Archives for June 2024

Is Social Media Marketing Worth It? 7 Reasons It’s Not (2025)

June 28, 2024

Last Updated on April 24, 2025 by Jan Barley

Every New Business Turns to Social Media Marketing, But is it Worth the Effort?

Is social media marketing worth it? I’ve certainly asked myself that question a lot these last few weeks.

All the digital marketing products and courses I purchased this year touted the importance of social media marketing. However, after a couple of months of content creation, I wondered, “Is social media marketing dead?”

These social media platforms change fast. What was in fashion one week is out the next.

This week, I lost my Pinterest account. I mistakenly added short links in my pins because the affiliate links I was sharing were long and ugly.

I thought a shortener would be OK, not knowing they are against Pinterest community guidelines. In the blink of an eye, Pinterest suspended my account for spamming.

I’m working on an appeal, but it’s made me wonder if social media marketing is worth it. Hence, you’re now reading this article.

#1: Most Social Media Platforms Are Draconian

If you don’t know what draconian means, post a comment on someone’s Instagram reel and say something like –

“Well, done. That’s amazing. I am so happy for you.”

The chances are that Instagram will flash a message restricting your comment because you’re trying to get likes.

You cannot be social on a social media platform anymore

It happened to me six times in a week in late May. The last message threatened to restrict or ban my account. WTAF Instagram?

My solution?

I won’t comment any more. So **** you IG.

I joined Instagram Threads shortly afterwards (mostly unpoliced at the moment), and many people are experiencing the same thing.

Draconian means harsh, severe or ruthless. The penalties for being social on a social media app are ridiculous and way over the top.

When you make a mistake – as I did on Pinterest – you get a message in red saying you VIOLATED community guidelines.

Excuse me, but as an ex-policewoman, I can tell you the true meaning of violation, and it isn’t making a cheerful comment on a reel or adding a couple of short links.

#2: Social Media Rules Constantly Change

It’s challenging to keep up with the ever-changing rules on social media platforms. First, they want hashtags on captions. Then they don’t.

Instagram apparently has a list of banned hashtags, which they don’t announce by, you know, sending us an email, perhaps.

Social media platforms assume we have the time to read rules and guidelines that are as long as the book War & Peace.

We do our best. Still, if you’re marketing on multiple platforms, staying ahead of the changes is impossible.

#3: Social Media Feeds Are Saturated With Adverts

If you plan to place ads for your social media marketing, that’s fine. However, be aware that if your free content doesn’t get much attention from the platform, your paid adverts might not perform well either.

I get it. Social media channels want businesses to spend money on advertising, but recently, our feeds have become a sea of irrelevant adverts.

#4: Your Social Media Content Has Poor Reach

What is the success rate of social media marketing? I don’t know the answer to that. I know that many people on Threads say they aren’t achieving success with social media marketing. Some share ridiculously huge income claims, but they aren’t the norm.

Getting decent reach has become a challenge for newbies and influencers. When Instagram changed its algorithm (2024), it affected people with hundreds of thousands of followers as much as the little guys.

I was posting two reels daily and getting between 5-40 views. I spend most of my time on Threads now, as it’s like a better version of Twitter.

If you’re starting a digital marketing business (or any business), it’s natural to think social media marketing is where it’s at. But if nobody sees your content, how effective is social media marketing?

#5: Social Media Marketing is Exhausting

There’s no easy way to say this. Creating content for social media is a drag. I am a content creator. I love creating content, but where are the rewards? How powerful is social media marketing if it makes us feel dead inside?

Many people experience burnout from social media marketing. That’s a fact. Unless you have a team to help you create content, social media marketing is a pain in the butt.

Twitter has been chaotic since Elon put his money into the pot. Facebook and Instagram are draconian (Both owned by Meta).

Pinterest pretends it’s nice until you make a minor VIOLATION. TikTok is a crazy place. The algorithm restricts content or bans people if they breathe the wrong way.

#6: People Want Alternatives to Social Media Marketing

People are getting sick and tired of social media. Someone on Threads asked recently, “Is social media making us depressed?”

I think it can.

Comparison bias and imposter syndrome are hard to ignore when you have women as lean as matchsticks with unnaturally white teeth, long glossy hair and a perfect life boasting how they made $3.5 million from digital marketing in six months.

The other side of the coin is people desperate for money, blasting sales messages to DMs and sharing their struggles on social media. It’s just not a great social environment anymore.

#7: Social Media Marketing is Damaging Our Relationships

When social media did not exist, businesses placed advertisements in magazines, newspapers, themed websites, and other places. What they didn’t do was constantly check if people had seen their advert or made a comment – because they couldn’t.

People went out for coffee or a meal and actually talked to each other, made eye contact and all that stuff. Nowadays, everyone has a phone glued to their hands whether they’re out with a friend or partner, walking their dog, riding a horse (that makes me cross) or participating in any social activity.

It’s an epidemic of loneliness about to explode unless we realise how detrimental social media is to our mental health. We need balance, and social media marketing isn’t great for that.

OK, Jan, What’s The Alternative to Social Media Marketing?

I don’t have all the answers. I am becoming disillusioned with social media marketing because of my recent experiences, and I have begun exploring ways to escape the social media rat race.

Social media began as a way to develop community, and it’s becoming the opposite. So, anything that helps a business build a community of its own may be a better alternative to social media marketing.

The danger of not owning your content become apparent when you get your first suspension or ban from a social media channel. I have hundreds of pins on Pinterest that I can no longer access. Thankfully, most are on Canva, but that’s not the point.

3 Ideas For Alternatives To Social Media Marketing

This list of social media alternatives isn’t definitive. They are just a few avenues for finding customers for your products or services.

#1: Start a Blog

When Pinterest suspended my account, I diverted my attention to this blog. It was already performing well with featured snippets and page one ranking, but I am stepping it up now. My site is getting more traffic and clicks weekly than it used to get monthly.

My goal is to work towards getting enough monthly sessions to apply for an ad partnership with Mediavine.

If your blog has upwards of 10k monthly sessions, apply for Journey By Mediavine. It pays better than Google Adsense.

#2: Build an Email List

I wish I had started this sooner but I kept putting it off because I needed to learn the tech, and write an email campaign and regular content. My feeble excuses stopped me from having a back up after I lost my email list on Substack when they randomly closed my two newsletters.

You can build an email list entirely for free on Systeme and have up to 2k subscribers and one email campaign, which might be all you need. I am on the paid version at $27 monthly, which gives me 5k subscribers and multiple email campaigns.

I would recommend starting an email list from the offset.

#3: Start a Targeted Community of Your Own

Platforms like Skool, Circle, and others are becoming a popular alternative to having a Facebook group. The beauty of these communties is you can run courses and live streams without worrying about getting blocked on your own community.

Facebook often restricts group owners from commenting or posting in their groups, which is ridiculous.

Admittedly, community platforms aren’t cheap. Circle is $89 monthly on an annual plan and Skool is one price of $99 monthly (Prices June 2024). Still, if you want to build a community with your target audience, it’s a powerful way to grow your business.

Before launching a community, decide your mission and goals. Be realistic about the time commitments. If your community grows, people can get needy and make significant demands on your time.

If possible, start with a couple of trusted admins or moderators to help you manage the community.

Conclusion

So, is social media marketing worth it? I’m currently only posting twice daily on weekdays on TikTok. My entire focus now is on finding ways to avoid the social media marketing allure and build my own digital real estate.

I’m pivoting in new directions using my creative skills. I plan to create courses on SEO, create and sell Canva templates and build sales funnels for businesses. If I get my Pinterest account back, I will continue with that platform, but I will never trust Pinterest the way I did before the suspension.

There’s always LinkedIn. I used to be active on that platform, which is more wired for business. It’s less in your face than most other social media platforms. I’m considering easing my way back in to LinkedIn and ditching Instagram entirely.

Let me know what you think.

Disclaimer: There are affiliate links on this page. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission.

5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Rely On Social Media Marketing

June 25, 2024

Last Updated on August 26, 2024 by Jan Barley

Social Media Marketing is the Go-To for New Business Owners, But Is That The Right Thing to Do?

You shouldn’t rely on social media marketing? Jan, have you gone mad? Nope. Hear me out.

This morning, I had a stark reminder about social media marketing, which was deeply unpleasant. It may happen to you at some time, weeks, months or years later.

My Pinterest account got suspended!

At the risk of sounding dramatic, I was heartbroken. I’ve invested in Pinterest courses and lovingly branded my pins recently. I love the creative process, and it makes me happy.

But, Jan, I’ve Started a Business. I Need Social Media

I’m not saying you don’t use social media, but this article concerns whether these platforms are the best way to promote your business. Like me, when you started social media marketing, you assumed that was the right thing to do.

A social media presence can help get your business noticed, but many other ways are less fragile.

So, let’s stop this nonsense and find out the 5 reasons you shouldn’t rely on social media.

#1: You Don’t Own The Social Media Platform

Yeah, I know that’s obvious. Still, it’s a vital point. You are camping your business on someone else’s property, and they can ask you to leave anytime. And the thing is, they rarely ask you to leave. You wake up and find all your camping gear dumped on the road for the squirrels to eat.

So far, My account got removed from Substack for “phishing”, and Pinterest suspended me overnight for “spam.” I have appealed, and I think I know what I might have done wrong. Still, it shakes you up when you’ve put so much time and effort into building your account.

Often, bots patrol your accounts, and you might lose it randomly because the bot hadn’t eaten that morning. I don’t know. Whatever it is, you could get any of your social media accounts randomly suspended, banned or restricted, and there’s bugger all you can do about it.

#2: Social Media Apps Can and Do Randomly Glitch

Do you remember when Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp apps went down for hours? It caused absolute havoc and caused a lot of financial loss, millions of dollars.

Much like what financial advisors tell us about investing, it’s essential to diversify your marketing efforts. When something happens like this, it shouldn’t crucify your business.

#3: Do You Remember Search Engines? They Still Work, You Know

Although it may seem like people spend most of their lives scrolling on social media apps, they still use search engines. Think for a moment. When you want to know something, where do you go? A search engine.

As more social media platforms filter advertising into the feed (yes, Instagram, I mean you), It’s becoming annoying, and we want better.

As an SEO writer, I know the power of Google. A company I left in May 2023 still has my content ranking, even though the last published post was in April 2023. Imagine if they’d kept me on.

You don’t need to be a great writer. You can use SEO Writing software. The goal is to provide value. Read my post on the 7 types of blog content Google loves and get started. Write at least one post each week and keep going. It takes time.

#4: Social Media is Massively Time Consuming

Social media is addictive because it gives us a dopamine hit every time someone likes or comments on our posts. You can start kidding yourself that you’re working when, in reality, you’re endlessly scrolling, hungry for the fix.

Not only that, how many hours do you spend creating content? Then, you post or schedule content every day. It all takes time.

#5: There’s No Guarantee Of A Return

The final reason you shouldn’t rely on social media marketing may seem obvious, but we often forget the importance of not relying on social media.

Here’s an example. I started my Instagram account around two months ago, posting two reels daily and averaging 20-200 views on my reels. I get around 500 views on my TikTok videos that I schedule daily on weekdays.

The only platform that was seriously starting to make a difference was Pinterest. I will either get my account reinstated or start a new one. I learned the hard way, but it will mess up my work so far.

Every day on Instagram Threads, people moan about the poor Instagram reach. The feed is full of adverts, and the platform uses a draconian approach to commenting.

Many people, including myself, get comments restricting for saying things like. “Well done. That’s a great result.” WTAF! My way around it is to stop commenting.

You can post on social media for months and get little return, or your account can take off like a rocket.

Conclusion

You understand why you shouldn’t rely on social media marketing but, by all means, build your social media presence. Social media is a great way to build brand awareness and community, but don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Digital marketing isn’t only about utilising social media.

Focus on building digital real estate so you have control over what you can and can’t do. Build your website, learn SEO, and create a solid holistic foundation of content that provides value by helping your audience.

15 Highly-Paid Side Hustles For Creative People 2025

June 21, 2024

Last Updated on April 24, 2025 by Jan Barley

These Fascinating Side Hustles Get Away From The Typical Etsy Pursuits & Make Far More Money

Side hustles for creative people are one of the easiest subjects to write about. Firstly, I am a creative person. Secondly, I have tried multiple side hustles.

Some creative side jobs from home still make me a small monthly passive income. Other side hustles for creative people are becoming my primary source of income.

If you’re a creative person, it’s absolutely possible to create an income from a side hustle. You’re happiest when creating, and you can make money from creativity.

Don’t worry. You aren’t limited to Etsy. I have plenty of side hustle ideas for you so you can learn how to monetise creativity.

1. Freelance Graphic Design

One of the best side hustles for creative people from home is graphic design.

You no longer need to invest in expensive software like Adobe. Canva is one of the most uncomplicated graphic design platforms to master.

Canva is great for artistic side hustles, and it’s low cost. If you’re new to Canva, I recommend following Created by Wayne on YouTube. His tutorials are easy to follow and implement.

2. Print on Demand

I started a print-on-demand shop in 2023. It’s a great digital art side hustle. I uploaded over 230 designs to my Redbubble shop, which is dog-themed. I created every single image with Leonardo AI.

Oh boy. I had so much fun.

You don’t have to use an AI image generator, but it’s quick and easy, and I found Leonardo to be the cheapest and easiest to use. You need to scale the images to 300DPI, but other than that, you’re good to go.

3. Blogging

This website is my blog, and I bloody love it!

Whatever creative interest you have, you can write many articles about it. A blog is a great way to build your brand, get subscribers to your newsletter, add affiliate offers, and sell digital or physical products.

The objective is to write content that gets ranked and monetise your blog without being in the face of your readers.

Always provide value content. Read my article on 7 types of blog content Google loves. That article was top featured snippet within 24 hours because it adhered to these 7 tips.

4. Pinterest Pin Design

If you’re looking for side hustles for creative people, you can make money with Pinterest.

If you love colour and creativity, creating Pinterest pins is a dream, and you can get paid around £500/month per client.

I’d advise learning Pinterest SEO and watching Kristin’s free pin design workshop.

After watching the free pin design workshop, I bought Kristin’s course, which is worth every penny and has dozens of gorgeous templates to help you speed up your design process. I am on the way to making a decent side hustle income from my Pinterest skills.

5. Web Design Templates

If you’re good with Squarespace, there’s a high demand for Squarespace website templates. Have a quick look at Etsy, and you will get an idea of how much money you can make with this side hustle for creative people.

Even more exciting is to create Canva website templates. They are surprisingly good, and people are happy to pay around £97.

Considering it would be £3k+ for a purpose-built website, this is a great side hustle that helps people who can’t afford a web designer.

6. Social Media Management for Creatives

Many creatives are fantastic at their art but not good at marketing and maintaining a social media presence.

As a social media manager, your job is to create and manage posts, monitor analytics and create a long-term strategy for growth.

Rather than focusing on multiple social media platforms, it’s best to provide a niche service, such as Instagram, Pinterest or TikTok. Knuckle down and become an expert with one particular platform and find the clients whose customers hang out on that channel.

7. Video Creation

Creating video content is addictive for creatives. I did a TikTok & Reels Creator Course, which was fantastic and changed how I do my video content.

Most businesses don’t know how to create impactful video content and pay handsomely for someone who does.

You don’t need a video camera. The course teaches you how to use your mobile phone for captivating content. I use the free Capcut software for editing.

8. Photography

Photography is a great side hustle for creators. The secret to success is to choose a niche. My friend photographs wildlife and makes a good side hustle income. Choose a niche you love, and you can make a side hustle income you will enjoy.

I’d advise taking a course and learning about lighting techniques, such as using filters and the best cameras. You may also find a photography group in your local area.

9. Writing

I’ve been a freelance SEO writer since early 2021 and made a good income working part-time hours. There are many ways to approach a writing side hustle:-

Copywriting
Creative writing
SEO writing
Ghostwriting – helping someone to write their book
Creating e-books
Creating books for Amazon – Kindle, paperback or hardback

Whatever you choose to do, pick a niche. Become a specialist in that niche and earn a handsome side hustle income.

10. Create a Course

Whether you have a gift for crafts, photography, writing, video content or something else, you can create a course and make passive income from this side hustle.

Here’s a story I heard recently. A woman created a recipe, put it online for $3 and made $250k from that product.

You can create your course on Canva or capture it on your screen with Loom. After that, register for a free account with Systeme. You can host one course entirely for free. You can also create a capture page, website, sales page and email campaign.

If you’re serious about building a side hustle, marketing is a priority.

11. Build Sales Funnels

There is a high demand for sales funnel builders. The exciting news is that Systeme is currently offering a free certificated course.

You can charge £1000+ per project or a day rate of £350+ per day. It is a super lucrative side hustle for creative people.

I’m currently working my way through the funnel-building course. It is super easy to follow.

12. Voice-Over Work

Have you got a silky smooth voice that makes people comment on how lovely it is? If so, voice-over work is the perfect side hustle for you.

You can get work as a voice-over artist for audiobooks, commercials, animation, documentaries or any project that needs a specific type of voice-over.

Do a quick search for “voice-over websites”, and you will find dozens of companies looking for voice-over artists.

13. Animation

There’s a high demand for animators, especially with the growth of the metaverse. You need to be good at storytelling, be able to work with a team, and have a high level of proficiency with animation software.

Experienced animators can command upwards of £100 per hour, so this is a superb side hustle for creative people with animation skills.

There are plenty of courses available online to learn.

14. Event Planning

Are you super organised and creative, and do you have an eye for detail? If that’s the case, event planning could be a perfect side hustle for you.

This side hustle can earn you thousands of pounds for a big event or a few hundred for smaller events.

You don’t need qualifications. Decide what niche you’d like to work in and whether you’d prefer private or corporate events. The latter pays more but can be more demanding.

Get some experience and then start marketing your services.

15. Art Vlogging

YouTube has made it easy for artists to make an income online from a creative side hustle. There are multiple ways to get paid.

Build up your YouTube channel and get monetised
Get brand partnerships
Start a membership
Sell your work
Create merchandise

You will need good lighting and a quiet background, but most art vloggers use their mobile phones to record.

Conclusion

If you’re creative, there is no excuse for being short of money. Most creatives I know can turn their hands to any creative venture.

I have built a Gabion stone wall, needle-felted dogs, revamped old furniture and done decoupage, pottery and many other creative things.

You could probably do any of these 15 side hustles for creative people, so let me know how you get on. Now go and start your side hustle and get more of the green stuff in the bank.

Disclaimer: There are affiliate links on this page. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission.

FAQs

What Is The Best Side Hustle For Creative People?

The best side hustle depends on your skills and interests, but top picks include freelance graphic design, selling digital products, or creating content on platforms like YouTube or Etsy. These options let you express your creativity and earn well.

Do Creative Side Hustles Really Pay Well?

Yes! Many creative side hustles can become full-time incomes. For example, graphic designers, content creators, and course creators earn thousands monthly once they build an audience or client base.

How Can I Start A Creative Side Hustle With No Experience?

Start by identifying your strengths and interests. Then, choose a side hustle that aligns with them, learn the basics through free or affordable resources (like YouTube or Skillshare), and practise consistently. Many platforms allow beginners to get started quickly.

What Equipment Or Tools Do I Need To Begin?

It depends on the side hustle. For digital art, you may need a drawing tablet. A laptop, microphone, and design software can help with YouTube or digital products. Start with what you have and upgrade as you grow.

How Much Time Should I Dedicate To A Side Hustle?

Even just 5–10 hours a week can be enough to make progress. When I am busy with client work, I set aside one hour in the evening. That’s enough to get me started, and then I typically spend 1-2 hours working on my side hustle projects. My current side hustle workload focuses on creating YouTube videos and writing blog content to drive ad revenue.

Consistency matters more than time. Many creative people grow their side hustle in the evenings or weekends alongside a full-time job. Switch off Netflix and get started!

Can I Turn My Creative Side Hustle Into A Full-Time Business?

Absolutely. Many successful entrepreneurs started with a side hustle. With patience, strategy, and persistence, you can scale your side hustle into a profitable full-time career doing what you love.

How to Make a 6-Figure Income Building Sales Funnels

June 15, 2024

Last Updated on June 11, 2025 by Jan Barley

Imagine sitting at home sipping a coffee. You’ve just received a nice fat payment from a happy client and you decide to take the morning off because you can. Building sales funnels makes that scenario possible and often quicker than you can imagine.

I did the Systeme FREE certified Funnel Building Course in 2024 to train to become a highly-paid sales funnel builder. It’s a great course for beginners. Ultimately, funnel building isn’t my bag, but I’d recommend the free training to anyone looking for a side hustle if they like fiddling about with sales pages.

You can access 100% FREE training to become a highly-paid sales funnel builder. Read on for details of the course and what building sales funnels involves.

When I first looked into building sales funnels, I felt overwhelmed by the platforms teaching it. That was around ten years ago, and I gave up.

The thing is, businesses pay handsomely for sales pages that work because a great sales funnel can significantly increase sales. However, there are not enough people with the skills to create attractive and high performing sales funnels.

Adding elements like payment, order bumps and upsells is not as difficult as you might think, and I have good news if you’d like to start building sales funnels and create a healthy income.

Systeme has almost 5k 4.9* Trustpilot reviews. The company has the best reputation and the lowest prices for marketing tools. For only $17/month, you can have a complete marketing suite.

building sales funnels

What is a Sales Funnel?

A sales funnel is like a mini website that takes your target customer on a journey. Whether you sell products or services, building a sales funnel can increase the number and value of sales. Sales funnel builders simply learn about the client’s audience and tailor the sales funnel to attract those customers.

You could build a simple email capture page, offering a lead magnet that appeals to the target audience. It could be a robust sales funnel that encourages potential customers to invest more money after already buying one product or service.

How Much Do Companies Pay for Sales Funnels?

Building sales funnels is lucrative. Experienced freelancers charge from £350 daily, or you could pay an agency upwards of £1000, and, for a large organisation, that could as much as £50k+.

As a newbie, you can set your price depending on your skills. You might want to offer a few sales funnels at a lower cost to build your portfolio or start as you mean to go on and charge an hourly, daily or per-project rate.

What Does Building Sales Funnels Involve?

It’s not just a case of getting a brief and whipping a few pages together. You’re working closely with your clients to strategically build a sales funnel that hits the right spot for their target audience.

Research, Planning & Completion

Know The Target Audience: What problem are they trying to solve? After that, what is the client’s goal? Do they want to build their email subscriber list, book sales calls, sell products or services, get people to attend a webinar or anything else?
Plan Content And Touchpoints For The Funnel: Work with the client to decide the type of content, brand voice and what touchpoints they want in the funnel
How To Promote The Sales Funnel: How will the client get traffic to the sales funnel? Do they have SEO or a social media presence? Do they need a lead magnet to attract their target audience into the funnel? Finally, what is their call to action (CTR) and follow-up steps?
Building The Sales Funnel Structure: This step is like building a site map, working on each step seamlessly transitioning to the next
Integrating Technology and Tools: There are many moving parts in building a sales funnel, and it’s easy to make one mistake in the sequence that can throw the entire funnel into chaos.
Connecting Payment Options: That could be PayPal, Stripe or other payment processor
Testing: Carefully test each step of the funnel
Launching and Fine-Tuning: You might want to split-test a couple of different landing pages to see which resonates best with the audience
Stay Connecting With The Client: If you want recommendations, you will stay in touch with the client and get feedback. Create a survey so they can tell you what they liked and what you could do better

How Much Does it Cost To Build A Sales Funnel?

We’re getting to the nitty gritty now. How much will it cost YOU to build a sales funnel?

I have stunning news!

You can create your first three sales funnels for free!

You can build the sales funnels on your account or ask the customer to open a separate account where you can do the work. That’s the tidier option. The customer can set up their email campaign inside their account (or you can do that for an additional fee).

Other marketing tools platforms charge an arm and a leg to build sales funnels. I’ve been with Systemesince 2022 It is hands down the best value platform. They give away so much value for free.

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Jan, Tell Me About the Free Training & Certification for Building Sales Funnels

You will learn how to build powerful, high-converting sales funnels and set yourself apart. Having the certification gives you the edge for social proof.

You have lifetime access to the FREE Certified Sales Funnel Building training, so you can continue improving your sales funnel skills.

There are 17 modules in the FREE certificated video course: –

Introduction
Understanding Sales Funnels
- Fundamentals of sales funnels
- Planning a successful sales funnel
- Types of sales funnels in Systeme – Part 1
- Types of sales funnels in Systeme – Part 2
- Types of sales funnels in Systeme – Part 3
- Types of sales funnels in Systeme – Part 4
- Successful lead magnet ideas
- Quiz
Building Your Sales Funnels
- Creating squeeze pages
- Creating sales pages
- Creating order forms
- Crafting thank you and confirmation pages
- Creating a link in bio page
- Quiz
Automating Your Funnels And Digital Products
- How to create and configure a price plan
- How to automate course access and tag customers
- Quiz
Analytics & Optimisation
- Tracking funnel performance
- A/B testing and optimisation
- Quiz
Get Your Certificate!

What Else Do I Get With The FREE Building Sales Funnel Certification?

The course will transform you into a funnel-building pro whether you are just starting or built a few funnels. The value never stops because you also get the following with the FREE building sales funnels certificated course.

A ready-to-use sales funnel
An irresistible lead magnet e-book
A beautifully designed link in bio template
And so much more!

Are you ready to get your funnel builder certification and earn full-time or part-time income from your newly acquired funnel-building skills?

Please don’t miss out. Take advantage of this 100% free training before it becomes a paid certification!

Disclaimer: There are affiliate links on this page. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission.

7 Types of Blog Content That Google Loves (2025)

June 13, 2024

Last Updated on December 27, 2024 by Jan Barley

Planning Your Blog Content Strategically Can Get Results Fast

New bloggers get confused about the types of blog content that Google loves. This article is the solution to that problem.

When Google launched the helpful content update in September 2022, many websites lost traffic, their analytics plunging off a cliff. Many assumed this dramatic episode was permanent and gave up posting content.

As an SEO writer of three years, I leaned into the update and still got my clients’ content on page one of SERPS. Nothing much has changed. Google STILL wants helpful content. The trick is to capitalise on that.

Another factor I discovered is that what Google says it wants is often not what gets results. This article shows you what to write that works, regardless of what updates occur.

#1: Educational Content That Entertains

Google loves educational content because reviews, comparison articles, guides and listicles are popular worldwide.

Listicles usually start with “X ways to ….” Anything from 5 to 20 is a good number for a listicle. Listicles are great ideas for Pinterest pins because they get attention.

To give you an idea, I write listicles for a company and here is a recent one about hilarious dog breeds.

Aim for listicles with around 50 – 100 words per section and split into two paragraphs. Avoid fluff and get to the point. Inject personality, so it’s fun to read.

Guides can be a bit more formal, but you should aim for fluff-free copy that helps readers understand a potential solution to their problem.

Reviews and comparison guides are perfect for inserting your affiliate links. Always add an affiliate disclaimer to your blog content.

#2: Insights That Make Readers Think

Insights are popular because people either agree or disagree with them. If possible, back up your insights with authoritative sources, but don’t be afraid to share an opinion based on your experience.

Talk about mindsets, differentiation, and the effects of thinking a certain way relative to your niche audience. For example, write insights about how positive thinking can influence results.

#3: Emotional Copy That Evokes A Response

I shared a short reel yesterday on Instagram this week with a girl sitting in a dressing gown stirring a cup of coffee. I added the text, “Self care is more important than the hustle to make money!” It had ten times the number of views and reach that my reels typically get on my new account.

It’s not easy to write copy that gets an emotional response, but writing copy that inspires or uplifts is always a winner.

#4: Entertain Your Audience

Use memes, jokes and emojis in your copy. It warms the words, and everybody loves to be entertained. They will remember you because you made them laugh. Social media can be a miserable place full of income claims and posh girls stirring coffee (oh, hold on, see #3 😊)

#5: Share Personal Stories

Everybody loves the hero’s journey. Talk about your struggles and how you overcome them. Keep it relatable. You see stories on social media like sharing how they went from being a single mom struggling to pay the bills to creating $1,000,000,000 in 3 weeks, buying a mansion and dining with Prince Charles.

That’s not relatable.

A better story would be that you managed to buy your kid new clothes, eat out or pay the mortgage with your affiliate income.

The goal of sharing personal stories is that your audience can put themselves in your shoes. If they feel understood, you gain brownie points.

#6: Build Trust With Your Audience

Share case studies and testimonials. Instead of constantly sharing how much money you made, show proof of how you helped someone get out of debt or how you supported them.

If you’re trying to make money online, you must build trust. Keep everything relatable to your audience. Figure out what’s important to them. What worries them the most? How could you show them you are the answer to their problems?

#7: The In-Depth Answer

Most of my blog content is within 1500 words and mostly around 1000 words (this post is 848 words and ranks page one SERPs). I used to write for a crypto company that believed it needed 4k-8k words to determine authority.

The danger with that is who the heck has got time to spend 30 minutes reading a blog? Our short attention span is the reason that Google shows video content first in SERPs.

Still, maybe a couple of times a month, writing an in-depth article can prove beneficial. For example, consider creating a pillar post that gives you dozens of opportunies for writing content clusters.

You then link this content internally and Google bots can formulate a solid understanding of the subject.

Conclusion

Forget about the online guides that tell you to write 2,500 word blog content to get ranked in SERPs. If your copy aligns with these 7 types of blog content that Google loves, a 500 word blog will consistently outperform a wishy washy 2,500 word article full of unhelpful drivel.

If you want to hone your blog writing skills and generate additional income whilst you’re building your blog, read 38 websites that pay bloggers to write.

This article is just under 800 words and took me 30 minutes to write. You can cope with that, can’t you?

Disclaimer: There are affiliate links on this page. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission.

How to Make Money As A Freelance Writer 2025

June 12, 2024

Last Updated on May 1, 2025 by Jan Barley

Freelance Writing Can Be Lucrative When You Know How to Approach Potential Clients & Write Great Content

Freelance writer? Is that what you want? If so, whoo hooo!It is easier than you might think for how to make money by writing.

I started my freelance writing business in December 2020, and it quickly transitioned into SEO writing. The income was great for three years before I found myself in a toxic environment, got burnt out and pivoted 50% of my time to digital and affiliate marketing. I was making around £295+ per 2,000-word article at the time.

I write regularly for a pet publication and features for other companies. I’ve worked in crypto, recruitment, marketing, and others. There are so many ways for how to make money writing.

Regardless of ChatGPT and other AI writers, many companies still want an actual human to write good quality content for their websites, blogs, marketing material, etc. Yes, many companies are using AI to save costs so it’s more important than ever to learn how to make money as a writer.

When you’re a new freelance writer and want to make money from writing, knowing where to look for work can be tricky. Most beginners end up on Upwork, and that can scar you for life. Many writers get messed about by clients on the platform, which can be a race to the bottom for the lowest fees. If you chose Upwork, apply to clients with payment history and good reviews because that’s how to earn money by writing without the stress of worrying whether you’ll get paid.

These days, I write primarily for my website and social media content as I am pivoting to digital and affiliate marketing. Words have power, so you will always find a way to make money as a freelance writer.

The Pros Of Freelance Writing

No boss
High demand
Work from home
Flexible workload
Choose your hours
Make a good income
Work with various niches

The Cons Of Freelance Writing

Feast & Famine: You’ve either got too much work or not enough. I was earning almost £40k a year working 20 hours a week, and overnight, I lost 90% of my income when two clients could no longer afford me.
Competition: There are more applicants for writing jobs these days than when I started. There also seem to be fewer writing roles on job sites.
Burnout: Writing long-form content can be exhausting, especially if the job requires research. The way around that is to write about something you know and love. As a qualified dog behaviourist, I love writing for a pet publication.
Finding Clients: It’s an ongoing hunt for business. If you don’t pitch, people forget about you. They’re busy people.
Dealing With Clients: They’re not all wonderful. I have worked with some fantastic people, but last year was horrible, putting me off working with clients for the rest of my life. Sorry, but it’s true.
Declining Budgets: I’ve spoken to many writers who find getting the same fees they’ve been paid for years difficult.

What Is Freelance Writing?

A freelance writer isn’t tied to one client. You can write for multiple companies and invoice them for your work. You could write website copy, blog posts, ghostwrite a book, articles for online publications, magazines, newsletters, press releases, email sequences, SEO content and more.

Typically, it is your job to research the content. The client may provide an outline or leave it to you. After submission, you may need to make edits.

How Much Can A Freelance Writer Make?

There are enormous variables in writing fees. Content mills may pay $0.01 per word (do not EVER work for such low pay), but some publications may pay $500+ for a 1,000-word article. Content mills are not the best route for how to earn money from writing but it can be a start for beginner writers.

The SaS (software as a service) industry is among the highest-paid niches because fewer people are applying for SaS writing roles. Ghostwriting someone’s book can be $5k+, but it’s a tricky role. That was my first-ever gig. It paid well, but with 164k words of gibberish, it was hard work.

I advise trying to arrange a monthly retainer with your long-term clients. That provides some stability in knowing how much money comes in each month.

How Much Should I Charge for Freelance Writing?

Many new writers start with a price per word. I’d advise against that, even though that is how I started. My first freelance role paid £0.03 per word (I’m in the UK), and I had to bust a gut to earn enough to pay the bills.

Of course, your work needs to be excellent to command a higher fee. Aim for a price per project and avoid exchanging time for money. You are exchanging a skill for money.

Note: Build a portfolio as quickly as possible and put it online. Start a blog or a Medium account to show potential clients the standard of your work.

If someone asks you to do a FREE writing trial, say no. Decent clients do not expect you to work for nothing.

Get paid to write by registering for paid online writing jobs

How Do Freelance Writers Get Paid?

Every company has a different payment method. Below are some of the ways I have received payment

PayPal
Stripe
Lumanu
Bank transfer

Remember that some payment processors like PayPal charge processing or a currency exchange fee (around 3%)

Before accepting the work, clarify the payment schedule. Many writers get caught out and never get paid. If in doubt, ask for 50% upfront. Indeed, confirm everything before you put pen to paper.

How Do I Approach Prospective Clients?

Don’t be afraid to express your personality. Most applicants will follow a stereotypical approach that lacks punch. I once got hired on the spot after messaging an editor and saying, “I’m standing on a box and waving at you so you can see me above all the applicants who got ahead of the queue.”

Share your portfolio
Be confident
Add links to published client work (if your name is on the article)
Tell them how you can help
Add your availability
No need to mention rates

Where Do I Find Companies I’d Like To Write For?

In Google search, type “write for us: your niche” For me, that would be “write for us: pet publications” You can also add “paid” to the search.

Make a list, find out who the editor is, and send out your pitches. That can be as simple as asking if they need additional writers and sharing your portfolio—no need to overthink it.

I’ve put together a list of 38 websites that pay bloggers to write. Some of these websites pay well, such as $1 per word or up to $700 per blog post.

How Else Can I Find Freelance Writing Work?

Start a blog: That gets you into the habit of writing regularly. You can monetise your blog and tailor it to your chosen niche.
Upwork: OK, I’m not a fan of Upwork, but if you want experience, it can be a place to start
Fiverr: A bit like Upwork. It wouldn’t be my first choice, but you can find entry-level gigs.
Facebook Writing Groups: Most of my freelance work came from Facebook groups. Search for copywriting, freelance writing, content writing, etc., and look for established groups that engage in regular activity. Be careful of scammers.
Job Sites: FlexJobs is specifically for remote work. I got some clients from Indeed.
Contact Companies/Bloggers in your Niche: Keep at it, and you will find work.
ProBlogger Job Board: I’ve never found work here, but I have colleagues who have.
LinkedIn: Optimise your profile and post daily. It can be slow, but if you share niche-specific content, you will attract clients.
Freelance Writing: Freelance Writing has regular updated writers jobs
Publications: Search for publications in your niche

Do You Need A Qualification To Be A Freelance Writer?

Nobody asks for qualifications unless it’s an employed position that ridiculously asks for a degree. The main criterion is writing compelling copy that people want to read.

If you want to improve your writing and learn how to make money as a writer, taking a course can help.

How About Proofreading My Copy?

I use Grammarly Premium, and it has massively helped improve my writing. I follow a strict protocol before submitting my work and rarely get asked to edit anything.

Research
Write the first draft in Microsoft Word
Open Grammarly and edit
Check for plagiarism (Grammarly has this built-in)
Go to “Review” and “Read Aloud” You will be amazed at how sticky some of your sentences are when you “hear” them. It also picks up mistakes you cannot see
If the copy is for US English, I upload it to Google Drive, change the language to US English and run a spell and grammar check

The goal to get repeat work is to make your editor’s job as easy as possible. If you aren’t getting work returned, you’re doing a great job.

So, what are you waiting for? Get started with your freelance writing career and see where it takes you!

If you’re struggling getting writing work, do as I am and start a DFU business.

Disclaimer: There are affiliate links on this page. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission.

FAQs

How Can I Make Money from Writing?

Firstly, decide what niche you’d like to write for. Secondly, approach companies and ask if you can submit a pitch or article. Build a portfolio by writing on a free platform like Medium or Substack, and have something to show potential clients. The next thing to focus on is specialism. I am an SEO writer, so that is my specialism. I get content ranked on Google page one SERPs (search engine results). You might prefer copywriting or ad writing. Choosing a niche you enjoy makes life a lot easier.

How to Get Paid Writing?

The easiest thing for freelance writer income is to check out my blog post “38 websites that pay bloggers to write” as that is a great list with multiple niches and companies looking for writers. Register with writing platforms like paid online writing jobs

How to Earn Money Writing?

Just keep going. There are plenty of companies that need good writers, so keep perfecting your writing skills. I started writing at £.0.03 per word. Now, my average fee is £250 per 1,000 word SEO blog post. It took time to build my skills and reputation, but it’s worth the effort.

How to Write and Make Money Online?

I’m not going to tell you writing online is a bed of roses. I’ve had some challenging experiences. What I’m doing now is building and monetising this blog and starting a new blog for a trending topic I can promote on Pinterest. I write content for a few companies still, but if you want a long-term future as a writer, start writing content for yourself. Start with affiliate marketing, work towards ad partnerships and make money without relying on clients. Work from home freelance writing offers multiple opportunies. For instance, I make a small monthly income from selling my Amazon books.

Is SEOWriting AI Worth it? 2025 Review

June 10, 2024

Last Updated on July 9, 2025 by Jan Barley

My independent review of SEOWriting.ai. My dog, Luna, seems to want to share in the action, too 🙂

SEOWriting AI is an affordable AI writing platform that generates SEO content fast and in bulk if required. It publishes direct to your WordPress site, either in draft or publish.

I’ve been an SEO writer since late 2020, working with clients. It’s hard work, and in 2023, I suffered from burnout. I was writing 4,000 – 8,000 word crypto articles then and had enough of creating long-form content.

Writing in-depth cryptocurrency content wasn’t something you could outsource to ChatGPT or any AI writer, so I gave up writing for that industry and started transitioning into helping clients get started with blogging and digital marketing.

As I began writing content for myself, I tested several AI writers. Some longstanding AI SEO writers are far too expensive for the average person. I didn’t want to spend $99 a month! In addition, I needed affordable AI writing software that didn’t spew out robotic junk.

July 2025: Important Note

Since writing this article back in June 2024, I got the chance to try Koala AI Writer and promptly switched my subscription to that platform!

SEOWriting is still a great platform, but Koala hands down creates better content with zero repetition or plagiarism.

Koala uses real-time data, analyses Google, writes people-first content and automatically inserts internal and external links.

Afer my first two articles hit page one SERPs in hours, I immediately subscribed to the Koala professional plan (which gives me 100,000 words per month – hugely generous) and now won’t use any other AI writer.

I love the powerful Outline Editor as it gives you full control over your articles. It also generates impressive affiliate articles (using real-time Amazon data) including user reviews.

I’m currently writing an in-depth review for Koala so will link that here when it is complete.

Writing SEO Content

The bro’s like to tell us that SEO is complex and the average person cannot master Google ranking simply by writing SEO content.

Well, that is untrue. You do not need to pay an SEO agency thousands to rank your site in the SERPS.

My Wolfheart site is relatively small. In April 2024, I removed all the pages and posts regarding my work as an SEO writer. I completely revamped the site to blogging, digital marketing, affiliate marketing and making money online.

Within two weeks, I had two featured snippets. Now, I have many posts ranking on the first page.

The thing is, I have a skill. I can write SEO content without even researching keywords. After three years of daily keyword research and fine-tuning SEO content, I can do it in my sleep.

Still, not everyone wants to learn SEO and may not enjoy writing content.

So, if you want an easy and affordable solution to writing SEO content, this article is for you.

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Who Needs SEOWriting AI Software?

SEO writing is something I have done since 2020. Although I won’t entertain using an AI writer for writing clients blog posts, I have multiple blogs of my own and it’s just too time consuming to research keywords and write from scratch.

I tried writing section by section blog content with ChatGPT and the results were good as I have trained it to my voice and blogging framework. However, it is hugely time-consuming and Chatty often goes off at a tangent.

SEOWriting is ideal if you don’t have the time, inclination, or skills to write SEO content. Perhaps you’re a digital marketer promoting your products or website. You could be a freelance writer who wants to add SEO writing to your services (you can charge a higher fee).

You may be marketing affiliate offers on Pinterest. It’s a fantastic search engine that can drive a ton of traffic to your site. I took a few Pinterest courses in 2024 and my account is now growing nicely and driving traffic to this website.

You can also write Pinterest SEO-optimised pin descriptions and product descriptions for an e-commerce site or Amazon.

What Do You Get With SEOWriting AI?

You actually get a lot for a low price, and there’s a 10,000 word free trial.

The following is a little of what you get with SEOWriting AI

Choose article length: From 600 to 5,200 words
Language: 32 to choose from
Article Type
- How to guide
- Listicle
- Product review
- News
- Comparison
- Case study
- Opinion piece
- Tutorial
- Round up piece
- Q&A page
Autopost to WordPress: Install SEOWriting plug & upload in draft or publish mode
Schedule your content: I’ve not done this
Point of view:
- First person (plural)
- First person (singular)
- Second person
- Third person
1-click content generation: My YouTube video shows this process
Bulk create up to 100 articles: I wouldn’t do this personally. You must edit every piece
Choose your tone of voice:
- Friendly
- Professional
- Informational
- Transactional
- Inspirational
- Neutral
- Witty
- Casual
- Authoritative
AI Image creation: Add from 1 – 20 AI generated images
External links: To relevant and authoritative sources
AI Word Removal: 3 different levels
Target country: Choose where most of your website traffic comes from
Readability mode: Readability is an SEO consideration for ranking
NLP keywords generation: Automatically add or/and paste your own selection
Introductory hook brief:
- Question
- Statistical or fact
- Quotation
- Anecdotal or story
- Emotional
Additional options to add:
- Conclusion
- Tables
- H3
- lists
- Italics
- Quotes
- Key takeaways
- FAQ
- Bold

The Outline Editor

The outline editor is one of my favourite parts of SEOWriting AI. Once you have filled in all the other details for the blog post, you click on the outline editor and within a minute, it shares the complete outline for the blog post. That includes H2 and H3 subheadings. At that point, you cam move these around and add your own to ensure the blog post is 100% as you want it to be.

SEOWriting AI Pricing

SEOWriting AI is one of the lowest priced SEO AI writers I have found, and I have tried many. There are two packages but, to be honest, I think the starter plan is excellent if you’re just getting started.

The Free Package: No Credit Card Required

5 SEOWriting Generations
Up to 10,000 Words
Humanise Text
Top-Quality AI Images
Auto-Citations

The free package is limited, but it gives you a reasonable idea of what to expect and get familiar with the dashboard.

The Starter Package: $14/Month (Charged Annually)

What you get for $14/month: All the Features of the Free Package, Plus: –

50 SEOWriting Generations
Unlimited words
Bulk generations
Outline Editor
GPT-40 and Claude 3 Opus

If you prefer a monthly subscription, the fee is $19.00

You get the 1-click blog post option with the starter package and that is a super helpful tool

Pros and Cons of the Starter package

There aren’t many cons, but the one that would be most helpful to change is the SEOWriting AI software doesn’t add internal links to your article. Internal links are essential for SEO and it’s time consuming to work through a draft article adding them. However, I am not prepared to pay $79 a month for that privilage. In my opinion, that is an overpriced bonus.

The Title generator isn’t as good as I would like. As an SEO writer since 2020, I know how much a good title counts, so I create my own for SEOWriting AI.

The NLP keyword generator is OK, but I advise adding keyword synonyms of your own. Paste your title and a brief description into ChatGPT and ask it for relevant synomyms.

Why not try SEOWriting for FREE: Click Here

The Professional Package: $59/Month (Charged Annually)

What you get for $59/month: All the Features of the Free & Starter Package, Plus: –

250 articles
Unlimited Words
External linking New!
Internal linking (Coming Soon)
Brand Voice (Coming Soon)
API (Coming Soon)

If you prefer a monthly subscription, the fee is $79.00

SEOWriting AI pricing is reasonable compared to others like Jasper AI, which starts at $49/month for a monthly subscription and isn’t intuitive for beginners.

Note: Prices are current for January 2025.

Is SEO Writing AI Easy to Use for Beginners

Yes. I found it intuitive. Watch the YouTube video above to see how the 1-click blog post works, plus how how to connect SEOWriting AI to your WordPress blog and more.

I reckon it took me an hour to become familiar with the dashboard and start producing SEO blog posts.

Do the SEOWriting Generations Read Like Robotic Alternatives?

The content generated by SEOWriting is pretty good. I have had a few duff articles, which you can see in the YouTube video above. I would suggest always publishing to draft and editing thoroughly. Although most of the content SEOWriting AI produced was good, I typically spend 30+ minutes editing, and making it sound more like me. I run it through Grammarly to check for poor grammar, spelling mistakes and, most importantly, plagiarism.

I have used Grammarly since 2020 and it has made me a better writer. I highly recommend all bloggers invest in this super AI editing tool. I tried many others and found them inferior.

Download Grammarly to test for yourself

SEOWriting AI has many positive testimonials, and as there is a generous free trial, the best option is to test it yourself and see if you like it.

What Other AI SEO Writers Are Available?

Koala
Jasper
AI SEO
Surfer AI
Frase AI
Krater AI
Scalenut
Copymate
Writesonic

I have tried most of them and have not been impressed. I now use Koala AI Writer for helping me write blog posts in the blink of an eye with minimal editing required.

SurferSEO is fantastic for SEO but it doesn’t write the article for you. It gets impressive results but is a bit glitchy, not ideal for beginners. It starts at $89/month for up to 30 articles, which is cost effective if you can afford it. I used it when working with clients and the SEO results are fantastic. It guides you how to write a fully optimised SEO article by giving suggested keywords and dozens of synonyms, suggested number of images and lots more.

What I Don’t Like About SEOWriting

The brutal truth is that I no longer use SEOWriting, only because Koala is way better. I created numerous articles with SEOWriting and was generally satisfied with the content. However, at times, it spat out a lot of drivel that took considerable time to edit.

I found it repetitive and wordy, and that doesn’t cut it for blog posts, especially with the AI overview taking over much of search now. You need to get to the point as quickly as possible. It wrote some articles for my dog behaviour website that were unusable.

I’m leaving this review up because some people might prefer SEOWriting to Koala, but for me, it’s a no-brainer.

Conclusion

SEOWriting AI is a low-cost, beginner-friendly option for writing SEO content. Even if you choose the free plan, you can generate 5,000 words monthly and save a few hours.

In summary, I tried most of the SEO writers when I wrote for clients, and if SEOWriting AI had been available, then it would have been my choice. Now, it’s Koala.

You can see a few articles that SEOWriting AI produced for me. I edited and may have added a few of my own images but it gives a framwork for creating a solid SEO optimised article.

Quick Tip For Best SEO Writing

My top tip for creating the best readable SEO content is downloading it to a Word document, clicking “Review” on the toolbar and then “Read Aloud.” Listen for “sticky” words and awkward phrases. Edit as you need and post it to your chosen platform.

Disclaimer: There are affiliate links on this page. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission.