How to Make Extra Money from Home: MLM vs Digital Marketing

You want to make extra money from home.. but you’re tired of hype, empty promises, and side hustles that drain your energy (and your wallet).

You’ve tried the MLM route (or considered it). The product parties, the pep talks, the team trainings… and maybe, just maybe, you ended up with a garage full of inventory and a calendar full of Zoom calls. Or maybe you’ve been curious about digital marketing.. but felt overwhelmed by funnels, tech talk, or trying to “pick a niche.”

Let’s break it down and get real about what works for women today.

Spoiler: It’s not chasing down your cousin to join your team. 😏

I have to raise my hand .. YES.. I have been part of Network Marketing / MLM for almost ten years .. I think companies that have every day women just like you and I to market products around the globe.. I mean seriously, nothing spreads faster that the words off a woman of influence's lips! AND some of the products 🛍️that are sold person to person using Social Media, virtual coffee chat's ect are some of the best in the world.

It's a roller coaster of emotions daily, the ups and downs and the month end crunch to make quota's, collect those bonuses "only" when you hit that product volume sales trigger.. Social Selling is not for the faint of heart!

There are the best of the best trainers, 😎 coaches and mentors in the field.. sadly there are some unscrupulous folks 🫤that lack integrity too.. but it's like that in any industry, field, not just MLM ...

But I digress..

The promised freedom.. but let’s talk facts:

• You’re usually start with small commissions (10, 18, 35%)
• You may feel weird messaging friends with sales scripts
• You’re hosting events, sending samples, and following up constantly
• You’re building someone else’s brand.. and a downline that is unraveling
  
  (Though there are more and more women teaching, coaching; "Build YOU", that WE are our own brand. Which I LOVE.. Yes, Yes, YES!)

Sound familiar? I’ve been there too.

I remember hosting “girls' night in” with snacks and scented candles just to talk about skincare or supplements.. only to feel exhausted, not excited, when the night was over. I cringed sending that follow-up message. I hated feeling like I was just another pitch in someone’s inbox. I didn’t want to sell.. I wanted to serve.

And while I have heard over and over again, Selling IS Serving.. there were days it sure didn't feel like it when I had my upline messaging me, encouraging me to reach out ONE more time to circle back to my "maybe" list on the 29th of the month.

We're not oblivious. We know how this works.

And digital marketing? That felt like a world reserved for tech wizards, people that knew how to plug this into that, connect the pieces and have worksheets, webinars, funnels pop on the scree and people with ring lights and 10K followers. But here’s what I learned:

• You think you have to be tech-savvy (you don’t)
• You assume you need a big following (you really don’t)
• You believe you have to show up perfectly polished (again, nope)

Let’s stop pretending either path is perfect. The real question is:

Which model gives you more peace, more profit, and more you-shaped freedom?
.
.
And a question most women don't think about asking themselves:
What fits my life, life goals and lifestyle right now?

What might have joyfully, successfully fit as "make extra money from home" or "earn money online" business model in our 30's, 40's might not be fitting for women over 55 and 60? & honor the answers that come to heart.

We age. We change.. We grow, we evolve, dreams change..

The Real Talk Comparison

Let’s compare MLM vs Digital Marketing .. with a side of sass and zero sugar coating. 💁‍♀️ (and pipe up in the comments of some of the things I missed, I could write all day but I know you don't have the time for it! LOL)

MLM (Multi-Level Marketing):
✅ Community, mentorship, & in-person events (great if you love social selling)
❌ Smaller commissions, big expectations
❌ Constant recruiting to actually earn bigger "team building" money
❌ Inventory, parties, often with our phone often glued to our hand
❌ Repeating the same monthly hustle to “stay qualified”
❌ Mailing samples that often cut into your profits.

Digital Marketing:
✅ 100% commissions (yes, really)
✅ Done-for-you digital products = no inventory
✅ No team building, awkward convos, or DMs
✅ Automation + systems = brain bandwidth saved
✅ Use your voice and value - not a product sample - to grow income
✅ Community, daily integrative coaching & mentorship

Here’s the kicker: you can build a flexible, modern, scalable business without having to hustle 24/7 or show up like a dancing TikTok queen (unless you want to). Being straight up 😂.. I have swayed my hips to a few songs bare-feet in the sand!

Let’s talk scenarios:

• Maybe you’re a mom in midlife rediscovering your own passions
• Maybe you’re semi-retired and looking to fund travel, hobbies, or spoil the grandkids
• Maybe you’re healing from burnout and need a business that doesn’t drain you

That’s where digital marketing shines. Because it’s not just about money.. it’s about meaning, margin, and making space for what matters.

A New Era for Women Making Extra Money from Home

We’ve evolved from Tupperware to templates. (Thank you to my Aunty for all those mini lipstick 💄samples from Avon though) From lugging boxes to clicking links. Here’s the truth:

🛍️ Physical product = profit margins cut by costs
🎁 Samples = out-of-pocket expenses
📦 Shipping = time suck + customer service headaches

vs

💻 Digital products = one link, many sales
📲 Templates & tools = zero fulfillment stress
💸 Daily pay = real income, on your terms

You don’t have to build a “brand” or become an influencer. You just need:

• A reliable system
• Simple tech tools
• Consistency (not perfection)

And the confidence to show up as YOU. (Messy bun, stretchy pants, coffee in hand.) Raw real, relatable creating income and impact with purpose and passion!

Real Women, Real Income Streams

Women just like you are:

• Creating Pinterest pins that link to mushroom drinks reduce anxiety and stress
• Turning Nursing night shift hacks into downloadable checklists
• Uploading "how to" lessons and experiences as eBooks
• Offering links to time saving tools they already use

They’re building income through action, not perfection. No cold DMs. No quotas. Just quiet confidence and focused execution.

I know because I’m one of them. And the women I work with? They’re artists, grandmas, introverts, full-time parent caregivers, burnt-out corporate warriors—and they’re all building businesses that fit them their way.

A Note on Confidence (and Starting Where You Are)

Confidence is built in small steps:

• Pin a quote that reflects your new chapter
• Share your truth in a short video
• Write one sentence in your journal about the life you’re building
• Take one 5-minute action each day

Your voice, your story, your presence—they all matter.

Even if you’ve never made a dollar online before. Even if the idea of “funnels” makes your head spin. Simple automations make you raise an eyebrow ..
Even if you feel a little late to the party.

You’re not late. You’re right on time.

Why Digital Marketing Works (Even If You’re Brand New)

✔️ Done-for-you systems
✔️ Daily mentorship & mini trainings
✔️ Products with 100% instantly paid profits
✔️ No cold messaging, no guesswork, no fluff
✔️ Work from anywhere with Wi-Fi
✔️ Market anywhere on the globe, 🌎 no boarders!
✔️ Fits your schedule—whether you work 9–5, are semi-retired, or a busy mom

This isn’t about overnight riches. It’s about real freedom, real support, and real results.

No chasing. No convincing. No burn-out.

What Worked at 30 Might Not Fit at 50

Our needs change. Our priorities shift. If you’re burned out from:

• Garage boxes of unsold inventory
• Endless sample mailouts
• Pushing promos that no longer align with your values

Then it’s okay to change course.

What used to fit—might not anymore. And that doesn’t mean you failed. It means you grew. 🌱

I had to evolve too. After years in social selling, I realized I needed a business model that worked even when I wanted to unplug. Or drive 10 hours to see my kids. Or winter in a country that my MLM didn't do business in. Offering passive income and something that didn't rely on team drama or hitting a monthly minimum just to stay active.

That change led me to digital marketing.. and now I teach other women how to do the same.

Time to Explore a Better Fit?

✨ Grab my free guide: How to Make Extra Money from Home: A Beginner’s Guide to Digital Marketing

📲 Inside, you’ll find real steps, powerful tools, and everything you need to begin—no fluff, no spammy sales tactics.

Your side hustle should give you life.. not take it from you.

Let’s build a better path forward .. together.

🌻 Cheers, and chat soon,
Roxanne

PS .. If you are in a network marketing company and loving it .. I celebrate you! The world needs more women living in a place of joy, fulfillment and winning, I wish you all the success possible, You Go Girl!! 🦋
☕Take this "20 Coffee Posts for Social" as a Free Download Gift!

Boring Legal Disclaimer: This blog contains affiliate links.