At 21, I was:

• Burned out from the 9-5 grind.
• Living in a house with 8 strangers.
• Isolated, depressed, and completely broke.
• 1,300 miles away from my family and friends.

I thought I’d be stuck forever – seeing my family and friends once a year, trapped in that house full of misery in the heart of London.

That’s when I hit rock bottom…

And forced myself to find a way out.

Guess what?

I turned to the internet.

First, I tried dropshipping. But I quickly realized I didn’t have the cash to keep feeding ads to keep the business alive. I barely spent money on myself (clothes, food, the basics) let alone extra money for ads.

Then I thought I’d found the answer in crypto, convincing myself that $100 in Solana would somehow make me a millionaire. But as quickly as that hope built up, it all came crashing down.

Fast forward to a new idea. I read about the TikTok program and decided to create a faceless account. I posted motivational and entertaining videos, hoping to break through.

After 8 months, I had 42K followers and…

$400 in profit.

At that point, my dreams were fading, piece by piece.

But then, something clicked. I watched two YouTube videos back-to-back. Both about starting a short-form content agency. But I was very scared and shy of showing my face on camera and talking to people, giving them editing advice.

Luckily, the very next day, I saw Dan Koe talking about building a writing brand on X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram.

That came from nowhere and I again had hope.

Hope that I can turn things around.

Freelancing & Writing Online Saved Me

I was shy.

I didn’t want to show my face on camera.

But I knew I could start writing.

So, I started writing text-only posts and uploading them as reels.

Then, I built a website to showcase my video editing work and started reaching out to people.

(Btw, I chose video editing because I already had skin in the game from running my TikTok account. I knew what made people watch – text, animations, graphics, and keep their attention locked in)

After 90 days of grinding, I signed my first client for a $700/m package. A week later, this client referred me to one of his friends who had a coaching business, and I signed him as well. In 97 days, I managed to make $1,400 online – something I never thought possible.

I was posting 1-2 times a day and sending 20-30 cold DMs to random business owners and personal brands. I didn’t care who I was going to land. It didn’t matter if it was a spiritual coach, a gardener, an OnlyFans star, or a podcaster. I just wanted to edit videos for a client.

Fast forward: I managed to replace my monthly income with my freelancing gig as a short-form video editor, left my job, and then my brother and I bought tickets to Bulgaria.

(My brother and I lived together in the UK, and I honestly don’t know how I would’ve made it without him. He’s been my rock – my biggest supporter and harshest critic. He’s been there through every struggle, every doubt, and every moment I thought about giving up. I owe so much of where I am today to him)

Now, let’s dive into the easiest and quickest way to start monetizing as a solopreneur.

The Easiest & Quickest Way To Make Money Online As a Solopreneur (Products Vs. Services)

Internet products are as powerful as owning physical real estate.

But…

Building an audience and selling products takes a lot of time.

It’s not for those who are broke and desperate to escape a 9-5.

I was broke and desperate. I needed money to escape that filthy house and return home to Bulgaria from the UK. Every morning, I woke up with a pain in my chest – and I’m not exaggerating. It was hard.

This is why I pursued freelancing.

It’s easier and quicker to make money.

Now, I’m back home, living with family, close to friends, making $6,000-$8,000 a month. Sure, it fluctuates, but I’m here.

The dream I used to chase has become my reality.

Here’s the thing: building an audience and selling products is for those who have the cushion of a steady job to lean on. If you’re enjoying your 9-5, still have free time, and feel happy where you are, then go ahead and sell products.

Selling products is the ultimate form of freedom because you’re selling your knowledge and ideas, not your time and effort.

But if you’re stuck, broke, and need to make money fast, freelancing combined with personal branding is the best way out.

Let’s dive in.

Why Freelancing? (Biggest Opportunity In 2024)

1. Freelancing Has Low Start-up Costs

Freelancing is one of the most accessible business models on the planet.

The start-up and running costs are close to zero.

Here’s what you need to get started:

• An email address (free)
• A social media account (Instagram or Threads) (free)
• A website builder (Carrd) ($19 per year)

That’s it. Compare this to dropshipping or other models where you need upfront capital for ads or influencer marketing.

Freelancing gives you a lean start.

(Personally, I use WordPress for my website, Elementor for additional features, and GoDaddy for domain purchases, which costs me around $500-$600 a year. But with Carrd, you’re talking about a fraction of that)

The fact that you can get started without breaking the bank is what makes freelancing so powerful.

2. Freelancing is a Faster Path to Success

There’s no barrier stopping you from landing your first client today.

Yes.

Today.

Hundreds of millions of people and businesses need help with content, scaling their message, capturing leads, converting customers, and standing out online.

All you need is:

• An expensive problem you can solve for a client
• A pitch that shows why solving this problem matters
• A clear solution you deliver

By focusing on high-value problems, you can start landing clients paying $1,000-$3,000 sooner than you’d expect.

It’s faster than waiting for digital products to catch fire or hoping for a 10-100x return on some meme coin gamble (even with meme coins being hot right now).

3. Freelancing Gives You Time Freedom

Freelancers make the mistake of charging by the hour.

That’s the trap of traditional jobs.

The beauty of freelancing?

You charge for outcomes, not time.

You’re paid for your value, not your hours.

For example….

I charge $40 per video edit, and each edit takes about 20 minutes.

For 30 videos a month, that adds up to $1,200.

Now, if I charged $40 per hour, and since I can edit 3 videos in 1 hour, I’d only be making $400 for the same 30 videos.

By charging per video, I make significantly more for the same amount of work.

Also, clients care about results, not how long it takes.

As you improve your efficiency, your time becomes more valuable, and you earn more while working less.

This is how you create more freedom for yourself.

4. Freelancing Offers Location Freedom

Freelancing is entirely digital.

You can:

• Find clients online
• Market yourself online
• Deliver your work online

This means total location freedom.

Combine this with time freedom, and you get the ultimate lifestyle – working from anywhere, at any time, while making an income that supports your dreams.

5. Freelancing is a Skill Accelerator

Running any business is a learning experience, but freelancing forces you to accelerate.

Unlike other ventures where feedback loops are long, freelancing provides instant feedback.

The more you act, the faster you learn.

With freelancing, your skills sharpen in real time:

• Master cold outreach
• Build a personal brand
• Deliver top-notch service
• Create a content marketing system

These skills compound.

They sharpen your core abilities (whether it’s writing, design, or consulting) and carry over to every career move you make.

How to Start Freelancing (The Easiest & Quickest Way to Make Money Online)

Every business model follows the ”Core Four of Internet Business”, which consists of two main parts:

1. How you make money (what and how you sell)
2. How you get attention (where and how you market)

Let’s explore each section and how to execute it effectively.

1. The Skill (What You Sell)

1) Pick a Skill that Aligns with You

Choose a skill that serves others and aligns with who you are.

For example, if you enjoy writing, try ghostwriting.

If you’re into design, try web or brand design.

This ensures you stick with it for the long term.

2) Educate Yourself Daily

Make learning a non-negotiable part of your routine.

Dive into YouTube videos, podcasts, articles, books, and absorb everything you can.

The more you know, the better you’ll serve others.

3) Practice Your Skill in Public

Self-education is vital, but practical application is key.

Share your work on social media platforms like Threads or Instagram.

The key is to consistently put your work out there for others to see.

The more you practice and engage with an audience, the faster you’ll refine your skills, build confidence, and attract potential clients who resonate with your work. 

2. The Platform (Where You Market)

1) Choose One Platform to Master

I’d highly suggest Threads, especially if you’re into ghostwriting, copywriting, email marketing, or any writing-related skill.

It’s still early, with 200M+ monthly active users and tons of untapped potential. Most users don’t even know how to navigate long-form posts yet and I see many creators moving over from X, saying the reach is better.

Also, many business owners don’t even know Threads exists yet. When they do, they’ll need someone to write their content to help them increase reach and generate more leads for their business.

2) Repurpose Your Content for Faster Growth

Once you hit 10,000 followers on Threads, that’s when you can start expanding by repurposing your content on Instagram.

It’s a great way to speed up your growth and build a presence on multiple platforms without burning out.

The posts you create for Threads can be easily transformed into Instagram posts, Reels, or carousels, giving you twice the exposure without twice the effort.

3. The Content (How You Market)

Don’t find a niche.

Build a character.

Your character is the bedrock of everything – your content, marketing, offers, sales pages, and more.

In other words, who you are becomes your brand, and that’s what drives both growth and monetization.

Here are the three key pillars:

1. Your story – The experiences that shaped you, your struggles, and your breakthroughs. This is what makes you relatable and memorable.
2. Your skills – The things you’re great at. These are your strengths and the value you can offer to others.
3. Your curiosities – The things you’re deeply interested in or passionate about. This is what keeps your content fresh, authentic, and exciting.

You can check out ​this​ article for the bigger picture.

And ​this​ article to start creating content (that converts).

4. The Outreach (How You Sell)

There are 4 core ways you can approach this.

I like Alex Hormozi’s formula because it’s simple to understand.

Here’s the formula:

Now, let’s say you chose ghostwriting.

Here’s what each outreach method means:

1) 1:1 Warm Outreach

This is when you reach out to people you already know or have interacted with before.

For example, you can message a past client or a friend who might need help with ghostwriting

You’re offering your services to someone you have a connection with.

2) 1:1 Cold Outreach

This is when you contact someone you don’t know yet.

You can send a cold DM or email to a business owner or influencer, introducing yourself and offering your ghostwriting services.

It’s like knocking on a stranger’s door to introduce what you can do for them.

3) Post Free Content

This is when you post valuable content for many people to see at once. 

People see your work, and those interested may reach out to hire you. 

Posting free content is powerful because it acts as both marketing and selling, without costing you a dime.

When you share your unique perspectives, passions, philosophies, curiosities, skills, and story, you’re not just showcasing what you know – you’re giving people a reason to follow, trust, and buy from you.

The more valuable and authentic your content, the more it convinces your audience you’re the right person to help them with their needs.

Beyond social media posts, free content is also newsletters, blog posts, and podcasts where you dive deeper into topics that matter to your audience. 

4) Run Paid Ads

This is when you pay for advertisements to reach many people.

You create an ad that showcases your ghostwriting services and target it to people or businesses who need writing help.

The ad brings attention to your service without you having to reach out to each person individually.

What now?

I want you to do this:

• Eliminate what you don’t want
• Use what you do want

In my case, I didn’t know anyone I could offer my service to, so I eliminated ”1:1 Warm Outreach”.

I didn’t want to spend money on ads because I didn’t have money, so ”Run Paid Ads” went in the trash as well.

I wanted to post free content because I knew the power of it, so I decided to focus on ”Post Free Content”.

Then, I also added cold outreach (via Instagram DMs) because I saw a video of Gary Vee talking about how Instagram DMs are king and the best way to get clients fast. So I went with ”1:1 Cold Outreach” as well.

(There are other cold outreach methods like cold emails and sales calls, but I didn’t want to do them because I didn’t feel confident. I tried emails, but they didn’t convert)

DMs worked really well because I was posting free content, gaining followers, and I had a website to showcase my work. This helped people build trust and a better connection with me when they saw both my profile and my website.

That’s why I think having a personal brand + freelancing is the quickest and easiest way to make money online, quit your 9-5 job, and start living a more fulfilling, free life.

To Summarize:

1. Learn a skill (what you sell)

2. Choose a platform (where you market)

3. Write content (how you market)

4. Outreach to people (how you sell)

I hope this was fire.

Thank you for reading!

J