Is Digital Marketing Worth It?

Last Updated on February 11, 2026 by Jan Barley

The digital marketing industry is growing exponentially. It’s an attractive career move for most people because learning the steps to succeed as a freelance digital marketer is easy.

Digital marketing allows you to work independently according to the schedule you decide. You can choose your niche and work with diverse projects.

Ok, that sounds great. What’s the downside?

Like any freelance work, there are no health or pension benefits. Depending on your direction, finding paying clients could involve an ongoing hustle, and that is tedious as hell.

The more straightforward direction is to create digital products, but the caveat is you need to learn how to drive organic (free) traffic to your offers. You can build a faceless brand if you don’t like being on camera.

Pros of Being a Freelance Digital Marketer

• Independence: Choose when and where you work.
• Remote Work: It’s easy to fulfil tasks working from home.
• Flexibility: You can fit the work around your family, workouts, and routine appointments. No asking a boss for time off.
• Variety: Choose which projects you want to work on. Create digital products that interest you. Switch direction whenever you need a change.
• Income: Once you master digital marketing, it can become a lucrative career.

Cons of Being a Freelance Digital Marketer

• Lack of Daily Human Interaction: Most freelancers learn to deal with the solitary aspects of working from home, but if you are a person who enjoys being with others, it can be a lonely life.
• Constant Hustle: There’s no salary, so freelance digital marketers must plan ahead to ensure cash flow stays healthy. That’s not easy, and workflow can change in a heartbeat (firsthand experience of that!)
• Feast or Famine: Some months, the money flows in and others you may struggle to pay the bills.
• Competition: More people are discovering digital marketing as a career

Options for Getting Started

There are so many ways to start and grow your digital marketing business. Here are some of the ways I am doing it:

A Done-For You Business

The DFY business is my preferred option because it is the easiest for beginners

What I love about the DFU business model

1. It’s beginner friendly
2. It’s an affiliate model. You can earn up to 85% commissions with 2-tiers, which means passive income
3. No tech setup
4. No payment processors. The company takes care of every step of the sale
5. Paid weekly
6. It’s easier to “sell” because of these benefits

Master Resell Rights

Not everyone wants a DFU business. Read about the 3 most popular master resell rights products (I update regularly) or, if you want a low cost option that helps with your spiritual and personal development, read my article about the lovely Inner Bloom MRR.

In my experience, master resell rights can be harder to sell. There is no passive income. It’s full on work. The main benefit is the high-ticket option. I moved the DFY business it is easier for beginners to make sales.

Conclusion

I wouldn’t change my direction as a digital marketer for the world. I love the variety, and I’ve opted not to work with clients at this early stage. I’ve had three years of client work as a copywriter. That was enough for me!

My recommendation is to take the Google Digital Marketing Certificate Course. It’s a great foundational course that provides an excellent overview of life as a digital marketer. I’ve linked to all of their digital courses, which are all free.

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