How to Make Money Online Running Ads for Businesses in 2025

Running ads for businesses is one of the hottest ways to make money online in 2025. Whether you are a student, stay-at-home parent, or beginner in Nigeria (or anywhere in Africa), learning to run online ads can open doors to extra income. With most Nigerians using the internet heavily on their phones, companies are eager to pay people who can create and manage their ad campaigns. In this guide, we’ll explore why running ads for businesses pays off, share the latest digital advertising trends (October 2025 updates), and suggest how you can get started. We’ll also recommend three affordable courses (with affiliate links) to boost your ad skills: a TikTok Ads course by Faith Ehizogie (just ₦5,000, 20+ sales), a Google Ads course by Felix Ohaeri (₦15,000), and a Facebook Ads course by Chinonso Emanuel (₦20,000). These courses are perfect for anyone in Nigeria/Africa who wants step-by-step training to start earning. By the end, you’ll know how to run ads and even what courses to try first.

Why Running Ads for Businesses is Lucrative

Running ads for businesses means acting as their digital marketer: you create and manage online campaigns that promote products or services. The demand for this skill is growing fast. Here’s why anyone can turn it into income:

Anyone Can Do It: You don’t need a special degree, just basic internet and social media skills. Students, stay-at-home parents, side-hustlers, and total beginners can all learn these platforms. If you spend time on Facebook, Google, or TikTok already, you’re halfway there.
High Demand in Nigeria: More than 60% of Nigerians say social media and search engines are top ways they discover new brands. In other words, businesses must advertise online to reach customers. This means companies will pay people who can run Facebook, Instagram, Google, or TikTok ads effectively.
Mobile-First Nation: Over 80% of Nigerians access the internet via mobile devices. Mobile-friendly content like TikTok videos and Instagram Reels dominate feeds. If you can tap into these platforms with smart ads, businesses will hire you to capture that huge audience.
Low Startup Cost: You just need a phone or laptop and internet. You don’t have to rent an office or invest in expensive equipment. Many successful ads managers start by offering to promote a local shop or friend’s business for free (to learn), then charge clients once they see results.
Flexible Hours: You can create and adjust ads on your own schedule. Many beginners do this part-time, say a couple of hours a day, and still earn significant income.
Multiple Income Streams: You can work directly for businesses (getting paid per project or a monthly fee) or for an agency, or even as a content creator with affiliate marketing. Once you master one platform, you can offer services on others too, multiplying your earning potential.

In short, running ads for companies is a very accessible online business idea. The barriers to entry are low and the potential is high, especially as more local businesses in Nigeria move online.

Top Digital Advertising Trends (2025)

Before diving in, let’s catch up on the latest digital advertising news. Knowing industry trends can help you be a more informed ads manager. These are October 2025 highlights:

ChatGPT Might Get Ads: OpenAI (makers of ChatGPT) recently hired for a paid marketing role. This hints that ChatGPT could soon show ads to its 700+ million users! If ChatGPT adds advertising, it opens a massive new platform for advertisers, and more demand for people who know how to craft those ads.
Meta’s Ad-Free Subscription Test: Facebook/Instagram are testing a paid no-ads plan in the UK. Users can pay ~£2.99/month to remove ads. If this rolls out widely, it might slightly shrink the audience that sees ads. But for now it’s limited regionally. For you, it means helping businesses adapt (maybe focus on organic reach and higher engagement) since some people may choose ad-free browsing.
TikTok’s Potential Sale: A U.S. executive order now paves the way for American ownership of TikTok. The details are still unfolding, but one thing is clear: TikTok’s crazy growth continues. Regardless of who owns it, TikTok remains a must-use ad platform in Africa. Short videos on TikTok and Instagram Reels dominate Nigerian feeds, so knowing TikTok Ads is huge for your career.
AI and Automation: Artificial Intelligence is reshaping ads. AI tools can now optimize targeting, automate budgets, and even generate ad creative. This trend was already noted in Nigeria’s marketing outlook. The takeaway? Learning AI-powered ad tools (like automated rules in Google Ads or AI video editing for TikTok) will keep your campaigns effective.
Local Video Boom: In Nigeria, short video content is king. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram have surged, which means video ads often get the best results. If you become skilled at video ads, brands will pay you to leverage that.
Mobile Payments & Social Commerce: Nigerians increasingly buy directly via social apps and mobile wallets. This means ads can lead straight to sales (for example, running an Instagram ad that links to a WhatsApp shop). Knowing how to set up conversion tracking and mobile-friendly campaigns is a hot skill right now.

Keeping up with these trends not only gives you talking points for clients, but also ensures you use the latest tools. For example, if ChatGPT ads launch, early expertise there will be valuable. If you notice TikTok is being acquired by Americans, reassure brands about stability and results. In any case, the ad world is changing quickly, which means more opportunities for savvy people to stand out.

Key Ad Platforms to Earn Online

Which ad platforms should you focus on? Here are the three biggest ones (each with an affordable course you can take):

TikTok Ads:

TikTok advertising is exploding, especially among young Nigerians. Short, engaging video content is exactly what TikTok is built for. Learning TikTok Ads means learning to create catchy video ads, set up targeted campaigns, and drive conversions. Businesses love TikTok because it’s where attention is right now. To get started, I recommend checking out the TikTok Ads Course by Faith Ehizogie (only ₦5,000!). Faith’s course (20+ students so far) covers the basics of TikTok ad campaigns – great for beginners. You’ll learn how to set budgets, target audiences (like targeting Nigerian youth interested in specific topics), and optimize ads for sales or leads. Once you master TikTok Ads, you can pitch your services to e-commerce stores, local boutiques, content creators, or any brand wanting to reach customers on this platform.

Google Ads:

Google Ads (formerly AdWords) is the go-to platform for search advertising. It lets you show ads on Google search results and YouTube. In Nigeria, many people use Google to find products or services (from finding a tailor in Lagos to shopping for electronics). Running Google Ads campaigns involves choosing keywords (e.g. “best phone Nigeria”) and writing text or shopping ads. If a client pays per click (CPC), you manage bids and quality scores. The Google Ads Course by Felix Ohaeri (₦15,000) is a great resource. Felix teaches how to set up campaigns, do keyword research, and track conversions. Once you’re trained, you can offer to run Google search or shopping ads for businesses like hotels, online shops, or local services that want more website traffic. Google Ads often has a reputation for quick ROI, so many businesses pay well for someone who can manage it.

Facebook/Instagram Ads:

Meta (Facebook and Instagram) remain the biggest social ad networks. Many businesses in Nigeria—shops, restaurants, beauty salons, online stores, use Facebook ads to reach customers. Meta’s Ads Manager also covers Instagram (since they share the platform). Creating Facebook Ads means designing images or videos, writing ad copy, and picking audiences by demographics/interests. If you can target, say, “women aged 25-35 in Abuja interested in skincare,” that’s powerful for clients. For learning this, the Facebook Ads Solution Course by Chinonso Emanuel (₦20,000) is ideal. Chinonso guides you through the ad manager, audience targeting, and even advanced tactics like retargeting (showing ads to people who visited a client’s site already). Mastering Facebook/Instagram Ads lets you service countless local businesses, one day you might be setting up a campaign to get more buyers for an online clothing store, the next day you might help a blogger grow their audience.

Each of these platforms has massive reach. In fact, research shows video content and social browsing dominate Nigerian internet habits. By focusing on TikTok, Google, or Facebook ads, you position yourself where the eyeballs are.

To deepen your skills and boost your earnings, here are the three courses I recommend (each linked for convenience):

Recommended Training Courses

TikTok Ads Course by Faith Ehizogie – Covers everything from creating your first TikTok ad to optimizing your budget. Affordable at just ₦5,000, and already trusted by over 20 students. Perfect if you want to tap into Nigeria’s TikTok craze and start making money fast.
Google Ads Course by Felix Ohaeri – An in-depth guide to Google search and display advertising. Learn keyword research, ad creation, and analytics. Priced at ₦15,000, it’s great for anyone who wants businesses to find them on Google and earn from search ads.
Facebook Ads Solution Course by Chinonso Emanuel – A comprehensive course on Facebook and Instagram Ads Manager. You’ll master audience targeting, creative design, and data analysis. At ₦20,000, it’s an investment for managing large-scale social campaigns for clients.

Each course teaches practical, step-by-step methods. You don’t have to take them all at once. Try the one that matches your interest or a gap in your knowledge, see how it goes, and later come back for another. For instance, you might start with the TikTok Ads course (only ₦5k) and soon be earning by creating fun TikTok campaigns. Then add Google Ads knowledge to offer clients search ads as well. Over time, bundling all three skills can significantly increase your earnings. Remember, these courses are affordable ways to get started – far cheaper than a college degree in marketing, and very targeted to online ads.

Tips to Succeed

Running ads is part art, part science. Here are some quick tips to help you stand out and get results (which means happier clients and more referrals):

Know Your Goals: Always clarify what a client wants – more sales, more website visits, more app downloads, etc. This tells you how to set up the campaign (conversion ads vs. traffic ads).
Track Everything: Use the platform’s analytics. For example, install the Facebook Pixel or Google Analytics on your client’s site. Check which ads get clicks or sales. Data shows you what to tweak. Successful ad managers are always A/B testing different headlines or images.
Stay Updated: Digital ads change often. Subscribe to marketing blogs, follow industry news (like how ChatGPT ads or Meta changes could impact your work). Being the first to try new features (say, a new Instagram Stories ad type) can give you an edge.
Start Small: If you’re new, offer a free or low-cost trial campaign for a friend’s business or a local shop. Even running a tiny ₦5000 ad test and showing results can build your portfolio.
Communication: Keep clients in the loop. Send them easy-to-understand reports (this is where that analytics image [19] comes in handy). A picture of growth charts (like the one below) says a lot. It shows your value:

Analyze and report on ad performance. Using data (graphs and charts) helps you tweak campaigns and prove ROI to clients.

Diversify: Once you nail one platform, add others. For example, run a Facebook campaign first, then upsell the client on doing a Google or TikTok ad for a broader reach.
Pricing Your Services: Beginners often charge by project or hour. Research local rates (for instance, new ads managers in Nigeria might start around ₦10,000–₦30,000 per campaign, depending on scope). As you gain experience and skills (especially from those courses), you can charge more.

The more value you deliver (leads, sales, brand visibility), the more businesses will pay you. Always seek to learn and apply new strategies. With persistence, running ads can become not just a side hustle, but a full-time gig or even a small agency.

Conclusion

Making money online by running ads is real and growing in 2025. Digital advertising is evolving – from AI-powered campaigns to new platforms like ChatGPT – and that creates new opportunities for you. If you keep up with trends (e.g. TikTok’s growth, Meta changes, Nigeria’s mobile surge), you can be the go-to person businesses need.

Start by choosing one ad platform to learn (TikTok, Google, or Facebook), perhaps with one of the courses above. Apply what you learn by practicing (even mock ads if needed), then reach out to small businesses or online companies. Show them how you can get more customers through ads.

Finally, don’t forget to save or share this guide. Bookmark it or take a screenshot so you can revisit the tips later. And if you know friends or family who want to earn from home, share it with them – everyone can benefit from these strategies and courses. Good luck, and here’s to your online advertising success!