Offering Freelance Marketing Services [As A Side Hustle]

Are you looking to get into the freelance marketing space and run your own freelance business? You’ve come to the right place!

As a freelance marketer, there’s a wide range of digital marketing services you can provide your clients, from social media marketing to email marketing or content marketing.

This in-depth guide covers everything you need to know about how to offer freelance marketing services, including how much you can make, why you should consider this side hustle and the challenges you may encounter.  

An Overview of Offering Freelance Marketing Services: A Primer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bixR-KIJKYM

Freelance marketing is a per-job or per-task marketing role that offers no company benefits. It does, however, offer a great deal of flexibility and freedom.

Companies hire freelance marketers based on their specialized marketing skill(s) and the value they bring without placing them on their permanent payroll. 

A freelance marketing consultant can provide services that span across multiple types of digital marketing domains. 

These services include:

• Social media content creation 
• Social media management
• Lead generation 
• Digital marketing strategy creation
• Email marketing campaigns 
• Paid advertising 
• Growth marketing 
• Search engine optimization (SEO)

How Much Can Offering Freelance Marketing Services Earn You?

According to Salary, the average salary for a freelance digital marketer in the U.S., as of July 25, 2023, is $91,317 per year. This figure can even go as high as $102,000. Salary-wise, becoming a marketing freelancer will definitely be worth your while! 

For a freelance digital marketing manager in the U.S., according to ZipRecruiter, the average salary is $87,280 annually. Top earners can make as much as $136,000.    

That being said, freelance marketing consultants must know that the first few months or years as a freelance business owner are times for growth. This means it may take you a while before you start earning a solid income. 

As a digital marketer, you should devote your time to building your personal brand by engaging potential clients, finding remote marketing jobs, establishing your own team, and running other business operations to increase your earning capacity. 

How Much Does it Cost to Start a Freelance Marketing Side Hustle?

Depending on how much you’re willing to spend to establish your brand identity and business model, starting a freelance marketing business can cost anywhere between $3,000 and $7,000. 

These costs should cover everything from obtaining a business license and insurance to site setups, running online marketing campaigns, and more. 

Between now and 2026, the freelance industry is expected to grow by 14%. So, it’s clear that it’s a profitable investment. 

However, you need to be aware that the freelance marketing sphere is fiercely competitive. Creating a portfolio will help you stand out on the playing field as a good freelance marketer and eventually attract more clients.

Your digital portfolio should contain the following: 

• Previous marketing jobs 
• Marketing tasks you’ve excellently handled 
• Marketing materials and tools you use 
• Success stories of businesses you’ve worked with
• Online courses you’ve taken 

Where Can You Find Freelance Marketing Gigs?

If you’re ready to take your desires a step further as a freelance digital marketing specialist, then you need to find a steady supply of jobs. 

You can do this in two formats, either by searching independently or finding marketing channels and platforms that list freelance marketing jobs. 

Where to Independently Find Freelance Marketing Gigs

A quick search on search engines will reveal that the most popular platform to source freelance gigs is Upwork. It’s a well-known platform that connects clients with remote service providers. 

Other popular sites where you can independently find high-paying remote jobs for a good digital marketer include:

• Gigworker
• Fiverr
• ProBlogger
• WeWorkRemotely
• Remote.co
• Flexjobs
• Guru

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are also excellent places to find clients or get referrals. 

Gig Economy Companies That Offer Freelance Marketing Gigs

Gig economy companies are online platforms dedicated to connecting gig workers to clients on an as-needed basis. They typically charge hiring clients for using their platform and offer gig workers a cut of the profit per task. 

Here are a few of them to try:

• GrowTal: Work with a wide variety of clients with jobs ranging from search engine marketing to Facebook marketing, content marketing, and more.
• MarketerHire: Get connected to businesses seamlessly and quickly. Work as a social media manager, Google tag manager, Amazon marketer, and more. 
• Mayple: Get matched with companies that you like and a team that monitors your deliveries to ensure you meet the company’s goals as their marketing freelancer. 

Why You Should Consider Freelance Marketing As a Side Hustle

Being a freelance marketer is an excellent side hustle to consider for many reasons, including:

• Flexibility: You get to be your own boss and choose your work hours. This helps you create a good work-life balance and choose your preferred clients.
• Good Pay: You can earn a substantial income from offering your marketing services to companies that need them.
• Outsourcing Possibilities: As a freelance marketer, you can build your team if necessary and outsource the handling of a digital marketing campaign to other expert professionals. This can help you deliver excellently on large projects. 

Also, you enjoy the advantage of paying less taxes as a freelance professional.  

Problems With Freelance Marketing As a Side Hustle

There are some drawbacks freelance marketers face that may deter you from pursuing this side hustle, including:

• You’re in Charge: You have to make all the business decisions, from sourcing clients to managing job deliveries, bookkeeping, taxes, and more. 
• Income May Vary: Because you don’t have a fixed salary, your income per month may fluctuate. This requires consistent planning to ensure a steady flow of projects and clients.
• May Get Overwhelming: As a freelancer, you may be forced to wear plenty of hats simultaneously to ensure the smooth running of your business. This can easily get overwhelming.  

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Most Popular Freelance Marketing Service?

Upwork is the most popular freelance platform to bid for marketing jobs. If you don’t want to limit yourself to freelance platforms, you can try to source jobs from a gig economy company such as MarketerHire.

How Do I Find Customers As a Freelance Marketer?

Networking is the most effective way to find customers as a freelance marketer. You should also polish your portfolio, excel at a particular niche, use social media to your advantage, and remain competitive to get more freelance jobs.

Which Freelance Marketing Service Pays the Highest?

According to recent data analyzed by Upwork, the highest-paying freelance digital marketing skill for 2023 is SEO. SEO experts on Upwork charge as high as $250/hr.