You’re probably wondering which income method is best for you.
Affiliate marketing vs Freelancing, which is better based on your situation?
Today, we’ll go over the key differences between the two, so that you can make a more informed decision.
Table of Contents
What is Affiliate Marketing?
In short, Affiliate Marketing is a method where you are not considered an employee but, a business owner or self employed person.
This is a method that is good for those who, have no plans on creating your own product and or service.
Instead of promoting your own products, you would promote other people’s products.
To clarify what I mean, you’ve decided to lock arms with a company of your choice, that offers an affiliate program.
Next, you agree to share that company’s product with your audience.
Once your audience makes a purchase through your special affiliate link, you earn money as an affiliate marketer.
Affiliate Marketing Examples
Amazon Affiliate Marketing
You’ve Probably crossed this term before, Amazon affiliate marketing. It’s one of the most popular ways beginners get started with affiliate marketing because Amazon is a well-known marketplace to the entire world.
Pinterest Affiliate Marketing
Pinterest affiliate marketing is where you as an affiliate can promote your selected affiliate products on Pinterest platform.
eBay Affiliate Marketing
eBay affiliate marketing is where you sell your products on eBay, and drive traffic to your store inventory and in return you earn extra money.
By the way, you can also receive credits on your eBay fees if you share your products outside of eBay.
It’s as simple as joining their free eBay affiliate marketing program.
What is Freelancing?
Freelancing is almost how it sounds.
In short, it means you’re not committed to an employer.
You’re free to complete tasks for whoever you please.
For instance, instead of working for one organization. You can work with multiple organizations.
As a freelance worker, you’re considered either a contractor or an independent worker, working for yourself.
As long as you can handle multiple work loads, you can spread your talent around to many different companies if you choose too, and most freelancers do.
Freelance Work Example
iTalki -
iTalki is an one on one language learning platform, where teachers teach students to speak different languages.
The cool part is, you don’t need a teachers degree. If you don’t have a degree you could be considered for a community teacher.
On the other hand, if you have a degree or certification, you can apply to become a professional iTalki teacher.
Fiverr
Fiverr is a freelance marketplace where you can bring your skills as a freelancer, and get paid.
You can offer your services globally by creating a free Fiver account. Deliver the work that you offer to a Fiverr customer and then you’ll get paid.
Most customers on this platform are business owners but, don’t let that stop you. As long as you have a skill, you can choose any of the Fiverr categories.
Pinterest Assistant/Manager -
Most bloggers use the term Pinterest Assistant but, if you would want to consider yourself a Pinterest Manager, that’s totally fine.
Remember, Freelancing is a business as well, if you treat it like one.
So be confident in your title and stick with it.
The bottom line is, there’s several options that you can do as a Pinterest Manager.
Some service ideas are listed below:
- Create images that Pinterest visitors will love
- Write keyword rich descriptions
- Set up other business owners Pinterest accounts
- And or help other business owners automate their Pinterest schedulers.
What Are The Pro’s of Affiliate Marketing?
Pro #1 - Access To Thousands Of Products
With affiliate marketing there are thousands of products that you can promote in the affiliate marketing space.
Not only that, affiliate marketing allows you to get paid in several different methods.
For example, Google AdSense is one method.
Pro #2 - No Obligations!
As an affiliate you don’t have an obligation to any one company.
If you choose to stop promoting a company, that’s your prerogative.
The best part is, you don’t have to give a notice. You just cut ties and move on to another affiliate program.
Pro #3 - Multiple Channels That You Use
In addition to the above, affiliate marketing doesn’t need a website.
It’s a preferred method but not the only method.
You can promote your affiliate products with:
- Email marketing
- Social Media
- YouTube
- And many other creative ways.
What Are The Pro’s of Freelancing?
Pro #1- You Can Freelance & Have A Job
Did you know that millions of women lost their jobs in 2020?
With that in mind, if you don’t want to freelance alone, you can still have a 9 to 5 job if you choose. You can use freelancing as your backup.
It’s also a great opportunity to have if you need to pay off debt.
Or if you need to earn extra income while working.
Pro #2 - Freelance Work Is A Business
All business owners are self-employed but, for the Internal Revenue Services to consider you as a business you must treat your activities or services as a business.
Either way, Freelancing can be considered a business because you are exchanging your skills or service to a client to help another business owner.
Pro #3 - You Have The Control
With freelancing you have control over the type of work you accept. You have the choice to accept or decline any projects because you’re the boss of your services.
You also do not have to charge hourly rates.
Instead, you can charge service fees and have itemized billing.
It’s important to understand that you play every role within your business.
Such as customer service, human resources, invoicing, and so on.
Below is a video, where Hasan shows you how you can become a pro freelancer starting with zero.
What Are The Main Differences between Affiliate Marketing and Freelancing?
Difference 1 - The Scalability
Both opportunities are scalable.
However, with affiliate marketing the scalability is a little higher because there are more methods, and products to promote.
Plus, there are many different ways to earn multiple streams of passive income with affiliate marketing.
On the other hand, with freelance work, to increase your pay, you must set your rates higher or complete more tasks.
Below is an example of what some Fiverr freelancers charge for their services.
Difference 2 - Contract Terms
While both affiliate marketing and freelance marketing have a contract.
They both work differently, and I’ll explain.
The majority of the time freelance work requires a contract. It’s between you and a client.
Within this contract, your pay rate, scope of work, revision limits, delivery dates, and other pertinent details may be required.
As with affiliate marketing, a company may not even have you sign an affiliate program agreement.
Such as the Host Armada affiliate program, I didn’t sign an agreement to join. I joined without a contract attached.
Difference 3 - Affiliate Marketing Is More Passive
In my opinion, affiliate marketing, especially with a blog can be more passive than freelance working.
With affiliate marketing you complete all the work up front and reap the rewards later.
For instance, an article that you write today, could create profits for you over and over again for years to come.
As you can see in the image below, I wrote an article back in 2019. That article barely gets traffic and I still earn income from it.
On the other hand, with freelance work you complete the work today but, you can’t get paid over and over from the work that you complete today. You have to continue to provide services every single day to keep your income going.
Final Thoughts Of Affiliate Marketing VS. Freelancing
Thank you, for staying to the end of this affiliate marketing vs. freelancing guide.
Which method would be best for you? I prefer affiliate marketing because, it allows me time freedom and location freedom.
What are your thoughts?
Well, that's all folks!
If you have any questions let me know. I wish you the best and continued success.
