How I Turned to Digital Marketing & Affiliate Marketing to Build an Income 

If you would’ve told me a year ago that I’d be diving headfirst into digital marketing, building my own online brand, and stacking income from affiliate links, I would’ve laughed. Like me? The girl managing 14 stores, buried in KPIs, schedules, and answering a thousand texts a day? No way.

But here we are — and honestly, it might be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for myself.

I’ve been in restaurant management for 7 years, and I currently oversee 14 locations. I love leading teams and building systems, but there was always this part of me that felt stuck and wanted to experiment with my other skills. If you’ve ever worked a high-demand job, you know the feeling — wanting freedom, more time with your family, and the ability to make money without trading every hour of your day for it.

That’s when digital marketing stepped in and literally changed everything.

Why I Turned to Digital Marketing

I didn’t wake up one day and magically decide to start a business. It honestly came from burnout, wanting more out of life, and realizing I didn’t want to be tied to a 9–5 forever. I wanted flexibility. I wanted extra income. I wanted to build something that was mine.

Digital marketing checked every box for me:

• Low start-up cost
• No inventory sitting in my house
• No packing or shipping orders
• Can work from my phone in small pockets of time
• Unlimited income potential
• Beginner-friendly if you’re willing to learn

Plus, it fit perfectly into my chaotic schedule. Even on the busiest days, I could still post a pin, share an affiliate link, or work on my Etsy listings.

Affiliate Marketing: The Income Stream That Changed Everything

Affiliate marketing became my gateway into online income. At its core, it’s simple:

• You share products you genuinely like or use.
• Someone clicks your unique link.
• You earn a commission when they purchase.

That’s it. Seriously.

I started with Amazon because it’s one of the easiest programs to join — and everyone already shops there. Once I learned how to create Pinterest pins, optimize SEO, and write helpful posts, I started seeing clicks… then commissions.

And seeing that first little commission hit my dashboard was wild. It might not be a huge amount at first, but it’s the moment your brain goes: “Wait… this actually works.”

Etsy & Digital Products: The Next Step

After learning the basics, I started creating digital products — spreadsheets (my specialty), templates, and printables. Etsy became my second income stream. No shipping. No physical inventory. Just creativity, systems, and strategy.

And the best part? It ties perfectly into affiliate marketing:

• Pinterest → blog posts → affiliate links
• Pinterest → Etsy listings for digital products
• Blog posts → recommended tools and products
• TikTok or Reels → traffic to Etsy and affiliate links

The pieces all work together… and suddenly your side hustle becomes a system instead of random posts.

What I Learned Along the Way

There’s a lot of trial and error, but here are some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned:

1. You Don’t Need a Huge Following

Most of my clicks don’t come from followers — they come from SEO. When you learn how to title your content, write helpful descriptions, and use keywords people are actually searching for, your content can get discovered over and over again.

2. Consistency Beats Perfection

My early pins and posts were rough. Like… not cute. But they worked because I kept showing up. You don’t need everything to look perfect to start earning. You just need to keep going.

3. It’s Slow at First — Then It Snowballs

Digital income grows like compound interest. At first it’s tiny, and it’s easy to think, “This isn’t worth it.” But those small numbers can grow if you keep building. One post turns into ten. One product turns into a shop. One commission turns into daily sales.

4. Anyone Can Learn This

I didn’t come from a marketing background. I came from restaurant management, long days, and being on my feet. If I can juggle stores, a baby, a full workload, and still learn this — you can too.

Why I’m Doing All of This

I’m building this for freedom. For my family. For time. For the ability to choose my schedule and not let a job decide what my day looks like.

Digital marketing and affiliate marketing gave me a way to build something that grows even when I’m not clocked in. It opened my eyes to what’s possible — and it’s just the beginning.

I’m not quitting my 9–5 just yet… but one day? That’s the goal. And I’m building toward it every single day.

If You Want to Start Too

I’ll be sharing more of what I’m learning, including:

• The tools and platforms I use
• Step-by-step tips for beginners
• Pinterest strategies that actually bring clicks
• How to get started with affiliate marketing
• Digital product ideas you can sell on Etsy

So if you’re dreaming about eventually leaving your 9–5, or at least adding another stream of income, stick around. This might be the sign you needed — because if I can do this, you can too. 💗