Why Most People Make Money Online Far Harder Than It Needs to Be
Making money online has never been more accessible than it is today. With just a smartphone and an internet connection, anyone can start an online hustle from anywhere in the world—including Zambia. And yet, most people are making it far more difficult than it needs to be.
They jump into side hustles that are time-consuming, physically demanding, and often unpredictable. Some are trapped in e-commerce, others are grinding through physical gig work, and many more are drowning in content creation schedules for platforms like YouTube and TikTok.
Let’s explore the most common ways people are complicating their online income—and why there’s a much simpler, smarter option available: building and monetizing an email list.
E-commerce: More Headaches Than Profits
At first glance, e-commerce seems like the perfect online business model. You find a product, list it online, and wait for orders to roll in. But the reality is far from passive.
To make e-commerce work, you must:
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Constantly research winning products
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Negotiate with suppliers, often overseas
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Deal with inventory management and restocking
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Handle shipping logistics and customer complaints
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Navigate pricing changes due to new tariffs and international regulations
Margins are often razor-thin, and competition is fierce. Worst of all, you don’t control the supply chain. Delays, damaged goods, or supplier issues can completely derail your business.
While some e-commerce entrepreneurs thrive, most find themselves working full-time hours for part-time pay, constantly stressed about the next problem.
Physical Side Hustles Demand Physical Presence
Not all side hustles are online. Many people try to earn extra income through physical gigs like:
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Driving for Uber or Bolt
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Delivering food via apps
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Cleaning houses or offices
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Operating vending machines
The problem? These side hustles demand your time and physical presence. You only get paid when you show up. If you're sick, tired, or simply unavailable, your income drops to zero.
Take vending machines, for example. At first, it sounds passive—you place a machine, people buy snacks, and you collect cash. But in reality, you must:
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Refill stock regularly
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Drive from one machine to another
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Handle cash collection
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Fix mechanical problems when they occur
It's a business with overhead, maintenance, and lots of physical labor—not exactly the laptop lifestyle you had in mind when thinking of "passive income."
The YouTube Content Hamster Wheel
Creating content on platforms like YouTube can be rewarding, but it also comes with intense pressure.
Successful creators need to:
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Research trending topics
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Record high-quality videos
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Edit content, sometimes for hours
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Write titles, descriptions, and SEO tags
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Engage with viewers in comments
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Consistently upload on a schedule
Miss a few uploads? The algorithm stops recommending your content. Your views drop, and your audience moves on. Many YouTubers experience burnout, creative blocks, and frustration with the unpredictable nature of online content.
And let’s not forget: most new channels take months or years to generate any meaningful income, and there are no guarantees.
So, What’s the Better Way? Build an Email List
Now let’s talk about a strategy that is dramatically simpler, far more scalable, and surprisingly underused—email marketing.
Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Click – Someone signs up to your email list.
Step 2: Send – You send them an email with value or an offer.
Step 3: Earn – They take action, and you earn a commission or sale.
That’s it. No physical product. No constant video editing. No leaving your house to deliver packages or meals. Just a powerful system that builds income through connection and trust.
Why Email Marketing Works So Well
Here are six reasons why building an email list is the smartest way to earn money online in 2025:
1. You Own the Audience
Social media platforms can ban or shadowban you at any time. Algorithms change constantly. But when you build an email list, you own it. No platform can take it away. It’s yours.
2. It’s Simple to Start
You don’t need to be tech-savvy to start email marketing. With tools like GetResponse, ConvertKit, or Systeme.io, you can build a landing page, collect emails, and send messages all from one dashboard.
3. You Can Promote Multiple Offers
Email lists are perfect for affiliate marketing. You can promote digital products, software tools, training programs, and more. You don’t have to create products—just share valuable recommendations.
4. Automation Means You Earn While You Sleep
Once you set up an email autoresponder sequence, it continues to send your messages to new subscribers on autopilot. That means you can be asleep, at your job, or spending time with family—and still earn income.
5. Your Time Is Leveraged
Whether you have 100 or 10,000 subscribers, it only takes one email to reach them all. That’s real leverage. And the more your list grows, the more income potential you unlock.
6. Scalable Without Burnout
Unlike YouTube or physical hustles, email marketing doesn't require endless creation or constant hustle. One high-converting sequence can pay you for months—or even years.
Real Talk: This Isn’t “Get Rich Quick”
Let’s be clear: email marketing still requires work. You need to:
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Offer something valuable to attract subscribers (like a free ebook or guide)
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Write helpful, persuasive emails
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Build trust with your audience
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Choose solid affiliate offers that solve real problems
But the difference is control. You don’t rely on trends, suppliers, or platforms. You’re building a long-term asset that grows with time.
And best of all? You can start today, right from your phone.
Final Thoughts: Simplify to Multiply
Most people make online income far more difficult than necessary. They dive into hustles that eat their time, energy, and freedom—only to earn inconsistent or disappointing returns.
But with email marketing, the equation is refreshingly simple:
Click. Send. Earn.
You build once and earn again and again. You leverage time instead of trading it. And you create an asset that pays you even when you sleep.
In 2025, the smartest path to financial freedom online is not through complexity—it’s through clarity. Stop overcomplicating the process. Start building your list today.
Your future self will thank you.
💡 Want to speed up your success? Don’t miss these:
• Tap into powerful AI tools in How AI is Helping People Make Money Online
• Find your profitable niche fast in The Power of Niche Blogging
