What is Wealthy Affiliate?

Disclosure:  The FTC requires bloggers to inform readers that if they click on an affiliate link, and end up purchasing a product, the blogger will earn a commission.  I don’t mind disclosing this information, because both you, the reader, and I, the blogger, know that blogging is a legitimate way to earn money online.

Wealthy Affiliate is an online training website that provides outstanding training in the area of affiliate marketing and online business.  It is composed of a group of like-minded business people involved in the world of online business.  All members, from the newest to the old hands form a community, with formal training and informal help from other members in the community.  It’s like an online university on marketing success.

If you can write a friendly letter to someone, like a friend or family member, then you possess the basic skills you need to succeed in an online business.  Wealthy Affiliate builds on those basic skills to help you start and grow a successful business on the internet.

Name:  Wealthy Affiliate

Website:  www.WealthyAffiliate.com

Price:  Starter membership:  $0  Premium membership:  $49/mo or $359/yr

Owners:  Kyle and Carson

Who It’s For:  Anyone with a desire to become a successful online business owner.

Rank: 5 out of 5 Stars

Is Wealthy Affiliate A Legitimate Online Opportunity?

I’m going to give an unqualified YES! to that question, but I have to offer an upfront disclaimer.  I’m a member of Wealthy Affiliate.  A member because my research into WA convinced me to join.  My opinion may be slanted in their favor, but if so, there are good reasons why.  Let me tell you why I think that Wealthy Affiliate is so good.

Here’s My Story.

For the last 10 years I have had an e-marketing folder on my email account.  Around the beginning of that time, my wife and I received an invitation by mail to attend a dinner and business presentation at a local hotel.  You may have received such an invitation yourself a time or two.  Hey, who wouldn’t go for a free meal?  We were financially in need of extra income, so we decided to go.

I don’t remember the dinner, except that it really was free, but I do remember a slick presentation by 4 or 5 enthusiastic people promoting the opportunity to start an online business.  I remember seeing a website selling “Wheat Grass,” and slides showing how sales for this product were soaring.  Anyone could do it if they had the right business kit, which these guys offered.

You could buy up to two websites, and the slickly packaged training manuals to go with them, for the low cost of only $2500.00 per website.  You could buy only one if you wanted, but, they said, the “smart” entrepreneurs were purchasing two.  And, for those who didn’t have $5000 laying around, they had arranged financing for you if you wanted.  Well, I was one of the “smart” ones who bought two business kits.  Everything I needed to succeed was included, shiny instruction manuals and a merchant account included (I don’t think they mentioned the monthly fee for that).  We left the presentation excited and optimistic about the money we were going to make online.  At least I did.  My wife, the really smart one, was skeptical.

Our profits this little adventure turned out to be a BIG FAT ZERO! Less than zero, because we lost the whole investment.

Why?  Was the presentation a scam?  I think yes and no.  No, because they provided me with what they said they would, although in retrospect I think the price was way too high.  Yes, because once I walked out with my business kits, there was never any help or follow-up.  There was no training except for what was in the manuals.  No training on how to find a niche, how to use keywords, how to draw traffic to my site, no training on SEO (Search Engine Optimization), and no feedback on my site.  (All these and more are offered at Wealthy Affiliate).  I learned that it was very difficult and frustrating for an inexperienced person to build an operational website from a book.

I actually got one of my two websites up, but never got any traffic (customers).  I never built the second one.

End result:  $5000 loss.  The tax break pretty much cancelled out the interest on the loan.

That Was 10 Years Ago.

About 5 years ago, I took the plunge a second time.  I fell for a sleek radio advertisement for a program that turned out to be a nutritional supplement MLM business with an attached marketing program that generated qualified leads.  You could buy the leads, at a price of about $100 for 20.  These leads were “prequalified”, in that they had expressed interest in the business opportunity and had provided their names and contact information.

When I called to sign up, I was told I could sign up for $35, but that would not pay much and I couldn’t take advantage of the lead generating program unless I was a manager.  I could work my way up to manager after a couple of years, or I could buy in as a manager for $5000.  That was the “smart” way because that money would buy a bunch of product that I would sell to the qualified leads when I signed them up.  I would get paid back quickly.

Once again, I plunged in.  I came up with the $5000 and signed up as a manager.  A few days later several boxes of product showed up at my house.  I organized it for the sales to my customers I was going to get from my qualified leads.  By the way, my wife was again skeptical, and again right.

I found out pretty quickly that over 90% of the “qualified” leads were too broke or too much in debt to do anything.  I did sign up a couple of people, but they soon sent the product back for refunds.  Most people’s credit cards were declined or their checks bounced.  Or they didn’t answer their phones.  The “opportunity” was out of their reach.  It pretty much got out of my reach very quickly also.

Again I lost $5000.  I was determined never to to be taken again.

Update:  The FTC sued the company involved, and I got part of my money back.  About a tenth of what I spent.

Fast Forward To About 2 Years Ago.

I learned about affiliate marketing when I began using a nutritional supplement called Chews-4-Health.  The company offered an affiliate program.  I investigated and learned that an affiliate was a person who brought business to the company and earned a commission on the sales he brought.  Becoming an affiliate was free.  I realized that if I became an affiliate with Chews-4-Health then I would be paid a commission o the products I bought for personal use, reducing my costs.  I signed up, and was paid regular commissions on the things I bought.  It worked as advertised.

Finally I wasn’t losing money.  I wasn’t really making money either.

About a year ago I decided to try to make money with affiliate marketing, but I wasn’t having  any success because I didn’t quite know how to go about it.  I’m kind of shy, and I don’t like approaching people to sell them something.  I’m ok if they approach me, I’m just uncomfortable approaching them.

Then, Quite By Accident, I Found What I Was Looking For!

Recently I was interested in a copywriter opportunity online, and while reading a review of the AWAI training courses, I found a link to Wealthy Affiliate.  I clicked on the link, reviewed the website, and read a couple of online reviews.  For me it was a no-brainer.  I could sign up for free.  I could get training and two websites for free.  There was a Premium program with a monthly cost but it was not mandatory, I could stay on the free program as long as I wanted.  There was no credit card or monetary commitment to enroll.  I signed up.  The Membership Options comparison below will give you and idea of what Wealthy Affiliate offers its members.  After you look it over, click on the button below it and you will be taken to the Wealthy Affiliate website.  Look it over too.

So, the bottom line here is that if you want to start your own online business in affiliate marketing, Wealthy Affiliate is the way to go!  Don’t wait another day, START CHANGING YOUR LIFE TODAY!

The Wealthy Affiliate BONUS Just For You!

When you join Wealthy Affiliate with your free starter membership, you will have the chance to take advantage of an exciting BONUS!  It’s the same bonus that I took advantage of myself when I joined.

The bonus, that I thought was great, was that I was given a 7-day period as a Premium member even though I was at the free starter level, so I could test run the system and see what was available if I upgraded.  I was also offered a discounted price of $19 (a 59% discount) for the first month as a Premium member if I upgraded within those 7 days.

It took me about three days on the free side to realize that if I wanted to really succeed with an online business, Premium was the way to go.  I took the discount and upgraded.  I have not been sorry, and it has opened up whole new worlds of knowledge about SUCCESSFUL internet marketing that had been eluding me for so long.

When you sign up at the free starter level, just be sure to take the time to set up your profile right away.  I will personally welcome you to Wealthy Affiliate on you new profile and will give you some additional info about WA and how to claim your bonus.  Feel free to get in touch with me personally on my profile if you have any questions.

My advice after joining Wealthy Affiliate is that if you are SERIOUS about making money online, you should TAKE ACTION and sign up NOW.  I don’t think there is anyplace better to help you reach your goals.  You can get started for FREE with the link below.  Take a look at what you get with the free Starter package and with the Premium upgrade.  Also, I’d appreciate your feedback.  Please leave a comment below.

Have a great one.  I’m Grant.