Hey, Let’s Be Real for a Second…
We’ve all seen the Instagram ads: someone sipping a cocktail on a beach claiming they made six figures online. And let’s be honest—it sounds too good to be true. But the truth is, making money with digital marketing is possible. It just doesn’t come with palm trees on day one.
If you’re looking to escape the 9-5 grind, build a side hustle, or start over completely, digital marketing offers real ways to earn. The best part? You don’t need a marketing degree. Just time, curiosity, and consistency.
1. Affiliate Marketing: Your Digital Referral Gig
Ever recommended a product to a friend and wished you got paid for it? That’s basically affiliate marketing. You promote products or services, and when someone buys through your link, you earn a commission.
How it works:
- Pick something you genuinely like (tech, fashion, fitness—whatever floats your boat).
- Share it on your blog, Instagram, YouTube, or even WhatsApp.
- Get paid when people buy through your link.
People like William Thomas (who once worked minimum wage) now make over £7,000/week using affiliate marketing. He simply promotes useful products online, from his kitchen table.
Platforms to start: Amazon Associates, Impact, ClickBank, and even brands’ direct programs.
2. Freelancing in Digital Marketing: Sell What You Know
You don’t need to be a guru—just one step ahead of someone else. Got writing skills? Know Canva or basic SEO? You can sell those services.
Here’s what you can do:
- Social media management
- Email marketing
- Blog writing or copywriting
- SEO optimization
- Paid ads campaign setup
Sites like Upwork or Fiverr are perfect places to start. But if you want to go DIY, reach out to small businesses in your town—they need help online.
People like Sydney Hancock, a former oboe player, now make over $115,000/year by freelancing and running her own digital marketing gig.
3. Content Creation: Share, Build, Earn
If you like talking to a camera or writing long captions on Instagram, you already have a head start. Building an audience online is one of the best long-term ways to earn.
You can make money through:
- Ad revenue (YouTube, TikTok Creator Fund)
- Sponsored posts (brands pay you!)
- Affiliate links
- Selling your own products
Start small. Stay honest. Be consistent.
4. Selling Digital Products: The Set-It-And-Forget-It Model
Have knowledge or a skill others would pay for? Package it into a digital product: an eBook, a course, a Notion template, or a Canva workbook.
You create it once, and it keeps selling.
Steps:
- Identify a pain point (e.g., “I don’t know how to use Instagram for business”).
- Create a solution (a beginner-friendly guide or video course).
- Promote it through email, blog, social media.
5. Social Media Management: Be the Voice for Brands
You already spend hours on Instagram—why not get paid for it?
Small businesses need help showing up online. If you know how to post, write captions, or engage with followers, you can start your own social media management hustle.
Start by:
- Offering packages (1 post/day, story templates, follower engagement)
- Reaching out to local businesses
- Using Canva to create scroll-stopping content
Final Thoughts: Start Where You Are
Here’s the deal—you don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to start.
Pick one income stream. Watch some tutorials. Test things. Mess up. Learn. Grow. That’s how every successful digital marketer you see today started.
It’s not a get-rich-quick game. It’s a get-smart-slowly-but-surely kind of thing. And if you’re willing to stick it out, you’ll find your rhythm—and your income.
