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If your DoorDash gig isn’t paying off, you’re not alone. Currently I am working long days doing food delivery. Endless hours, gas burned, tires worn down, and at the end of the week, not much to show for it. It really hit me that running my car into the ground for small change every day just didn’t make sense long term. So, when I started searching for something better, affiliate marketing popped up, and it completely changed the way I thought about making money.
Learn about what Affiliate Marketing is below. Or do what I did and start your adventure in making money online with Wealthy Affiliate. I started making money this year!!!! I am on the way to replacing my gig economy DoorDash income.
Note this is not a silver bullet. This is very realistic hope and a way out using your superb talents. Like my business partner Tershia. She is a model and ballroom dancer. While she works she is building her online business with Wealthy Affiliate and you can too!
Why DoorDash and Side Gigs Lose Their Spark
Driving for apps like DoorDash can seem like an easy way to grab extra cash, especially if you’ve got bills coming due. But if you break down the numbers, those earnings often shrink once you factor in car maintenance, gas prices, and time away from family or your own downtime. I remember weeks where my “take home” pay felt like pocket change after filling the gas tank again.
Even when DoorDash surges, you still have to work in all sorts of weather, deal with picky customers, and steer through unpredictable demand. Burnout hits pretty fast. Building wealth takes more than just working longer hours; it matters how you use your skills and where you put your energy.
I know these problems all too well. The income may be good but it always catches up to you in the end. You are not making as much money as you think that you are making.
The Definition of Economic Insanity and The Solution
Let me talk to you directly and plainly. Whatever you are doing in your life it's not working so you need to do something else. We have all been there before. It comes a point in your life where you try to do it your way. Or you try to do it “their way “. The established way that the society tells you to do it.
Either way it's not working. It brings you to the the point in your life whether it is in a relationship or whether it's in a family. You have to make hard decisions that no one wants to make. This time it has to do with your job or career. Do you want to continue to be broke or almost broke? It is time to try something different while you work!
Start your own Affiliate Marketing business. The people at Wealthy Affiliate will teach you to start your home business. They are experts who are making money online at the highest levels. They believe in you and so do I!
The Rising Tide of Inflation Eating Your Hard Work
There are many things that come into play on why Doordash or your present job is not leading to your financial security or blessings. You could be misspending your money or it could be the rising inflation that has eaten up so much of our income over the past few years. From 2022 to 2024 inflation rose about 20% . So if you made $100,000 in 2022 you needed $120,000 in 2024 to live the exact same lifestyle. That is a BIG difference. And that has nothing to do with how hard you work. You are working just as hard and not getting the benefits for no fault of your own.
A friend of mine who has a pretty good job and makes some pretty good money says everything that he and his wife makes just seems to go out of the window. As fast as he get ‘s it the money flies out of the door. I know the feeling myself.
Many people fall into the snare of the national economic woes. While some are getting richer it seems as if others are getting poorer. People who work in the gig economy, people in corporate America, and people who work in blue collar jobs all are feeling the same pinch. Entry level workers and college grads are also hurting and finding little opportunity and lower wages versus the cost of living. At some point you have to realize that the old way is just not working the way you planned it out. It is time to change.
But what am I going to do as a replacement? I put all of my eggs in one basket.
My answer to replacing my current financially archaic way of working is building an affiliate marketing business from home!
What Is Affiliate Marketing?
Affiliate marketing is a business model where you promote other people’s products or services online. Whenever someone buys through a special link you share, you earn a commission. There’s no need to keep inventory or handle delivery. Your main job is sharing honest information that helps people make decisions.
This kind of setup works across lots of industries, from tech gadgets and fashion to software and learning courses. As you learn and grow, you can build passive income streams that keep earning even when you’re not “on the clock.” That’s a welcome switch if you’re tired of trading hours for dollars.
Jumping into affiliate marketing is like setting up a digital storefront with products you find useful or interesting. Each piece of content you create has a chance to make money in the background, so you’re not chained to a set schedule. This brings peace of mind and room for pursuing other interests, too.
The Benefits of Switching from Doordash to Affiliate Marketing
- Work from Anywhere: All you need is a laptop or even just your phone. You set your own hours and work from home, a coffee shop, or the beach if that’s your style.
- Flexibility: Instead of chasing delivery requests or racing the clock, you choose the products or topics you’re genuinely interested in. Your business grows on your terms.
- No Wear and Tear: Say goodbye to constant car repairs and gas station pit stops.
- Scalability: There’s almost no cap on what you can earn. As your audience or website grows, so does your income potential. You’re not stuck making the same amount every day.
- Low Startup Costs: Unlike traditional businesses (or even keeping your car running for deliveries), costs are minimal. A domain name, basic website? Pretty cheap.
There’s more control with affiliate marketing. You can decide what to promote and how to speak to your audience, bringing your personality into your work. This approach helps you stand out and build real trust. Plus, you’re not limited by geography or the number of hours in a day.
Basics: How Affiliate Marketing Works
The first step is picking a niche, a subject area you know well or are interested in learning more about. From there, you join affiliate programs in that field, get special links, and start crafting reviews, guides, or blog posts to share those products. Each time someone uses your link, you earn money.
- Choose your niche: Focus on topics you actually enjoy or have some knowledge of, since it makes writing and research a lot easier.
- Find affiliate programs: Lots of companies use commission platforms like Amazon Associates, Commission Junction (CJ), ShareASale, or even company specific programs. There’s a ton out there.
- Create engaging content: Blogs, YouTube videos, TikToks—pick the platform that’s most comfortable for you!
- Build an audience: Consistency helps. As your reputation grows, trust does too, and people are more likely to buy from your recommendations.
Success comes from authentic recommendations. Whether through product reviews, how-to guides, or storytelling, your unique voice and real-life experience help connect with others who need advice before making a purchase.
Do What the DoorDash Owners Did Start Your Own Business
Ask yourself a question. Would the Billionaire owners of DoorDash keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect a different result? Would they keep delivering food for Billionaire owners of a Food delivery company while they and their family were struggling to make ends meet? Or would they believe in themselves and invest in their own future by starting their own business?
We all know the answers to that because we know what they actually did to become billionaires. And this is not anger towards those who worked hard and built a fantastic business. Salute to them! But I digress…
I decided that I was going to be super serious and start my own affiliate marketing business and it is the best decision that I could of made. I now have hope and I am having a ball. I have a realistic expectation of success. I am not running around the city like a dog chasing his tail hoping to get somewhere that I have never gotten with the gig economy. I am actually making content as I go across the city doing DoorDash in Norfolk, Va.
What Your Millionaire Boss Forgot To tell You
Instead of doing the same thing over and over again working hard delivering orders for DoorDash and other companies and expecting a different result. I decided that I was going to start my own business and believe in myself. Giving myself an opportunity to make money in my own business. I decided to work for myself instead of solely working for a company and never getting anywhere.
The truth is that when you're in the gig economy. Billionaires are asking you to do things that they would never do in some cases.
What do I mean? This is what I know for sure
- For sure if it didn't work they would find something else better to do for sure
- They believe in starting their own business for sure
- They believe in trying something different for sure
- They believe in self-determination for sure
Somewhere along the way our millionaire and billionaire bosses forgot to tell us that starting our own business may be the best way for some of us to go. Because they decided to start a billion dollar company and ask you and I to go and deliver food for them. Oh yeah and we're going to ask you to use your own vehicle to deliver food across the potholes in cities like Grand Rapids Michigan where I started doing gig work initially. Grand Rapids was known as the pothole capital of America. And my car was always in the shop getting fixed for brakes and axle problems.
Our millionaire and billionaire bosses keep saying. We are going to ask you to take on the hazards of your city whether it be crime or whether it be traffic. Whether it be accidents or whether it be interacting with your delivery surroundings. It could be wildlife ,dogs or even our customers at times. I have been to some shady and scary areas in the past. Enough of that. Start your financial future today and start your internet business with Wealthy Affiliate! It works and it can definitely work for you!
Here is some information on how to start with Affiliate Marketing.
Quick-Start Guide to Launching Your Affiliate Marketing Business
- Pick a Profitable Niche: Look for areas with both interest and products for sale. Personal finance, fitness, pet care, and home tech are just a few examples I’ve seen tons of success with.
- Start a Website or Channel: This could be a free blog, a simple website, or a social media page where you can post regularly.
- Research Affiliate Networks: Compare commission rates before you sign up. Some products might pay out more, but check for reliability too.
- Create Value Driven Content: Don’t just spam links. Write honest reviews, comparisons, and tips that actually help people make decisions.
- Build Trust and Traffic: It takes effort, but SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and social media can drive free traffic over time. Learning the basics of SEO can set you up for long term wins.
If you want more advice on launching a blog, sites like Blogging Basics 101 offer guides for every level.
What to Watch Out for Before Getting Started
- Picking a Niche Too Quickly: Don’t just chase trends. Take time to research demand, competition, and your interest level.
- Giving Up Early: Affiliate marketing won’t replace your income overnight. Consistency is key.
- Choosing Bad Partners: Stick to reputable brands and networks. Scammy products or misleading promotions can hurt your reputation fast.
- Ignoring Legal Stuff: You should always disclose affiliate links (it’s required by the FTC in the U.S.), and follow basic content rules to stay on the safe side.
How Long Before You Start Earning?
This varies a lot, and I’m not going to gloss over it. Some people make their first commission in a few days, but more often it takes a few months. The cool part is, eventually you’ll see those little trickles start adding up, and older posts keep working for you even when you’re out living your life. Your patience will pay off down the road.
Do You Need to Be a Techie?
You don’t need coding skills to start. Platforms like WordPress, Wix, or even Substack make website setup very manageable. There’s a learning curve for sure, but plenty of free tutorials or YouTube videos break it down step by step until it clicks.
There’s also a whole community of affiliate marketers online, eager to share resources and feedback. Don’t be shy to ask questions or check in on forums; support can make a huge difference.
Tips for Building Lasting Affiliate Income
I’ve picked up a few tips that really help beginners:
- Solve Problems: Find out what questions people are asking, and answer them in your content. Google’s Search suggestions are a useful place to begin.
- Focus on Trust: Only promote what you’d recommend to a friend. Your reputation matters way more than a quick payout.
- Stay Up to Date: Pay attention to mixing up trends, hot products, and changes in commission rates.
- Keep Learning: Affiliate marketing blogs, podcasts, and forums are great places to snag fresh strategies and get unstuck. Dig into trending ideas to keep your content fresh.
- Test and Track: Use basic tools to track what links people are clicking and what content performs best. Google Analytics is popular, and many affiliate platforms have bulletin dashboards.
Sticking with it day after day counts. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new content styles or change up what you promote. Sometimes the unexpected brings the best results.
Common Questions About Making the Switch
Q: Can you mix Doordash and affiliate marketing at first?
A: Totally! In fact, a lot of folks use affiliate earnings to slowly replace their gig income. It’s a smoother transition and less pressure in the beginning.
Q: What’s the minimum you need to start?
A: A domain name, basic website, and a bit of time to learn. Many people kick things off for under $100 total. You can even start for free if you use social platforms or free blogging tools.
Q: How do you get people to visit your site?
A: Posting helpful stuff to social media, learning basic SEO, and even guest writing on other blogs all help. Consistent quality is super important for building steady, organic traffic.
Q: What’s the real key to success?
A: Sticking with it! Making honest, valuable content, building trust, and being patient. Over time, things click and you’ll see the payout.
Why Believing in Yourself Matters
One of the greatest mix-ups for me was realizing I had permission to try for more. Taking a shot at affiliate marketing wasn’t some risky leap. It was a logical step toward putting my future in my own hands. If you feel like you keep grinding away at the same gig jobs, hoping for things to get better, switching gears can open a lot of new doors. Your energy and your skills deserve to be invested in something that grows over time. Affiliate marketing helps you do just that.
If you’re ready for a change, take a look at what affiliate marketing has to offer. Careful research, consistent effort, and a little faith in yourself can get you a lot farther than just another food delivery run. The web is packed with resources and communities to help guide your first steps. It’s all about making your effort count and building something that really works for you, instead of burning up miles for someone else’s business.
My advice here at 757 Biz Click.
Go and get it. Go and get it for you and yours!
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