6 Ways to Monitize Your Power BI Skills (That actually works)

Most Power BI Developers Are Broke. Here's Why (And How to Fix It)

You spent three months learning Power BI. You built 15 dashboards, earned your certification, and posted your portfolio on LinkedIn with that generic "Open to opportunities" caption. Then you waited. And waited—nothing but crickets.

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Meanwhile, someone with half your technical skills just closed a ₦500,000 project. What's the difference between you and them? They know how to monetize their skills. You're still waiting to be discovered.

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Let me be brutally honest with you: your Power BI skills are worthless if you don't know how to package and sell them. I've gotten countless DMs from people who've been "building dashboards" for two years with zero income to show for it. The problem isn't their skills—it's their strategy. Over the years, I've developed six ways to make money as a BI Developer, and while some of these approaches might make you uncomfortable, they work.

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1. The Visibility Trap Most BI Developers Fall Into

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I covered visibility extensively in my previous post about landing your first Power BI gig, but I need to hammer this point home because it's where most people fail. If you're not creating content, you're not serious about monetizing your skills. Period.

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I know what you're thinking. "But I'm an introvert." Cool, so am I. Post anyway. "But I don't know what to share." Share your struggles, your bugs, your breakthroughs. Visibility isn't optional anymore—it's the entry fee to monetization.

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Think about it logically. How will clients find you if they don't know you exist? That portfolio sitting on your laptop won't market itself. Your LinkedIn profile with 200 connections won't generate leads on its own. You need to be where your potential clients are looking, and that means being consistently visible online. It's uncomfortable at first, but it's non-negotiable if you want to make real money.

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2. The Problem-Solving Strategy That Changed Everything for Me

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Here's how I've landed multiple high-paying gigs and recommendations without applying to a single job: I'm active in Power BI communities—Facebook and WhatsApp groups, Discord servers, Slack channels. When someone posts a problem, I solve it. For free. No strings attached.

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I can already hear your objection: "Wait, work for free? That's terrible advice!" But hold on, let me tell you what actually happens when you adopt this approach.

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Two years ago, I helped a guy fix his DAX measure in a WhatsApp group. It took me ten minutes. Two weeks later, he referred me to his boss for a ₦800,000 project. Another time, I solved a data modeling issue for a stranger on Twitter. She recommended me to three different clients over the next six months. The math is incredibly simple: ten minutes of free help leads to trust and credibility, which leads to paid opportunities.

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But here's the critical catch that most people miss: you cannot expect compensation. Don't ask for anything. Just solve problems genuinely and helpfully. The people watching will remember you when they need someone they can trust with their business problems.

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What does this strategy actually do for you beyond the immediate referrals?

• You learn real-world, hands-on problems that are far more valuable than any Udemy tutorial.
• You build a reputation as someone reliable and skilled.
• You get recommendations without having to ask for them awkwardly.
• Most importantly, you create a network that actually pays dividends over time.

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My formula is straightforward: spend thirty minutes daily in two to three Power BI communities, answer three to five questions per week, and track every interaction because some will convert months later. The key is consistency. Show up regularly, be genuinely helpful, and build trust. The opportunities will follow, often from places you least expect.

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3. Turning Your Dashboards Into Scalable Products

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This is where most Power BI developers completely mess up their monetization strategy. They think building a dashboard and waiting for clients to find them is a viable approach. (yeah, it is, but it's not scalable). You need to flip the entire script.

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Instead of waiting, build solutions that businesses desperately need, then sell them as products. That sales dashboard you built for practice? Package it properly and sell it. That inventory tracker? Package it. That HR analytics report? Package it. Every dashboard you've built has potential value to multiple businesses.

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Here's exactly how to execute this strategy.

1. First, pick a specific niche—restaurants, retail, logistics, or real estate. Don't try to serve everyone; go deep in one area.
2. Second, build a dashboard that solves one painful, specific problem for that niche. For example, create a "Restaurant Daily Sales and Waste Tracker" a "Retail Inventory Stockout Alert Dashboard" or a "Real Estate Property Performance Monitor." The more specific and problem-focused, the better.
3. Third, upload your solution to platforms like Gumroad, Selar, or Mainstack. Price it between ₦5,000 and ₦50,000, depending on the complexity and value it delivers. Include detailed setup instructions and add a walkthrough video showing exactly how to use it.
4. Fourth, create a simple landing page that clearly shows the specific problem it solves, includes before and after screenshots or results, displays clear pricing, and explains the download and setup process.
5. Fifth, and this is where most people drop the ball, promote it relentlessly. Post about your product at least twice per week on your platforms. Share customer testimonials and actual results. Offer limited-time discounts to create urgency. Engage consistently with your target audience wherever they congregate online.

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Here's the controversial truth that makes traditional consultants uncomfortable: most businesses would rather pay ₦20,000 for a ready-made solution than ₦200,000 for a custom build. They want their problem solved quickly and affordably. Stop chasing only custom projects. Build once, sell multiple times. I have dashboard and ebook templates that have made me money while I sleep. That's leverage. That's scalable income. That's how you break free from the trap of trading time for money.

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4. Content as Your Compounding Asset

Creating content makes people uncomfortable because results aren't instant, and we live in a world of instant gratification. But here's what nobody tells you: content is the only asset that appreciates over time instead of depreciating.

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I wrote a Power BI article three years ago. It still brings me clients today, every single month. That's the power of compounding returns. While you sleep, while you work on other projects, while you're on vacation, that content is working for you, building trust with people who will eventually become paying clients.

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My content strategy breaks down into three categories.

• 60% of my content consists of technical articles with titles like "How I solved [specific problem] using Power BI." I post these on Medium, Hashnode, and my own website. I've actually made money from Medium's Partner Program—yes, it's possible with Power BI content. Articles I wrote in 2022 are still generating income in 2025.
• 30% of my content is video-based: YouTube tutorials showing step-by-step solutions, TikTok and Instagram quick tips and tricks, and LinkedIn video breakdowns of complex concepts made simple. These videos open doors for brand partnerships, speaking opportunities, and training gigs that you'd never get otherwise.
• 10% consists of hot takes and strong opinions: "Stop building generic dashboards," "Why Power BI certification is overrated," "The biggest mistakes new BI developers make." These posts get massive engagement and position you as a thought leader rather than just another technical person following tutorials.

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Here's the uncomfortable truth that stops most people: they post twice, get ten likes, and quit. I posted consistently for six months before my first paid opportunity came through content. But when it came, it kept coming. The formula is simple but requires discipline: post at least three times per week, mix tactical tutorials with storytelling and strong opinions, engage meaningfully on five posts daily, and track what resonates so you can double down on what works.

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What does content actually unlock beyond direct client work?

• Partnership opportunities with SaaS tools that want you to feature their products.
• Speaking gigs at conferences and meetups where you're paid to share your expertise.
• Training contracts with companies that need to upskill their teams.
• Affiliate income from tools you genuinely recommend.
• Most valuable of all: inbound leads from people who've been watching your journey and trust you completely by the time they reach out.

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Content is playing the long game. But it's the game that pays the most over time, and it compounds in ways that hourly consulting never will.

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5. Apply for Data/BI Analyst Jobs (but do it strategically)

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Everyone knows you can apply for BI Developer and Analyst jobs, but most people execute this strategy completely wrong. They apply to 100 jobs on LinkedIn with the same generic resume, use a cookie-cutter cover letter, wait desperately for responses, and get frustrated when nobody replies. This approach is broken.

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The right way requires more effort upfront but yields dramatically better results. Identify ten companies you actually want to work with—not just any company hiring, but places where you'd genuinely thrive. Find the hiring manager or department head on LinkedIn. Engage authentically with their content for two weeks before you ever send a message. When you finally reach out, send a personalized message that includes a mini project solving their specific problem. Attach your resume as a bonus, not as the main attraction.

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Here's what most people don't realize: I've gotten three job offers without formally applying to a single position. How? The hiring manager saw my content over time, recognized my expertise through the value I was providing publicly, and reached out directly with an opportunity. Your content is your resume now. Your portfolio is your cover letter. Your consistent engagement is your networking strategy. Make it count.

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6. Freelancing and Consultation Done Right (Where the real money is)

Here's where most aspiring freelancers get it completely wrong: they think freelancing means creating profiles on Upwork and Fiverr, then competing on price with developers around the world. That's the slow lane, and it's a race to the bottom where you're constantly undercut by someone willing to work for less.

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The fast lane looks completely different. It consists of direct outreach to businesses in your chosen niche, OmoAlhaja on Twitter has guide and talked about it on his timeline -- check him out. Referrals from your growing network of people who trust your work (this is how I made $10k+ in 2024), and inbound leads from your content and hard-earned reputation. This is where the real money lives.

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My consultation framework has three phases.

1. The discovery call is free and lasts about 15-30 minutes. During this call, I work to understand their specific problem and pain points deeply. I qualify whether they're serious—can they actually pay for a solution, or are they just fishing for free advice? And I offer a quick win or insight to demonstrate immediate value.
2. If they're qualified and serious, I send a proposal ranging from ₦100,000 to ₦5,000,000 depending on scope. This proposal includes a clear problem statement demonstrating that I truly understand their business, my solution approach with a realistic timeline, specific deliverables spelled out clearly, and most importantly, fixed pricing rather than hourly rates.
3. The delivery and upsell phase is where many consultants leave money on the table. I deliver the dashboard or solution on time as promised. Then I train their team, charging extra for this training because it's genuinely valuable and ensures they can maintain the solution.
4. Finally, I offer a monthly retainer for updates, maintenance, and ongoing support. Many clients gladly pay for this peace of mind.

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Here's my most controversial take on pricing, and it makes traditional consultants uncomfortable: don't charge hourly. Charge for outcomes. A dashboard that saves a company ₦5 million annually is worth ₦500,000, not ₦50,000. Your pricing should reflect the value you create for the business, not the time you spend building the solution. A two-hour dashboard that solves a ₦10 million problem is objectively worth more than a forty-hour dashboard that looks pretty but delivers no real business impact. Know your value, price accordingly, and never apologize for it.

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The Timeline Nobody Talks About

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These strategies work, but here's what nobody mentions because it's not sexy or exciting: it takes 6 - 12 months to see real momentum. Most people quit at month two when results aren't pouring in yet.

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Let me share my actual timeline so you know what to expect. During months one through three, I posted consistently and made zero income. I genuinely wanted to quit. During months four through six, I landed my first paid gig worth ₦80,000. It felt like winning the lottery after months of effort. During months seven through twelve, I started getting regular clients and was making ₦200,000 or more per month. After year two and beyond, I had multiple income streams flowing simultaneously, earning ₦500,000 or more monthly.

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The people making serious money with Power BI aren't more talented than you. They're not smarter. They don't have better tools or more certifications collecting dust. They're just more consistent and strategic. They showed up when engagement was low and nobody was watching. They posted when it felt like shouting into the void. They helped people when there was no immediate payoff visible. They built solutions when results weren't guaranteed. And eventually, momentum kicked in and everything changed.

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The Follow Strategy Everyone Ignores

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Here's a simple tactical move that compounds over time: follow 100 people in your industry, but make them strategic follows, not random ones. Follow BI professionals and consultants who regularly post about opportunities. Follow business owners in your target niche who have problems you can solve. Follow other Power BI developers because collaboration beats competition every single time. Follow data leaders at companies you admire. Follow people asking Power BI questions because they're your future clients.

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Why does this matter so much? Because 80% of opportunities come through your network, not through job applications. Your feed becomes your opportunity pipeline. Your connections become your referral network. Your engagement becomes your reputation. This isn't networking in the fake, transactional sense—it's building genuine relationships with people in your industry who can open doors you didn't even know existed.

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The Choice Is Yours

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You can have all the Power BI skills in the world. You can be the best DAX writer in Nigeria. You can build the most beautiful, technically perfect dashboards that any developer would admire. But if you can't sell, package, or market those skills effectively, you'll stay stuck watching others with half your talent make ten times your income.

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The choice is yours, and it's actually quite simple: stay invisible and broke, or get uncomfortable and monetize. The tools are here. The strategies are proven. They've worked for me and countless others I've helped. The only real question remaining is this: will you actually implement them?

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Which strategy are you trying first? The visibility play? The problem-solving approach? Packaging your dashboards as products? Building your content engine? I'd genuinely love to hear what resonates with you. Remember that consistency beats intensity every time. Small daily actions compound into life-changing results over time. Start today, even if it's just one small step. Your future self will thank you for having the courage to begin.

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