Who are these digital marketing courses designed for?

Our courses are built specifically for busy small business owners who want to grow their business online but don't have the time — or the patience — to wade through jargon-heavy training. Whether you're just starting out or looking to sharpen your existing marketing, there's a course tier for you.

Do I need any marketing experience to get started?

Not at all. Our Essentials course is designed for complete beginners, and every lesson is written in plain English — no marketing jargon, no tech speak. If you can spare 20 minutes a day, you can do this.

What topics do the digital marketing courses cover?

Our courses walk you through the key pillars of digital marketing: building your online presence, mastering Google and SEO, social media strategy, email and SMS marketing, and AI-powered tools — plus bonus guides and downloadable resources.

What's the difference between the Essentials, Deluxe, and Expert courses?

Each tier builds on the last. Essentials covers the fundamentals to get you up and running. Deluxe goes deeper with 100+ actionable lessons across branding, SEO, social media, and automation. Expert is for those ready to accelerate results with advanced strategies. You can choose the level that matches where you're at.

How much time do I need to commit each day?

Just 20 minutes. Every lesson is designed to fit into a busy schedule — before the kids wake up, during your lunch break, or after you knock off for the day. No marathon study sessions required.

How much does a digital marketing course cost?

Plans start from just $49 per month. In most cases, our students find the course pays for itself within 3–6 months through the new customers and leads they generate.

Can I go at my own pace?

Absolutely. The courses are fully online and self-paced, so you can work through the lessons whenever it suits you. Jump ahead, revisit a topic, or take a break — it's entirely up to you.

What makes 20 Minute Marketing different from other online courses?

We've packed 25+ years of experience scaling startups and billion-dollar brands into bite-sized, actionable lessons built for small business. No fluff, no filler — just practical strategies you can implement the same day, in 20 minutes or less.

How long does each marketing lesson take?

Every lesson is designed to be completed in just 20 minutes, making it perfect for busy small business owners.

Do I need a large marketing budget?

No. Our courses teach you how to put your budget to work for you effectively, rather than wasting it on agencies.

Can I Freelance After Taking a Digital Marketing Course?

Mar 17, 2026

Meta description: Freelancing after a digital marketing course is realistic in Australia for narrow scopes only. Here's the right entry path, what to charge, and what to avoid.

Yes, you can freelance after a digital marketing course — but probably not in the shape most people imagine. The successful junior freelance path in Australia is narrow scopes, small businesses, and one specific deliverable type, not "full-service digital marketing for SMBs."

The short answer

Freelance immediately on narrow scopes (one email setup, one Google My Business optimisation, one landing page audit) at $300–$1,500 AUD per project. Don't sell "ongoing digital marketing management" without 2–3 years of agency or in-house experience — you'll underprice, over-promise, and burn referrals.

The Narrow-Scope Freelance Path

Here's the path that actually works for post-course juniors. I call it the Narrow-Scope Freelance Path.

Step 1: Pick one deliverable. Not a service category. A specific deliverable. Examples: "I set up Mailchimp accounts for small businesses," "I audit Google Ads accounts and write a one-page report," "I write SEO blog posts for local trades."

Step 2: Define a fixed price. $300–$1,500 AUD per project depending on scope. Time-based pricing as a freelancer is a trap at junior level — you'll under-quote.

Step 3: Sell to small businesses, not other marketers. Your target customer is the local cafe, the trade business, the consultant — not other marketing teams. They have no internal capability and value tangible deliverables.

Step 4: Get paid for the first three projects, then expand scope. Don't widen until you've actually completed three projects to the brief.

What you can realistically charge as a junior freelancer in AU

2026 ballpark rates for post-course juniors, based on AU freelance marketplaces and direct-to-SMB engagements:

Single SEO blog post (800–1,200 words, including keyword research): $150–$400 AUD
Mailchimp account setup with welcome sequence: $400–$900 AUD
Google Ads account audit + one-page report: $300–$700 AUD
Google Business Profile optimisation: $200–$500 AUD
Single landing page copy + Canva mockup: $500–$1,200 AUD
3-email nurture sequence (copy only): $400–$900 AUD

These are not hourly rates — they're fixed scopes. Hourly rates ($40–$70 AUD/hour for junior freelancers) tend to under-pay for the actual time you'll spend on a real project.

Where to find your first three clients

The path that works in Australia in 2026, in roughly this order:

Your existing network. Friends and family with businesses. Quick wins. Use them as case studies.
Local Facebook business groups. Most Australian suburbs have one. Post offers occasionally.
LinkedIn outreach to local SMBs. Personalised, specific offers. Low volume, higher hit rate than generic outreach.
Marketplaces (Upwork, Airtasker for AU local work). Lower rates, faster volume.

What most people get wrong

The biggest mistake is positioning as a "digital marketing agency" with no clients. Don't. Position as a freelancer with one specific deliverable and grow from there. Premature agency-positioning makes you look junior and over-confident, which is the worst combination.

The second mistake is underpricing to win the first client. Quoting $50 AUD for a project that should be $400 AUD signals one of two things: incompetence or desperation. Neither helps. Quote a fair junior rate; if they balk, the project wasn't right for you.

The third mistake is taking ongoing retainer work too early. A $1,500/month retainer with a small business sounds great until month three when scope creep eats your weekends. Stick to fixed-scope, fixed-price projects until you have 12+ months of freelance experience.

Composite example: Ruby from Newcastle (Composite example based on patterns)

Ruby finished an RMIT Online short course and wanted to freelance while job-hunting. She picked one deliverable: "I set up Mailchimp accounts for small businesses, including welcome email + one nurture sequence, for $750 AUD." She offered it to two friends with small businesses (a yoga studio and a marketing consultant) and posted in two Newcastle Facebook business groups. Three clients in six weeks. Used the work as portfolio pieces. Two months later landed a $62,000 AUD junior CRM role at a Sydney B2B SaaS — with the Mailchimp setup work as her headline portfolio piece.

Decision checklist before taking your first freelance client

Have I picked exactly one deliverable type, not a category?
Do I have a fixed price (not hourly) for that deliverable?
Is the scope documented in writing before any work starts?
Have I asked for 50% deposit upfront?
Have I clarified what's not included so scope-creep doesn't happen?

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an ABN to freelance in Australia?
Yes for ongoing freelance work. Applying for an ABN is free at the Australian Business Register (abr.gov.au). Takes about 15 minutes.

Do I need to register for GST?
Only if you'll earn over $75,000 AUD per year from freelancing. Most junior freelancers won't hit this threshold initially.

Is freelancing better than a job for learning?
Usually no. Junior freelancing teaches client management, but a job at a strong team teaches craft faster. Combine both: freelance light, work full-time, build skills.

How do I balance freelance with job-hunting?
Freelance work is portfolio fuel for job applications. Don't see them as competing — see freelancing as the fastest portfolio-building path. See building a digital marketing portfolio.