Making Money from Digital Marketing

Digital marketing is the process of promoting products, services, or personal brands online using channels like search engines, social media, email, and websites.
It’s one of the most flexible and in-demand side hustles available today. Businesses of all sizes need people who can help them get noticed online, attract customers, and grow their audience.

Digital marketing covers several areas:

Content Marketing: Writing blogs or articles that attract and engage readers.
SEO: (Search Engine Optimisation) Improving a website’s visibility on Google.
Social Media Marketing: Growing audiences and engagement on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok.
Email Marketing: Creating newsletters and automated campaigns.
Paid Ads Management: Running Google Ads or Meta Ads for clients.
Affiliate Marketing: Promoting other people’s products for commission (covered separately on another page).

Whether you’re helping a local business, running campaigns for clients, or promoting your own website, digital marketing can become both a valuable skill and a strong income stream.

Pros of Digital Marketing

Flexible & Remote: Work from anywhere with just a laptop and Wi-Fi.
In-Demand Skill: Every business needs online visibility.
Scalable: Start with one client or your own project and grow into a freelance business or agency.
Low Start-Up Cost: You mainly need time, free learning resources, and consistency.
Useful for Your Own Projects: The skills you gain will help you grow your own site, too.

Cons of Digital Marketing

Learning Curve: SEO, analytics, and ads take time to master.
Highly Competitive: Many people offer similar services so stand out by focusing on results or a niche (e.g. trades, coaches, charities).
Results Take Time: SEO and content marketing often take months to show measurable results.
Constantly Changing: Platforms and algorithms evolve constantly so ongoing learning is essential.

How to Start in Digital Marketing

You don’t need a degree or formal qualifications, just a willingness to learn and apply what you learn in real-world projects.

Choose an Area of Focus

Start broad, then specialise as you gain experience.
For beginners, popular entry points include:
Content writing & SEO
Social media management
Email marketing
Affiliate Marketing

Learn the Basics

Use reputable, free or low-cost resources to build your skills:
HubSpot Academy for free training in SEO, email, and content marketing.
Coursera / Udemy for courses on ads, analytics, and marketing strategy.
YouTube for great channels cover keyword research, Google Analytics, and campaign management.

Practice What You Learn

Apply your knowledge to real examples:
Help a friend’s small business or local charity with their marketing.
Create content for your own website or social media pages.
Track before-and-after results (screenshots or reports help build credibility).

Build a Simple Portfolio

You don’t need a fancy website to start, even a one-page document or free portfolio works. Include:
Example posts or campaigns you’ve created.
Results (traffic growth, engagement rates, leads generated).
Tools you’ve used (Canva, Google Analytics, Ubersuggest, etc.).

Find Clients or Projects

Once you have examples, start small on freelancing platforms such as:
Upwork
Fiverr
PeoplePerHour
Freelancer.com
You can also reach out directly to small local businesses as many need help but don’t know where to start or who to hire.

Helpful Tools & Sites

Here are some beginner-friendly tools that make digital marketing easier (most have free versions):
Canva Create graphics, ads, and social media posts.
Google Analytics Measure website traffic and performance.
Ubersuggest Keyword and SEO research tool.
MailerLite Manage email newsletters and campaigns.
Or our guide on how to create your own website

Rough Earning Potential

Income depends on your skill level, experience, and type of clients.
Beginner: £10-£20 per hour (entry level or small projects)
Intermediate: £25-£40 per hour (steady clients or small business contracts)
Experienced: £50-£100+ per hour (for regular clients or monthly retainers)

The long-term payoff

Digital marketing is not a “get rich quick” side hustle. It’s a learnable, scalable skill that can pay off for years to come.
Start by learning, experimenting, and building a few results. Over time, those results become testimonials, those testimonials attract clients, and those clients can turn your part-time effort into a sustainable freelance business.

Disclaimer

The side hustle ideas shared on this page are for general information and inspiration only.
We have no affiliation with the platforms or companies mentioned, and results can vary.
Earning money online carries some risk. Income is never guaranteed, and success often depends on time, effort, and personal circumstances.
Always research each opportunity carefully before getting involved.