How to be a Freelancer In Tanzania

Being a freelancer isn’t that complicated; in fact, I bet everyone has done a job and been paid without ever being employed.

Basically, a freelancer is an independent contractor who earns wages on a per-job or per-task basis, typically for short-term work. It’s not like you have to go to work every day like an employed person; a freelancer can work anywhere, anytime.

When I started my freelancing career, I thought freelancing was the coolest job. You get to work anywhere and anytime, and you get paid just like an employed person. That was my imagination... Don’t get me wrong, freelancing is great, and I love being a freelancer, but freelancing without time management skills, without sacrifice, and without passion for what you’re doing is useless.

At first, when I started freelancing, I didn’t have discipline; my time management was terrible, and my sales skills were 0.0%. It was just a disaster, but as time went on and I made mistakes (a lot of them), I learned and grew through it.

So you might ask, how do I become a freelancer? (especially a Tanzanian freelancer). As usual, I got you!

Becoming a Tanzanian freelancer isn’t that complicated; you need:

• A laptop

• Notebook

• Internet

• Social media page

• Desk and chair

• Mouse (if needed)

Then take just 5 days to create a plan, like a strategy: ask yourself these questions:

• What services will I be offering?

• Where will I be offering these services?

• When and how will I start?

• What’s the price of my services?

• How will I be working?

• What steps does a client need to take to kickstart the job?

• How will I showcase my work?

• What’s my brand image, voice, and structure?

• Who are my clients, and where are they?

• How much will I invest, and what will be my ROI?

Key skills include:

• Technical skills: Depending on your field, this could include coding, graphic design, writing, marketing, data analysis, accounting, etc.

• Communication skills: Effectively communicating with clients to understand their needs, provide updates, and address concerns is crucial.

• Self-management: Setting your own schedule, prioritizing tasks, and managing your workload independently.

• Time management: Meeting deadlines consistently and delivering projects on time.

• Problem-solving: Identifying and resolving issues that may arise during a project.

• Marketing and self-promotion: Creating a professional online presence, finding clients, and building your brand.

• Financial management: Tracking your income and expenses, setting competitive rates, and managing invoices.

Here are different types of freelance jobs you can do from anywhere. These are just a few examples, so don’t worry if none of these appeal to you—you can always find what you love doing and focus on that instead.

Some freelance jobs include:

• Graphic designer

• Editor

• Social media manager

• Virtual assistant

• Website content writer

• Web designer

• Web developer

• Photographer

• Videographer

• Accountant

• Copywriter

• Marketing specialist

• Programmer

• Translator

• SEO specialist

• Data entry clerk

• Human resources

• App developer

• Business consultant

• Technical writer

• Tutor

• Administrative assistant

• Blogger

• Customer service representative

  
  

There are also various ways to get clients as a freelancer. For example, when I started, I got clients through:

• Friends of friends

• Family members

• Going office to office

• Cold calling (a sales technique where you make an unsolicited phone call to a potential customer who hasn’t shown prior interest)

Something I wish I knew when I was starting is to create a portfolio, even if I didn’t have any clients. Building a portfolio as a new freelancer can seem challenging, but here are some ways to showcase your skills:

• Personal projects: Create projects that showcase your skills. For example, if you're a social media manager, create mock campaigns for brands you’re passionate about. If you’re a designer, create designs for fictional brands.

• Case studies of hypothetical scenarios: Choose a real-life business, analyze its current strategy, and outline how you’d improve it.

• Offer services for free or at a discount: Work for friends, family, or local businesses in exchange for testimonials and permission to use their projects in your portfolio.

• Collaborations and internships: Partner with other freelancers or volunteer for a short-term internship, or reach out to small non-profits or startups in exchange for portfolio content.

• Skill demonstrations and challenges: Participate in online challenges or contests relevant to your skills, like design challenges or coding hackathons.

• Create an online presence: Build a personal website or blog to showcase your skills. For example, a blog about social media strategies or an Instagram page where you manage your own brand.

• Mock testimonials: Ask friends or peers you’ve helped informally to provide testimonials, or write hypothetical testimonials based on what you hope to achieve for clients.

• Before-and-after samples: Create mock "before-and-after" examples, like redesigning a website or rewriting social media posts.

Using these methods, you’ll be able to create a portfolio that not only showcases your skills but also gives potential clients confidence in your abilities, even if you haven’t had any paid gigs yet.

Next Blog: How to be an Influencer In Tanzania

I post new blog posts every Monday, TikTok and Instagram posts on Monday-Friday, and a YouTube video every Friday. Free consultations are also available via Zoom; feel free to reach out by email if you have inquiries or want to work together!

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