Like most online programs that offer community, software, and guided education; Wealthy Affiliate has it’s die-hard devotees and a tendency to assume that this program and software is the Holy Grail, (while detesting the compiling of other resources) it’s this type of thinking that makes one not want to drink the Kool-Aid.
Don’t get me wrong, the program has been a solid education on authority blogging thus far. But I know of better already, and that’s only because I’m not coming into this program as a complete newbie.
I wrote about my free trial period here and expanded to include my experiences shortly after becoming a “Premium” member here.
I’m just here to give a review based on what I’ve experienced and what has worked for me.
The Other (Woman)Programs
There’s always this sense of loyalty that comes into play.
It’s Cultish at worse, and MLM passive-aggressive at best.
Aside from the obvious social implications, this can stand in the way of many of the types that want to pay their money, get their education and get the Hell out of there.
Sound familiar, Go Pokes.
I personally love that about SEO Affiliate Domination along with the depth that was offered.
Although, I do respect WA and noticed that they teach some of the same methods, but there’s always an undertone of “my way or the highway” with the software and community tie-ins coming early and often.
This might be worth it if you are on a budget and don’t mind the slower pace (it takes several lessons and a premium membership before you get into content creation and setting up monetization efforts).
But, if you’re like me and like to knock out the entirety of an online course in a week’s time or so, you can go a different route. You can go for the courses reserved for those that are beyond novice level.
The truth is, you don’t know how advanced your first course really is. Luckily, I had a great experience and took the challenge as a necessary right of passage in order to start earning online.
Check out my review of the experience here.
My bias is evident, but I don’t care and don’t want to hide it.
I learned the ropes in the deep end.
SEO Affiliate Domination not only gave me knowledge, but I’m also able to see and understand the industry as a whole through the eyes of someone who knows and understands another skill in SEO.
Sadly, the beginners in this industry really just want to earn money blogging and don’t necessarily want to be troubled with the ins-and-outs of SEM/SEO or Keyword Research.
“It’s akin to learning from a neighborhood auto mechanic on the job instead of going to a vocational school. Quick, real world experience heightens the education gleaned in a controlled environment.”
Oftentimes, the real-world experienced apprenticed out-paces the traditionally trained peers.
I don’t know why, but I think I understand why.
People run from uncertainty and look for validation. We all do it on some level.
It’s the reason we look for name brand stores and products. We look for staples in our lives in order to borrow that confidence through association.
Next time you see a guy in a Lambo ask him if the size of his… ego changed since buying the car.
Don’t fall for the hype, see the Affiliate Marketing journey for what it is.
What Wealthy Affiliate Misses
Yes, it’s more difficult and more expensive approaching your Affiliate Marketing career in this way.
But there again is the distinction, are you looking for a side hustle or an actual career skill?
I was running a couple online businesses before I took SEO Affiliate Domination’s courses and I was able to increase traffic to all of them through what I learned. It took a couple months for it to hit.
Did I get an immediate sell? No, but that’s not the point in this approach.
I’m in it for the long-haul, and driving traffic is one piece of a complex puzzle that gives us the skills and understanding we need for longevity in the much bigger game of Affiliate Marketing.
Wealthy Affiliate will teach you to write.
You can get really good at writing through the rigors they encourage you to endure, however, you aren’t going to get a peak behind the curtain to understand how and why you are succeeding.
Let’s not pretend. There are easy ways to do just about anything. But just like those other examples (food, entertainment, relationships) the best quality usually isn’t the easiest or most accessible.
When you really look at your personality type and get honest about what you can achieve through affiliate marketing, you can choose to make thousands in this industry fairly quickly. Or, you can accept the fate of a “beginner” and begin in that mindstate to ultimately approach this thing as a novice.
Things take time, I get that, but that doesn’t mean I need to go to community college before Harvard.
It is possible to go learn the basics from the pros at a pace and in an environment that doesn’t reward mediocrity. I’m not here to be your friend, or pretend I care, and to be honest I don’t care because you are essentially a competitor in this space. I’m not unfair though, and I knew that content like this is what I would have wanted a few short years ago.
But, I do believe this article will be useful to others who are approaching online business the way I do. I’m here not to make a quick buck, I want to set my business up in a way that is solid and well-thought-out.
There really are no shortcuts and no crutches when you choose to eliminate them. Take pride in your knowledge of the industry, get different perspectives, hell join Wealthy Affiliate and SEO Affiliate Domination.
That’s what I did about 6 months after I made my first buck online. I always want a 2nd opinion.
This isn’t Nazi Germany, we don’t need to be loyal to any program or community to succeed.
I’m not saying don’t make friends and don’t care for people, please do but in your business, you have to protect it like it’s a newborn child.
We assess the information that is presented instead of blindly following. There is more than one way, I trust the approach that I can compare to others and realize it’s pros and cons.