How I discovered Wealthy Affiliate as a Pensioner in 2018 [Wealthy Affiliate Review]

I’m going to share the tale that began for me in September 2018, a turning point where my professional life took a bit of an unexpected twist.

I was made Redundant aged 56

After suddenly being made redundant from my job at age 56, after working at it for 37 years, I stood at a turning point, I was still 10 years too young for my state pension but I still needed something to occupy me. I decided I wanted a lifestyle where I could work on my own terms.

Podcast : How I Got Started with Wealthy Affiliate (9:54)

Choosing to go for an online option wasn’t just about finding another income stream; it was about re-shaping my lifestyle as a retiree.

When I first discovered it in September 2018, the Wealthy Affiliate website was promising me education, support, and the tools I apparently needed to succeed online.

And it seemed a lot of people there were even older than me; I figured some had already found a great place. So I decided to take the plunge and dived in to join them. It was free to sample anyway, so what was to lose?

Now, joining this helped me bounce back, but I also understand how it might reshape your understanding of maybe making an online income for yourself too. That’s why I write here. Consider it my Wealthy Affiliate review.

If you have needed to exist on less as a pensioner, it could be a game-changer for you.

A video to give you an idea what it’s all about

Here’s a review video to watch so you can get an idea of what Wealthy Affiliate is all about. This is a real person and current member who found Wealthy Affiliate at a similar time to me.

More notably, you’ll see they are not ‘Spring Chickens’, so it’s never too late for us. They actually explain it rather well. Dale used to work in a steelworks near me. He lives in Yarm in Teesside and regularly visits Vegas for the Wealthy Affiliate Conference.

Dale123: “My Complaints & HONEST Verdict” (18:44)

More about my online journey

Before finding Wealthy Affiliate, everything in internet-land seemed to be basically a donkey chasing a carrot. Everything I’d looked at was one big never-ending sales funnel, where the “guru” behind it was just trying to sell more and more of his stuff (and didn’t really care if I was successful at all).

Ever been suckered?

Maybe you’ve been suckered into some of these programs yourself over the years and had failed to get anywhere too?

The Amways and Utility Warehouses of this World?

It’s hard work to make money with them. And you had to buy things yourself, then sell them on.

They always sound good in principle as they’re presented, but then you join and find out that what they’re teaching doesn’t actually work anymore and that the only one really making money is the person running the thing.

And that’s what was so different about these guys at Wealthy Affiliate.

There was no totally over-hyped sales page to wonder about. There were no hidden upsells behind the sign up. There were just three levels of membership (Free, Premium and Premium Plus), and I was starting Free.

I was going to be learning real skills that would eventually be transferable. And some of the other people in the community closer to my age were already successful. It looked promising.

It really was a breath of fresh air to me after trawling around for 2 years looking for a working solution to my problem (needing extra income). And I was really excited because I knew that I had finally found something real that could help me in my jobless state.

Something I could really sink my teeth into, get cracking with and keep my brain active.

That was one of the things I really wanted out of retired life. Not to just stagnate and be a burden.

I didn’t want a Lamborghini or a Rolex

I wasn’t looking to get-rich-quick like the youngsters. I didn’t want everything to happen at the push of a button. It seems so easy to hack everything at TikTok.

I didn’t want a brightly coloured Lambo that I could pose next to in photos (virtue signalling) or a Rolex watch to flaunt. I just wanted something that worked and that I could continue to learn some new skills from, even though I was now a pensioner.

And that’s exactly what I found with this platform at Wealthy Affiliate.

At last, it seemed I had a useful resource that real people just like me were using to build their online businesses. I had found my new home.

So I got the training started.

I got stuck into the training as they advised and started building my ‘online kingdom’ in September 2018. And within a few short months, I made my very first commission (of £17.33) as an Amazon affiliate. Amazon is one of the easier affiliate programs to get into, and I had created a little website and started selling weather stations.

I kept on moving forward, creating content and in about 24 months I had made a further £1,358 from Amazon! I really surprised myself.

The little website I built wasn’t really expected to sell anything when I started it. It was a hobby thing, but I added an affiliate shop and it took off. Wealthy Affiliate taught me how to do it.

Two years may seem like a long time to you, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s nothing really. I was so focused on it that time passed really quickly, and the income gradually grew.

Sharing what works

That’s why I’m so passionate about sharing it with others. Because it actually works. The whole ethos of Wealthy Affiliate is sharing and encouraging success.

Even if you’re a total newbie (everyone is to begin with) and don’t have a lot of money to get started, this can give you a path to building a highly successful new ‘career’. It works for all ages, I was 58 when I joined. There are people aged 80 and over, making money by learning at this platform

When you work it out in money terms, Premium Membership at Wealthy Affiliate is less than a cup of coffee per day (but let’s not get ahead of ourselves).

The Only Process You Need

There are many different ways you can make money online, but online affiliate marketing trumps them all because it’s a simple, low-cost business model that you can scale to any level you want, in your own time.

You never have to buy any inventory, deal with stroppy customers, ship anything anywhere … none of that stuff.

Just match buyers with sellers

All you do is recommend quality products and services that people are already interested in buying, from vendors they are already buying from, and you earn commissions when a sale takes place. It’s that simple.

See : How to become an Amazon Seller

It’s a very straightforward, well proven system. You just match buyers with sellers.

Hell, as a pensioner, you can even promote Mobility Scooters as an affiliate if you want.

Now, with all that said, it only works well when you follow the right process. Otherwise, you could end up spending months (even years) doing it the wrong way and having no success at all.

That would lead you to the conclusion that affiliate marketing doesn’t work.

Nothing is further from the truth.

And that’s where the following the Wealthy Affiliate 4-step process comes into play.

This is a proven method for building a successful online gig, and it’s one that anyone can follow (even pensioners). I know because this is how I did it.

Here’s a quick overview of how it works:

1. Choose an Interest: The first step is to choose a ‘niche’ for yourself based on your passions, interests, or hobbies. There are over 5.5 BILLION people online in the World, and with Wealthy Affiliate’s Niche Finder AI tool, you can uncover highly lucrative, untapped opportunities in a matter of seconds!
2. Build a Website: Every successful business starts with it’s own website. Think of your website as the “storefront” of your online empire. You don’t need any tech skills, either. Because with Wealthy Affiliate, you can launch a beautifully designed, profit-ready website with one click of one button!
3. Attract Visitors: It’s no secret that people like other like-minded people. Which is why this step is all about using the latest, most effective techniques to attract hungry buyers to your website who want what you are promoting.
4. Earn Revenue: Once you have people visiting your site, you can make money by promoting top-tier brands without the hassle of maintaining stock or support. There are close to 600 MILLION products you can promote online, so there are virtually endless opportunities to make profit!

This may be the first time you’ve heard about this 4-step process.

But I can assure you, it is a proven successful method. Wealthy Affiliate have been using it since 2005, when Kyle and Carson first set the company up in British Columbia in Canada as young tech wizzards.

This is how the most successful people make money – because it works.

Billions are being spent online

As I write this, in 2024, $17 Billion has been spent on affiliate marketing globally, and that figure is expected to rise to over $27 Billion by 2027.

That’s $27,000,000,000. An incredible amount!

So the affiliate marketing opportunity is absolutely massive for anyone, and it’s growing each year. You can get into it without any qualifications and be your own boss.

See : The World’s Richest Bloggers (and how to emulate them)

But how do YOU get YOUR slice of that pie?

Well, one way is you could take what I just explained and try to “go it alone.” You’d need a website building, hosting and maintaining. There are plenty of YouTube videos out there and companies selling web hosting and the like.

But I wouldn’t recommend that. Because that will (almost certainly) be a frustrating, time-consuming, and ultimately expensive journey that will only end in disappointment for you (I tried it between 2016 and 2018 before I joined Wealthy Affiliate and didn’t get anywhere really).

Why?

Because if you want to become a successful marketer (and leverage that formula I just showed you), then there are certain things you are going to need:

• You need step-by-step training from real industry experts.
• You need the websites and tools that are built specifically for building a business.
• And you need support and mentorship to help you along the way.

Get Trained Up at Wealthy Affiliate – There’s Plenty of Subject Matter!

And there is only one platform in the industry in my opinion that I have seen that has all the training, tools, and mentoring that is specifically designed to help you master the 4-step process.

Think of Wealthy Affiliate as the “vehicle” that will get you from where you are now to owning a thriving business (even as a pensioner).

Because that’s exactly what it is.

So let me walk you through what you get when you join Wealthy Affiliate and how it can help you.

How Wealthy Affiliate Can Help You Build a Successful Online Enterprise

Wealthy Affiliate is essentially a membership club that gives you everything you need to build a highly successful business venture based on any passion or interest you have.

As a member of the Wealthy Affiliate community, you get state-of-the-art tools, fully hosted websites, step-by-step training, access to a community of like-minded people, and mentorship from real industry experts (among other things).

All of which are designed to help you achieve success online.

Not only that, but the platform now uses the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to do a lot of the heavy lifting for you, which can help you build a successful venture much faster!

A lot of folks are scared of AI right?

Well the training will show you how it’s something you shouldn’t be scared of and in fact can’t do without these days, and how it can be harnessed to help you. When I first started, all blog posts and articles had to be brainstormed and written by hand. Writers block was a real thing back then. No more.

Wealthy Affiliate has many AI powered tools to help you succeed. You can get the system to write articles for you, and you just tweak them and add your own personal sauce.

So How does Wealthy Affiliate exactly work?

As a member of Wealthy Affiliate, you get access to your very own Business Hubs, which is an AI-assisted platform that acts as the “control centre” of all of your online (and offline) projects. You can start as many hubs as you like, although one will be quite enough when you first start.

All you need to do is follow a few simple steps to create your Business Hub, and you will have your very own business (including a fully hosted website) up and running within a few minutes!

When your Business Hub is set up, the foundation of your online business will be in place. You can then run everything from there.

Your Business Hub is your Operational ‘HQ’

Your Business Hub is where you will access your website, your ‘done-for-you’ research, your blueprint, step-by-step training, and a personalised “roadmap” that gives you the exact steps you need to take to grow your online venture to any level you want.

With Wealthy Affiliate, you get everything you need to build a thriving online business all under one roof.

Tools, training, mentoring, websites… the whole ‘box of tricks’.

And everything you need to succeed is embedded into your very own Business Hub, which makes the process of building your websites much easier and more streamlined than ever before.

I’ve tried many other programs over the years, and there’s truly nothing else like this in the industry that i’ve found that works.

You don’t need to take my word for it either… because with Wealthy Affiliate, you can get started for free (no credit card required) and see for yourself how it can help you build real success! You can test it, with no obligation.

My First Commissions at Wealthy Affiliate were in 2018

I joined Wealthy Affiliate in September 2018. Within a couple of months, i’d earned my first commissions. See the commission log below. I sold a monthly membership (which was Special Offer for the first month in those days) and also a yearly membership which paid me $175. I was ecstatic:

There is absolutely no reason why you can’t do the same thing. The members nurture you through the process and help you when you ask for it. There’s no question too simple and everyone helps.

Here’s How to Get Started for Free:

The founders of Wealthy Affiliate (Kyle and Carson) are so confident that the platform they have built is the best in the industry that they let you “test drive” Wealthy Affiliate for free.

They don’t just give you a sneak peek, either.

As a free Starter member, you get your very own Business Hub and “Profit Ready” practice website!

As well as all the step-by-step lessons on how to build your enterprise.

Here’s what you get access to when you create your free account:

• One “Profit Ready” Website (Hosting Included)
• Step-by-Step Money Making Blueprint
• A Niche Business Hub (Control Center)
• AI-Assisted Niche, Keyword & Competition Research Tools
• Direct Access to Me and all other members (I will personally help you get started, just like my mentor Gary did for me in 2018)

Most of the online programs I’d joined didn’t give anywhere near this level of value in a paid membership, let alone a free one.

So this is a big part of why I recommend Wealthy Affiliate to people I know (and indeed people I don’t). Not only is it the best platform in the industry, but you can try it out for nothing to see what you think!

Design and Build An Online Business That You Love – Try it Out Now.

More about the platform: A good online platform needs to educate

In my opinion, any platform that aims to educate about online business needs to be properly scrutinised and understood before I can offer full commitment. It should be the same for you too.

For me, Wealthy Affiliate stood out a country mile with its focus on long-term success and its comprehensive training programs. It wasn’t just an education site; it was a complete community of like-minded people all eager to support each other. That is so important to your success.

Since I joined in 2018, it’s improved even more, and with the arrival of AI, it’s become so much more powerful than i’d ever thought possible. Kyle and the team come up with ideas every month.

If you want a real change and you’re curious about online business life, please read on. You’re going to get insights into the building blocks that Wealthy Affiliate provides for online success, including the very training, support, and tools that changed my life and could potentially change yours as well, if you let it.

The Building Blocks of Success on Wealthy Affiliate

Wealthy Affiliate is more than just an online course; it’s a comprehensive platform designed to turn the greenest of beginners into savvy online marketers. You’ll soon be familiar with SSL (what is that I hear you say?) and other terms you’ve never even heard of yet!

There is a lot to learn

Upon first diving in, the scale can be a bit overwhelming, but take it from me, once you get the hang of it, it’s like you’ve been handed the keys to your own digital kingdom!

And no, I’m not talking about just a superficial run-through of what’s on offer. The training modules are super-extensive. They start with the basics of choosing a suitable niche for yourself (you can even do that without even signing up) and go all the way to advanced tactics used for driving traffic to your website and optimising the revenue.

That’s going to include everything from SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) to social media marketing. The beauty of it? It’s all at your own pace, which means that even if you’re balancing other domestic responsibilities, like running a home, you can still make steady progress towards your goal.

It’s suitable for anyone – Housewives, Students, Shift Workers, Teachers, Landlords, etc.

But here’s where it gets really interesting: the community. I’ve found that the Wealthy Affiliate community is one of the platform’s greatest assets.The Community is really where it’s at

Picture a huge network of seasoned people and novices alike, all different ages, from all corners of the World, all mixing together, exchanging their wisdom, successes, and, yes, even failures.

This shared knowledge is absolute GOLD for anyone starting out since the path to success is rarely a solo endeavour. You’ll need help, and help is available in abundance. Asking questions when you need  help is a fundamental at Wealthy Affiliate. It is actively encouraged, and you don’t get sarcastic and toxic replies like on Facebook either.

Everyone who is already a member will see your questions, and you’ll usually have answers in minutes. I have nearly 4,000 connections in the WA platform, and it’s rising every day.

Let’s talk about the Wealthy Affiliate tools.

You’re going to find a treasure trove of them. From keyword research tools (Jaaxy) that help you figure out what your audience is searching for, to website analytics that track your site’s performance, it’s all there.

These resources are crucial for you to build and scale your online venture effectively and successfully.

Reflecting on the early days of my membership, I remember how each success, big or small, was celebrated by the community. Everyone cheered me on. Now I do the same for others. I love seeing people win and succeed, especially those i’ve personally introduced.

Take for instance the first time my website got indexed by Google, or when I earned my first commission. These milestones are commemorated within Wealthy Affiliate, making the little victories that much sweeter.

Wealthy Affiliate’s Unique Offerings

Now, what makes Wealthy Affiliate different from the rest? I’ve seen plenty of platforms pop up over the years, but here’s why Wealthy Affiliate still stands out from the crowd in my book.

First off, let’s talk about their integrated approach to building an online venture.

You’re not just getting standalone tools; they’re all interconnected. From keyword research with Jaaxy to creating content and getting it ranked, it’s all part of the well-oiled machine.

The SiteRubix website building platform is a game changer for folks who aren’t tech-savvy. I mean, before Wealthy Affiliate, I knew nothing about building a website properly and getting it indexed. I was taught all that at Wealthy Affiliate.

With SiteRubix, I had my first website up in no time. It’s all built on WordPress, which is the industry standard and a solid foundation that you can trust, plus, they have top-notch hosting which makes your site both speedy and secure.

Then there’s the affiliate program.

I now appreciate how Wealthy Affiliate teaches you to monetise virtually any niche. Their own affiliate program is pretty sexy too. It has a (very) rewarding commission structure, and since their services are actually useful, it feels good to recommend them to others.

Plus, you can earn while you learn, which is not something you see very often.

The Ongoing education takes the cake, though.

There are Live weekly webinars which cover the latest strategies and at times, they bring in industry experts. The training doesn’t stagnate because it’s updated regularly. That matters in the fast-paced online world. This used to be one of the most mentioned complaints, but not any more.

Did it keep me on my toes?

Absolutely.

Did it also provide me with the latest tactics to stay ahead?

You bet.

My Conclusion: My Final Verdict on Wealthy Affiliate

After navigating all the ins and outs of Wealthy Affiliate for several years (6), I feel compelled to share my honest reflection on the platform.

It wasn’t just about learning the ropes of online business; it was also an avenue for personal growth and financial stability in retirement.

I’ve watched newbies grow into seasoned affiliate marketers by my side and have seen my own digital footprint expand in ways I couldn’t have imagined back in 2018.

Solid testament : It works!

That stands as a solid testament to the platform’s comprehensive training and supportive community.

Wealthy Affiliate isn’t a guaranteed ticket to wealth – it requires dedication, consistency, and a willingness to learn. However, if you follow the training and don’t mind a bit of hard work, you’ll do well.

It’s not a get-rich-quick solution for those wishing to aim for thousands of pounds without lifting a finger. It also requires a little investment, but you can’t start a successful online enterprise with no investment, right? You need skin in the game. Realise you can’t build a successful business for nothing. Truly OWN your business.

My own experience, though largely good, involved mistakes and learning curves that are typical when venturing into new territory. I’ll help you avoid them yourself when you choose to join from my link here as your mentor.

If you are eyeing Wealthy Affiliate as your springboard to success, choose something that resonates with your dreams and be ready for real work. The platform provides the tools and guidance, but your success still hinges on your own commitment to it.

For those seeking a more hands-on approach in the age of digital entrepreneurship, Wealthy Affiliate may well be worth the investment of your time and effort (and money). All you can do is try it and see.

In a World where platforms like Facebook are become more unfathomable and full of toxic people, Wealthy Affiliate is a breath of fresh air.

I’m here to help you at Wealthy Affiliate

I’m here to help anyone considering this path, with advice that stems from my own experience and genuine results.

This applies especially to retirees and pensioners who want to keep their brain active!

In a whirlwind of confusing online opportunities, Wealthy Affiliate has been a unique force for me. As you consider YOUR options, remember that your first attempt at success doesn’t need to be your last.

Most entrepreneurs have failed a lot of times before finding the system that worked for them.

Wealthy Affiliate could very well be the partner you need to kickstart or upgrade your online  journey and your life. Click the image or button below to get started.

Start Now – Just Let Me Guide You Through