How to Actually Build Online Income Around a Full Time Job in Your 40s and 50s
Summary:
The simplest way to build online income around your full-time job is to make commissions from referring other people’s products. This is called affiliate marketing.
You find a product that you use and like that has an affiliate program. Sign up for the affiliate program and retrieve your affiliate link. Add your affiliate link anywhere you share content.
Get further details on how all of this works below.
Why a Second Job Isn’t Always Ideal
Working a full-time job is stressful enough, especially when you’re in your 40s and 50s. Taking on a second job isn’t always ideal for middle-aged individuals.
It is draining enough working 40 hours a week. Having the time and energy for a second job sounds exhausting. What I recommend is to build online income by leveraging other people’s products as an affiliate
See: How Middle-Aged People Are Earning Extra Income Online Without a Second Job
What is Affiliate Marketing?
Affiliate marketing is the promotion of another person’s products or services in exchange for a commission when a sale is made.
In other words, you recommend a product that you’re an affiliate of using a special tracking link (your affiliate link.)
Each time someone clicks on your affiliate link and buys the product, you are credited for the sale and make your commission.
For example, lets say you’re a freelancer and you’ve been using an accounting software specifically for freelancers. The software has an affiliate program and offers a 30% commission for every sale you refer.
You begin sharing how the software has helped you on social media, YouTube, or wherever you create content. Direct your audience to access the software using your affiliate link.
What Types of Affiliate Products Are There?
Affiliate products can be both physical and digital. Physical products can range from books to BBQ grills and everything in between.
Digital products can include ebooks, online courses, audio files, and software. I prefer to be an affiliate of digital products. People receive their digital product immediately and that leads to higher customer satisfaction.
Where to Find Physical Products with Affiliate Programs
There are tons of physical products that have affiliate programs. One of the easy ways to find them is to think about some of the products that you use and like most often. Check if the product(s) have an affiliate program. Other resources include:
- Amazon Associates
- Etsy Affiliate Program
- Target Affiliates
- Walmart Affiliate Program
- Awin
- CJ Affiliate
- Rakuten Advertising
- Impact
Where to Find Digital Products with Affiliate Programs
Digital products with affiliate programs are plentiful. Here are some resources to help you get started.
Online Courses Affiliate Programs
Why Affiliate Marketing Works Well for People in Their 40s and 50s
I’ve always had my favorite reasons to build online income with affiliate marketing. For us middle-aged folks, it is an ideal solution. Here’s why:
- Never any need to create a product of your own
- You promote a proven product that already sells
- Work from anywhere with an internet connection
- Do it around your schedule
- No customer service, shipping anything, or point-of-sale issues
Essentially, your job is to market the product. After a sale is made, your job is done. That makes it convenient to build online income. Affiliate marketing eliminates much of the stress and hassles that come with operating an online business and working a full-time job.
Build Online Income Around Your Job
The nice thing about affiliate marketing is that you can do it around your schedule. Most of us are already stretched thin between work, family life, and other activities.
Dedicate 1-2 hours a day to creating content and momentum will build with traffic. Traffic leads to clicks and clicks can lead to sales.
It isn’t hard but it does take consistency. The internet runs 24/7 so that means you can also make commissions 24/7. Imagine waking up to commissions. I’ve done that plenty of times and it doesn’t get old.
A lot of affiliates work full-time jobs and make nice side incomes online. How I would go about doing this with a job:
- Choose a digital product to be an affiliate of
- Online courses are ideal to promote
- Create content on a single platform (IG, FB, YouTube, etc.)
- Your content should address common questions, issues, within your target niche
- Post often and consistently
- Use CTAs (call-to-actions) directing people where to go next (example: click on the link below)
How Long Before You Make Your First Dollar Online
The answer to this depends on a lot of things. Everyone start out differently. For example, maybe you are brand new to making money online so you have zero following on social media or YouTube.
There may be someone else starting off that has been slowly building their social media account or YouTube channel for some time.
It’s not to say that someone who is just starting out can’t make their first dollar online quickly, it just isn’t as likely.
Also, it depends on how much time you’re able to put in, how good your content is to attract your target audience, how much content you produce (and if it’s consistent.)
I recommend focusing on being consistent with content creation. Try not to focus so much on how fast money can be made. Most of all, don’t compare yourself to someone who has already put in a lot of time and effort.
Have Fun With Your New Online Income Stream
When you build an income online, it doesn’t have to be boring or something that you dread. In fact, it should be fun! I look forward to my online business.
I enjoy creating content that helps people as well as enjoying the commissions I’ve earned from my efforts.
If you’re ready to get started, I recommend learning the basics of affiliate marketing. When you do that, you can get started right away.
Begin with my most recommended resource below:
>> The Simplest Way to Understand How Digital Income Systems Work
