have finished filling in the
form your CV will be sent to the employer who will handle the hiring process.
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Do not worry if you do not receive an immediate response from the website. Sometimes it takes
weeks or even months for the website administrators to sort out applications. However, you can
rest assured that prospective employers will contact you if you are shortlisted as a successful
candidate.

Filtering out employment opportunities on Brighter Monday

You can use the toolbar located at the top of the website to filter out employment opportunities
according to the type of job, location and a keyword. Example, if I was searching for a web
development job in Nairobi, I would use IT& Telecoms as my job type, Nairobi as my location
and Web as my keyword.

Notes:

- You can create basic job alerts on the platform – Brighter Monday will request that you
provide information relating to your employment preferences as well as your email address
or mobile phone number so that they notify you via email or SMS of jobs specific to your
needs. - More job sites and opportunities visit:
http://youthvillage.co.ke/top-10-best-websites-to-find-
jobs-in-kenya/

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

7.0 MODULE VII: ONLINE JOB CATEGORIES (INTERMEDIATE)

7.1 Transcription 1

Transcription refers to the process by which audio or video recordings are transferred into a text
format. It involves listening to a recording of something and typing the contents up into a
document for indexing, accessibility or archival purposes.

Clients who require transcription services

• Television and radio networks who need written transcripts.
• Business people use them for market research, focus groups, and copy-writing.
• Academic staff and students refer to transcripts of interviews and conferences to prepare
dissertations and articles.
• Research firms, courts, parliaments/assembly
• Authors are aided by written transcripts when doing their oral research and writing books.
• Religious leaders often want a written copy of their sermons for reference.
• Medical and legal professionals often refer to written transcripts to get detailed information on
recordings.

Role of a transcriber/transcriptionist

The basic role of a transcriber is to help a client transform audio or visual files into transcripts.

Note:

- Transcripts - a written or printed version of material originally presented in

another
medium

General skills needed to be a transcriptionist

• Fast and accurate typing

• Attention to detail

• Excellent English grammar, punctuation, and styling

• Ability to work under pressure especially when given tight deadlines

• Excellent hearing and listening skills

• Computer Literacy

Sample profile for a transcriber

I am a fast typist with exceptional listening skills. I often understand what people are trying
to say when they are unable to articulate it clearly. I have worked a lot with people for
whom English is a second language. I am highly accurate and speedy at my keyboard!

My goal is to always provide my clients with excellent transcripts and with excellent
customer service as well. Each transcript will go through two levels of proofreading and will
be expertly done.

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

I have transcribed for authors, speakers, coaches, small business owners, podcasts, radio
and television broadcasts, focus groups, PhD Dissertation interviews, financial earnings
conference calls, family history interviews, depositions for legal transcription and court
reporters.

Essential Tools you will require to transcribe

• Transcription software – Express scribe

• Audio and video converter – Format factory
• Headphones
• MS Word or a reliable word editor
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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL
7.2 Translation 1

Translation is the process of translating words or text from one language into another.

Clients who may require translation services

• Travel and tourism agencies

• Legal agencies, courts
• Media firms
• Website developers and online content creators
• Finance and banking institutions
• Medical and healthcare organisations
• Global Conference organisers

Main roles of a Translator

• The main role of a translator is to convey a message without any form of distortion or
additional emphasis.
• Send messages across in their original context.

Skills of a good translator

Many people tend to think that a person who knows foreign languages is a good translator.
However, that’s not necessarily true, as levels of knowledge of a language can vary. What are
the qualities that characterize a good translator?

• Passion. A translator should be passionate about their translation job. They should use all their
means and effort to deliver every project in excellent shape as if it was their baby.
• Translation Skills. A good translator must have a good linguistic education. They should
master not only the foreign language they work with, but also the skills of translation.
• Excellent writing skills. They also need to be able to write well across a variety of text styles.
• Rich Vocabulary. This will make the translation process easier and the quality of the translation
higher
• Curiosity. A translator must be curious and motivated to keep on learning new words and
expression. The learning process of a translator should be never-ending.
• Clarity. A good translator’s goal is to express the idea of the source text as clearly as possible,
without ambiguity. They should avoid difficult structures when they can use simple ones.
• Good Quality – The message should be translated and conveyed correctly.
• Accuracy. A good translator should provide an exact transfer of information.
• Research Skills. A good translator must have the readiness and ability to research.

Types and Methods of Translation

1. Oral Translation:

This is translation that is done orally, irrespective of the text source.

2. Written Translation:

This is translation performed in writing, irrespective of the text source.

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

Tools required for translation work

1. Google translate- Although this tool is not perfect, it is free and can be used to translate a
variety of languages that are spoken across the globe. Link: https://translate.google.com/

2. Linguee - This translation tool combines a dictionary with a search engine, making it easier to
search for bilingual texts, words, and expressions in different languages, to check meanings and
contextual translations. Link: https://www.linguee.com/

3. SDL Trados Studio – This is the most recommended computer-assisted translation (CAT)
tool. It
features TM, terminology, machine translation and software localization. Link:
https://www.sdl.com/software-and-services/translation-software/sdl-trados-studio/

4. The Free Collins Dictionary – This translation tool is a dictionary, thesaurus and encyclopedia
in one. Link: https://www.collinsdictionary.com/translator

5. ProZ – This is a portal for professional translators who wish to collaborate on terms of
translation, dictionaries, training as well as receive access to discounts on translation tools.
Translators can ask questions and join forum discussions, too. Link: https://www.proz.com/

6. MemoQ - A translation software designed for freelance translators that also offers a number
of
functions to enable one to reuse previous translations. MemoQ also has features to help
improve quality, check consistency and ensure the use of correct terminology. Link:
https://www.memoq.com/en/

7. Translators Café - An online community and forum where one can ask questions and advice
from experienced translators. Registration is free and members can bid and acquire jobs at no
extra cost. Link: https://www.translatorscafe.com/cafe/

Sample profile for a translator

Swahili Linguist/Translator/Consultant/Expert

A native speaker of Swahili with a passion for passing messages across cultural barriers, I
am always interested in taking on new challenges in order to offer you highly customized
language services that will meet and possibly exceed your expectations.

Aware of the specific issues you may be faced with when doing business in this part of
Africa, I will take care of finding the right words and the right words of concepts to ensure
your message fully connects with your target audience, and triggers the precise response
you are aiming for.

Even though the modern translation tools I am using allow me to provide you with
enhanced quality and consistency within the best time frames, you are welcome to contact
me as early as possible to discuss your project and expectations and get all the information
you need to make an optimal decision.

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7.3 Online Content Writing 1

Content writing involves creating relevant content for websites which are targeted for specific
audiences. The content will more often than not contain keywords that are aimed at improving a
website’s SEO. The content may also be geared towards marketing a certain product or service
or educate the reader. Quality content will often translate to higher traffic and revenue for
website owners. This is one of the main reasons why there is currently a growing demand for
online content writers.

Note:

- SEO – SEO stands for search engine optimisation which is a practise aimed at
increasing the
quantity and quality of traffic received by a website through organic search engine results
(results which a user gets when they search for a term or a word using a search engine
such as google or Bing). - Keywords – These are words or phrases in your web content
that make it possible for web
users to find your site via search engines.

Clients who require content writing services

• Media firms
• Website owners
• Marketing firms
• Advertising companies
• Research firms

Some of the roles of content writers

• Creating content that allows readers to get information quickly and efficiently
• Creating unique content that is not merely designed for search engines.
• Producing content that includes keywords that will help improve a websites SEO.
• Create content that is aimed at promoting a company’s, brand, products or services.
• Produce engaging content that will entice visitors to continue browsing the current website.

Skills required by an online content writer

• Originality – being original is a mandatory quality not just because of the reader but because it
is very essential for SEO purposes.
• Savviness - being knowledgeable about the subject you are writing about helps provide
answers to questions that readers may be having and makes them engage more with your
content
• Patience – Good content writers have to be patient especially when coming up with content
that requires excellent research and good analytical skills.
• Relevant and vibrant - a good content writer must be able to instantly adapt to any trend be it
from a newspaper or on social media.
• Good language skills - It goes without saying that a good content writer should be good at
spelling, grammar, and word usage.

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

• Persistence – Content writers have to be persistent and resist the urge to quit especially in
those situations when they are fed up or frustrated with anything to do with writing.
• Good communications skills – whether you are shy or sort of an introvert, you need to develop
good communication skills and a tone that is suitable for your audiences. This will come in
handy in situations where you are required to reply to comments on your website or on your
social media pages.
• Research skills – this refers to one’s ability to search for, locate, evaluate, extract, organise
and use or present information that is relevant to a certain topic.

Tools required for content writing

• Word processor – a good example is MS word.

• Advanced grammar checking tool – You can download the Grammarly plugin for Microsoft
Word or an extension for your browser.
• Plagiarism checker - you can use websites such as plagium to check your content for
plagiarism.
• Keyword density tool – you can use an online tool such as seobook to check the keyword
density of your content especially when you are doing SEO (search engine optimization).
• Readability – You can use a tool such as readable to get your contents readability score.
Readable content is more attention-grabbing to online users.

Sample profile for a content writer

I have been a freelance writer and top blogger for more than five years. I craft high quality
articles that are error-free, unique and non-plagiarized.

I run a successful blog which is one of the best in its niche. I therefore know how to write
content that sells.
I strive to be professional in all my dealings with clients. I communicate early and deliver
work on time. I thrive on speed and precision. It is my goal to give you content that will
improve your business and help you to attain your goals.

If you want nothing but the best, contact me for freelance writing, proofreading and
copy-editing services. Hit the "Hire Me" button and let's get started today.

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7.4 Data management 1

Data management can be described as the administrative processes that include acquiring,
validating, protecting, processing and storing of data to ensure that it is reliable and accessible
for its users. Most organizations today make use of “Big Data” to make informed business
decisions and gain deeper insight into customer behavior and trends.

Clients who require data management services

• Research firms
• Finance and banking institutions
• Retail outlets
• Data collection firms
• Hospitals and healthcare organisations
• Law firms
• Learning institutions such as universities and colleges

Processing data to different formats

File conversion or data conversion involves changing computer data from one format to another.
Currently, there are many data conversion programs that support test, database, spreadsheet
and graphic conversions. Some of the key features to look for when selecting such a software
include: -

• Ability to edit scanned documents or images in a PDF

• Ability to create searchable PDFs from word documents
• Ability to convert images into text (OCR)
• Ability to convert PDFs to editable formats such as word and Excel.

Common data formats you can find on your computer

• Image formats: .jpg, .gif, .png, .raw, and others.

• Audio formats: .oog, .wav, and .mp3
• Video formats: .avi, .mpeg, .mp4, and .wmv
• Document formats: .doc, .txt, .xls, .ppt, .pdf, .rtf , .odt, .docx, .xml and .pub

Skills required for data management

• Good written and communication skills

• Fast typing speed
• Strong analytical and organizational skills
• An eye for detail, high levels of concentration and accuracy
• Strong leadership skills especially in cases where an agent has to head a team
• Ability to understand business needs
• Up-to-date knowledge of technology
• Some experience ins database software and web applications can prove to be advantageous.
• A basic understanding of structured query language (SQL)

Examples of Data management jobs online

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

• Data entry and data management - Entering information into electronic formats by using word
processing or data processing software. Common types of job categories where you will require
excellent data entry skills include, typing work, form filling, proofreading, data conversion and
correction, formatting and advertising posts.
• Mail processing - Analysing and processes customer requests received via mail, email, chat,
and online orders.
• Word processing – Typing correspondence, reports, text and other written material from rough
drafts, corrected copies, voice recordings, dictation or previous versions, using a computer and
a word processor.
• Data Visualization - presentation of data in a pictorial or graphical format.
• Data Mining - Sorting through large data sets to identify patterns and establish relationships to
solve problems through data analysis.
• Database management- as an online database manager you will be required to provide basic
database management functionalities including the creation and maintenance of databases on
different platforms. These functions may include restoring, attaching, detaching, cloning,
deleting and renaming databases.

Sample profile of a data entry expert

Data Entry Expert

Employer satisfaction has always been my priority and objective.

I strive to apply my vast experience to deliver high quality results to clients. I have solid
working knowledge on Google Spreadsheets, Microsoft Office, Web Research, Enterprise
Resource Planning (ERP) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) skills.

Looking for a career advancement opportunity with a company that will allow me to develop
my skill & potential with a permanent goal of offering you and your company a peace of
mind.

I possess self-discipline and time management skills.

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7.5 Digital marketing 1

Digital marketing involves developing, implementing and managing marketing campaigns that
promote a company and its products and/or services. A digital marketer plays the major role of
enhancing brand awareness within the digital space as well as driving website traffic and
acquiring leads/customers.

Clients who require digital marketing services

• New businesses or start-ups

• Product and service advertisers
• Website owners
• Event organisers

Roles of a digital marketer

• Overseeing social media strategy

• Managing and maintaining content on a website
• Tracking and analyzing website traffic flow and providing reports
• Editing and posting videos, podcasts and audio content to online sites
• Organising for webinars and webcasts
• Identifying new trends in the digital market space and ensuring a product or a service is at the
forefront of the industry.
• Attending product launches and network events.

Key skills required by a digital marketer

• Editing and wiring skills – A digital marketer will be required to come up with content for
various digital platforms.
• Good speaking skills - As a digital marketer you need to explain seemingly difficult concepts
coherently to others. Most of the time you may find that your audience may not be familiar with
the type of service or product that you are selling.
• Video editing skills – Video editing skills are an added bonus. With good video editing skills,
you will be able to engage a larger audience, especially those who would rather watch a video
than read long strands of content.
• Web development skills – Web development is not designated to software developers only.
Digital marketers can use this knowledge to better optimise their website content and online
presentations.
• Project management skills – As a digital marketer you need to be good at handling time-
sensitive projects and working within specified time frames. Graphic design skills – knowledge
on design elements such as colour and composition can be an added advantage as a digital
marketer.
• Photography skills – knowledge on what makes a worthwhile photo can help you put out better
digital marketing campaigns.

Examples of Free Digital Marketing Tools

• Google Analytics — https://google.com/analytics

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Google Analytics will assist you track everything on your website/blog including the total number
of visitors, pages visited, how long visitors stayed on your website and traffic sources to
conversions and revenue – for free.
• Keyword Planner — https://ads.google.com/home/tools/keyword-planner/ This is a free tool to
research and evaluate the worth of keywords. As such it works for AdWords and SEO purposes.
It will assist you identify high volume; low competition terms and optimize the site to rank for
those terms.
• BuzzSumo — https://buzzsumo.com/ This will assist you discover the content you need to
earn you the best. BuzzSumo is able to scan social media for blogs and articles, record the
number of shares and engagement they receive.
• Hootsuite - https://hootsuite.com/ This tool will help you find great social content and schedule
posting. Using the tool, you can also measure the impact of your content.

Sample profile of a digital marketing expert

Digital Marketing Expert

I am an expert in the digital marketing field, and I want to help your business grow its online
presence. I have over three years of experience in e-mail automation, SEO, PPC
Advertising, and competitor research. I am also well versed in word press, wix, Spyfu, and
SEMRush. If you want a freelancer who puts extra time and effort into your business to
ensure you succeed, then feel free to setup an interview with me to see how I can help you
achieve your online goals.
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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

8.0 MODULE VIII: ONLINE JOB CATEGORIES (ADVANCED)

8.1 Data management 2

Websites where you can test your typing and data management skills

• https://official-typing-test.com/test/ten.html
• https://thepracticetest.com/
• https://www.gonnatype.com/data-entry-test/
• https://learn10key.com/index.html
Platforms for data management jobs

Freelancer This is a freelance service marketplace and crowdsourcing platform with connections
to millions of sellers and buyers in many different countries around the world.

Link: https://www.freelancer.com/ Upwork This is a cloud-based freelance platform that has

recently become one of the largest pool of employers and job finders.

Link: https://www.upwork.com/ Fiverr This freelance website helps employers find individuals
with specific talents to complete a wide variety of short-term and long-term projects.

Link: https://www.fiverr.com/ PeoplePerHour You can find numerous job postings on this website
using a number of tools provided on the platform.

Link: https://www.peopleperhour.com/ Worknhire.com This site offers data entry jobs in a wide
range of qualifications and professions. Users of this website can get the latest job listings
matching their skills via email. They can then submit proposals to bid for the jobs.

Link: http://worknhire.com/ Craigslist You can find a number of data entry jobs listed
on this website if you perform a detailed search.

Link: https://kenya.craigslist.org/

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

Flexjobs This site offers a number of freelance opportunities for those searching for data entry
jobs. You will need to do a detailed search in order to find a job that suits your specific skillset.

Link: https://www.flexjobs.com/ Mturk This is a freelancing site by Amazon, that offers a great
market place for online data entry jobs. Here you can make money by working on Human
Intelligence Tasks (Hits) that have been posted by requesters.

Link: https://www.mturk.com/get-started

Web Research
Web research is the practice of using the internet as a resource to gather, organize and present
Information from the World Wide Web using internet-based resources like search engines,
discussion platforms.

Benefits of doing web research

• Reduces the cost of doing research.

• Quality of research is superior hence improving data accuracy.

• A freelancer is exposed to more and wide pool of sources of information as compared to the
traditional University based research.

Tools used by a web researcher

- Search Engine.

A search engine is software that is used to search for information on the Websites. It uses an
automated process to generate the resources you want. Examples GOOGLE, BING, MSN.It has
features that help you conduct target searches for specific resources such as images, videos,
news, reports, maps.

- Keywords

Key words will be used to target specific search results. To get more relevant search results you
can use the advanced search tool.

Skills required for a web researcher

• Data mining-It is the process of identifying patterns in large sets of data.

• Microsoft office suite.

• Data organization (presentation of data) Note - Search engine work hand in hand with web

browsers such as Mozilla Firefox, Operamini, Google

chrome which the freelancer will use to locate resources.

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

- Some web based resources cannot be searched and are regarded as invisible either
because they
are password protected or unsafe.

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) for data management

Machine learning can be defined as application of artificial intelligence (AI) to provide systems
with the ability to automatically learn and improve from experience without being programmed.
Using certain algorithms that access and learn from data, machines are able to complete some
of the tasks that are often handled by data managers.

Applications of machine learning

• Simplifying product marketing and assisting in accurate sales forecasts

• Facilitating accurate medical predictions and diagnoses
• Documentation in data entry
• Spam detection
• Customer segmentation and accurate lifetime value prediction
• Accurate product recommendations.

Using google drive for data management

Google Drive is a cloud solution that can be used to store both sensitive and non-sensitive data.
To access the drive, you will need to create a google account if you don’t have one
(https://drive.google.com). Signing up is free and once all your credentials are verified you get
access to 15GB of storage.

Once you are signed in you can access your drive via a browser or a dedicated mobile
application.
Google drive on a computer browser

Steps to Upload files to your google drive

• Click the “New” button then “File upload” (This option is in the New drop-down menu). Doing
so opens a File Explorer.
•

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

• Select the file that you want to upload. If you want to upload multiple files, you can hold down
Ctrl (Windows) while clicking files to select them. You may need to select a file storage folder
from the left side of the window.
• Once you click the Open button the files will begin uploading to Google Drive.
• Once the files finish uploading, you'll see a white checkmark ✓ to the right of the file's name in
the box that's on the right side of the page.

Creating files on your Google Drive

• Click the new button on your drive and select a document type.

• Click one of the following options:

o Google Docs - Opens a new, blank Word-like document. o Google Sheets - Opens a new,
blank Excel-like spreadsheet. o Google Slides - Opens a new, blank PowerPoint-like
document. o You can also select More and then click Google Forms if you want to create a
Google
Form.
• Name your document and finally create it.
• You can close the document's tab once you are done editing your file. Your document will be
saved on the Drive home page.

Using Excel for data management

Excel is a basically a software included in the Microsoft Office suite that is used to create
spreadsheets. Spreadsheets will often be laid out in rows and columns as shown below.

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL
Things you can do using Excel

• Pivot Tables – These can be used to reorganize data in a spreadsheet, sum up values and
compare different types of information. To create the Pivot Table, go to Insert > Pivot Table.
Excel will automatically populate the Pivot Table, but you can always change it according to your
preferences.

• Sort data- You can sort a row of data from the smallest to the largest or vice versa using the
filter tool.

• Filters - Filters allow you to pare down your data to only look at certain rows at one time. In
Excel, a filter can be added to each column in your data. From here you can then choose which
cells you want to view at once.
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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

• Removing duplicates in your data – A large dataset will often have duplicates. To remove
these duplicates, you will need to highlight the row or column that you want to remove
duplicates from and then go to the Data tab and select remove duplicates.
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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

• Transposing data - This is basically transferring the data that is in a column to a row. To do this
you will need to start by highlighting the column that you want to transpose into rows than
copying it. Nest, you will need to select the cells where you want to put your first row. Right-click
on the cell, and then select "Paste Special." A module will appear -- at the bottom, you'll see an
option to transpose. Check that box and select OK. Your column will now be transferred to a row
or vice-versa.
• Formulas and functions in Excel - formulas in excel are expressions that operate on values in
a range of cells or a cell while functions are predefined formulas. An example of a formula is
=A1+A2+A3 while a good example of a function is =SUM(A1:A3).

Other Resources for reading and testing

o https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/excel/study/advanced-excel-formulas-must-
know/ o https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/excel/study/benefits-of-excel-shortcuts/
o https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/knowledge/modeling/valuation-modeling-in-
excel/ o http://www.teststeststests.com/exceltest.htm

Using FileZilla for transferring files

Filezilla is a free FTP software for transferring files over the Internet. Once you have installed
the software on your device, you can either use it to upload or download files securely using a
hostname, username, and password.
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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

8.2 Content writing 2

Common types of content writing jobs you can find on online platforms

• Blogging and freelance article writing

• Web content writing
• Technical writing
• Creative writing
• Copywriting
• Proofreading and editing
• Product reviews and descriptions

Referencing work and avoiding plagiarism

If you are planning to use quotations, ideas or information from other people’s work, it is
important to acknowledge the source. This is what is known as referencing or citing. Plagiarism,
on the other hand, involves taking other people’s ideas or words and presenting them as your
own.

How to reference work

When referencing work, you may be required to include some of the information listed below:

• Original Author/s
• Date of publication
• The publisher’s information
• Page numbers
• URL and the date when the information was accessed.
• Title of book, journal, magazine or print media where the information was accessed.

How to avoid plagiarism

• Avoid copy-pasting content form websites or other sources that have been published online.
• Reference your quotes and sources

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

• Familiarise yourself with the content that you are talking about. You are more likely to use your
own words if you know what you are talking about.
• You can paraphrase some content if you are unable to cite the original source.
• Conduct good research about the topic you intend to write about before you start
• Use a plagiarism checker before you publish your work online.

Plagiarism checkers

A plagiarism checker is a tool that can detect instances of plagiarism within a work, paper or
document.
Here are some links to good plagiarism checkers that you can find online:

• Google search engine – google.com

• https://www.copyscape.com/
• https://www.duplichecker.com/
• https://www.grammarly.com/
• http://www.plagium.com/en/plagiarismchecker

Tools and Tests to improve your content writing skills

You can find a number of tools and tests in increase your content writing skills on the following
websites:

• http://www.hemingwayapp.com/
• https://www.grammarly.com/
• https://www.youth4work.com/onlinetalenttest/Content-Writing-test
• https://www.interviewmocha.com/tests/content-writer-test
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBqRbpfgegE

How to search and apply for freelance content writing jobs?

Once you are ready to write, you need to find a platform to find writing jobs.

You can choose from the options listed below.

• Content Mills - This is a content writing platform that acts as a middleman between the writer
and the client. The writer has to communicate with the client through the platform and any form
of communication will be monitored by the administrators of the site. In most cases, you will
have to agree to refrain from contacting clients outside the platform. Most content mills are
responsible for sending the payments to the writers. Payment may vary according to a writer’s
level and rating. If your rating goes low or you consistently produce substandard work, your
access to the service may be terminated. If you are a beginner, this is the best place to start.
• Freelancer websites – These websites will often require you to buy credits or become a
premium member to apply for more jobs. The website will also take a flat percentage as a fee
for every job you complete on their platform. One main advantage of going this way is that you
can set your own rates for writing projects. You can start off by charging low but increase your
rates as you get more positive feedback from clients.
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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

• Job boards / Classified websites – This is the best option when it comes to pay rates since
there are no intermediaries and you don’t have to pay a fee to get a job. Here you communicate
directly with the clients and set your won terms. You will be able to secure regular assignments
from clients if they are satisfied with your work.

Content writing platforms

Content mills Zerys Zerys is a content marketing software platform and writer marketplace
where you can find editing and writing gigs.

Link: https://www.zerys.com/ Contentgather For this type of content mill you will need to submit
your own articles to the marketplace or create content on the topics provided by the client
through the Custom Jobs section on the platform. Link: https://contentgather.com/users/login
Writer Access Writer Access is a content site, similar to Textbroker and Content Authority, that
hires freelance writers to create content for their clients.

Link: https://www.writeraccess.com/ Contently This website allows you to create an online

portfolio for your writing.

Link: https://contently.com/ Media Shower This is an online writing platform that offers
writing assignments for a variety of websites.

Link: https://mediashower.com/application/writer/ Textbroker Textbroker is a content mill site that

posts a variety of writing jobs from an array of clients that can be individually picked up by
writers. Yow will need to submit an already published article as a sample. Based on the quality
of your sample you will be awarded a star rating from 2 to 5. On this website, you can work on
three main types of orders namely OpenOrder, DirectOrder, and TeamOrder.

Link: https://www.textbroker.co.uk/ Article Document This site is designed to serve and

strengthen
writers in every stage of their careers.

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL
Link: https://www.articledocument.com/ Scripted This is an online writing site that pays up to $25
per article completed. On the platform, you can set your own rates too and communicate directly
with clients to get writing projects.

Link: https://www.scripted.com/ Article Sale This website allows you to sell original articles.

Link: http://www.articlesale.com/ Crowd Content Crowd Content is a website that pays you to
write product descriptions.

Link: https://www.crowdcontent.com/ Contact Content Divas This site provides a platform to

market your
articles and get paid.

Link: http://contentdivas.com/ Content Runner This article marketplace allows you to write
articles and then post that they are for sale.

Link: https://www.contentrunner.com/ Iwriter This site is extremely similar to Hire Writers and
requires you to work your way up to the higher paying jobs through satisfied customer reviews.
On this content mill there are three levels namely Standard, Premium, and Elite. The pay varies
based on your writer level.

Link: https://www.iwriter.com/ Textmaster This website allows you to offer translation,

content writing and proofreading services.

Link: https://eu.textmaster.com/ MeritCrowd This website offers writing tasks for those who love
writing. To join the platform, you will first have to submit a 300 word sample article. If you are
accepted you can begin earning immediately. The tasks on this website are available on a first
come first serve basis.

Link: https://www.meritcrowd.com/ Clearvoice On this website, you can connect with brands and
agencies to create great content.

Link: https://www.clearvoice.com/ Freelance Writing Sites

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL
Upwork Hundreds of writing gigs are posted on Upwork on a daily basis. You can bid for writing
jobs on this platform. You will need to put up a very appealing profile to get jobs here. You can
work on hourly jobs or fixed price/contract jobs here. Payment protection is provided for jobs
and a 20% fee is charged for the use of the platform. A job will require two connects meaning
you can apply for 30 jobs per month.

Link: https://www.upwork.com/ Peopleperhour This platform helps connect freelancers to clients.

Thousands of writing gigs are posted on the website and as a free member, you can apply for
15 jobs per month. To increase this limit, you will need to buy credits. Good reviews and ratings
will help you land more writing projects.

Link: https://www.peopleperhour.com/ Freelancer This is one of the biggest online job portals for
freelancers. To apply for jobs here, you will need to create an enticing profile with detailed
information about your skills, academic credentials, and work experience.

Link: https://www.freelancer.com/ Freelancing Job Boards For Beginners To Find Content

Writing Jobs ProBlogger This is one of the most trusted job boards for online content writers.
The jobs posted on this online job board are updated on a daily basis and allow you to apply for
contract jobs, part-time jobs, and full-time jobs. Writers will need to communicate with clients
directly to get work and payment.

Link: https://problogger.com/ Freelance writing Gigs This platform lists various writing
opportunities that are available for online writers. The jobs listed are updated on a daily basis
and you can apply for anything that is within your skill set. You can find different types of jobs
here, including, full time, part time and contractual projects.

Link: https://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/ Freelance writing You can find both online and
offline writing jobs here. The jobs here are updated on a daily basis.

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

Some of the jobs listed include, journalism, copywriting, proofreading and blogging.

Link: https://www.freelancewritingcenter.com/ Craigslist Unlike what many people think, you can
find some writing jobs on this site. You can find at least 5-10 new jobs on this website on a daily
basis if you search well.
Link: https://www.craigslist.org/

Other ways of getting a Job as a Freelance Writer

Start building a writing portfolio

One of the major problems about creating content for content mills is that you have to submit it
as a ghost-writer. The content will often be published under a different name and the credit will
go under the publisher. To ensure you get some credit for your work, you can create a blog so
that the content you create is helps in building your portfolio

Note:

- Ghost-writer - a person whose job it is to write material for someone else who is the
named
author

Find work on corporate blogs

Most companies require fresh content on their websites on a daily basis. Since they may not
have the skills needed to produce this content, they may decide to hire a freelancer.

Content marketing services

Some content marketing services offer positions for remote workers many of whom will be
freelancers.

Tips when working on SOE online writing platforms

• Ensure your content is easy to read and understand. You can use the Flesch–Kincaid
readability test to measure readability. You can use this online tool: https://readable.io/

• AMERICAN ENGLISH should always be used unless specified otherwise (e.g. UK, Canadian
or Australian ENGLISH). Most of the clients are American and are targeting the American
Market. All common expressions used should also be American; some expressions used in
other parts of the world, for example, Britain may portray a totally different meaning or may not
be familiar with most Americans. Even though your first language may not be English, your
writing should be indistinguishable from that of a native English speaker.

• AVOID FILLER TEXT. Do your research and try to give as much information about a subject as
you possibly can. Filler text will only serve to earn you a rejection.

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

Note - Filler text is text that is randomly written in such a way that it does not make any

sense
to the reader.

• NEVER PLAGIARIZE YOUR WORK. You shouldn't copy-paste whole sentences or

paragraphs from a webpage. Copyscape, the software used to check for plagiarism in the
articles, checks for any word for word comparisons online. However, the program does not look
at common words and phrases you may use because those are everywhere. It just examines
the primary components of an article and makes sure they aren't anywhere to be found.

• Online resources should be used to conduct research and build upon ideas. An especially
good writer will be able to use limited resources to turn in an original piece of work with their
own writing style and tone.

• You MUST use the keyword provided. An example: If the keyword is Organic Food Store the
article can be about anything that is related to this keyword that you think people would be
interested in reading. Some examples: Organic Food Store Myths, Organic Food Stores:
Overpriced? Best Bargains at an Organic Food Store, Don't Be Fooled by the Labels in an
Organic Food Store, Why I recommend shopping at Organic Food Stores, Nutritional
Advantages of Shopping at an Organic Food Store, etc. It truly can be about anything that will
be interesting for our users, as long as you are using the keywords and exercising quality writing
skills.

• Always follow CLIENT INSTRUCTIONS. Before you begin writing you should always read
through the client's instructions and take some time to understand the clients requirements.
Failure to follow instructions will earn you a REJECTION or an ARTICLE REWRITE.

Note:

- More on SEO writing - https://yoast.com/complete-guide-seo-copywriting/

How to make money blogging

For those who are really serious about making money from a blog, a self-hosted blog is a must.
A self- hosted blog will require you to buy a hosting plan and a domain name which will probably
cost you around 5000 KSH per year. A good content management system to use for blogging
would be something like Wordpress. Wordpress is very popular with bloggers since it is very
easy to setup and use. You don’t have to be even knowledgeable in website design. You can get
your website up and running within a matter of minutes by just reading a couple of online
tutorials or watching some Wordpress installation videos.

Note:

- How to start a WordPress blog tutorial-

https://startbloggingonline.com/how-to-start-a-blog-
on-wordpress-com/ - Video on how to start a WordPress blog -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNMiOjRf05c - Sites where you can buy domains include
a. https://tld-list.com/go/alpnames/com

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

b. https://tld-list.com/go/porkbun/com c. https://tld-list.com/go/namesilo/com d.
https://tld-list.com/go/onlydomains/com

How to write good money-making blogging articles

• Avoid plagiarism. Good writers are able to write articles in their own words even if the articles
concern a subject that has been talked about by millions of other bloggers.

• Talk about something you’re sure your readers would like to learn, find out or enjoy doing.
Avoid talking about things that are not interesting, for example, if your blog is about movies,
writing about movies that were in cinema the previous year will certainly not get a lot of
attention. Blogging about new and upcoming movies will certainly generate lots of interest and
comments. People love to talk about upcoming trends and what’s hot in a niche.

• Use attractive images in your blog. An image or two in your blog makes it more appealing to
the reader’s eye, engaging more attention and interest in the article. You can find free attractive
images on the following links:

- https://pixabay.com/en/ - https://www.freepik.com/
• Use a familiar layout convention or a clutter-free design for your blog. A good layout should be
easy to understand and digest. It should have good breaks and alignment that helps a reader
take necessary breaks when reading the article.

• Add an introduction and a conclusion to your blog. An introduction will be sort of a determining
factor for a reader on whether they should quit reading or keep going. A good introduction will
certainly keep most readers going and help you get the response you had hoped for. The
conclusion, on the other hand, should not be left out as this is just as important as the intro. A
good conclusion serves as a summary for your article and will remind readers of what they have
just read, encouraging them to leave comments on your blog.

• Use and emphasize the right words in your blog. Words that serve to show the main idea in
your article should be emphasized and well explained. The whole article will basically be
explaining your keywords. Good keyword use helps drive a considerable amount of web traffic
to your blog.

• Avoid writing extremely lengthy articles. If you realize that your article is too long but you feel
like you can’t leave anything out, add some styling and headings to make it easier for the reader
to process the large amount of info.

• Personify your articles. Personification helps readers relate to the information you are trying to
relay. It also helps create more loyal readers.

• Ensure that you note down those good writing ideas that you get while taking a nap or strolling
in the park. These will help create that amazing content.

Things you should avoid when writing blogging articles

• Avoid being so negative. If there is something you dislike, then it's better you avoid writing
about it

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• If a blog post sounds boring, avoid publishing it. No one will be willing to spend their precious
free time on a boring article.

• Ensure that your readers can understand what you are trying to tell them. Avoid being
ambiguous, don’t waste your readers time

• Avoid imposing your beliefs on others. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion
• Avoid linking to inappropriate material

• Avoid manipulating facts and giving false information

• Avoid spelling mistakes and errors in your blog posts.

• Never include specific names, places, addresses or contact details in your posts.

Here are some of the best ways to monetize your blog:

• Create a hire me page on your blog. The hire me page can be used to showcase your blog as
a portfolio to find other jobs. Good recommendations, testimonials, reviews, ratings, and
comments could be included in the page to make your work more enticing.

• Share your blogs on “Get paid blogging sites”. Blogging sites act as middlemen, simply
connecting paying advertisers with hired bloggers. Basically, bloggers are paid to write and post
their opinions and reviews of advertiser websites, products, and services. Being professional,
consistent and trustworthy are the keys to building a good blogging reputation for you.

• Use Google AdSense. For those who have no idea what Google AdSense is all about, here is
a simple explanation. Google AdSense is a smart program run by Google Inc that is able to
display relevant advertisements alongside your online content. This means if your content is
about, say kitchens, the adverts shown alongside your content will include things like
kitchenware, cookware, tableware and other things related to the kitchen. Showing relevant
adverts alongside your content increases the likelihood of a reader following the outbound
advert links provided. The advertisements generate revenue on either a cost-per-click (CPC) or
cost-per-thousand-impression (CPM) basis. For CPC advertisements, one will generate
earnings when a web user clicks on an ad on the blog. For CPM ads, one will generate earnings
every time the ad appears to a user viewing the blog.

For those who will go the extra mile and add an AdSense for search box on their blog, they can
generate earnings from ad clicks made by users on search results pages.

So how much can one earn from the Google Adsense program? Well, the answer is, you can
earn an unlimited amount of money. Google does not have a limit on the maximum amount you
can earn from them however they have a limit on the minimum you should have earned before
you can file for payment (this is usually placed at 100 US dollars). Beginner bloggers can earn
an average of between 0.1$ to 1$ each day while the more experienced bloggers can earn as
much as 100$ per day. You should, however, note that invalid clicks will not be paid for and too
many invalid clicks could make you lose your Google Adsense account permanently.

Note:
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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

- Signing up for an AdSense account tutorial -

https://support.google.com/adsense/answer/10162?hl=en - Qualifications you need for an
AdSense account -
https://support.google.com/adsense/answer/9724?hl=en

• Sell your own ads. For blogs that receive a substantial solid amount of visitors, there is always
someone out there who is willing to promote their product or site on them. As long as your price
is fair compared to what you are offering, you can make good money from selling your own ads

• Use text link ads on In-text Ads – When using text-link ads a user uses certain words in their
blog which relate to a certain product or service. These words are then hyperlinked to web
pages of those products or services. When a reader is going through a blog and they would like
to get more information about a certain word that has been hyperlinked, they can click on these
links. Using text link ads is a good non-intrusive way of getting your readers to follow an
advertisement. You will end up making money without putting off a good percentage of your
loyal blog fans.

• Sell services from your blog. You can use your blog as a home base for selling your own
services. Examples of services which you can sell include, training, mentoring, web design,
content writing, digital marketing, virtual assistance and graphic design.

• Use affiliates in your social media. Using affiliates in your social media creates more links to
your blog and also raises awareness of the affiliate opportunity. It’s a “win-win” situation for both
the blogger and business they are marketing for.

• Become a brand ambassador – a brand ambassador is a marketing term used to describe a

person employed by a company or organization to promote its products or services in some
way, say on their website or blog.

• Advertise job listings on your blog – A number of companies may be willing to pay you to
advertise vacant positions on your website especially if your blog attracts a good number of
professionals in a certain field. Examples of blogging sites that could attract vacant job listings
include accounting blogs, doctor blogs and software engineering blogs.

• Email Marketing – Email marketing can generate lots of money by driving traffic to your blog.
To create a list of clients to email you can use the emails that your users used to register on
your website.
• Sell your own eBook from your blog – If your blog receives a substantial amount of organic
traffic then writing and selling your own eBooks is most certainly not a bad idea.

• Make a couple of viral branded videos. Similar to a sponsored post a branded video can help
promote a product massively. A good branded viral video can prove both beneficial for the
viewers and the brand owner.

• Offer online paid for tutorials on your blog – Teaching on a particular subject/topic of interest or
tutoring online for a fee can prove to be a smart way to generate extra income from your blog.

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• You can consider becoming an affiliate marketer - Affiliate marketing is a great way to make
money by promoting someone else’s products without having to invest the time and effort it
would take to create a product to sell.

• Use of other Pay-per-Click ad networks besides Google Adsense. Examples of other Pay-per-
click networks include, Yahoo Publisher Network, Adbrite, Bidvertiser, Clicksor, Adonion,
Adoptim, 90 Degree Media, Adtoll and Kontera. Other alternatives to Google Adsense that a
blogger can use can be found here: https://stream-seo.com/best-google-adsense-alternatives/
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8.3 Translation 2

Differences between Written and Oral Translation

Oral Translation Written Translation

to simultaneous interpretation where each
Recorded or Not Interpreter interprets booth has more than one translator helping
once and nobody will read or analyze it each other if necessary.
again. Translators mostly work alone, although
Written translation is recorded, can be they may consult with specialists etc.
repeatedly read, amended, retranslated,
analyzed etc.

Tools Interpreter’s tools are

mainly the source text and his/her own
knowledge. Client Feedback For interpretation, client
A translator can use dictionaries, translation is present and is able to comment after
tools and other texts and expert advice and interpretation on the merits and drawbacks
instructions. of the specific interpretation.
For written translation feedback does not
occur immediately and it may happen that
the client may not even give feedback at all.
Time Simultaneous
interpreting leaves minimum thinking time
and one must react immediately once the
speaker begins the sentence.
Written translation provides as much time
as stipulated by the deadline and the
translator has time to go over the Other Roles of a Translators
translation.

Teamwork Team work may apply

• Reading through or listening to material in one language, ascertains understanding of the

meaning and context of that material, converting it into a second language, making sure to
preserve the original meaning.
• Consulting with subject matter experts and in order to understand specialized concepts and
translate them appropriately.
• Referring to online translation tools for additional assistance with translation
• Following up with clients to ensure satisfaction and understanding
• Using highly specialized translation software to encourage efficiency and consistency

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• Translates a variety of documents including literary, legal, research, technical, scientific,

educational, and commercial materials
• Ensure overall clarity and accuracy of finished translation

How to become a Translator

Get Certified

The first step is to get some sort of accreditation or certification. Having credentials provides
documentation that you have the skills required to translate or interpret professionally.

Test your skills

Take language proficiency tests such as the Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) or
other language proficiency tests to show potential clients that you are indeed fluent in your
specific language.

Gain Experience

Start out doing internships or working on entry-level jobs in order to climb the ladder. It is crucial
to get experience where you can show samples of your work to potential clients and get
recommendations.

Market Yourself

After getting credentials and some experience, market yourself. Most translators work for clients
on a contract basis, not as full-time employees. A great way to market your services is to start a
website or join the active community of online language professionals.

Tips for translators

• Study your passive language and the culture it comes from.

• Select a specialist area of expertise, and study and be prepared to learn more about your
specialist subject.

• Attend workshops, seminars and conferences in your subject area – listen to the experts,
absorb their language. Even their jargon.
• Keep up with current affairs.

• Practice and hone your skills – keep up with your training.

• Listen to the words that you write (some writers and translators read their texts out loud to
themselves). Languages each have their own rhythm. If your writing doesn’t “sound” right, try
changing the word order, not just the words.

• Print out your translated text and read it on paper before delivering it to your client. Especially if
you use computer-assisted translation software, it is important to print it out.

• Ask yourself if your translation makes sense. If it makes you think “what does that really
mean?” then there’s something wrong.
• Write clearly and concisely, using the appropriate sentence and paragraph length for your
target language. Use simple vocabulary. You can communicate complex ideas using
straightforward simple language.
• Inform your clients of any mistakes, typos or ambiguous wording you find in the source text.

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

Common Translation Mistakes

Type of Error How to avoid the stated error

The Literal Translation Fillers and Expressions

There are certain expressions such as In some languages, there are certain words
figurative languages or idioms that should which cannot be translated into other
not be taken literally. For instance, an language. They are used simply as an
idiomatic expression “snake in the grass” expression or to imply politeness. Thus,
means a traitor. As a translator, you can when translating the sentence to another
either look for an appropriate idiomatic language, the expression does not
expression in the language in which it has necessarily have to be copied.
to be translated or just translate the actual
meaning and not the idiom itself. Cultural Context
There are certain words that are
culture-specific. This means that there is no It is important to engage with him in
actual translation in another language two-way communication, to establish good
because these words are immaterial or they understanding with a client. You need to
don’t exist. Therefore, the best thing to do interact with a client at every level of
is to just enclose the word in quotation translation process. With a strong
marks and copy the exact word. communication channel, you can lower any
misunderstanding with a client which will
Exaggerating the Meaning of Words result in better translation.
Understand the requirements of your client
and then do the translation accordingly.

Lacking the communication skill

Proofreading and Editing Process

Always examine your text carefully to find and correct typographical errors and mistakes in
grammar, style, and spelling before sending it to the client.

Reread your draft to see, for example, whether the paper is well-organized, the transitions
between paragraphs are smooth, and your evidence really backs up your argument.

• Don’t rely entirely on spelling checkers. These can be useful tools but they have a limited
dictionary, so some words that show up as misspelled may really just not be in their memory. In
addition, spell checkers will not catch misspellings that form another valid word. For example, if
you type “to” instead of “too,” “your” instead of “you’re,” or “there” instead of “their,” the spell
checker won’t catch the error.

• Grammar checkers can be even more problematic. These programs work with a limited
number of rules, so they can’t identify every error. They also fail to give thorough explanations to
help you understand why a sentence should be revised. You may want to use a grammar
checker to help you identify potential run-on sentences or too-frequent use of the passive voice,
but you need to be able to evaluate the feedback it provides.

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

• Proofread for only one kind of error at a time. If you try to identify and revise too many things at
once, your proofreading will be less effective, because you risk losing focus. It’s easier to notice
grammar errors if you aren’t spelling and checking punctuation at the same time. In addition,
some of the techniques that work well for spotting one kind of mistake won’t catch others.

• Read every word slowly. Reading out loudly, will force you to say each word and also let
you hear how the words sound together. If you read silently or too quickly, you may make
unconscious corrections or skip over errors.

• Proofreading is a learning process. You’re not just looking for errors that you recognize;
you’re also learning to recognize and correct new errors.

Platforms that offer Translation Jobs:

1. Gengo https://gengo.com/ 2. Scrybs

https://scrybs.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjw4uXaBRAcEiwAuAUz8Kqh2yaX4UCP1DdYRqvXvBpclIpkj
_hphFb1IGesLaAxE14YhEqe-RoCY90QAvD_BwE 3. Translatorswork.com -
http://www.translatorswork.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=PostWrap&file=index&
page=worklist 4. Easy Translate - https://www.easytranslate.com/interpreter-translator-jobs 5.
Upwork - https://www.upwork.com/ 6. Guru - https://www.guru.com/ 7. People Per Hour -
https://www.peopleperhour.com/ 8. Lengoo - https://www.lengoo.de/en/jobs 9. Text Master -
https://eu.textmaster.com/translator-writer/join-us/

Sites with Free Translation Online Practice Tests:

1. WizQ - https://www.wiziq.com/tests/translation 2. Transparent language -

https://www.transparent.com/language-resources/tests.html 3. ALTA -
https://www.altalang.com/language-testing/translation/

8.4 Transcription 2

Transcription Tools

You will need to find yourself a quiet place where you can work without any disruptions. When
you have identified this area, arm yourself with the following tools.

1. Headphones

Headphones are a key tool for professional transcriptionists.

2. Ergonomic Chair
A good ergonomic chair has the following qualities:

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

• helps with lower back support

• promotes good posture

• prevents muscle fatigue

• allows for proper blood circulation

A bad seat will harm your back and increase the risks of developing cardiovascular
complications!

3. Internet Connection

Reliable and fast internet connection is very essential. You will need it to download work and
send work. It will also help in researching for words, phrases and proper nouns (names,
companies, titles, etc.) you are unfamiliar with.

Always research the proper capitalization of terms, even if you are familiar with the spelling (e.g.
iPhone, UCLA, SaaS).

4. A good computer and keyboard

A good computer and keyboard will ensure that your typing speed is not hindered. If your
budget allows it, you can consider getting an ergonomic keyboard.

Using Express scribe

Step 1: Learning the controls

Step 2: Loading an Audio File

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

To load your file from a local computer, click on the Load button on the main interface. You will
be able to browse your computer and network connections for your audio file.

Tip: If the audio is recorded in stereo you are able to decrease the volume of each channel to
increase the clarity of the audio you are transcribing. The Channels display will appear
automatically when an audio file is selected in the Dictation list view

Express Scribe includes special audio processing tools to help clarify some audio recordings if
they are of low quality. These options can be found from the File menu.
Step 3: Playing a recording

To play and stop a recording, do either of the following:

• Press the F9 key to start playing the file and press the F4 key when you want to stop.
• Using your mouse pointer, click the Play button at the base of the software interface to start
playing the file and click the stop button (A black square) when you want to stop.

Troubleshooting: If you cannot hear anything then open Options, go to the Playback tab and
check that the correct sound card is selected and increase the volume.

Step 3: Moving back and forth while listening to the recording

To help you transcribe faster while moving back and forth within your audio it is recommended
that you use the hot keys. Here are some examples of hot keys you can use and their
functionality.

• To rewind the recording, press and hold down F7

• To fast forward the recording, press and hold down F8
• To move directly to the start, press the Home key
• To move directly to the end, press the End key

Step 4: Typing a recording

Open your word processor (Microsoft Word, Corel Wordperfect, Lotus Wordpro etc) and select
the recording you wish to type out and press the play button.

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

Tip You should use system-wide hot keys so that Express Scribe can be controlled while it is in
the background. Alternatively, you can set express scribe to float above other windows to
prevent triggering hot key functions from other open programs.

Step 5: Save your work

Once you have finished transcribing your audio you should save your transcript, preferably to a
location where it will remain secure.

Tip To prevent you from losing your work you should save early and save often.

Express scribe comprehensive manual

You can view the comprehensive manual of the software at any time by pressing the F1 key or
selecting Help Contents from the Help menu.

Functions of Express Scribe hot keys

• Uploading Audios

You upload audios by dragging them and dropping them from the containing folder to ES. Wait
for the audio to load and then it will appear as shown below:
• You can customize the keys according to your preference by clicking:

Options then System-Wide Hot-Keys. A pop up page will appear as soon as you do this.

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL
• To add a new short cut just click on add then click change to assign key, select command from
the dropdown list and click on ok.

Clarifying an audio file

Express Scribe includes special audio processing tools to help clarify some audio recordings if
they are of low quality. These options can be found by clicking on the file menu then selecting
special audio process.
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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

Back step and Rewind

You can change how far back the audio track changes every time you press stop and rewind.
This can be done by click on

• Options then select (2) playback or by just clicking on the option tab (1) as shown below.
• The following window will appear. Where you can then edit how many milliseconds (ms) you
want the back step to be (1 second = 1000 milliseconds).

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL
Formatting Timestamps

Time stamping is a sequence of characters or encoded information identifying when a certain

event occurred. It’s done by inserting/recording time in a transcript. This can be done either at
the beginning of every speaker's speech or at certain intervals as directed by the client.

For time stamps one needs to click on ES then press Ctrl+T on the keyboard at the exact time
you want the timestamp then go back to your document and press Ctrl+V. This will make the
timestamp in the transcript.

To format timestamps to suite a client’s specific format you need to click on options then display
as shown below.
The following pop up will be displayed as soon as you do this.

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

If you want the timestamp to appear like this [???][0:00:00] then you should input your entries as

shown. Or for [IB] [0:00:00:00]

Deleting Files

To delete a file on Express Scribe just right click on the audio as shown below and select delete
on the drop-down menu. Follow this procedure once you have completed working on a file. DO
NOT click on done as this saves the file on your computer and may take up unnecessary space.

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

Trimming audios and videos

You can use the following video converters to trim/slice audios

• Any Video Converter

• Audio Trimmer – This is a simple online tool which lets you trim your audio files. Link -
https://audiotrimmer.com/

For more Video/Audio Trim software, please visit

https://en.softonic.com/downloads/trim-audio/free

Converting audio and video files

Here are some common tools to convert video and audio files

• Format factory. It helps in converting convert files into different formats to facilitate sharing,
saving on disk space, or making compatible with different players.
• Freetrim. It trims and deletes unwanted parts of the audio and converts audio files to MP3,
WMA, WAV and many more. http://www.freetrimmp3.com/

Noise Removal from audio files

• Express Scribe can be used for noise reduction. Right click on the audio, then click on Special
Audio Processes, finally click on Background noise reduction.

• Audio Audacity: This is a free application open source software application for recording and
editing audio. To work with Audacity, please visit : https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-
Unnecessary-Audio-with-Audacity

Transcript formats

Transcription documents have varying formats depending on the specification of the client.

Some clients might provide a glossary of words that may appear in the transcript. If not, the
transcriber should Google the difficult words on the internet.

1. The standard format - one on one interviews:

Interviewer: So basically you know what this is all about you know we are trying to get a sense
of what it’s like to teach anthropology in the department so I want to know firstly like what’s it like
being a tutor so you can start anywhere

Interviewee: Anywhere

Interviewer: Anywhere yeah

Interviewee: That’s a really broad question

Interviewer: How did it start?

Interviewee: Well I did I was the tutor the second year’s and now I’m a tutor for first year’s
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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

and going into...

2. Interviewer-interviewee format but with time stamps before each new speaker:

[OFF MIC CONVERSATION]

Interviewer: [0:01:37] You guys are up for an interview?

Person: [0:01:38] Sure.

Person: [0:01:38] Sure.

Interviewer: [0:01:39] So we interested... if you continue to watch your sports too a but also...

Person: [0:01:43] It’s okay we can talk to you?

Interviewer: [0:01:44] Yeah sure so our interest is in your technology background, so could you
together discuss about how you two work together and why it’s a beneficial relationship?
[0:02:00]

Person: [0:02:01] Sure I guess the first question is, do you want us to talk about how the things
are now or how the developments are at the time we’ve known each other because things have
changed a lot over the years.

Note:

- The standard format is mostly used when the speakers are not named in the audio. You
can also use male and female speaker tags. - If there is one speaker speaking
continuously, punctuate appropriately and use
paragraphs.

Speaker Labels

Some Clients will require that you use the speaker’s names. In such instances, the client might
provide the names. If not, you have to listen to the audio or video carefully.

Simple ways to get the name of the speaker

1) The speaker is identified in the audio (e.g. “My name is Perry”)

2) You can infer who is speaking if another speaker introduces the name (e.g. “What do you
think, Peter?”)

Multiple Speakers

If there are too many speakers to consistently track who says what (e.g. classroom discussion,
focus group), distinguish the total number of speakers and use Speaker 1, Speaker 2, etc.

Types of Transcripts

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

• Clean Read/Intelligent Verbatim – transcripts which omit false starts and stutters are by far the
most common. Keeping the flavor of the speech, without missing or changing any important
details.

• Modified Verbatim – transcripts which are minimally cleaned up and can also be generated.
Clients might request a mix where some speakers are done in verbatim, and others more
edited.

• Full Verbatim – transcripts include literally every phrase and utterance. This includes
non-verbal utterances like the “uhms and uhs”, st-st-stutters, guffaws, filler phrases, and false
starts.

Transcription Tags

Inaudible Tag:

The clients will provide a tag for words that are not clear. In most cases, you might be required
to use the tag when unintelligible or inaudible word(s) are spoken. This may happen due to bad
audio quality or a sound obstructing the main speaker. In such a case mark the word as
inaudible or unintelligible. [unintelligiblehh:mm:ss]

Example usage:
Interviewee: She was going home in a [unintelligible 00:11:04] when she had an accident.

Crosstalk tag:

This happens when multiple people are speaking over each other causing any one of the
speakers to become unintelligible. You can mark it with a crosstalk tag [crosstalk hh:mm:ss] and
continue transcribing what is discernible.

Example usage:

Speaker1: What’s your opinion [crosstalk 02:11:03] and what do you want to do about it.

Phonetic tag:

When you are unable to research a definitive spelling of a proper noun or industry terminology,
include your attempted spelling in brackets with a timestamp. This will allow a customer to easily
double check the audio during review. Only use the phonetic tag for the first instance of the
word and be consistent with your attempted spelling in later usages.

Do not use this tag when you are unsure of what was spoken.

Example: if a speaker pronounces "refrigerator, washer and dryer" as "refrigurator, washar and
dryear", please use the correct word and spelling based on your context of the audio.

Notes: Make google your best friend to research on proper spelling and meaning names.

Popular Transcription Platforms

• Go Transcript - https://gotranscript.com/transcription-jobs

• Transcribe Me - https://transcribeme.com/

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

• Speechpad - https://www.speechpad.com/

• iScribed - https://www.iscribed.com/

• TranscriptionPanda - https://transcriptionpanda.com/
• Tigerfish Transcribing - https://tigerfish.com/

• Rev - https://www.rev.com/

• Castingwords - https://workshop.castingwords.com/

• Verbit - https://verbit.ai/

Common Examples of transcription errors

• Mishearing what has been said.

• Mistyping what you hear.

• Misuse of words.

• Omission of words or sentences.

• Lack of consistency or common usage

• Grammar and spelling mistakes

• Typing errors by pressing the wrong key. E.g. business instead of business.

Examples
appropriate word. This is especially
“its” vs “it’s, “you’re” vs “your” important for proper nouns or industry
terminology.
“there” vs “their” vs “they’re”
Always use the appropriate word, giving
special attention to homophones.
“kissed” vs “killed”

“looked” vs “loved”
Take your time while transcribing—a
“Botox” vs “boat ox” changed word could result in a drastic
change in the meaning of a sentence.
“aerospace” vs “arrow space”
Always use context clues to write down the
Omission of Content is leaving words or phrases out of a transcript. You should never
paraphrase or omit words unless they are filler words in a non-verbatim transcript. It is always
better to use an inaudible tag instead of guessing or skipping content.

Addition of Content

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

This is transcribing content that is not present in the audio. Never paraphrase or write what you
think the speaker meant to say. This is a major error that changes the meaning and integrity of a
transcript.

Free Online Transcription Tests

1.StenoSpeed.com-http://www.stenospeed.com/

2. TakeNote -https://www.takenotetyping.com/careers/test/audio

3. Listen and Write -https://www.listen-and-write.com/

8.5 Digital marketing 2

E-Commerce industry

The World Trade Organization (WTO) defines E-Commerce as the “production, distribution,
marketing, sale or delivery of goods and services by electronic means”. E-Commerce
constitutes the use of electronic communications and digital information processing
technologies in business transactions.

Elements of E-Commerce

E-Commerce mainly occurs in: B2B (Business to Business), B2C (Business to Consumer), C2B
(Consumer to Business), G2C (Government to Consumer) and B2G (Business to Government).

E-commerce happens in the following transactions and instruments:

• Subscription for online and internet access, service for mobile phone and car-tracking service;
send movie, music, game, e-mail and internet banking;

• Consumers retail sales e.g. computer appliances (internet based shopping mall) , travel
services/airline tickets, audio/video recordings, books on-line, auctions,

• B2B wholesale and retail services, services such as call centres, back office operations,
internet marketing, enterprise resource planning (ERP), information security service, internet
advertisement and offshore development, and advertising services;

• Financial services and transactions e.g. Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT), Automated Teller
Machine (ATM)/Credit Cards, online brokerage, direct investment and stock trading, online
banking and bill payment;

• Government services and information system for automatic access to website, filing of
documents online e.g. tax returns, obtaining application, license applications and permits, tax
payment (G2C, and B2G).

E-Commerce industry in Kenya

As per the Communications Authority's, The Internet penetration in Kenya is now estimated at
112.7 per cent with the number of Kenyans accessing and using the Internet either through
smartphones or personal computers on the ris. As of 2015 there were 37.4 million online users.

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

The increase in e-commerce prospects in Kenya has seen numerous platforms being launched
over the years. Most notable e-commerce platforms include Jumia, Africa Sokoni, Vitumob, Kili
Mall and Masoko.

E-commerce has also provided many opportunities for people to earn a living by making the
products look desirable and marketing them on the digital space. Making the products look
desirable is known as product curation/optimization. This is done by ensuring images, titles,
descriptions, categories, colours and tags are correct. Marketing the products is known as
digital marketing.

Jumia

Jumia is a Kenyan one stop retailer for all fashion and high-tech needs. They sell a wide
selection of goods including electronics, shoes, apparels, home accessories and many more.
They deliver goods right at the doorstep. They offer a full choice of brands 100% convenient
with 24 hours, 7 days a week online access from home, office, and secure payments such as
mobile payment, online banking and cash on delivery.

J-FORCE - Become a Jumia Sales Consultant

Jumia offers you a platform where you can earn an income by through commissions by selling
items supplied to their store. You can also make money as you recruit new sales consultants.
You can become a Jumia sales consultant by signing up here: https://www.jumia.com.ng/jforce/

Getting started as a vendor on Jumia: https://vendorhub.jumia.co.ke/getting-started/

Link to main website: https://www.jumia.co.ke/

Kilimall

Kilimall is Kenya's largest online shopping mall. It was launched in July 2014 and serves a retail-
customer base offering products in various categories including electronics such as smart
phones, laptops, subwoofer etc, Clothing, Home Appliances, Fashion bag, Baby Products,
makeup among other products.

Opening a shop on Kilimall:

https://www.kilimall.co.ke/index.php?act=seller_login&op=show_login

Link to main website: https://www.kilimall.co.ke/

Africa Sokoni

Africa Sokoni is a Kenyan based online marketplace that brings African customers and retailers
together online in a hassle-free shopping experience.

Opening your shop on Africasokoni : https://africasokoni.co.ke/marketplace

Link: https://africasokoni.co.ke/

Global E-commerce platforms for business and earning Income

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

• Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/make-money-with-
amazon/b?ie=UTF8&node=13605942011 aaa
• Alibaba - https://accounts.alibaba.com/register/ifm_reg.htm aaa
• Shopify - https://www.shopify.com/partners/blog/topics/shopify-tutorials aa

Tips to help you succeed in e-commerce business

• Promote your products or services on social media. This is one of the best ways to drive traffic
to your platform.
• Ensure your ecommerce platform is mobile friendly.
• Give good descriptions of your products. You can also add a user review section to attract
buyers.
• Use attractive pictures to showcase your products and services.
• Collect information of your visitors or platform users. You can use an email subscription tool or
google analytics to get this information.

Note:

Read more on digital marketing: https://learndigital.withgoogle.com/digitalskills

Drop shipping
This is a retail method which unlike a traditional store, the supplier does not have to
have the goods in stock and does not have to own inventory. You can earn a profit from
this by purchasing items from third-parties - usually a wholesaler or manufacturer - upon
request and shipping them directly to the customer.

Benefits of drop shipping

• Little to no capital is required to start the business

• It is easy to get started
• You have love overheads since you don't have to deal with purchasing inventory or
managing a warehouse
• You can work from virtually any location

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

• It is easy to scale up with this sort of business.

Market Research (Online)

The process of gathering, analyzing and interpreting information about a market, about a
product or service to be offered for sale in that market, for example, one may inquire about how
many people would be interested in a product or a service and how much they would pay for it.
The following are some of the most important things that one should research on before setting
up a business:

1. Products: This informs the areas of specialization or content. 2. Place: Where your business
will be located or where will you be operating from. 3. Price: In which price category will you be
competing? How do you quote your pricing for work
done? 4. People: Do you need people to sell your products and if so, what sort of people?

Social Media Marketing

It’s the use of social media platforms and websites to promote a product or service. Examples of
common social media websites where you can market your products and services include:

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/
• Twitter - http://twitter.com/signup?
• LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/start/join
• Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/accounts/emailsignup/?hl=en
• Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/login/
• YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/account
• Yelp - https://www.yelp.com/signup

Note

Links to using different platforms to market products and services

- YouTube - https://www.thebalancesmb.com/how-to-use-youtube-to-market-your-
business-4159318 - Facebook -
https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/5453-how-to-promote-your-small-
business-on-facebook.html - Twitter -
https://www.postplanner.com/blog/how-to-use-twitter-to-grow-your-business/ - LinkedIn -
https://lewishowes.com/linkedin/linkedin-business-marketing-tips/ - Instagram -
https://neilpatel.com/blog/drive-sales-with-instagram/ - Pinterest -
https://pegfitzpatrick.com/12-strategic-ways-use-pinterest-marketing/

Social media marketing also be used to promote other people’s products or services which is a
form of affiliate marketing.

Note
To learn More about affiliate marketing visit:

- Warrior Forum - http://www.warriorforum.com/

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ONLINE WORKERS PARTICIPANTS TRAINING MANUAL

- SitePoint - http://community.sitepoint.com/ - Digital Point -

https://forums.digitalpoint.com/ - The V7 Network - http://www.v7n.com/forums/ -
Affilorama - http://www.affilorama.com/forum - WickedFire - http://www.wickedfire.com/

Social media managers can offer a variety of services depending on their expertise and their
clients’ needs. Services can include:

• Developing marketing strategies based on client goals.

• Social media account set up.
• Posting graphics and text on behalf of the client.
• Community facilitation.
• Customer service.
• Marketing analysis.

What it takes to be a social media manager?

Although courses are popping up, becoming a social media manager requires experience more
than education. With that said, there are things social media managers need to know beyond
how to take a good selfie.

Understand social media as a marketing tool.

It’s one thing to get a bunch of followers to your cat tricks YouTube feed, it’s another to build a
following for a business. Social media marketing is different from traditional marketing, which is
why many businesses struggle with it. Social media is about having an interesting, informative
and/or entertaining conversation with the market.

Knowledge of the nuances of the various platforms.

There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to posting on social media. Each platform has its
rules and methods for best marketing practices. How a business promotes on Instagram should
be different from how it markets on LinkedIn, because each platform is vastly different.
The ability to develop strategies that meet the client’s goals.

Effective social media marketing requires setting goals and then developing a plan. Social
media managers also need to help clients understand social media and how it works, and work
with them to develop goals that best fits social media. For example, research suggests that few
sales are made through social media. However, social media is effective at building loyalty and
trust, so engagement and list building would be better goals than sales.

Be able to capture the client’s voice.

If the client is fun and quirky, social media posts should reflect that.

Ability to manage several social media platforms for many clients.

There are a host of tools, such as Hootsuite to help manage platforms, but organization and a
plan are crucial to ensuring every client gets their social media needs met.

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How to start a social media business

Before starting a social media management business, make sure you have the basic know-how
and the commitment to stick with it. If you’re ready to get started, here are the steps to take:

Build your own social media following

If you have a huge number of followers, you should be able to create influence. A large number
of followers means nothing if none of them are paying attention to what you post. Your goal is to
build a following that engages with you. That means they comment, share or like what you post.
One way to quantify your influence is through Klout, PeerIndex (Brandwatch) or Kred, all of
which monitor your social media activity and assigns a score that reflects your influence.

Study social media

Social media platforms change, and the marketing tactics to use them evolve, which requires
that you stay on top of these changes and trends. Also, pay attention to people who have a lot
of engagement on social media. What sorts of things do they post that are causing people to
respond and react in a certain way?

Decide what services you’ll offer

You can offer several packages, such as a start-up service that creates the accounts and then
passes the management back to the client, and/or a full-service package that does everything
from creating the accounts, posting content, and moderating the community. As you decide what
to offer, consider if there are industries you want to focus in. For example, you can be a social
media manager for realtors or authors. Finally, determine which platforms you’ll specialize in.
While knowing something small about all the major platforms is important, sometimes focusing
on a couple that reap big results for the client’s industry is better. Furthermore, some clients may
have Twitter and Facebook figured, but need help with Pinterest or YouTube.

Write a business plan

Your business plan doesn’t have to be long or complicated. Instead, it’s a roadmap for your
business success. In it you outline your business goals, services, assets and liabilities,
marketing information and how you’ll compete against the competition.

Determine your pricing

As a new business, you may have difficulty charging higher amounts initially. Referrals and
testimonials will be crucial to helping you earn the big bucks. What you charge will depend on
your experience and the work you do. You can charge by the hour or offer package plans.

Decide on your business name

A business name becomes your brand, so it’s something you want to choose carefully. It needs
to reflect your service and your market. Any name you choose that is not your given name
should be checked at the USPTO to make sure it’s not already trademarked.

Determine your business structure

Starting out, you can operate under a sole proprietorship, which is free and doesn't require any
paperwork except a business license. However, since social media can go wrong, and a client
might

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sue you for any problems it might incur from social media, you should consider forming a limited
liability company (LLC). An LLC doesn’t prevent you from getting sued, but does protect your
personal assets (i.e. your home) if you are sued. Most states offer single-person LLCs now.
Although it requires a little more paperwork and money to start, it’s worth the extra protection.

Obtain licenses and permits as required in your city or county

Contact your local city or county about getting a business license. In many places, you can do
this online. If your business name is something other than your given name, you may need to
file a fictitious name statement (sometimes called “assumed name statement” or “doing
business as statement”), as well.

Develop a marketing plan

As a marketing expert, you’d be remiss not to make your own plan for getting clients. This
should include social media, especially LinkedIn. Networking will be your best bet for getting
your initial client(s), but also include methods for getting testimonials and referrals.

Work your plan and build your business

Once you have everything in place, your job is to get clients and provide the best social media
management service possible.

Autoresponders

Autoresponders are e-newsletters that are sent automatically to your mailing list subscribers at
intervals that you define. (Can be daily, weekly, monthly, or ones you receive a mail with them
subscribing)

Autoresponders save on time for email marketing since they are automated and if it is well
applied, they can be used to build a better relationship, generating income and maximizing the
value of your mailing list with subscribers using activities like:

• Sending birthday greetings (and related offers) to your mailing list

• Ranking subscribers according to their activities

• Switching a subscriber from one type of autoresponder cycle to another if they clicks on a
particular link within an email

Autoresponders are sent using web apps that are dedicated tools for hosting mailing lists and
sending e-newsletters / autoresponders to them.

Examples of autoresponders

• Constant Contact – https://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp

• Drip – https://www.drip.com/
• ConvertKit – https://convertkit.com/
• AWeber – https://www.aweber.com/
• GetResponse - https://www.getresponse.com/

Sources to learn digital marketing skills

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