In this video and blog post, I want to talk about why I have stayed at Wealthy Affiliate for 11 years. I joined Wealthy Affiliate in November 2014 and, nearly 11 years later, I’m still here. In this article I’m going to walk you through the specific, practical reasons I have stayed — not just generalities — and I’ll show how I actually use the platform day-to-day. I always believe that it is good to invest in ourselves and to keep up to date in the industry that we are participating in. It’s always good to mix with like minded people who share the same mindset.
What Wealthy Affiliate Is
Wealthy Affiliate is an all-in-one place to learn and build an online business. You can start free (no credit card), try the training and tools, and only upgrade if it fits the way you work. I personally upgraded immediately because I could see the value, but I always recommend people test the Wealthy Affiliate platform properly first.
Exactly What You See On a Starter Account
I created a small test profile to remind myself what a new user sees. If you are on the free starter level, your dashboard is simple and leads you into the Core Training. It looks something like this flow:
- Getting Started — fundamentals, your first website, basic settings.
- Brand — clarifying your niche, positioning, and brand direction.
- Content — writing useful posts, structuring pages, on-page SEO basics.
- Growth — traffic building, internal linking, content planning.
- Momentum — consistency systems and improving output quality.
- Making Money — monetisation options and affiliate integrations.
- Scaling — processes, outsourcing, and expanding what already works.
When you move to the paid level, you unlock the whole pathway and a lot more depth. The key advantage for me is that everything is in one place and trusted — I don’t waste time searching random blogs and videos to piece together what might be out of date.
Why Updated Training Matters (Especially With AI)
The online landscape changes quickly, and the pace has only increased with AI tools. The platform updates training to reflect these shifts. Some people used to worry about training going stale; in practice I’ve found it kept relevant and refreshed, which is one reason I have stayed so long.
The Community: Where I Actually Spend Time
When you work at a computer all day, a good community is more important than it sounds. Inside WA there are topic-focused communities down the left side of the dashboard. I personally spend the most time in the YouTube area because I publish a lot of videos, but there are also spaces for PPC, email marketing, affiliate strategy, and more.
- You can post questions and get practical answers from people who have done it.
- You can read member blog posts (there’s a “Top 10 blogs” section that surfaces useful pieces).
- You see wins other members are having and how they got there — very motivating.
Genuinely, a few friendships have come out of it for me. That human touch makes consistency easier.
“Earn as You Learn” Credits: How I Treat Them
WA now offers credits for certain activities and contributions. For me, these credits are a bonus, not a business model. Most months they offset a good chunk of my membership, and because my renewal is in November, this has often covered a meaningful portion of that annual cost. I would still pay out of pocket because I value the education and environment, but the credits are welcome.
Hosting: What I Use and Why
You can host your websites inside Wealthy Affiliate. On typical paid plans you can host multiple sites (enough for most people). I also run a dedicated server elsewhere, but I still host a number of sites on WA because the convenience of having training + hosting + management in one login is hard to beat.
- You can connect your own domains or buy them inside the platform if you prefer.
- For most members, the included capacity is more than sufficient — the real challenge is focusing on one site at a time and getting traction.
Founders and Real-World Experience
Kyle and Carson have been building and running WA for close to two decades. I prefer learning from people who have actually built online businesses, not just taught from theory. Their involvement gives the platform a clear direction and continuity.
Video Classes: Depth When You Need It
There is now a very large library of live classes and replays — well over a thousand sessions. If you’re into YouTube specifically, there are around 100+ YouTube-focused classes, which I’ve found helpful for sharpening thumbnails, retention, and workflow. When I want to go deeper on a topic, I search the class library first.
It’s Not Only for Affiliate Sites
Although Wealthy Affiliate is geared toward affiliate marketing, the same principles have worked for my garden equipment site and even for my offline businesses in the past. If your business has a website, the fundamentals taught here — topic selection, content, SEO, offers, and conversion — still apply.
Multiple Income Streams and Staying Current
I am a big believer in having multiple income streams. I do significant affiliate work, I have run offline businesses, and I also follow developments like crypto. While WA is not a crypto platform, the habit of ongoing learning and the marketing fundamentals you get here make it easier to evaluate and adopt new opportunities responsibly.
How I Recommend New People Start
- Create a free starter account and work through the Getting Started module without rushing.
- Test the feel of the community: ask a question, read the top blogs, and look at your niche area.
- Build one simple site and publish a handful of well-structured posts to experience the workflow.
- If it clicks, take a paid month and unlock the full pathway. If you love it, consider the yearly option.
Pros and Cons (My Honest View)
Pros
- Structured, updated training that reduces guesswork.
- Helpful community that makes solo work less isolating.
- Hosting, domains,