If you’re a marketer in need of some extra income or want to learn a new skill, you should consider picking up a side hustle – and your marketing skills are a perfect fit.
Digital marketing side hustles provide some of the best ways to supplement your income, and there are more than a few reasons why.
For one, you can tackle most digital marketing tasks on a laptop with an internet connection, so you’ll be able to do the work remotely. For two, the digital marketing landscape is vast, as virtually every business needs an online presence in the current era.
The global digital marketing industry was valued at an impressive 780 billion in 2023, and it’s estimated to have a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 11.1% from 2024 – 2030.
From affiliate marketing to graphic design, digital marketing offers a wide variety of side hustles that cater to different talents (writing, designing, influencing, etc.).
That means you should be able to find a digital marketing side hustle that meshes perfectly with your existing skills.
Yet, it can be difficult to know which marketing tasks are worthy of a side hustle and which are more of a full-time gig.
For example, there are plenty of articles out there claiming that SEO consulting is a ‘side hustle.’ Well, without a massive existing knowledge base (and plenty of real-world experience), you won’t have any valuable insights to provide to your clients.
In other words, it’s definitely not something beginners can do ‘on the side.’
That’s why we put together this list of realistic digital marketing side hustles, so stay tuned to find the perfect one for you.
What’s a Digital Marketing Side Hustle?
Any business that wants to survive needs promotion, and now that the majority of the world is online, digital marketing reigns supreme.
That’s not to say that traditional marketing has gone by the wayside, although its growth is halting in certain areas. For example, it’s predicted that B2B professionals will decrease traditional advertising methods by 3.64% in 2024.
What’s digital marketing?
It refers to promoting a brand’s products and services through digital channels, such as:
- Search engines through SEO (search engine optimization)
- Social media
- Digital content (videos, blogs, infographics, etc.)
- PPC (pay-per-click) advertising
- Paid ads (YouTube, banner ads, etc.)
A digital marketing side hustle, then, is when you perform specific digital marketing tasks for businesses as part-time work (typically through freelancing).
For instance, if you’re a competent graphic designer, you can make extra money online by designing logos, infographics, general graphics for videos/websites, and banner ads.
Once you build a portfolio and pick up a few clients, you’ll officially have a digital marketing side hustle (woo-hoo!).
Since most of these side hustles involve freelancing, it’s common to look for digital marketing work on freelancer marketplaces like:
- FreeUp. Whether you specialize in cold calling, copywriting, or web design – you’re bound to find work on FreeUp’s bustling marketplace. All skill levels are welcome, as there are different rates for beginners and experts.
- Upwork. Currently, Upwork is the largest freelance marketplace online, and they have plenty of digital marketing work available. However, it is noticeably difficult to gain traction on Upwork, which is something to consider.
- iWriter. Specifically for copywriters, this marketplace connects clients with content writers of varying skill levels – making it a viable option for both beginner and expert writers.
Why Should You Consider a Digital Marketing Side Hustle?
Are you not sure about committing to something on the side?
If so, your hesitation is understandable. After all, we’re talking about taking on more work here, which isn’t something most people jump for joy about, especially if you’re already working 9 to 5.
Yet, before you decide that being a human couch cushion is your new side gig instead, you should take a look at the benefits a digital marketing side hustle can bring:
- Earning potential. One of the biggest perks of choosing digital marketing as a side hustle is how much money you can earn. For example, freelance UX designers can earn up to $97,426 annually, while content marketers and copywriters can earn up to $150,000. Regardless of the avenue you choose, digital marketing side gigs tend to pay a lot more than other side hustles.
- Learning opportunities. There’s never a downside to learning a new skill, and digital marketing skills are always in demand. Whether you choose to start managing social media accounts or writing content, you’ll be learning the ins and outs of valuable skills that can lead to full-time employment down the line.
- Lots of demand with diverse opportunities. Digital marketing services are in demand from businesses from all industries, so there’s no shortage of work available. Beyond that, the opportunities are extremely diverse, from SEO to user experience design and many others. As a result, you’ll be able to mix and match if you so choose (like learning WordPress design while writing content for clients).
- Work from home. Why wear out your car making deliveries when you can tackle a digital marketing side hustle from your couch? As stated before, digital marketing tasks are easily handled online, so you’ll enjoy more freedom than other side gigs (like making food deliveries).
As you can see, digital marketing side gigs offer many attractive benefits. If you want to further your marketing education while earning great money working from home, don’t sleep on digital marketing side hustles.
The Best Digital Marketing Side Hustles for 2024
Now that you know why digital marketing gigs are worth your time, let’s look at some of the most popular options.
While each hustle requires some existing marketing knowledge, they are beginner friendly. If you’re a total marketing rookie, remember that you can request beginner rates/work on marketplaces like FreeUp.
Graphic and UX (user experience) design
If you’re savvy with programs like Illustrator, GIMP, and Figma, graphic and UX design are the perfect side hustles for you.
On the graphic design side, businesses from all industries need visually pleasing graphics for their websites and online content.
For example, you could focus on creating eye-grabbing infographics for content marketers, as those are excellent for generating backlinks and social shares (both of which are integral for digital marketing campaigns).
Infographics are a diverse content type that feature things like statistics, detailed instructions, data visualizations, and even maps.
Besides that, every business needs logos and original graphics for their website/videos/social media profiles.
On the UX side, you can help businesses nail their user experience, both through product and website design. UX is a crucial component of any company’s customer journey, so there’s no shortage of opportunities related to it.
Content writing and copywriting
If your writing skills are constantly scoring you compliments at your day job, why not monetize them through a digital marketing side hustle?
Content marketing is a HUGE industry that’s projected to reach a staggering $2 trillion by 2032 with a 16.9% CAGR.
It’s a form of inbound marketing where businesses educate, inform, and entertain their audiences with valuable content. This not only builds brand awareness and loyalty, but it also drives traffic to crucial landing pages for products and services.
As a result, countless businesses release regular blogs, videos, and social media posts – and someone has to write all that content.
Enter content writing, a side hustle where you write compelling, SEO-friendly content for brands online.
Copywriting is a bit different, as your primary goal is to convince the reader. Businesses also make heavy use of copywriting, especially eCommerce businesses (being able to write a stellar product description is an in-demand skill).
A great way to get your foot in the door with this side hustle is to work at the beginner tiers on platforms like iWriter to gain experience and meet clients.
Affiliate marketing
One of the most reliable (and easiest) ways to make money through digital marketing is to become an affiliate.
What’s that?
An affiliate is someone who promotes a business’s products and services through their own digital channels, such as:
- Their blog
- Social media accounts
- Their website
You’ll receive an official affiliate link, and you’ll receive credit for every sale made through it.
If you already have a large following online, affiliate marketing can almost become a passive source of income. Set up a few posts, get the word out to your followers, and sit back and let the money roll in.
How do you get started?
There are hundreds of affiliate programs online, with Amazon Associates being the most popular. We also have our own affiliate program offering 50% commission and an unprecedented 120-day cookie window (more on this in a bit).
Social media management
If you’re social media savvy, or if you just **** scrolling through TikTok and Instagram all day, you should consider becoming a social media manager.
Practically every business has a presence on social media (definitely every major company), and they’re often far too busy to manage it themselves.
That’s where social media managers come into the picture, who regularly handle tasks like:
- Reacting and responding to follower’s comments
- Deciding which content to create and when to release it
- Analyzing engagement data to determine which content types work best
- Addressing any complaints or concerns from followers
Being a social media manager also offers lots of flexibility, as you can easily handle the tasks from home or even on-the-go in some cases.
Start Earning Money with a Digital Marketing Side Hustle Today
Digital marketing gigs are great because they offer the best of both worlds: high earning potential and the freedom to work from home.
That’s not to say that there’s no hard work involved, as the digital marketing space is fiercely competitive and results-driven.
Yet, if you’re motivated and eager to improve and change with the trends, you can make lots of money and further your career with a side gig related to digital marketing.
Are you looking for an easy side hustle that will earn you money?
Then, you need to check out The HOTH affiliate program, which offers generous 50% commissions for all new sales. Not only that, but you’ll gain access to branded HOTH assets that make promoting our services a breeze, so don’t wait to sign up now.
