Blogging, Flipping, and Pinterest: Escaping the 9-to-5

Hi, I’m Zeeshan. I started my online career with blogging during the COVID-19 pandemic when there was a lot of buzz around online earning opportunities. Like many, I found myself exploring ways to make money online while I was confined at home. This is when I stumbled upon blogging as a potential side hustle.

In 2021, I launched my first blog. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if it would work out, but I was determined to give it a try. It took about five months before I made my first earnings—a modest 50 cents through Amazon Affiliates. While it might not sound like much, that small amount was a turning point for me. It gave me the confidence that this could be a sustainable venture.

After a year of hard work, I managed to sell that first blog for $3,000. That experience opened my eyes to the potential of blog flipping. Since then, I’ve built and successfully flipped 10 different blogs. Each project taught me something new, both about blogging and about running an online business.

However, the journey wasn’t without its setbacks. For instance, Google’s December core update significantly impacted one of my top-performing blogs. I was earning $100 a day from it, but the update completely ruined its ranking. I had to pivot quickly, which led me to explore other platforms like Pinterest and Facebook.

So far, my team and I have created seven successful websites leveraging Pinterest and Facebook as primary traffic sources, and we’ve flipped some of them for a profit. In the past six months alone, we’ve generated over $50,000 through these platforms. Now, I’m continuing to work on my own websites while also helping others build theirs.

When I first got started, I was still pursuing my bachelor’s degree and honestly wasn’t sure what career path I wanted to take. I’ve always been interested in finding ways to make money online—whether through freelancing or other ventures—so I spent a lot of time watching YouTube videos on the topic.

One day, I came across a video about website flipping, and it instantly clicked with me. I was amazed by the idea that you could build a website, grow it, and then sell it for a profit, just like real estate. The creator of the video also had a free course on affiliate marketing, which I decided to take. It was a bit overwhelming at first, but I knew that this was something I wanted to pursue, no matter how long it would take.

So, after watching a few videos, I registered my first domain, set up my website, and started posting content. Whenever I faced challenges or didn’t know how to do something, I turned to YouTube for answers. The first six months were tough—I was working without seeing any immediate results. But I stuck with it, and over time, I realised that it was worth the effort.

That initial hustle and determination to figure things out have stuck with me, and it’s something I now try to pass on to others who are starting out.

Success, to me, is about more than just financial gain. Of course, earning money is important, but the true measure of success in my side hustle is the freedom it gives me. I love the fact that I can work from anywhere in the world, and I’m not tied to a specific location or office. That flexibility and freedom are what make this journey worthwhile.

Another personal success story is helping my brother quit his 9-to-5 job. With my guidance, he was able to start his own online business, and now he’s pursuing something he’s passionate about, outside the traditional work system. Being able to create opportunities not just for myself but for those around me is a big part of what I consider success.

At the end of the day, success in this side hustle comes from consistency and following a well-thought-out process. It may take time, but if you stick with it, you greatly increase your chances of success.

Looking back, one of the key mistakes I made early on was relying solely on Google for traffic. I focused all my efforts on optimising for search engines, which worked for a while, but when one of Google's algorithm updates hit, it felt like my entire business was wiped out overnight. If I were starting again today, I would diversify from day one. That means utilising social media platforms like Pinterest and Facebook and focusing on building an email list as well.

Diversifying your traffic sources is crucial because it ensures that you’re not dependent on one platform's algorithm. I’ve learned that the hard way, especially after a blog that was earning $3,000 a month took a hit. If I had known better, I could’ve sold that site for 25 to 35 times its monthly earnings before the update.

Additionally, I would implement multiple monetisation methods from the start. In the beginning, I focused mainly on affiliate marketing, but now I realise the importance of having different income streams like ads, digital products (such as eBooks or courses), and offering services. It creates a more stable and robust business model.

My advice would be simple: start taking action as soon as possible. Too often, I see people getting stuck in the learning phase. They’ll watch videos, read blog posts, and absorb tons of information, but they never actually start doing the work. The truth is, you’ll never know everything, and that’s okay. You learn the most by doing.

When you start taking action, you quickly identify what you don’t know and what areas you need to improve on. That’s when real learning happens. And the good news is, there are countless free resources online—whether it’s YouTube, Google, or forums—that can help you troubleshoot any issues that come up.

If you’re interested in Pinterest marketing, for example, it’s not as hard as it might seem at first. You just need to be willing to learn and, most importantly, to start implementing. It’s the only way to move forward. Also, don’t be afraid to make mistakes; every mistake is an opportunity to learn and grow.

You can find me on X (Twitter) under the username “Niche Bloggers” where I share how to grow Pinterest websites and make profits from it.