Updated 26/11/2018
Do you feel like your salary is never enough? Have you thought of how you can increase you income in Nigeria? I can bet that a majority of workers in Nigeria feel the same way too. Gone are the days when getting a job after graduation will satisfy all your needs; it doesn’t work like that anymore. With high price rate of things, one can hardly have any money left at the end of the month.
Generating a multiple stream of income can be that solution you need to increase your income in Nigeria. Increasing your income above your basic salary can have a great impact on your finances as well as help you cope with a low paying job. Having an extra income aside your primary income will go a long way to help with increasing your investment. Diversifying your income streams is really important especially in difficult economic times.
Sure you are ready to start earning above your salary; see ways to increase your income in Nigeria below:
Explore New Opportunities
Many times when people hear about increasing their income, the next thing that come to their mind is getting a new job. Moving to another company is fine, but that may not be a guarantee that you will earn more than what you used to earn. Rather than moving from one job to another, it is better for you to explore new opportunities by acquiring new skills to increase your income.
If you are interested in increasing your income and sustaining the increment over a long time, then a long term plan is what you should consider. Acquiring new and relevant skills can help you become even more employable, make you perform your task better which will ultimately increase your income in Nigeria at the end of the day.
A new skill can mean increased income because you can do more things that can help scale up your income in your recent job or opens you up to new opportunities entirely. Acquiring new skills sometimes has to do with time and trend. As some skills get outdated or irrelevant, new skills are becoming more relevant in today’s world. You should look forward to getting in-demand skills that can ultimately increase your income in Nigeria.
Below is a list of some in-demand skills you can acquire now;
- Coding
- Digital marketing
- Excel
- Google Analytics
- Project management
- Writing
- Public speaking
- Writing
- Web development
- Statistical analysis and data mining
- Network and information technology
Continue your Education
Another way to increase your income is to go back to school and continue your education. Whether it is a master’s degree or a certification, more education can mean more money. Getting a degree can help increase income within your profession. As you move upwards educationally, you income automatically moves up also.
When you decide to go back to school, it is better to be decisive about the field you want to study, because getting an additional degree does not translate to additional income at the end of the day, so choosing the right skill is also very important.
Certifications are becoming common in most job fields these days. So getting certified can increase your earning power in your profession as you move upwards in your career. Many job fields like Human Resources, Accounting, etc. requires one to be certified to really earn well.
The following are top 5 certifications that can increase your income:
- Human Resources Certifications (PHR, SPHR, SHRM)
- Project Management Certifications (PMP)
- Network Certifications (CCNA, CCNP, CCIE)
- Google Certifications (Analytics, AdWords, etc.)
- Safety and Health Management Certifications (CSMP)
Ask for a Raise
Another option to increase your income is by asking for a raise or promotion. A raise can actually increase your earnings. Once you have an additional working experience or skill, it is necessary for you to request for a raise. Before you ask for a raise, it is important for you to be sure about what you think other people in the same job role earn. You can check out websites like Mysalaryscale.com to find out how much employers are paying professionals like you. You can take advantage of mysalaryscale.com information to negotiate a raise and increase your income.
Don’t be scared about asking for a raise especially when you deserve it. Remember to be bold and confident. Learn how to ask for a raise here.
Create Multiple Stream Income
A good way to increase your income is to have multiple stream income. Engaging yourself with many valuable things can increase your income. When you have other things to do aside from your main job that is actually lucrative can sum up to streams of income.
You can create multiple streams of income on online platforms. Every employee is advised to have multiple streams of income to be financially stable. When creating streams of income, you should be careful to focus on a niche that you really enjoy doing.
See ways you can create multiple stream income here:
a. Start Sales/ Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is a way you can make a passive income without worrying about adding more hour to your work hours. As good as affiliate marketing may seem, it works better for blog and website owners than other people. It is pretty simple to start affiliate marketing on your blog or website.
You can sign up to promote certain products or services on your site, for which you will be paid either a flat fee or a percentage of the amount of the sales you are able to complete.
Since there are thousands of companies that want their products to get to the eyes of many prospective buyers as much as possible, affiliate marketing is one way these brands can achieve their marketing goals.
You can find affiliate offers by contacting a vendor directly or search for offers on dedicated affiliate marketing websites. One thing you should keep in mind when getting affiliate marketing offers is to check if the product is one that is relevant to your blog or website or one that you are interested in.
b. Start Blogging
Blogging is another way you can make a passive income and earn above your salary. Gone are the days when people go to the libraries or meet people to get information from them. With the coming of the internet and the help of search engines, information is just at your fingertips.
With loads of content on the internet every day, people now tend to depend on online content and resources that meet their needs. With the number of people that search for different content on the internet each day, blogging could be a really cool passive income. It will be surprising to tell you that many companies in the 21st century are developing from blogs. Blogging can be a fast way for you to earn great income while you add value to a good number of people with your content.
The interesting thing about blogging is that it gives you the opportunity to inform others with content that you are most comfortable sharing, while you make money doing that.
It is easy to think that it is really easy to make money from blogging maybe because everybody is doing it. The key to making money as a blogger is consistency. The more you are able to sustain your blog consistently over a long period of time, that is when you will have a higher possibility of making money from it, because you will make your blog a reliable resource place.
You can monetize your blog with these steps;
- Advertising
- Affiliate marketing
- Selling products and services
- Giving room for sponsored contents on your blog
My advice to anyone trying to consider blogging as a side hustle is that it takes time and hard work to start making money from a blog.
c. Take a Paid Survey
This may sound really awkward to some people, the question that will come to your mind first is can I get paid to just take a survey? The answer is yes! As ridiculous as may sound, it is cool way you can make real money while in the comfort of your home.
Many companies are ready to pay you as long you can sit in front of your computer to help them take survey questions. This is one area that people are not really aware of. It is one of the most convenient ways you can make money online. All you require is to register with companies and organizations that give survey questions and make sure you answer the survey appropriately.
This means of generating income doesn’t allow you to face the challenge that may come with creating content for your blog and other challenges, but taking paid survey, you are already provided with questions, all you need to do is to answer the questions.
See websites where you can take paid surveys:
d. Become a Freelance Writer
If you love writing, then you can make really good money writing for websites and blogs. Writing for blogs can be a huge task, but if you have a flare for writing then it will not be an issue for you. Freelance writers are paid pretty well for their amazing articles and contents they are able to put up for the blog they are working for. With the number of user on the internet, the internet is one place the almost everyone rely on to get specific contents. As many blogs and websites look forward to providing their audience with good content, the need for freelance writers will continuously be on the rise.
As blogs grow, they can afford to pay freelance writers pretty well for great articles. Blogs that are wishing to build links will often pay freelance writers to create good contents to be published on other blogs and websites. With websites like Contently, Upwork.com, Freelancer.com, and LinkedIn ProFinder, you can create an online profile and start getting paid for writing articles on these platforms.
e. Become a Virtual Assistant
The internet has made life generally easier for everyone. With the help of the internet, entrepreneurs and small businesses can get the assistance they need by simply contacting a virtual assistant. Virtual assistants perform a wide range of task from receiving and responding to mails, preparing word documents and a variety of related task.
Entrepreneurs find it easier to use the services of a virtual assistant, since it will help them minimize cost and also save time. Since many entrepreneurs and individuals are now using the services of virtual assistants, becoming a virtual assistant can be a great source of income for anyone that want to increase his/her income.
The pay for virtual assistants varies to a very large extent, depending on your client or the nature of the task that you may be required to carry out. You find virtual assistant jobs on websites like Freelancer and Upwork.
f. Drive for Uber/Taxify or Register your Car
Putting up your car to be used by Uber is another way you can generate good income for yourself. The good thing about putting up your car for Uber is that it allows you to earn money passively without necessarily doing anything. You can decide when you want your car to work and when you will need your car. If you don’t have a car there is no need to be worried, you can also drive for Uber if you know how to drive.
The amazing thing about driving for Uber is that you choose to work at times that are most convenient for you. It provides you with a really flexible means of income. Uber also allows you to work as much as you want.
To get started, you’ll need to pass a background check and have a valid driver’s license and auto insurance. You also need a car that’s new to an extent and in good shape. Check out this post to learn more about how to drive for Uber.
g. Website Design
If you have the technical skill that is required to design a website, then you could make real income from designing websites for individuals and brands. With the continued growth of the internet, web design has become a good income source for anyone with the skills. These days every brand and company looks forward to growing their online presence so as to connect directly with their customers. Having a website is a great means to achieve that, so that is why web designers are usually on a high demand.
All you need to do is get the technological skill that is required if you don’t have one and market yourself to potential clients. Good web designers make good money designing websites.
h. Sell Products online
The internet is one place that you can get a large number of audience. With the increasing number of internet users, it is even much easier to sell your product online and make good money from it. The internet allows you to sell any kind of product you desire. It could be products that you manufactured yourself or even software; you can sell anything at all online.
You can set up a dedicated website for this product or service, unless of course you have a website or blog already in place. Alternatively, you can also sell it on an affiliate basis. You can create a market space online where your products will be showcased to prospective buyers. You can sell your product on other online retail outlet like Jumia.com and other online retail shops.
i. Become a Silent Partner of a Successful Business
If you know of a business that is looking forward to expanding or needs more fund, you can contribute your money to support the business and become a silent partner. This is one way you can make good without actually stressing yourself.
It might be tempting for you to want to offer loan to a business in need of capital, but instead of doing that, it is advisable for you to contribute your capital and be a part of the company. You can take an equity position in the company, this way you won’t be involved in the day-to-day running of the business, but you will remain a silent partner that will take part in the profit of the business.
j. Create an online course
Since people are constantly looking for great contents online, then creating an online course can help increase your earning power. It is easy for you to think that you can’t create a course, but that is not true.
Everyone is an expert at something that others really struggle with. So you can turn your knowledge into a resource that will help others and at the same time generate income for yourself. There are many ways you can put up your course online. One of the popular ways is to make use of websites like Udemy.com. Some websites have millions of students and it will make it easier of your content to get to the eyes of interested people.
To make your online course effective, you can, you can make sure you have the following content. You can add video lessons, checklists for completing steps you recommend in your video lessons, small eBooks to supplement the lessons, audio files for people on the go.
There are others way you can generate multiple streams of income for yourself depending on your location and skills-set. Everyone look for smarter ways to make money aside from what you get from your salary. While earning extra income does require a lot of work, the reward can be really appealing. See some other resources if you are keen on diversifying and increasing your income Nigeria.
