Career Choice: IM vs. Other (2020 and beyond)

Hi,

TLDR: I can make short-term money in a micro-niche, by running a DMA, however I have doubts about long-term survival in the IM industry.

I am at a point now where I can 'throw myself' into the world of IM, create an agency and get clients (in a micro-niche that I have established connections/leads in)

However I feel like maybe my time/energy would be better spent learning other skills to earn money IRL - For me this could be carpentry, massage, chef... etc. and perhaps these would be more enjoyable/less stressful compared to IM.

Little background info: 23 Y.O, UK citizen, 5k USD savings, managing 1.1 M instagram network (in micro niche) - I enjoy being in nature, taking psychedelics and eating healthy food.

I keep seeing how online marketing is becoming more and more automated, not to mention the total saturation of digital marketers these days.

Seeing how FB totally killed off everyone with their algo update, I am definitely a little sceptical about investing myself into an online industry that can dissolve at the press of a button.

I am very new to BHW and figured maybe other people could chip in with some wise words. If you feel like it.

Thanks for the support

Willing to take the risk? IM can be very profitable and can make more money than a career, given a bit of luck, opportunity, and action.

- You can learn other skills while doing IM no problem. I managed to finished university, while being full time IM and even having time every day for my ex.
- Also, IM, once you get the ball rolling and outsource properly, won't eat too much of your time. You can do other work besides that. 1 - 2 hours a day to manage your IM stuff and rest can be dedicated to something else.
- IM is not just "IM". You will also get an entrepreneurial skillset, which will come in handy in whatever area you will work. Not to mention, that you can always work for a SEO company or something.
- True, social marketing is not something you should be counting on for years to come, but milk that cow while you can. We all know how dead FB has become.
- Long term survival, or long term thriving, is what makes this work so fulfilling. There's always grind, there's always hunger. You have to always try and improve yourself, work on new challenges and improve your skillsets.
- I disagree that everything is getting automated. In social maybe, but in the SEO world, it's quite the contrary.
- All in all, IM is a good starting place. You still have milk running down your chin, you have plenty of time to learn whatever you want. IM will give you skillset, that you will be able to use in other areas of your professional life.

Is it risky? Yes
Is it hard? Depends on you, but most likely yes
Is it worth it? Hell yeah, work hard and claim even harder

Hey mate, i'm in a similar position to your. Just turned 24 & started a career in SEO around a year ago. I work for an agency & i've made progress in starting my micro niche before COVID hit & amazon announced that they'd cut affiliate fees. Right now I'm focusing on Amazon optimisation as I feel majority of retail will be there. Also good to point out Google are now allowing free product listings to compete with amazon.

I think you could do both - work on IM and in a full time job also.
I've done it that way for 20 years. There are plenty of ways of making money online, but it does require a bit of graft.
Sounds like you have the potential for starting a great business.
Personally I find Facebook great for what I am doing marketing wise.

You can go with both but companies also have these policies where you cannot run a business so beware with such companies