Writing and language work
Businesses, schools, NGOs, media houses, job seekers and authors all need words: website text, blog posts, product descriptions, CVs, reports, translations, proofreading. Strong writers in Kenya can earn locally and from international clients, and writing skills also lift almost every other method in this directory.
What all writing methods share
- Core skills: clear, correct English (or Kiswahili and other languages), research, structure, meeting briefs and deadlines.
- Tools: a laptop, Google Docs or Word, a grammar checker, and plagiarism awareness.
- Portfolio: 3–5 samples in the type of writing you want to sell (portfolio with no clients).
- AI rules: many clients forbid AI-generated text or require disclosure. Using AI to brainstorm is common; submitting unedited AI text as your own usually breaks contracts and damages trust.
- Academic cheating: writing essays, assignments or theses for students to submit as their own is academic dishonesty; it violates university rules and platform policies, and it's not covered in this directory.
See also: writing and language work overview.
73. Blog and article writing
What it is: Writing informative or engaging articles for company blogs, websites and publications. How it works: Client gives topic/keywords → you research, outline, write, edit → client reviews → revisions → payment per article or per word.
| Skills | Research, structure, readable style, basic SEO |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop, internet |
| Where to find work | Freelance marketplaces, content agencies, businesses directly, LinkedIn |
| Payment | Per article/word; PayPal, Payoneer, M-Pesa (local) |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium; specialists (tech, finance, health) earn more |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Publish 3 sample articles in one niche on a free blog or LinkedIn; pitch businesses in that niche. Pros: Huge demand; builds expertise. Cons & risks: Low-paying "content mills"; AI has reduced demand for generic content. Scam warning: "Writing accounts" for rent or sale, and "pay to get writing jobs" groups. Kenya notes: Kenyan businesses increasingly need local SEO content; niche expertise is the way past cheap generic work.
74. SEO content writing
What it is: Writing pages and articles designed to rank in search engines while genuinely helping readers. How it works: Keyword research → search intent → optimised headings, structure and internal links → publish and measure.
| Skills | Writing plus SEO basics (SEO basics, keyword research) |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop; free keyword tools |
| Where to find work | Agencies, website owners, e-commerce stores, marketing teams |
| Payment | Per article or monthly retainer |
| Realistic earnings | Low–medium to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Write optimised samples; learn to read Google Search Console data; offer monthly content plans. Pros: Retainers are common. Cons & risks: Results take months; never promise #1 rankings. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Local businesses competing on Google need location-focused content.
75. Copywriting (sales pages, ads, landing pages)
What it is: Persuasive writing that makes people take action: buy, sign up, call, book. How it works: Research the audience and offer → write headlines, benefits, proof, calls to action → test versions.
| Skills | Persuasion, understanding customers, concise writing |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop |
| Where to find work | Businesses, marketers, agencies, start-ups |
| Payment | Per project; some performance bonuses |
| Realistic earnings | Medium to high for skilled copywriters with results |
| Time to first income | Weeks to months |
How to start: Rewrite 3 real (anonymised) landing pages or ads as before/after samples; study classic copywriting principles. Pros: High-value skill. Cons & risks: Results-driven; needs proof. Scam warning: Courses promising "$10k months" from copywriting. Kenya notes: Kenyan SMEs selling online need clear Facebook/Instagram ad copy and landing pages, often in English and Kiswahili.
76. Product description writing
What it is: Writing clear, persuasive descriptions for products in online shops. How it works: Get product details and photos → write benefits, specs and keywords consistently → deliver in a spreadsheet or upload directly.
| Skills | Concise writing, consistency, basic SEO |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop |
| Where to find work | E-commerce stores, marketplace sellers, agencies |
| Payment | Per description or batch |
| Realistic earnings | Low to low–medium |
| Time to first income | Days to weeks |
How to start: Rewrite 10 product descriptions for a local online shop as samples. Pros: Repeat work as catalogues grow. Cons & risks: Repetitive; low per-item pay. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Sellers on Jumia, Kilimall and Instagram shops often have weak descriptions.
77. Website copy writing
What it is: Writing the text for business websites: home, about, services, FAQs and contact pages. How it works: Interview the client → structure pages → write clear, benefit-focused text → revisions.
| Skills | Clarity, interviewing, brand voice |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop |
| Where to find work | Web designers and agencies (as subcontractor), businesses, start-ups |
| Payment | Per page or project |
| Realistic earnings | Low–medium to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Partner with web designers who struggle to get content from clients. Pros: Steady partnership work. Cons & risks: Clients slow to give information. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Many local websites stall because clients never provide text; you solve that problem.
78. Email newsletter and email sequence writing
What it is: Writing newsletters, welcome sequences, promotional emails and follow-ups. How it works: Plan the sequence → write subject lines and emails → set up in an email tool (optional) → review open and click rates.
| Skills | Engaging writing, persuasion, email marketing basics (content and email) |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop |
| Where to find work | Businesses, coaches, e-commerce stores, NGOs |
| Payment | Per email, sequence or retainer |
| Realistic earnings | Low–medium to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Write a sample 5-email welcome sequence for an imaginary business. Pros: Recurring work. Cons & risks: Needs results proof over time. Scam warning: Never write spam or phishing emails, however it's framed. Kenya notes: SMS and WhatsApp broadcast copy is the local equivalent for many businesses.
79. Social media caption and content writing
What it is: Writing captions, hooks, threads and scripts for social media posts. How it works: Monthly content calendars with captions, hashtags and calls to action.
| Skills | Short, engaging writing; platform knowledge; humour or brand voice |
| Cost & equipment | Phone or laptop |
| Where to find work | Businesses, social media managers, influencers, agencies |
| Payment | Per post or monthly |
| Realistic earnings | Low to low–medium |
| Time to first income | Days to weeks |
How to start: Create a 30-day caption calendar for a local business as a sample. Pros: Phone-friendly. Cons & risks: Often bundled with design and management. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: English, Kiswahili and Sheng captions are valuable for local brands.
80. Scriptwriting (YouTube, ads, podcasts, explainers)
What it is: Writing scripts for videos, adverts, podcasts, explainer animations and radio. How it works: Brief → outline → script with hooks and timing → revisions.
| Skills | Storytelling, conversational writing, timing |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop |
| Where to find work | YouTubers, agencies, NGOs, media houses, brands |
| Payment | Per script or per minute of video |
| Realistic earnings | Low–medium to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Write 3 sample scripts (a 60-second ad, a 5-minute YouTube video, an explainer). Pros: Creative; growing with video. Cons & risks: Results judged by video performance. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Radio and TV ads, NGO awareness campaigns and local YouTubers need scripts.
81. Ghostwriting (books, blogs, LinkedIn posts)
What it is: Writing content published under someone else's name: books, memoirs, articles, speeches or LinkedIn posts. How it works: Interviews to capture their voice and ideas → drafts → revisions; confidentiality agreements.
| Skills | Adapting voice, interviewing, long-form structure |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop, recording app for interviews |
| Where to find work | Executives, pastors, coaches, entrepreneurs, publishers |
| Payment | Project fees in milestones; retainers for posts |
| Realistic earnings | Medium to high for experienced writers |
| Time to first income | Weeks to months |
How to start: Ghostwrite LinkedIn posts for a professional you know; build testimonials (with permission). Pros: Higher-value work. Cons & risks: You can't always show the work publicly. Scam warning: Agree payment milestones; long projects without deposits are risky. Kenya notes: Many leaders and pastors want books but lack time to write them.
82. Technical writing
What it is: Writing manuals, user guides, help articles, API documentation and standard operating procedures. How it works: Learn the product → organise information → write clear step-by-step content with screenshots.
| Skills | Clarity, technical understanding, structure |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop, screenshot tools |
| Where to find work | Software companies, manufacturers, NGOs, government projects |
| Payment | Hourly, project or salary |
| Realistic earnings | Medium to medium–high |
| Time to first income | Weeks to months |
How to start: Write a user guide for a free app; learn documentation basics and Markdown. Pros: Well-paid, less competitive. Cons & risks: Needs technical aptitude. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Kenyan tech companies and system vendors need documentation and help centres.
83. Grant and proposal writing
What it is: Writing funding proposals for NGOs, community groups, researchers and businesses applying for grants and tenders. How it works: Read the call carefully → plan with the organisation → write problem, solution, budget narrative, monitoring and evaluation → submit before deadlines.
| Skills | Persuasive structured writing, understanding of donors and logframes, budgeting basics |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop |
| Where to find work | NGOs, CBOs, start-ups, researchers, consultants |
| Payment | Fixed fee per proposal (ethical practice; success-only fees are discouraged by many donors) |
| Realistic earnings | Medium to high for experienced writers with successes |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Volunteer to help a local CBO with a small grant; study successful proposals and donor guidelines. Pros: High value. Cons & risks: No guarantee of funding; tight deadlines. Scam warning: "Grant agents" demanding fees to "release" grants are scams. Kenya notes: Kenya has many NGOs and youth/women groups applying for local and international funding.
84. Business plan writing
What it is: Writing business plans for entrepreneurs seeking loans, investors or competitions. How it works: Interview the owner → market research → financial projections (often with an accountant) → plan document.
| Skills | Business understanding, research, Excel (financial functions) |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop |
| Where to find work | Entrepreneurs, youth fund applicants, SMEs, competition entrants |
| Payment | Project fee |
| Realistic earnings | Low–medium to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Create a template and one complete sample plan for a common local business. Pros: Steady local demand. Cons & risks: Owners may have unrealistic expectations; numbers must be honest. Scam warning: Don't fabricate figures for loan applications. Kenya notes: Youth and women enterprise funds, bank loans and competitions ask for business plans.
85. CV and cover letter writing
What it is: Writing and formatting CVs, cover letters and LinkedIn profiles for job seekers. How it works: Interview the client → rewrite achievements clearly → tailor to target jobs → deliver Word/PDF.
| Skills | Recruitment knowledge, concise writing, formatting (CVs and letters) |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop or phone |
| Where to find work | Graduates, professionals, job seekers abroad, social media, campuses |
| Payment | Per CV or package, M-Pesa |
| Realistic earnings | Low to low–medium; higher for executive CVs |
| Time to first income | Days |
How to start: Rewrite CVs for friends (with permission) as before/after samples; offer packages on WhatsApp and LinkedIn. Pros: Constant demand. Cons & risks: Clients expect jobs; never promise employment. Scam warning: Don't invent qualifications or experience for clients. Kenya notes: Graduates and people applying for jobs abroad (e.g. Gulf, Europe) need well-formatted CVs; warn them about fake recruitment agencies.
86. LinkedIn profile optimisation
What it is: Improving professionals' LinkedIn headlines, summaries, experience and featured sections. How it works: Audit → rewrite → keyword optimisation → optional content plan.
| Skills | Personal branding, writing, LinkedIn knowledge |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop or phone |
| Where to find work | Professionals, job seekers, consultants |
| Payment | Per profile |
| Realistic earnings | Low to low–medium |
| Time to first income | Days to weeks |
How to start: Optimise your own profile and 3 friends' profiles as case studies. Pros: Pairs well with CV writing. Cons & risks: Competitive. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Professionals seeking remote and international jobs increasingly invest in LinkedIn.
87. Proofreading
What it is: Checking finished text for spelling, grammar, punctuation and formatting errors. How it works: Using track changes or comments; agreed style (UK/US English).
| Skills | Excellent grammar, attention to detail (track changes) |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop |
| Where to find work | Authors, businesses, students (proofreading only, not rewriting assessed work), publishers |
| Payment | Per word or page |
| Realistic earnings | Low to low–medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Take a grammar test; proofread a sample document; offer to local authors and businesses. Pros: Flexible. Cons & risks: Automated tools reduce simple demand. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Specify UK English for most Kenyan clients.
88. Editing (copy-editing and developmental editing)
What it is: Improving clarity, structure, flow and consistency of manuscripts, reports and articles. How it works: Copy-editing (sentences, consistency) or developmental editing (structure, content) with tracked suggestions.
| Skills | Advanced writing, judgement, tact |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop |
| Where to find work | Authors, publishers, NGOs, researchers, media |
| Payment | Per word, page or project |
| Realistic earnings | Low–medium to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks to months |
How to start: Edit sample chapters for free for 2 authors in exchange for testimonials. Pros: Respected skill. Cons & risks: Long projects. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Self-publishing Kenyan authors need affordable editors.
89. Translation (documents and websites)
What it is: Translating documents, websites, subtitles and marketing materials between languages. How it works: Translate with terminology consistency, often using CAT tools; review by a second linguist on bigger projects.
| Skills | Native-level fluency in the target language, subject knowledge |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop; free or paid CAT tools |
| Where to find work | Translation agencies, NGOs, businesses, freelance platforms |
| Payment | Per word |
| Realistic earnings | Low–medium to medium; certified and specialist translators earn more |
| Time to first income | Weeks to months |
How to start: Take agency tests; build samples; consider professional training or certification. Pros: Language skills are valuable. Cons & risks: Machine translation pressures basic rates; quality still needs humans. Scam warning: Fake agencies with "registration fees", or overpayment cheque scams. Kenya notes: English–Kiswahili, French, Arabic, Somali and Amharic pairs are useful in the region.
90. Localisation and cultural adaptation
What it is: Adapting products, apps, ads and content to local language, culture and norms (not just word-for-word translation). How it works: Translate, adapt examples, currencies, idioms and images; test in context.
| Skills | Cultural knowledge, language skills, marketing sense |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop |
| Where to find work | Localisation agencies, apps entering Kenya, international brands, NGOs |
| Payment | Per word or hourly |
| Realistic earnings | Low–medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks to months |
How to start: Localise a sample app screen or ad for Kenyan audiences. Pros: Less competition than generic translation. Cons & risks: Project-based. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Companies entering East Africa need Kiswahili and culturally appropriate content.
91. Subtitle translation
What it is: Translating video subtitles into other languages with correct timing and reading speed. How it works: Subtitle files (e.g. SRT) in subtitle software; follow style guides.
| Skills | Translation, concise writing, subtitle rules |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop, free subtitle software |
| Where to find work | Subtitling agencies, YouTubers, film festivals, NGOs |
| Payment | Per video minute |
| Realistic earnings | Low to low–medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Learn subtitle software; subtitle a short public-domain video as a sample. Pros: Combines language and media. Cons & risks: Agency tests are strict. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Kenyan films and YouTube content with Kiswahili/English subtitles reach wider audiences.
92. Content writing for local businesses (Kiswahili and English)
What it is: Writing posters, brochures, radio announcements, SMS campaigns and WhatsApp messages for local businesses in English, Kiswahili or Sheng. How it works: Short, practical writing jobs, often bundled with design.
| Skills | Local language fluency, persuasive short writing |
| Cost & equipment | Phone or laptop |
| Where to find work | Local shops, SACCOs, churches, schools, politicians' campaigns (follow election laws) |
| Payment | Per job, M-Pesa |
| Realistic earnings | Low |
| Time to first income | Days |
How to start: Partner with local designers and printers. Pros: Quick local jobs. Cons & risks: Low prices. Scam warning: Don't write defamatory or hateful content for anyone. Kenya notes: Kiswahili and Sheng copy connects with many local audiences.
93. Press releases and PR writing
What it is: Writing press releases, media statements, op-eds and company announcements. How it works: News angle → structured release → distribution to media lists (client or PR firm).
| Skills | Journalistic writing, news sense |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop |
| Where to find work | Companies, NGOs, PR agencies, start-ups, events |
| Payment | Per release or retainer |
| Realistic earnings | Low–medium to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Write sample releases for imaginary launches; network with PR agencies. Pros: Professional work. Cons & risks: Needs media understanding. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Nairobi's PR and corporate communications sector uses freelancers.
94. Freelance journalism and feature writing
What it is: Pitching and writing news features, investigations, profiles and opinion pieces for media outlets. How it works: Pitch editors with story ideas → commissioned → report, write, fact-check → payment per article.
| Skills | Reporting, interviewing, ethics, fact-checking |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop, phone recorder, transport |
| Where to find work | Local and international media outlets, online publications |
| Payment | Per article (rates vary widely) |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium; inconsistent |
| Time to first income | Weeks to months |
How to start: Pitch local stories to outlets; build clips; learn media law basics. Pros: Meaningful work. Cons & risks: Irregular pay; sometimes slow payment; safety on sensitive topics. Scam warning: "Pay to publish" schemes. Kenya notes: Local stories with international angles can interest global outlets.
95. Speech writing
What it is: Writing speeches for weddings, funerals (eulogies), graduations, corporate events, politicians and executives. How it works: Interview → draft for spoken delivery → rehearse with the speaker.
| Skills | Spoken-style writing, empathy, timing |
| Cost & equipment | Phone/laptop |
| Where to find work | Families, executives, event organisers, referrals |
| Payment | Per speech |
| Realistic earnings | Low to low–medium |
| Time to first income | Days |
How to start: Offer eulogy and wedding speech writing with sample texts. Pros: Meaningful, quick projects. Cons & risks: Sensitive deadlines. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Eulogies and wedding speeches are common requests; handle with care.
96. Educational content and course material writing
What it is: Writing lesson notes, worksheets, quizzes, e-learning scripts and training manuals. How it works: Follow curricula or learning objectives; structure content for learners.
| Skills | Subject knowledge, instructional design basics, clear explanations |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop |
| Where to find work | E-learning companies, schools, NGOs, training institutions, edtech start-ups |
| Payment | Per module or project |
| Realistic earnings | Low–medium to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Create a sample lesson with objectives, notes and a quiz. Pros: Steady edtech demand. Cons & risks: Copyright of curriculum materials must be respected. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: CBC learning materials and TVET (CBET) training content are local niches.
97. Fiction, poetry and creative writing (publishing and commissions)
What it is: Writing and selling stories, novels, poems, children's books or commissioned creative pieces. How it works: Submit to publishers and magazines, self-publish (print or ebook), enter competitions, or write commissioned pieces.
| Skills | Creative writing, persistence, editing |
| Cost & equipment | Laptop; editing, cover and printing costs if self-publishing |
| Where to find work | Publishers, literary magazines, competitions, self-publishing platforms |
| Payment | Royalties, prizes, commissions |
| Realistic earnings | Very low to low for most; a few succeed significantly |
| Time to first income | Months to years |
How to start: Write consistently; submit to magazines and competitions; join writing communities. Pros: Creative fulfilment; long-term assets. Cons & risks: Uncertain income. Scam warning: "Vanity publishers" charging large fees with little real distribution. Kenya notes: Kenyan literary prizes, magazines and school-reader publishing exist; research reputable publishers.
Summary
- Writing methods range from blogs, SEO and copywriting to technical, grant, CV, editing, translation, scripts, PR, journalism and creative work.
- Specialisation and proof of results raise pay; generic content is under pressure from AI.
- Follow client AI rules, never write academic work for students to submit, and avoid "writing account" schemes.
Check yourself
Persuasive writing designed to make people take action is called what?
Show answer
copywriting
Writing content published under someone else's name is called what?
Show answer
ghostwriting
A publisher that charges authors large fees with little real distribution is called what? (two words)
Show answer
vanity publisher
Which English spelling should you usually use for Kenyan clients: UK or US?
Show answer
UK