With the growing popularity of digital marketing and e-commerce, one can start a business and work at the comfort of his/her home. The following are the top 20 remote businesses in 2024:
- Home-based entrepreneurship
- SEO content writing
- Website Designing
- Blogging
- Social Media Management
- Affiliate Marketing
- Online consultation
- Graphic designing
- Virtual Assistance
- Online tutoring/course creation
- Social Media Marketing
- Web development
- Software development
- Customer support
- Project management
- Copywriting
- Data Analysis
- Cybersecurity Analysis
- Sales Directing
- Cloud architecting
Home-based Entrepreneurship
The majority of the large firms providing various services and goods today started from a small garage or at home. One can easily make products at home and sell the products online via the different easily accessible social media platforms (e-commerce).
Businesses one can start at home and sell via e-commerce include:
- a) Food/junk business, e.g., Cake, small chops, yogofura, freshly squeezed juice, native dishes.
- b) Fashion designing.
- c) Art/painting
- d) Content creation
SEO Content Writing
Search engine optimised writing involves creating content with keywords and phrases that enables the writeup to be amongst the topmost articles in search engines. This is important as it brings more traffic to the page, creates brand awareness, and increases the chances of reaching a wider population. Thereby guaranteeing lifelong, affordable digital marketing and brand growth opportunities.
A study carried out on the number of clicks a Google search result gets revealed that 28.5% of the population click on the first result on the first page, 15% and 11% on the second and third results, respectively; this number continues depreciating to 2.8% on the tenth result. A good remote SEO copywriter can make up to $45 per hour on platforms like Upwork.\
Website Designing
Website designers plan and create a web page that is user-friendly and user-optimisable, with the aim of improving brand quality and getting information passed to page users in the most befitting manner. They create features such as the page theme, font styles, structure/layout, and images. Although there is a degree course for web development/designing, it is still a skill that can be learnt from online learning platforms such as Coursera, Udemy, edX, and LinkedIn Learning.
Web designers make an average pay of about 360,000 naira a month in Nigeria and $30-200 per hour on platforms such as Fiverr. Places a web designer can get remote working opportunities in Nigeria include Upwork, Freelancer.com, Fiverr, LinkedIn, and Dribble.
Blogging
A blog is an online journaling platform in the form of write-ups, images, videos, or other media types that is uploaded on a regular basis with the aim of educating an audience or creating an online audience that can be monetized. A blog naturally dwells on a particular niche; examples include tips on food, culinary skills, travel, nutrition, technology, businesses, lifestyle, etc. Other types of blogs include personal blogs, media blogs, marketing blogs, and news blogs.
With a profitable niche, it has been reported that bloggers make up to $100,000 annually and $500-$2,000 monthly within their first year. Creating a blog is easy, involves simple steps, takes less than 20 minutes, and requires little to no monetary investment.
Social Media Management
The work of a social media manager involves bringing up content ideas and organising the creation and implementation of the ideas in order to build brand awareness and increase followers. The social manager also analyses the performance of posted content, devises ways to improve, and engages/responds to followers.
A social media manager earns an average of 100,000 naira monthly in Nigeria, and according to a 2024 report, one can earn an average of $86,000 per year through remote work. To start a career in social media management one can acquire the Meta Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate. Skills required for a good social media manager can also be acquired through the Adobe’s Content Creator Professional Certificate class.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketers earn money by advertising products or services through their social media platforms. They get paid for each direct sale of a product or service gained as a result of their creative advert through their affiliate link/code. An affiliate marketer can earn $58,000 – $158,000 a year.This is one remote job that has the highest job opportunities available on LinkedIn, Shopify Affiliate Program, Amazon Associates, CJ Affiliate etc
Online Consultation
A professional can establish an online consulting business to reach a wider and hopefully international population. This initiative helps solve problems with accessibility and flexibility. Through this initiative, a professional provides advice and guidance to clients via online platforms such as Zoom, social media messaging/video calls, and emails. A client can have access to educational, medical, career, technological, business, legal, and financial advice through online consultations. The average earnings of an online consultant in 2024 is about $77,638 per year according to Glassdoor.
Graphic Designing
Graphic designers create visual content that conveys a message to promote a brand or attract the attention of viewers through the use of elements such as colours, shapes, and images. This skill can be obtained via the various online learning platforms such as Coursera and Udemy. The gross earnings of a graphic designer in 2024 average 57,334 naira per month.
Virtual Assistant (VA)
A VA is a remote working assistant that performs specialised tasks for clients using organisational, technical, communication, and creative skills. The aim of hiring a VA is to reduce the workload of an organisation; they take care of tasks such as replying to emails, managing schedules, and coordinating meetings/events. Any individual that pays keen attention to details, has good communication skills, and is very organised can be a good VA. To be a recognised and skillful VA, there are online courses available, like the ALX program. A virtual assistant earns an average of $15-30 per hour.
Online Tutoring/Course Creation
One of the best methods to make money in 2024 is sharing knowledge online. This can be carried out using various methods: online tutoring, ebooks, recorded lectures, podcasts, and so on. If a course creator can create easily understandable, user-friendly courses that are easily accessible and solve a major problem, then he is guaranteed massive sales with good advertisement. Popular course creators make up to $1,000-$10,000 per month.
Social Media Marketing
Social media/online marketing is the act of promoting products or services using digital platforms. Social media marketers earn an average of $15,700 annually through remote jobs. A social media manager is expected to be creative, a good writer and researcher, have a sense of humour, be flexible, and be up-to-date on recent technological advancements.
Web Development
Building and maintaining websites using coding interfaces such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. A web developer is a programmer that uses such interfaces to build a website from scratch, using a planned design put together by the web designer through the use of coding languages. Web development courses are available on Coursera, Udemy, and other learning platforms. Web development provides a monthly income of 130,000 naira in Nigeria, according to a Glassdoor survey.
Software Development
This refers to the process of creating, designing, deploying, updating, and maintaining a set of instructions that tell a computer what to do in the form of software created through programming languages with the aim of satisfying a user and solving a problem. Software developers have one of the top remote working pays, with an average of $115,462 per annum.
Customer Support
Customer support agents are frontline workers responsible for answering customer queries and concerns, processing customer orders, answering questions, providing information about a product or service, and solving customer-related issues mostly via phone calls, email, messaging, or live chats. To become a good customer support agent, one has to possess certain skills that include good listening skills, polite communication, quick decision-making, patience, and problem-solving skills.
Customer support remote jobs can be obtained with physical customer service experience, good communication skills, and the ability to work under pressure. Remote customer support agents earn an average of $49,000 yearly.
Project Management
This involves supervising the planning and execution of a project to ensure timely completion and successful achievement of project goals while optimising available resources and budgets. Project manager’s skills include discipline, critical thinking, good leadership qualities, orderliness, and good interpersonal and communication skills. Project manager certification can be acquired for free through Google Career Certificates. A good remote project manager can earn up to $196,500 per year.
Copywriting
Copywriting involves creating captivating write-up content that markets a product/service or sells a concept to an audience with the goal of motivating them to take specific actions like buying the product/service or subscribing to a mailing list. A copywriter requires clear, persuasive writing skills and a good understanding of the audience. A copywriter working remotely can earn an average of $87,273 yearly.
Data Analysis
A data analyst cleans, arranges, and interprets data sets by identifying repeating patterns that answer a question or solve a problem, with the aim of making informed decisions or conclusions. Qualities of good data analysts include open-mindedness, insightfulness, inquisitiveness, critical thinking, and communication/writing skills. You can start a career in data analysis by enrolling in certified data analysis courses available on learning platforms such as Google Career and IBM.
Cybersecurity Analysts
Coursera defines cybersecurity analysts as individuals who protect an organisation’s hardware, software, and network from any form of cyberattack and unauthorised access. They carry out these duties by fixing vulnerabilities, conducting threat searches, installing firewalls, investigating incidents, and conducting periodic risk assessments. A degree in cybersecurity is generally required for jobs in cybersecurity, including the remote ones. However, in Nigeria, certain certificates, like the Microsoft cybersecurity professional certificate and a degree in computer science, can give one an advantage at landing such jobs. A survey shows that a cybersecurity analyst earns an average of 312,333 Naira per month in Nigeria.
Sales Directing
A sales director supervises and strategises the work of the sales department to ensure maximum sales and customer satisfaction. Knowledge of sales techniques, knowledge of digital sales tools, good interpersonal skills, research skills, good decision-making, and experience in sales are the qualities required of a good sales director. A sales director works closely with the sales manager; therefore, he/she can work from home. The average earning of a remote sales director per annum is $175,563.
Cloud Architecting
Cloud architects are some of the highest-paid remote workers, with an average pay of $150,000-270,000 per annum. A cloud architect job entails creating a cloud computing environment by developing and managing the cloud’s architecture. A cloud architect should be conversant with computer operating systems, programming languages, networking, and security.
You can also read: 37 Profitable Small Business Ideas in Nigeria 2024
Conclusion
Remote businesses in Nigeria are sufficiently the only source of income for some individuals in 2024. As a Nigerian in this digital era there is no need to wait for a government job or go out in search of a job. Equipping yourself with a good skill, creating a robust CV, and applying for your skill specific employment opportunities available on various online platforms such as LinkedIn, Upwork, Freelancer.com will get you employed. For employed individuals looking for side hustles, these skills and remote business opportunities are also available, flexible and doable.
Featured image credit: Opeyemi Adisa
