Welcome to my revised and totally unbiased review of the Wealthy Affiliate community for 2023!
Some say that Wealthy Affiliate lacks quality and fresh training, and is built on a fantasy fairy tale – where the majority of members struggle to make bank online.
Where as others paint a picture of the community being the best thing since sliced bread – displaying their proof of earnings and numerous member success stories.
But who the heck is right and wrong, you may wonder to yourself?
Can YOU (as an absolute beginner) earn a 5 or 6-figure side income with this “affiliate marketing” thing as a community member or can’t you?
Those are the golden questions, right?
As a Premium member myself, I’m gonna keep things real by giving you the inside scoop and my own true thoughts, so you can arrive at your own conclusion.
Sound good to you?
Right, let’s crack on with this review…
At a Quick Glance:
Name: Wealthy Affiliate (WA).
Co-Founders: Kyle & Carson.
Website: WealthyAffiliate.com
Cost: Starter ($0), Premium Member ($49/month or $495/year). Premium Plus ($99/month or $995/year) (Join via the free Commission Academy).
Who’s it For?: Novice to Pro – but mostly beginners, in my opinion.
Neil’s Score: 7/10.
Blog Post Contents:
PROS
- Costs $0 to get started (+ no credit card required)
- In-depth (newbie-friendly) step-by-step training
- Tools, services & features to build profitable websites
- Support from the entire community 24/7
- Kyle & Carson chime into the community every day
- New features & updates are regularly rolled out
- The potential to earn a full-time income online
- Get my sweet bonus bundle for going Premium
CONS
- Newbies will find it overwhelming to begin with
- Niche-selection training requires more meat
- No advanced SEO strategies are being taught
- No real training on mindset & goal setting (which also play key roles of success)
- You must upgrade to Premium Plus for the best training
- WA’s keyword tool (Jaaxy) displays inaccurate SEO metrics (which can potentially sink your Biz)
- It’s not for “get-rich-quick” seekers – donkey-work is required
Summary:
I must confess, Wealthy Affiliate does have its imperfections – especially when it comes to the core training and keyword tool side of things.
For example, numerous areas of the core training have been neglected by Kyle for years – he really must “freshen it up” to make the course relevant to today’s landscape.
Furthermore, Jaaxy (WA’s keyword tool) can potentially cause harm to your blog in Google – preventing your online Biz growing.
Because the SEO metrics (in terms of keyword competition and traffic volume levels) are way off when compared to more reputable tools like Semrush, KW Finder and ahrefs, to name a few.
But you CAN still produce some monetary results with affiliate marketing IF you follow WA’s blog “post and pray” style of training to the letter and WORK YOUR BUTT OFF.
And especially if you upgrade to the Premium Plus membership level for more advanced training on what’s working today in 2023.
Overall, WA may not be everyone’s cup of tea, since blogging is a long-winded strategy that requires a great deal of commitment and patience.
But with the level of value on a whole, in terms of training, tools, and community support – makes WA a great “all in one” platform for starting and growing a successful affiliate Biz.
Final Verdict: Legit (Recommended).
However, for your best possible shot at success with WA from the get-go…
I highly recommend you become a $0 Commission Academy member first – which is a WA introductory course comprising “fresh” (2023) training from 2 successful WA Super Affiliates.
What Is Wealthy Affiliate About, You Ask?
As advertised on the tin, Wealthy Affiliate is an affiliate marketing platform catering for all experience levels and walks of life – no matter your age or circumstances.
Whether, you’re seeking a REAL direction for getting started as an affiliate marketer and generating a full-time income.
Or you’re already an online or even traditional Biz owner in need of learning new skills for growing your empire…
Then WA will fit you like a glove.
The most awesome thing about WA is that it’s an “umbrella” platform providing you with all the essentials for success in one spot.
Which, is a rarity in the digital marketing arena, I tell ya!
Inside the platform, you’ll gain access to 3 core elements:
- Step-By-Step Training
- Tools & Services
- Help & Support From a Community (24/7)
When you combine all those components and work your tail off, you can have a pretty successful business on your hands.
How Wealthy Affiliate Works For Earning The Dough
OK, we’ve already established the resources available at WA.
Now, let’s see how the WA platform works under the hood in terms of the “money-making” process works, yeah?
You’ll basically learn how to create an online business from scratch (around your hobby or passion) and earn a passive income.
The process works in 4 easy steps.
- Your potential customer does a search on Google, Bing or Yahoo
- They discover your niche website & click to read your content
- They buy a product/service through your affiliate link
- And BOOM, you make a commission!
But make no mistake, you will need to hustle your guts out (as I keep pointing out lol) for the 4 steps to actually work and pay off.
Which, brings me to the next part…
Who Wealthy Affiliate is “NOT” For
If you’re the type of person who’s a firm believer in all that easy-peasy “get-rich-quick” baloney.
And who’s also unwilling to get his or her hands dirty in the muddy fields of affiliate marketing…
Then jog the hell on!
Because, becoming a truly successful WA warrior is no picnic in the park.
However, working your socks off is one thing.
But what happens when you reach the 3 – 6-month mark and you haven’t made a penny?
The chances are you’ll either slow right down to the speed of a snail or hit that Top Gun fighter jet eject button, right?
So it’s important for you to know two things:
Firstly, Ancient Rome wasn’t built in a single day.
It can take a good 12 – 18 months before your online Biz really shoots for the stars – depending on your niche and commitment level, to name some factors.
Secondly, success is a NON-linear journey because you will suffer many knee grazes along the steep and rocky path.
So adopting an “iron mindset” from day one is crucial for success – which is why more emphasis must be placed on this topic inside WA’s core training.
A Glimpse of The Wealthy Affiliate Co-Founders
Two best friends – Kyle Loudon and Carson Lim (both successful Canadian marketers) gave birth to the WA community in 2005.
Say hi to the cool duo, along with their families.
Kyle and Carson originally designed WA as a database providing tons of keywords for running profitable Pay Per Click (PPC) campaigns.
But has since shed its skin to evolve into one of the best (in my opinion) platforms for folks (mostly beginners) of all backgrounds to start and grow successful businesses.
Will WA’s Training Create The “WOW” Factor?
To cut a long story.
YES, indeedy!
But with that said, there’s still room for improvement, which I’ll explain shortly.
First though, here’s a run-through of what you’ll gain access to.
$0 Appetizer (Getting Started)…
Once you gain access to WA’s dashboard – you’ll see that Kyle has put together a 10-lesson package called ‘Online Entrepreneur Certification’ – (Getting Started Level 1) located under the “training” tab:
The free video lessons cover:
- Getting Rolling! (21.19 minutes)
- Understanding How to Make Money Online (13.26 mins)
- Choose a Niche (17.06 mins)
- Building Your Own Niche Website (21.35 mins)
- Setting up Your Website (21.53 mins)
- Getting Your Site Ready for Search Engines (13.37 mins)
- Creating Your Initial Website Content (27.32 mins)
- Creating Custom Menus on Your Website (14.34 mins)
- Understanding Keywords, The Start of Your Content (20.12 mins)
- Congratulations & Your Next Steps (text-based lesson)
All in all, I personally think the lessons are superb because Kyle shows you HOW to lay the foundations of your new online Biz.
Which, I’m sure you’ll agree, is a crucial area where a lot of money-making products fall short.
I also love the fact that Kyle has created text-based lessons alongside the videos, as well as actionable checklists to prevent you from derailing.
My only concern about the getting started training is the niche-selection part.
Since, there are other ways of choosing niches besides using interests or passions – like the strategies taught inside First-Time Internet Marketing Profits.
Which, Kyle doesn’t discuss.
Main Course (Premium Training)…
If you’re happy to proceed with advanced training, there are 4 more modules to sink your teeth into (each containing 10 video lessons):
- Building Your Own Traffic Producing Website (Level 2)
- Making Money! (Level 3)
- Mastering Social Engagement (Level 4)
- Achieving Maximum Success Through Content Creation (Level 5)
The tutorials are jam-packed full of goodness.
And contain by-the-hand guidance on producing quality blog content that gets ranked in the search engines, monetizing it, and generally exploring other traffic channels.
But, however, some videos are a little dated and in need of a makeover – which I hope Kyle addresses before WA comes under even more heavy fire from outside internet marketing pros.
Furthermore, the core training doesn’t contain any modules on YouTube, which I’m surprised about.
Because it’s only one of the biggest content marketing/Biz building strategies of the 21st century that complements blogging just nicely.
Which I guess is one of the many reasons Kyle and Carson now offer Premium Plus membership to amplify your knowledge and success (their words).
In other words, you get access to more advanced stuff.
For example (at the time of writing), 400+ expert video classes taught by successful WA members are available to plug into.
In my opinion, these classes combined are worth MANY $1,000s – and then some!
Dessert (Jay’s Weekly Video Classes)…
The other cool aspect of the training is that Jay (an experienced WA’er) hosts a 1-hour live webinar every Friday, which is also recorded.
In my opinion, the webinars are a great way of supplementing your learning at WA because Jay shares plenty of golden nuggets.
Moreover, Jay ends his webinars on a high with ‘Q & A’ sessions – allowing you to pick his brains.
So whether or not you’re painting the town red on a Friday, you can certainly brush up on your marketing skills at WA.
To get started with WA…
Affiliate Bootcamp, A Bit of a Sore Subject
If you find it tough to pick a niche following Kyle’s ‘OEC’ getting started training, then the alternative is to roll with Wealthy Affiliate’s affiliate program & Bootcamp’.
It pretty much offers the same training as both the free and advanced ‘OEC’ courses.
Except, Bootcamp shows you how to recommend WA itself for affiliate commissions.
While Kyle delivers plenty of insightful training for helping you earn from WA’s affiliate program (+ qualify for a free yearly Vegas trip)…
Most folks seem to struggle with Bootcamp for a whole host of reasons.
Unfortunately, some WA members’ (myself included in the past) have literally invested 100s of hours into their blogs for 18+ months.
Only to get minimal traffic from Google – equating to a measly part-time income.
Some have even quit Bootcamp as a result and chosen the ‘OEC’ path instead.
Whereas others thrive with Bootcamp – creating 5 to 6-figure businesses.
It seems to me that Bootcamp is a “luck of the draw” type of thing…
Or could it be the fact that it revolves around a highly competitive niche that’s a tough nut to crack – where some Bootcampers are sneakily implementing advanced SEO strategies OUTSIDE of WA?
Furthermore, if you’re not clued-up on the topics of internet and affiliate marketing, then I’d seriously sit Bootcamp out if I were you.
Tools & Services, Just What The Doctor Ordered!
Inside WA, you’ll discover an array of tools and services to take advantage for starting and building out your online Biz into a monster.
But with so many to cover in-depth, I’ll just skim over the surfaces of the main ones.
Is that OK with you?
#1: SiteRubix, Build it & They Will Come…
Firstly, there’s WA’s in-house website builder called SiteRubix.
As a starter member, you can quickly and easily build 1 free WordPress website with SiteRubix!
But as a Premium member, you’re allowed to build up to 10 powerful sites.
Tied in with your sites, you’ll get:
- Ultra-fast & secure web hosting
- The option to buy & connect domain names (using WA’s domain platform)
- And a site manager for monitoring the health and overall progress of your sites.
Furthermore, there’s a content writing platform with free images to use, templates, the ability to set writing goals, and also a spell checker for efficient blog content creation.
2023 update: there’s a new addition to the WA tool family called ‘Niche Finder’.
So, if you’re struggling to come up with a niche in your industry to build a website around from the offset, then Niche Finder will come up with 10 suggestions to roll with.
You simply type in your niche and let the tool work its magic – I guess it’s similar to ChatGPT that everyone’s raving about at the moment.
#2: Jaaxy, Created by Affiliates “For” Affiliates…
The Jaaxy keyword tool (LITE) enables you to find the right keywords for producing content around and getting it ranked in the search engines for traffic.
Also, with the tool, comes a great bunch of cool features.
Like, the ‘Alphabet Soup Technique’ for keeping keyword ideas flowing, and a tracker for keeping tabs on your Google rankings, to name a couple.
However, the LITE version has some feature limitations.
But there’s no real need to upgrade your Jaaxy plan (in my opinion) unless you want the full benefits of the tool.
But my beef with Jaaxy is that when you compare its SEO keyword metrics to other keyword tools like KW Finder, Semrush and ahrefs (only some of the best tools on the cyber planet) for example...
The results tell an entirely different story.
Where Jaaxy tells you that certain keywords will generate you some decent traffic and are easy-peasy to rank for (+ even vice-versa) in Google...
Other said tools usually state the opposite, unfortunately.
Jaaxy delivers some great keyword suggestions, don’t get me wrong.
But it seriously falls short in the SEO metrics department.
Which, is why I now rely on a more reputable tool for my data (cough cough, Semrush).
No offense to WA, BTW (lol) – it’s an issue they must fix pronto.
#3: Affiliate Programs, an Affiliate’s Wet Dream…
My apologies for being so crude.
But WA’s newly-released ‘Affiliate Programs’ feature makes searching for the right affiliate programs to join a total doddle.
So instead of spending hours sifting through Google results for niche-related affiliate programs and products that are going to be your cuppa…
WA allows you to do it with speed and ease – also displaying all the affiliate program metrics you need to know before submitting your applications.
I’d say this is definitely one of my most favourite features inside the community – that will make non-WA members green with envy.
24/7 Support, Your Life Raft Keeping You Afloat
I won’t lie to you, the help and support from WA’s ‘Help Center’ is second to none.
And here are some VERY good reasons why:
First up, there’s ‘SiteSupport’.
If you have a problem…
If no one else can help…
You CAN hire the A-… (sorry, “Site Support” team!)
Joking aside, if your website breaks, there’s no need to get your knickers in a twist because you can simply shoot the support team a message.
And within minutes, you’ll find a reply sat in your WA message box – usually accompanied by a quick fix.
Secondly, you can ask questions inside classrooms, PM members’, and even pick the brains of members’ on live chat around the clock.
You’re always guaranteed to get plenty of assistance inside the community.
However, there is a small downside because at times you may not get the right answers you need – which can be frustrating.
Thirdly, you can reach out to either Kyle or Carson through Private Message.
But you won’t always get a response because the pair are inundated with messages.
In spite of a couple of cons, you still won’t find the same level of support with any other affiliate marketing platform. Period.
The Cost of Wealthy Affiliate is a Drop in The Ocean…
When it comes to WA’s cost – becoming a starter member won’t cost you a single cent.
What’s even better is that no credit card details are required until you decide to go Premium for WA’s full benefits.
The awesome thing about Premium membership is that Kyle and Carson won’t charge you a kidney (unlike most training platforms).
Plus, they offer various Premium membership plans to suit budgets of all shapes and sizes.
Premium:
- $49/month
- Or $495 per year
Premium Plus:
- $99/month
- Or $995/year
Obviously, the bigger the plan, the more you save, and the more benefits you also receive.
On top of those prices, buying a .COM, .NET or .ORG domain from WA for your website will only cost from $13.99 to $15.99 each year (per site).
Wealthy Affiliate Success Stories – Show Me The Money!!
With WA being in business for so long and over 2 million community members’, success is definitely happening, baby!
But with so many folks making money from Kyle’s teachings and leveraging the tools, services, and support, I really don’t know where to start.
The success stories range from members’ making their first $ online to literally earning $10,000+ per month in a space of a few years.
Here’s a small bunch of stories from folks in various niches.
And as for more recent 2022 – 2023 member success stories, there are some posted within the community.
Which proves that WA can work (despite its numerous cracks) for members who are willing to learn and work hard.
Drawing to a Close: Is Wealthy Affiliate Worth it?…
Pardon the expression, but does a bear sh*t in the woods?
While there are some aspects of the Wealthy Affiliate community that leave a sour taste in my mouth (as outlined in this review)…
It’s still one of the best, if not, the best damn affiliate marketing platform you’ll lay your hands on.
By no means is making money a stroll in the park, though.
The notion of “get-rich-quick” is nothing but an old wives’ tale.
But if you follow Kyle’s training to the letter, make good use of WA’s resources, and work your butt off as if your life depends on it…
Then earning a full-time income down the road as an affiliate marketer is doable.
“How much can I earn at WA”, you ask?
Only YOU can answer that question.
To become a member of Wealthy Affiliate and build super profitable empire from scratch…
==> Get Free Access to Commission Academy!
Your buddy, Neil 😀
Got any further questions you’d like to ask or thoughts to add on WA? Please drop them in the comments below…
Hi Neil. Thank you for very interesting article. I’m just starting my adventure with digital marketing and I already learn that it’s not easy to start with so many things you need to cover.
But Wealthy Affiliate is great starting point. With tons of comprehensive trainings, supportive community and webhosting it gives you all information and tools you need.
Of course you won’t success without months of hard work, but WA definitely can make it much easier.
My pleasure!
There sure are numerous moving parts to contend with when it comes to starting an online Biz. But as you learn and build your Biz one block at a time, it sure gets a heck of a lot easier down the road, in my experience. I’m now at the point where I can now start a new blog from scratch and grow it with my eyes shut (well, almost LOL) thanks to WA.
Great in-depth review of Wealthy Affiliate. I am very familiar with them as I have been with them for over 5 years now.
I know that there are so many positives and WA has been helpful to me in so many ways. Anyone considering working from home and affiliate marketing should try them. Everything you say is spot on.
Cheers!
WOW, good for you! With that level of commitment, I see you having massive long term success with your online Biz.
I appreciate your feedback.
Hi Neil, I’m quite thankful I found your review. Lately I’ve been inundated with texts and emails from various affiliate marketing “opportunities”. That in itself is overwhelming. Your review of Wealthy Affiliate is refreshing and helpful.
I joined WA about 2 years ago, but found it daunting. But, since packing it in about 18 months ago, my financial situation is no better than it was.
I need a residual income stream to supplement my retirement and hopefully provide a comfortable lifestyle. After reading your review, I’m strongly considering WA for that additional income.
Thank you for your unbiased opinion and honesty as to the pros of selecting WA. Once I get back in WA, I may be contacting you for advice! ?. Thanks, Darlene
Hey, Darlene! That’s fab! 😀
UGH, tell me about it… Don’t you just hate those marketing emails! LOL.
But I’m happy my review gave you some escapism from that bombardment.
I hear what you’re saying about Wealthy Affiliate, I think any sort of internet and affiliate marketing product/platform that you buy into is pretty scary as a beginner. So you begin to question your decision when you feel out of your comfort zone.
But I’m glad you’re back on track with Wealthy Affiliate. Now’s a good a time as any. Feel free to reach out anytime, I’m more than happy to assist.
This is an amazing review on Wealthy Affiliate…
It is a community of online entrepreneurs that offer general training and an adequate support system that are relevant to enable anyone to exploit as well as generate a good inflow of income.
While Wealthy Affiliate offers this opportunity, it is not a get rich quick scheme.
Thanks, I appreciate that, Stevie!
I couldn’t have said it better myself lol. Step-by-step training and support (especially around the clock) are definitely two of the essential puzzle pieces to success online.
And as we both say, the community isn’t for “shiny object” chasers… It’s for serious folks who are committed to the journey.
I have been trying to make my mind concerning joining or not Wealthy Affiliate. I know it’s free to join. But I also know that I’ll have to spend a week test driving it and I didn’t know if it was worth the try.
Your review has made me change my mind.
There were 2 things that made me decide Wealthy Affiliate is for me and they are: no hidden plus fees and the potential of making a living with it.
Sometimes, you just gotta take a leap of faith with an affiliate marketing platform/product/system because it might be the ONE you seek as a noob.
But I’m happy that my review has opened your eyes to the awesomeness of Wealthy Affiliate.
Hi Neil and thanks for your long review of Wealthy Affiliate. I have read all of it.
I was once a member of WA but I left because it was too much for me to take in and a lot of members were so FRIENDLY and wanted to connect with me all the time which was stressful to me. But I now consider joining again and I am more realistic about being successful.
Hard work and patience are the keywords here. If I join again I feel I need a Mentor. Would you like to be that for me?
Please let me know how I should proceed (click on a link etc.). Thanks.
Hey, it’s no problem at all, Ronald! In fact, I appreciate you taking the time to read my review! 😀
I totally hear what you’re saying. Unfortunately, that’s what happens when you’re involved in such a huge community – especially 2-million peeps lol.
I think the key is to prioritize… Follow Wealthy Affiliate’s training and work on your online Biz first.
AND then find the time to connect with WA community members afterwards – even if it’s just a few people each day. Just don’t get wrapped up in spending most of your time engaging with folks because that’s just taking precious time away from your blogging. This is why you became stressed in the first place.
But it’s awesome to hear you’re giving WA and success a second shot, man!
If you’ve already been a member of WA in the past, the chances are the original person who referred you to WA will be your mentor. He or she will be listed as your “coach” under the ‘Help Center’ tab.
But join WA anyway through one of the links in my review ^^ and I’ll be more than happy to help you start off on the right foot inside the community, whether or not I’m your coach.
What do you mean about the keyword tool not displaying accurate SEO metrics? That would be weird because I’ve based some of my websites on the SEO keywords I found there. Hopefully, it works out okay.
I am building my website on wealthy affiliate and one thing I wouldn’t have known would be about indexing my website on Google and other search engines.
Wealthy affiliate pointed out that I would want to do that so I did that before I got my website going which I think was good.
I’m still pretty new to it but I’m trying it because I think it’s worth a try. Like you said out of all these things out there on the internet to make money, this does seem like one of the better ones.
What I mean is that Jaaxy’s “traffic” and “competition” metrics are off point. Unfortunately, I’ve found this out the hard way, and I’m not the only member who questions Jaaxy’s metrics.
There are even 5-figure WA earners who say, and I quote “Jaaxy drills holes in your canoe”. So do let me know how you get on.
But I’m pleased you’re learning new skills inside WA, skills that will lead to a successful Biz for you.
YUP, you’re definitely in good hands with WA (despite Jaaxy’s issues). 😀
Neil, I have to say, your sense of humour is top-notch. I really enjoyed the post.
Yes, I am a part of Wealthy affiliate and honestly, when I started, the audience I received was overwhelming. There was so much to do and I agree it is awesome. The training by Kyle is step by step and easy to learn.
Honestly making money is not a stroll in the park and this world is not a bed of roses but with hardwork, I think one can make something satisfactory. All depends on what you give in. Overall, great review.
Why, Thank You, Henderson! 😀
In my experience, the best way to handle WA is by breaking down all the components until you’re familiarised with the training, tools and community.
Obviously, this is where Kyle’s “Getting Started” training comes into play.
Can you just imagine how many rich folks would roam this earth if making money online was a bed of roses? Not to mention, the economy would go to pot lol.
Success only belongs to those who are willing to work hard and refuse to quit.
This is probably the most unbiased review I have read for Wealthy Affiliate because you stated the cons of the platform to which most reviews don’t. Yes! The support made available on the platform is the reason I can never rate any other platform over them. Right from the day I joined till today, I’ve never for once lacked support.
Everyone is willing to lend a helping hand concerning every question and difficulties. I personally like the fact that there are constant updates being shared on the platform too.
Also, I like the training, the freedom and the rate at which everyone develops. The fact that I can always reach out to the founders to let out my view is also a big plus to them.
However, it was not all beautiful as it seems because when I first started, the training was just too much for me to take in and the platform seems too engaging and was disturbing me in focusing. Thanks
Cheers, much appreciated, Rodarrick! 🙂
And thanks for sharing your WA experience as well. By the sounds of it, you’ll be a member of the WA fam for life, and I honestly can’t fault you.
I also understand exactly how you felt with WA in your earlier days. But WA gets easier – to the point where you can navigate the platform with your eyes closed lol.