Hello, and welcome.
My name is Tim, and I am the founder of this site.
I decided to put this page together to help answer some of the most commonly asked questions people have about this site and the world of affiliate marketing in general. And if there’s something on this page that isn’t answered, please leave a comment below.
Contents (click to skip to a section):
- What is Affiliate Journal?
- What is affiliate marketing?
- Who are you?
- What is Wealthy Affiliate?
- Do you earn commissions from this site?
- Do you recommend anything besides Wealthy Affiliate?
- How can I contact you?
What is Affiliate Journal, and why did you start it?
Affiliate Journal (affiliatejournal.org) is a blog I created in 2023 to share my research and opinion on the different online business programs out there. I also show people how to start a business online with affiliate marketing by sharing the same process I used to create my business.
What is affiliate marketing?
Affiliate marketing is a business model where you earn commissions promoting other companies’ products online. The basic idea is to set up a simple website in a niche you are interested in and recommend products to your visitors that they are interested in buying.
Many people haven’t heard of affiliate marketing, but it’s actually a multi-billion dollar-per-year industry. And it’s a simple, low-cost business model that anyone can learn.
If you want to know more, check out this 5-part beginner’s guide to affiliate marketing I created that walks you through the fundamental process involved in building a business this way.
Who are you?
My name is Tim, and I’m the guy who started this site.
I started my first real online business in 2015 after falling for countless scams and bunk programs that overpromised and underdelivered. It took me a few months to make my very first $1.17 commission as an affiliate, but within a couple years, I was pretty much a “full-time” affiliate marketer.
I don’t claim to be a “guru,” but I have achieved some pretty cool things within the online world, including attending the (all expenses paid) Super Affiliate conference in Las Vegas numerous times, and I’ve had the privilege of helping many others create successful businesses.
What is Wealthy Affiliate?
Wealthy Affiliate is the platform that taught me almost everything I know. Before Wealthy Affiliate, I was essentially lost in a sea of fake programs that only benefited the people that ran them. I’m not saying that everything else is a scam except WA, but this platform is one of a kind.
They give you all the tools, training, support, and mentoring you need to build a successful business online with affiliate marketing. And they don’t use all the scammy marketing tactics that are so common in the online business world.
For instance, they don’t make overhyped claims about getting rich at the push of a button, they charge a fair price for their service ($49/month), and there are no hidden upsells.
Not to mention, they have been in business since 2005 and have a 4.8/5 star rating on TrustPilot, which is virtually unheard of in the online business space.
No platform is perfect, but everything about Wealthy Affiliate is designed to help you succeed, and it’s by far the most ethical platform in the industry.
Do you earn commissions from this site?
Yes. I earn commissions promoting products and services in several different niches, and on this site, I earn affiliate commissions promoting Wealthy Affiliate.
I can understand why some would argue this makes me biased, but the reality is that I only recommend products and services I use myself and that I genuinely believe in. The fact I earn commissions does not change that, but it does help cover the cost of running this site.
Virtually every site needs to monetize its content creation efforts in one way or another, as creating content takes time and effort. And instead of running random ads or shamelessly promoting whatever makes me the most money, I choose to recommend Wealthy Affiliate because it’s a platform I use myself, and it’s one I truly believe in because it helped me build a successful business.
So, when you click on ANY link on this site that take you to Wealthy Affiliate, I will earn a commission, but this does not cost you any extra. And the benefit to you is that, by joining WA through my link, you will get direct access to me to help you build your business.
As mentioned, I’ve been doing affiliate marketing since 2015 and helped many people get started in that time, so I know I can help you get started on the right foot too.
And if you decide to join the Premium membership, you will have direct access to me via private message inside the platform, and I will personally help with your business.
Do you recommend anything besides Wealthy Affiliate?
I recommend products and services in a variety of niches, but when it comes to starting a business online, Wealthy Affiliate is the only platform I truly recommend because it’s the most ethical, comprehensive, and cost-efficient platform in the industry.
Many other programs I’ve joined (including some of the most well-known in the space) are riddled with issues that mean I would simply not recommend them.
For example, many companies in the online business space:
- Use highly unethical marketing to promote their program that does not set people up with realistic expectations.
- Only give you part of what you need to succeed, which means you need to spend considerably more money to implement what they teach.
- Have hidden upsells.
- Sell outdated, re-hashed training you can find online for free.
- Focus primarily on showing you how to promote the same program you just joined rather than teaching you the skills you need to build a business in ANY niche you want.
- Pretend to give you “coaching” when, in reality, the people on the other end of the phone are salespeople who are trying to convince you to buy the high ticket upsells.
Not everything in the online business space is a scam, but the space is absolutely FULL of low-quality programs, which is why I am very selective about what I recommend.
How can I contact you?
You can contact me at tim@affiliatejournal.org if you have any questions about this site, and I will do my best to get back to you in a timely manner.
hey I would like to know more about your affiliate marketing. just like you I started out with some programs that didn’t live up to what they where selling, thank you and have a great day
Hi Michael,
I would recommend checking out this 5-part Beginner’s Guide to Affiliate Marketing I put together, as it walks you through a lot of what you need to know to get started.
And from there, I’d recommend you create your free Wealthy Affiliate Starter account, as this is the same platform that taught me how to build a profitable online business from scratch, and it’s the best place to go to learn how to get started online.
Hope this helps!
I want to learn how to do everything, but I’m not sure where to start.
I just need help. I do want to join the new world. But I am scared.
I would recommend going through the free training I created here on this site, which you can access here.
I have been researching ways to earn a decent online income for a while now, to escape the 9-5 grind and to have time and financial freedom. I have now come down to 2 programs which I am unsure about. WA is one. It’s so scary though as I know NOTHING about affiliate marketing, but am willing to do my best to learn, if held by the hand the entire way through. Will any of the 3 WA programs do this for me? Thanks.
Hi Jann,
Yeah, starting any new venture can be scary, but if you are willing to learn and take action, you can and will succeed at affiliate marketing.
Aside from the step-by-step training and tools you get access to, the great thing about Wealthy Affiliate is that there’s ALWAYS someone there to help you along the way. Not only do you get direct access to the founders of the platform (Kyle and Carson), but you get access to a vibrant community of both successful and aspiring online entrepreneurs that are there to help you succeed as well. Anytime of the day or night, there’s always someone online that you can reach out to.
And if you join WA through one of the links on this site, you will get direct access to me personally, and I will be there to help you every step of the way. I have been earning a full time income from affiliate marketing for over six years now, and I’ve helped many people build successful businesses along the way. So I know I can help you succeed as well.
Rest assured that if/when you join WA, you will have everything you need to succeed!
Tim good to have seen your work. I just got my business going and need help I am an importer of liquor and wines and need buyer which must be either other Distributors or Liquor Stores.
Can your program help me.
Absolutely. Wealthy Affiliate can help you grow your reach, which means more potential customers. So while WA is mostly focused on affiliate marketing, it can absolutely help you if your goal is to build an audience online and grow your sales.