You are scrolling through TikTok or Instagram, and you see a video of someone sitting on a beach with a laptop. The caption reads: “I made $15,000 this week working 2 hours a day with Digital Marketing. Ask me how!”

You are skeptical. Is this real? Or is it a pyramid scheme?

Digital Marketing itself is 100% legit. It is the engine that powers Google, Amazon, and Meta. It is simply the process of helping businesses sell products online. However, the “Biz Opp” (Business Opportunity) market that sells courses about digital marketing is rife with scams, multi-level marketing (MLM) tactics, and false promises.

If you look at discussions on Reddit’s r/marketing, actual professionals are furious about these influencers. They give the industry a bad name. To understand if digital marketing is right for you, you must learn to distinguish the Profession from the Grift.

The “Legit” Side: The Engine of the Internet

First, let’s look at what actual digital marketing is. If you own a bakery and you pay $50 to run Facebook ads to people within 5 miles of your shop, that is digital marketing.

• The Evidence: In 2024, digital ad spending worldwide is projected to exceed $700 billion. Big companies like Nike, Apple, and your local plumber do not spend billions on “scams.” They spend money on digital marketing because it drives revenue.

• The Job: A legitimate “Digital Marketer” is a professional who analyzes data, writes copy, designs creative assets, and optimizes campaigns to help a real business grow. It is a hard job that requires technical skill and patience.

The “Scam” Side: The “Course Selling Courses” Loop

So why does it feel like a scam? Because of what Reddit users call the “MRR” (Master Resell Rights) Loop.

How the Scam Works

You see a guru claiming “Digital Marketing” made them rich.

1. They sell you a $497 course on “How to do Digital Marketing.”

2. You open the course, and the only thing it teaches you is how to sell that specific course to other people.

3. You are not selling a product (like shoes or software); you are selling the right to sell the course. This is essentially a digital pyramid scheme. The product has no value other than the ability to recruit the next person. Reddit Insight: As one user on r/marketing noted, “If their bio says ‘Passive Income’ and ‘Financial Freedom’ instead of ‘SEO Specialist’ or ‘PPC Manager’, run away.”

Red Flags: How to Spot Fake Digital Marketing

Real digital marketing is a career. Fake digital marketing is a “lifestyle” pitch. Here is how to tell them apart.

1. “No Experience Needed” vs. “Skill Required”

• The Scam: “Anyone can do this! I started yesterday and made $5k!”

• The Reality: Legitimate digital marketing takes months to learn. It involves understanding analytics, coding basics, and psychology. No one pays a beginner $5k a week to push buttons.

2. The Focus on “Passive Income”

• The Scam: They promise you can set it up once and money will roll in forever while you sleep.

• The Reality: Digital marketing is active. Algorithms change, ads fatigue, and campaigns break. Real marketers work every day to maintain results.

3. The Product Mystery

• The Scam: They talk about “High Ticket Affiliate Marketing” but are vague about what they are selling. (Spoiler: It’s usually a course about affiliate marketing).

• The Reality: Real marketers talk about specific niches: “I sell SaaS software,” or “I generate leads for dentists.”

Is It a Good Career?

Yes. If you strip away the TikTok hype, digital marketing is one of the most valuable skill sets in the modern economy.

• Freelancing: You can help local businesses improve their Google Maps ranking.

• In-House: You can work for a tech company managing their email newsletter.

• Agency: You can run paid ads for multiple clients.

Conclusion

Digital Marketing is legit. The scam is the person telling you that it is easy. If you want to enter this field, ignore the “lifestyle” influencers selling courses on how to get rich. Instead, look for free resources (like HubSpot Academy or Google Skillshop) that teach you the actual hard skills of SEO, Analytics, and Content Strategy.