How To Start A Digital Marketing Agency (Beginner’s Guide) In 2024

Updated On: November 6, 2024

Digital Marketing is maybe the fastest growing industry online right now…

So if you’re looking for a way to reliably generate yourself an income working from home…

…Or working from the beach, if that’s your thing…

You’ve made a smart choice by checking out this lucrative market.

In fact, one study I read from Statista – the data and insights specialists – predicts the Digital Marketing industry is going to GROW by over $225BN in the next 4 years.

$225 billion!!!

That number’s so big I can’t even wrap my head around it…

But it’s enough to give over 1.2 million people like you a $15,000 per month income.

Now if that doesn’t switch you on to the size of the opportunity in the Digital Marketing industry RIGHT NOW…

It’s probably best if you close this page and go practice “Would you like fries with that, ma’am?”

But, by being here reading this in the first place you’ve already told me you’re a smart cookie…

So let’s take a look at the best way to start a Digital Marketing Agency in 2024…

So you can finally claim the life of freedom and adventure you deserve.

Table of Contents

What Is Digital Marketing

What Is Digital Marketing?

In short, Digital Marketing is selling online…

But with the internet being such a diverse and wondrous place…

You can apply Digital Marketing to virtually any industry, niche, or platform…

And earn a great living by helping other people sell more of… well… whatever they’re already selling!

In fact, the phrase “Digital Marketing” is so broad it can mean almost anything.

From Facebook ads to Podcast Production…

Influencer Networking to Funny memes…

Youtube videos to blog writing…

Digital Marketing applies to ALL OF THEM…

So the big question here isn’t “What is Digital Marketing”…

The question is really “How do you want to get paid?”

Because you can turn Digital Marketing knowledge to almost any purpose online.

Here’s the real kicker though…

Because the online economy is thriving…

The opportunities to earn online are almost endless.

That means our conversation changes…

We stop talking about “if you can make money with Digital Marketing”…

And instead start thinking about the best way to do it.

You’ve immediately jumped 3 steps forward in the process, because the opportunity is clear and obvious.

That’s great news for anyone looking to make a living online…

Because the question “will it work for me?” is already answered for you!

There’s already millions of people making a living from Digital Marketing…

And with billions of dollars pouring into the industry every year…

Creating an amazing opportunity for hard-working action-takers like you to take advantage.

So, now we’ve figured out that you can make money from Digital Marketing in virtually any niche…

Let’s dive into why you’d want to start a Digital Marketing agency.

Benefits of Digital Marketing

Benefits of Digital Marketing

Let’s get to the point…

Why would you want to start a Digital Marketing agency? 

The simple answer?

It’s a business with high-demand…

High-income potential…

And given that everything is online, a Digital Marketing agency gives you complete locational freedom.

That means you can run your business from anywhere, so long as you have a wifi connection and a laptop!

Suddenly, where you once had to sit in an office cubicle for 8-10 hours per day…

You can now work from a sun-lounger in Bali…

A roof terrace in Greece…

A cute little coffee shop in Paris…

The beach in Mexico…

Or just your kitchen table in your pajamas!

Just imagine for a second you can not only earn your full time salary now…

But you can do that with no commute…

Without having a boss breathing down your neck…

While setting your own schedule (so you never miss another of your kids’ ball games, or say no to a trip out of town to see family)…

And working only with people you actually like!

(Oh… And the salary bit?…

That’s not true either, because with Digital Marketing you can earn way more.)

You can see why starting a Digital Marketing agency is pretty attractive, right?!

Hell, I can!

But, aside from all those lifestyle benefits, there’s another big reason why people find their way into Digital Marketing.

You know I said Digital Marketing can be applied to virtually any industry in the world, in dozens and dozens of different forms?

Well, that means it gives you the opportunity to create a legitimate, well-paying business working in a niche you LOVE…

Ever heard the phrase “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life”?

Well, Digital marketing gives you those options in abundance.

Maybe you love Golf?  Or cooking?  Or parenting?  Or sewing?  Or windows?  Or stone skimming?  Or model boats?  Or DIY?

This list is endless…

But whatever it is that lights you up, there’s a way to make it pay with Digital Marketing.

That’s why, for me, Digital Marketing is one of the best ways to make money online in 2024.

Why Digital Marketing Is An Easy Sell For Agencies

Why “Digital Marketing” Is An Easy Sell For Agencies 

“Selling marketing”…

…That’s to say, the process of demonstrating to a business owner why and how marketing will help their business…

Is unlike any other selling process.

You’re effectively charging the business owners money to make them more money, see?

If a business is paying an agency $2,000 per month, and that agency is delivering them extra profit worth $5,000, $1,000, or even $20,000+…

It’s a no brainer for that business owner to keep paying month after month.

Just imagine…

If every time you gave me $1, I gave you a $5 bill in return, you’d throw every dollar you could find at me right?

In a way, you’re dealing with the same scenario here…

So as long as you keep delivering results that are worth more than you’re charging, most business owners will happily keep paying you.

And the more businesses you can help?  The easier it is to convince other businesses to pay you for your help too.

This is the recipe for growing your agency!

The Basics of Digital Marketing

The Basics of Digital Marketing

So now you know what Digital Marketing is

Let’s take a look at the most effective ways to monetize these skills…

And what is – in my view – the best way to get started.

So, while Digital Marketing covers virtually every manner of selling online you can think of…

Let’s take a look at some of the most popular, in-demand, and profitable services that agency owners can sell and deliver for clients in 2024.

Facebook Ads

Facebook is HUGE in the Digital Marketing space, with billions of daily users…

Making it the perfect place to advertise everything from local cheese shops to knitting guides…

Make money online courses to window cleaners.

Most business owners are already familiar with the size and reach that Facebook advertising can deliver, so if you can present yourself as the expert, Facebook ads are an easy sell for any business owner looking to grow.

SEO

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is another popular agency offering in the Digital Marketing space…

And with over 30 million small businesses in the USA alone, it’s easy to see why such a market exists.

SEO is the practice of making a website show up higher in Google’s search results…

So people looking for a service find those businesses more easily.

Like Facebook, business owners are well aware of Google’s power so if you can convince them that your SEO services will have a meaningful impact on their business, it’s another easy sell for agency owners.

Social Media Management 

As more and more businesses wake up to the importance of having a strong presence online to amplify their brand and reputation, it’s created the need for a whole new job role…

Social Media Managers.

Businesses need content created for them to post, they need the channels managed, posts and comments engaged with, and they need a strategy behind their posts…

All this adds up to hiring a Social Media Management agency.

If you enjoy spending time on social media and you’ve got an eye for what people like (and comment on!), then a Social Media Management agency could be the answer you’ve been looking for!

GMB/GBP Optimization

I already touched on business owners understanding the power of Google…

Well GBP (Google My Business/Google Business Page) optimization is a niche within a niche…

“Hacking” the way Google shows search results to place local businesses at the very top of the rankings, and greatly increasing their chances of having paying customers reaching out!

While GBP optimization is very niche, for service businesses in populated areas a well-optimized GBP can be worth over $100,000 per month…

You think that business owner will mind paying you $3,000 to help out?

Yup… me either!!

Other Digital Marketing Services 

When I said Digital Marketing gives you virtually unlimited options, I wasn’t joking!

I’ve listed out some of the most popular options for beginners above…

But the truth is your Digital Marketing agency can focus on almost anything you can think of…

So long as it leverages the internet to help business owners make more money!

You can be a go-between for influencers and brands…

You can specialize in getting experts booked on podcast slots, or selling podcast advertising slots to brands…

You can help authors sell more books…

You can help send emails for eCommerce stores that bring in more sales…

You can learn how to craft compelling ad messaging and rent your services to brands who want help to sell more…

The list goes on and on and on.

Your Digital Marketing agency can specialize in any service in any niche you choose…

And so long as you can deliver the results you promise, you’ll have a way to make money online!

Advice On Starting A Digital Marketing Agency

Advice On Starting A Digital Marketing Agency

I’m in a very unique position, in that a lot of my friends own and run Digital Marketing agencies…

And that gives me a unique insight into what these businesses really look like day to day.

While almost ALL of my agency owning friends have managed to structure their businesses so they are free to work on their own schedules…

The truth is, they still have a lot of responsibility.

They’re often working late, they have teams to manage, and clients to answer to.

So, while they’re all now established and pulling in anywhere from $20k – $75k per month…

They’re also working very hard for that money.

Plus, working with clients, they’re still not “free” of a boss…

Even if they run their own businesses, their clients still call the shots and have a say over the business.

None of this is to take away from starting a Digital Marketing agency…

But to give you a true reflection of what this business really looks like at the business end.

When you compare this business model to one which uses all the same skills but generates a passive income (without needing you to manage a team or answer to demanding clients)…

You can see the differences right away.

How To Start A Digital Marketing Agency

How To Start A Digital Marketing Agency 

Pick A Niche

This first step is your most important…

Who’s your agency going to help? 

When you’re starting you want to pick ONE MARKET to go after…

This could be a particular business type, like Influencers or Landscaping contractors…

Or you might simply say “local businesses” and help any small business you can.

Whatever you decide, this is gonna be your niche and it’ll set the tone for your agency’s identity going forward. 

The key message here is this:

The more specific you are about the businesses you help, the more your message will resonate with them, making it easier for your agency to land clients.

Define Your Offer

You’ve picked a market to help…

Now it’s time to decide exactly how you’re going to help them.

Will you run paid ads for them?  

Offer SEO services?  

Maybe you’re going to specialize in connecting influencers with brands who need their help.

Whatever it is, this decision is going to dictate the skills you need to master or hire in order to deliver results for your clients.

Put The Word Out

And I’m not talking about a mob hit!

Once you’ve decided who you’re going to help and how you’re going to help them, it’s time to let the world know!

If you’re starting a Digital Marketing agency, this should be easy work for you!

Whatever approach you’re taking, you need to engage your market and start demonstrating your expertise…

This is how you’re going to start signing clients and putting cash in the bank!

Network And Build Relationships

Relationships are the lifeblood of agencies.

Your current clients, your prospects, and other people in your space…

Have conversations, meet, share what you’re doing…

But most of all, make sure people know who you are and what you do!

Networking can help pick up new business and build a reputation in the marketplace.

Most importantly, make sure you document all the results you get for clients to leverage in the future!

Scale!

Scaling and growth aren’t the same thing.

“Growth” is about making more money…

But “scale” is about making more money without you having to invest more time!

You need to think about putting in place systems for scaling while your agency is growing.

You could either add a new service or take into account new markets to tap into…

And you can start creating SOPs and processes for future employees to work from.

Scaling deals with smart growth, so plan your next steps well.

Starting and growing your agency can be hard work in such a saturated marketplace, so make sure you’re mentally prepared for a long and arduous journey to the top!

The Risks of Starting A Digital Marketing Agency

The Risks of Starting A Digital Marketing Agency

Unlike a lot of business models I look into, starting a Digital Marketing agency is actually very low risk.

Let’s break it down into a few steps.

You’re going to have to learn new skills.

I mean, this should be obvious but unless you already know how to do what you’re going to ask business owners to pay for (SEO, Ads etc), you’re going to have to learn.

Of course, this means you’ll need to pay for a course, or coaching.

But, the skills you’re going to learn have never been in higher demand than they are right now, today.

That means, even if you never get your agency started, you’re going to have a set of skills that are insanely valuable in the online economy. 

This amplifies your earning potential in future, no matter what you decide to do.

The real risks of starting an agency for me are managing your clients expectations.

After all, no reasonable business owner is going to pay you $500 – $5,000 per month without expecting results in return.

That means two things:

Firstly, you need to be very careful about the promises you make, so you can be sure you can back them up.

If you guarantee 100 leads per week and only deliver 50, you’ll be issuing refunds (and burning your reputation) faster than you can say “chargeback”.

Second, and this is where I’m going all “woo woo” on you…

When you’re starting out online, you have to protect your confidence.

I’m assuming that because you’re here doing your research, you’re an honest, hard working, “good” person.

Well, folks like us care about what we do, and the people we help.

If you overpromise and can’t deliver, you’ll not only have a black mark on your reputation…

But you’ll come away with a whole lot of doubt in your own abilities too…

Not only your ability to deliver results with your agency…

But your ability to really make this whole “earning a living online” thing work for you.

And for me?

That’s a way bigger problem to deal with than refunding a couple thousand bucks. 

Hot Tip For Choosing Who To Learn From Read This Before You Buy

Hot Tip For Choosing Who To Learn From (Read This Before You Buy!)

I’ve reviewed a lot of programs and courses since I started writing this blog…

And I’ve heard from and spoken with thousands of people just like you, who invested in courses, programs, and coaching…

So I like to think I’ve learned a thing or two from those folks’ collective experiences.

The #1 lesson I learned from speaking with all those people?

Support is the most important ingredient in ANY online learning resource.

If you can get 1:1 help, great.

If not, live workshops or group coaching are good too.

But whatever you do, DO NOT BUY ANY PROGRAM until you find out if it INCLUDES personalized support.

There’s two reasons for this…

First, a lot of courses are a badly grouped bunch of videos…

And they’re hard to understand.  

So you need extra clarity.

But, here’s where it makes my blood boil:

Even after you’ve paid $5,000 for a course or program to learn this stuff, it’s still not clear…

So what do you do?

You approach the guru for clarity.  Fair, right?

Well, here comes the ultimate bait and switch.

You have to pay MORE for access to the support.

A sneaky, dirty, horrible way that immoral gurus use to steal from hardworking folk like you and me…

OOOOHHHHH!!! I hate it!!

That’s why you should ALWAYS ask what support is included with the program you’re paying for…

Because in many cases, the $5,000 course sounds better than the $8,000 coaching program at first…

But you actually end up spending more on the cheaper option, by the time they’ve forced you with multiple extra selling layers!

Here’s my #1 tip for anyone learning  skills today…

Only invest in a program which has personalized support baked in.

Why Start A Digital Marketing Agency

Why Start A Digital Marketing Agency?

Before you commit to starting a Digital Marketing agency, or any other online business, it’s important to pause and ask yourself:

What do you want from your Digital Marketing Agency?

Of course, everyone wants to get rich quick…

But the truth is, that very rarely happens.

In fact, most of the wealth in our society was built up little by little..

It wasn’t “won” with a hail mary.

So, if we set aside the crazy unrealistic expectations that we’ll become millionaires overnight…

What do you really want from your Digital Marketing agency, or a different online business?

If you’re anything like me, it’s NOT all about getting super-rich overnight…

The goal is to earn enough money to live comfortably…

Afford some of the finer things, like booking trips or expensive meals without having to worry about the price tag…

And do all this while keeping control of your time…

So you can spend your life how you want, with an income that you can fit around the people and pastimes that really matter to you.

Well, there’s a much better way to achieve all that…

Way better than swapping your day job to be a Digital Marketing agency founder.

As an agency owner, you’re still taking orders from clients…

And no matter how good you become, you’ll never be the one calling the shots.

That makes running an agency a perfectly viable way to earn a living…

But if you’ve been dreaming of freedom, then you’re going to be in for a rude awakening as an agency owner…

Because even if you are able to earn more than your salary, you’ll still be working 40, 50, 60, 80+ hours per week as a business owner.

But, what if there was a way to leverage the skills you’d use in your Digital Marketing agency…

And use them to create a passive income where you stay in control?

Whats The Best Way To Make Money Online

What’s The Best Way To Make Money Online?

So, I’ve personally tried all of the major online business models:

  • I’ve traded crypto & purchased a bunch of fancy “insider stock tip” newsletters
  • I’ve sold fidget spinners through Amazon FBA
  • I’ve drop-shipped a toilet bowl putting green on Shopify
  • I’ve sold women’s health supplements with affiliate marketing

And I actually did make money with all of them…

So you can trust me when I say:

There is no “perfect” online business model.

What there is, however, is a business that’s perfectly suited to people like me…

People who want to reliably earn $10,000 – $40,000 per month…

Without giving up their freedom…

And while making a real difference in the world.

That means dropshipping plastic junk from China is out.

That’s why, whenever anyone asks me about the business model I’d choose if I was starting out all over again…

I always say the Digital Rental Method is the business I’d pick.

The reasons I recommend the Digital Rental Method are simple:

1 – Time Friendly

If you’ve got a spare hour or two each day, you can make money with the Digital Rental Method.

If you want to drop everything and go all-in, you can do it even faster.

More time obviously means faster results…

But even putting in a few hours per day is enough to see real success.

That means you can start earning pretty soon after starting…

And once the income starts, it’s recurring…

So you can take a month off…

Travel the country…

Pursue a passion project…

Chill on the beach…

Or even charter a boat across the world…

And your online business will keep doing its thing and earning you money, with no attention needed.

The key to this lifestyle though?

Creating an income stream that doesn’t require YOU to be there all day, every day.

Running a Digital Marketing agency is still very much a hands-on profession..

If you want freedom, maybe starting a business you need to be involved with for 40-60+ hours per week isn’t the answer?

2 – You Stay In Control 

Running an agency, you still answer to your clients…

And you have zero control over their businesses, or the decisions they make.

That’s why running an agency is such a stressful way to earn a living.

With the Digital Rental Method, you’re literally creating assets that you control…

And that means you get to run your online business on your own terms.

3 – It’s Basically Copy-Paste (Without Being a Total Rip-Off!)

With the Digital Rental Method, you’re working to a proven formula.

You don’t need super creativity or tons of great ideas to earn money using their program…

You just follow their processes and fill in the blanks to create digital assets that are worth anywhere from $500 – $2,000+ every month!

It almost sounds too good to be true, but it really works.

4 – It’s Easy To Grow

Because most of the Digital Rental Method lets you create passive income, it’s easy to grow your income.

In fact, because you’re creating digital assets from tried-and-tested templates, you can take the assets you already made and duplicate them in just a few clicks…

And after a few tweaks and changes, you’ve got yourself another asset worth $500 – $2,000+ per month!

As a total beginner, you just doubled your income potential in an afternoon.

When you compare doubling your income with the Digital Rental Method to doubling your income as an agency owner, it couldn’t be more different.

You’d need to sign twice as many clients…

Double your rates (and retain your clients)…

Or double your profit on every deal you strike. 

Either way, you’re having to do a lot more work, or persuade several business owners to hand over a lot more money…

That’s a whole lot harder than a few clicks & a phone call!

5 – Make Money Helping Real People

This is my favorite part of the Digital Rental Method…

…Better than the profitability, simplicity, and freedom combined!

When you make money in the markets, you’re not really helping anyone but yourself…

And somewhere, there’s always a loser on the other end of that trade.

But with the Digital Rental Method, you’re solving REAL problems that are keeping honest, hard-working business owners awake at night.

Small businesses are the backbone of every major world economy.

There’s over 30 million of them in the USA alone…

And they all need one thing to not only survive, but thrive

More customers!

The Digital Rental Method shows you how to deliver paying customers to local businesses on autopilot…

In a way that makes perfect sense for those businesses to pay you $500 – $2,000 for your help!

Without customers, those businesses can’t survive.

By providing those customers though?

You’re helping a struggling mother or father put FOOD on the table for their families…

Put their kids through college…

Create more jobs in their local communities to give other folks a fair shot…

And you let those business owners live life a little bit more comfortably.

You can’t tell me that having an impact like this on the world doesn’t get you excited?!

Heck, it gives me goosebumps thinking about it!!

The added bonus?  

You don’t have to sacrifice all of your time, or work for pennies to have this impact…

With the Digital Rental Method, you get paid well for your help and your business runs on autopilot! 

Whats Next Digital Rental Method

What Next?

If you’re looking for a way to make a living online…

You’ve got two options here.

You could keep researching for the next few months (or few years)…

Trying to find the magical unicorn business that ticks all your boxes…

While time keeps passing, and the months keep ticking by.

OR…

You can be decisive…

And take positive action to create the reality you’re dreaming of.

Instead of researching around in circles, you can move forward and take a HUGE step towards the online business that’s going to deliver the freedom, wealth, and fulfillment you’ve been searching for…

And your first step should be to check out my #1 recommendation for making money online.

I’ve vetted hundreds of business models, and nothing else comes close to the earning potential, accessibility, and ease of the Digital Rental Method.

If you’re serious about earning online…

Tap here now and watch the Digital Rental Method explainer video.

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