Why I Chose Affiliate Marketing at 59 (And What I Learned the Hard Way)

Discover how one beginner found real support with affiliate marketing through Wealthy Affiliate — and what you need to know before you start.

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At 59, I thought I had it all figured out — until I tried to make money online. This is the story of how I stumbled through affiliate marketing the hard way, found the help I truly needed, and finally built something real with Wealthy Affiliate. If you’re exploring ways to earn income online, especially later in life, you’ll want to read this before diving in.

Guess what? When you click and buy through our links, you’re doing more than improving your game. You’re supporting us in a way that doesn’t cost you extra but helps us keep bringing you the best tools and tips. It’s a win-win for both of us!

Table of Contents

1. Why Did I Choose Affiliate Marketing at 59?
2. Is Affiliate Marketing Really That Easy?
3. What Went Wrong in My First Year?
4. How Did I Discover Wealthy Affiliate?
5. What Mistake Did I Make Again?
6. What Does Wealthy Affiliate Actually Cost?
7. How Do You Sign Up for Wealthy Affiliate?
8. What Do You Get with Wealthy Affiliate?
9. What Should You Expect If You Join?
10. What Do I Wish I Knew When I Started?
11. What Results Should You Expect?
12. Is Wealthy Affiliate Really Worth It?

Why Did I Choose Affiliate Marketing at 59? Quick Takeaways:

• Looked like an easy, low-effort way to make money
• Didn’t know what to promote — assumed I’d figure it out
• Thought I’d be making 6 figures in a year

My Story: When I was 59, I stumbled across affiliate marketing. To be honest, it looked like an easy way to make a lot of money with minimal effort. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to promote — I figured I’d try different things and see what stuck.

Affiliate marketing made perfect sense to me immediately. I was more than excited — I was ecstatic! It was the Eureka! or Aha! moment I had been waiting for.

At the same time, I was skeptical. That old adage — “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.” — kept echoing in my mind.

Still, I believed that with my life experience and what I thought was better-than-average intelligence, I could fiddle around for a little while and be making a six-figure income within a year.

Is Affiliate Marketing Really That Easy? In Summary:

• Affiliate marketing is simple in concept
• But executing it successfully takes work
• Many things won’t go as planned

Affiliate marketing is perfect for anyone at any age who’s willing to learn and apply what they learn. But the truth is, even though the concept is simple, the execution is not easy.

Things don’t always go as planned. You’ll hit roadblocks. You’ll encounter blind spots. And you’ll quickly discover that reading about affiliate marketing is not the same as doing it.

I thought I could teach myself. I attended free webinars and read endless articles. I tried to “Frankenstein” together a plan. After spinning my wheels for a year, I finally gave in and spent thousands of dollars on a premium course — and got nothing in return.

I even took the company to court. I initially won the case… only to have the ruling overturned on appeal. While that legal mess unfolded, I asked around for an honest, affordable way to learn affiliate marketing.

How Did I Discover Wealthy Affiliate? What Stood Out:

• Free trial with no pressure
• Clear step-by-step training
• Real-time support from real people

But honestly, I was burned out and jaded. I didn’t trust anything at that point — not after wasting time, money, and emotional energy. When someone I barely knew messaged me with a link to a free trial, I almost ignored it. But something told me to give it one last shot. No pressure. No credit card. Just a chance to check it out for myself. That link took me to Wealthy Affiliate.

The moment I joined, I knew I had found what I was looking for. The training was thorough. The tools were solid. And most importantly, the community was real. I could ask questions and get answers — fast.

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What Mistake Did I Make Again? Lesson Learned:

• Jumped ahead in the WA training
• Got frustrated trying to “do it my way”
• Missed key steps that would have helped me

I tend to run before I’ve learned how to walk properly. Even after joining Wealthy Affiliate, I started venturing out on my own instead of following the step-by-step program. I thought I knew enough to get ahead faster — but instead, I got lost and frustrated.

If you’re a beginner, you might feel overwhelmed by how much there is to learn. It was like going to Disneyland as a kid and not knowing which ride to go on first. The good news is: there’s a clear path — if you follow it.

Wealthy Affiliate is well-organized. If you follow the yellow brick road, so to speak, you’ll be fine. But if you keep looking ahead and veering off, like I did, you might find yourself overwhelmed and stuck.

Even if you’re not a beginner, it’s worth starting with the core training. That’s how you learn what’s available and how to use it. WA really is a gold mine — but only if you dig in.

Still, I made things harder than they needed to be. I started skipping steps. I thought I already knew enough. I stopped following the structured training and did my own thing.

That’s when frustration kicked in again. My plan to earn $100K in a year didn’t happen — because I was skipping the parts that actually build a foundation.

What Does Wealthy Affiliate Actually Cost?

Quick Takeaways:

• Free trial: $0 – no credit card required
• Two paid plans after that
• Monthly or yearly pricing available
• Cancel anytime — no contracts, no hassle

Plan Type	Cost	Includes
Starter (Free)	$0	First 5 lessons, 1 website, community access
Premium	$49/month	Full training, website tools, unlimited support
Premium Plus+	$99/month	Extra coaching, advanced tools & weekly live classes

7-day free trial (no card required)

Significant discounts are available if you pay annually.
Cancel anytime — no contracts, no pressure.

My Take:
I’ve wasted thousands on programs that gave me nothing. Wealthy Affiliate was different — I knew exactly what I was getting before I paid anything. The free trial let me explore the dashboard, the training, the support — all of it — before spending a dime.

The Premium plan gave me everything I needed to build real websites, learn SEO, get traffic, and start promoting. It was all in one place — no piecing things together or paying for ten different tools. And if you decide it’s not right for you? You walk away. Simple as that.

How Do You Sign Up for Wealthy Affiliate?

Quick Takeaways:

• Start with a 7-day free trial — no credit card required
• Use your email to create a free account
• Explore the platform and training before you commit
• Upgrade anytime — or walk away, no strings attached

Step-by-Step Sign-Up Instructions:

1. Click this link to visit Wealthy Affiliate:
   Start Your Free Week at Wealthy Affiliate
2. Enter your name, email, and create a password.
   (No credit card or billing info required.)
3. Check your email to verify your account.
4. Log in and start exploring!
   You’ll immediately get access to beginner training, the dashboard, and support.

My Advice:
Don’t overthink it. The whole point of the free trial is to give you time to look around and decide if this is for you. Ask questions, take the first lessons, explore the tools — kick the tires. You’ve got a full week to do it at your own pace, and there’s zero risk.

If you’re anything like me, you’ll know quickly whether it clicks with you. And if it does? That’s where the real journey begins.

What Do You Get with Wealthy Affiliate?

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Quick Takeaways:

• Step-by-step training for all levels
• Website builder and hosting included
• Keyword research tools
• Live coaching and support
• Affiliate programs and tracking tools
• A supportive global community

Here’s What’s Inside Your Membership:

Feature	Description
Online Entrepreneur Certification	A core 5-level course to take you from beginner to business owner
Website Builder (WordPress)	Launch up to 10 websites — no tech skills required
Web Hosting	Fast, secure, managed hosting (no need for external services)
Jaaxy Lite	Built-in keyword research and SEO tool
Live Weekly Classes	Live Zoom-style training with replays
24/7 Site Support	Real humans on standby to help anytime
Affiliate Program Directory	Find and apply to thousands of affiliate programs
Private Messaging and Mentorship	Connect directly with experienced members and mentors
Engaged Community	A built-in support system of learners and achievers

Why It Matters:

What set Wealthy Affiliate apart for me wasn’t just the tools — it was the complete package. I didn’t need to figure out what to buy next, or piece together plugins and tools from different places.

Everything I needed to start, grow, and understand affiliate marketing was already here.

The live classes and community support made a huge difference. I didn’t feel like I was doing this alone anymore — and that’s what kept me going even when I hit walls.

“You don’t need to be great to start. But you do need to start to become great.”

What Should You Expect If You Join? Quick Insights:

Quick Takeaways:

• A learning curve — but support every step of the way
• A welcoming, encouraging community
• Clarity, confidence, and a clear plan of action
• No hype — just solid, step-by-step progress

Here’s What to Expect:

Expectation	Reality
You’ll feel overwhelmed at first.	There’s a lot to take in — but the training is broken into manageable steps.
You’ll learn by doing.	You’ll build your own real website from the start — not just watch videos.
You’ll have questions.	You’ll get answers fast — from experts, coaches, and peers.
You’ll hit roadblocks.	There’s always someone to help you through them.
You’ll grow in confidence.	The more you do, the more it all makes sense — and the more empowered you feel.

My Perspective:

I expected to be handed a few tips and a to-do list. Instead, I was given a full roadmap. The people I met — both instructors and fellow learners — made the difference between quitting and pushing through.

Don’t expect magic. Expect a system. Expect support. Expect to work. And if you stick with it, expect to get somewhere real.

It may feel overwhelming at first — like being at Disneyland and not knowing which ride to go on first. But if you follow the training step-by-step, you’ll be fine.

Skip steps or try to race ahead, and you’ll find yourself confused, frustrated, and not getting the results you want.

Even if you’re more experienced, don’t skip the basics. Learn how WA is structured. Build your foundation. The advanced stuff is there when you’re ready.

What Do I Wish I Knew When I Started? Biggest Takeaway:

Quick Takeaways:

• Life experience is helpful — but not enough on its own
• Discipline matters more than talent
• Follow the steps — don’t reinvent the wheel
• Wealthy Affiliate works, but only if you work it

Looking Back, I Wish I Had Known:

💬 “You don’t know what you don’t know.”
— A phrase that haunted me during my first year

I knew I didn’t know affiliate marketing — that’s why I joined in the first place. But I thought my writing skills, life experience, and general smarts would carry me through. The truth? They helped — but they weren’t enough.

What held me back wasn’t a lack of tools or information. It was me. I kept trying to outsmart the system instead of following it. I wish I had trusted the process, stayed in my lane, and simply done the work in the order it was given.

The good news? You don’t have to make the same mistake. Trust the training. Take your time. Ask for help. Stay connected.

I wish I knew how little I actually knew.

Truth is, I got in my own way.

WA is a complete, no-fluff program built by people who genuinely want to help. They’ve dotted every “i” and crossed every “t.” But you have to be willing to follow the path.

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What Results Should You Expect? No Hype, Just Truth:

• Quick Takeaways:
• Results vary — there’s no guaranteed timeline
• Some see early success; others take longer
• The key is consistency, not perfection
• Your effort determines your outcome

Here’s the Truth About Results:

There is no magic number of days, months, or posts that guarantees success. Some people see income in a few months. Others take a year or more before they gain traction. It depends on your niche, your effort, and your willingness to learn from mistakes.

To put it another way:

If I gave you a complete playbook on how to play baseball, would that automatically make you a pro ballplayer?

Of course not. You’d still need to practice. Train. Miss a few pitches. Get back up. Affiliate marketing is the same. Even the best program in the world — and I believe Wealthy Affiliate is just that — won’t make you successful unless you put in the work.

What WA does give you is every tool, every step, and every kind of support you need to succeed. They can’t swing the bat for you — but they’ll teach you how.

There’s no guaranteed timeline. You may start to see results in a few months — but everyone’s path is different.

Think of it this way:

“A baseball coach can teach you everything about the game — but that doesn’t make you a star player. Success depends on how you apply what you’ve learned.”

WA gives you the playbook and all the equipment. But you have to show up and do the reps.

Is Wealthy Affiliate Really Worth It? Bottom Line:

• Quick Takeaways:
• The training is thorough, structured, and real
• The community support is unmatched
• No upsells, pressure, or gimmicks
• You get out of it what you put into it

So — Is It Worth It?

Absolutely. But not because it’s a shortcut or a get-rich-quick scheme. It’s worth it because it’s real. It’s built for people who want to build something lasting — not chase shiny objects.

Wealthy Affiliate gives you everything you need: training, websites, tools, and personal support. It doesn’t promise overnight results, and it won’t do the work for you. But if you show up, follow the training, and ask for help when you need it — you’ll move forward.

And you can start without spending a cent.

Affiliate marketing isn’t passive out of the gate. It takes work. It takes patience. But with the right guidance and tools, it’s absolutely worth it.

Wealthy Affiliate gave me what I needed: structure, support, and an honest roadmap. If you’re coachable and consistent, it can do the same for you.

Ready to Try It Yourself?

Are you ready to stop guessing and start building something real?

Start your free 7-day trial with Wealthy Affiliate here »

No credit card. No pressure. Cancel anytime.

You’ll get immediate access to the full community, the first set of lessons, and the chance to finally see if this is the right path for you.

Final Call to Action: Build Your Own Side Hustle — Starting Today

Whether you’re 59, 69, or just starting over, you don’t need tech skills or a business degree to succeed with affiliate marketing.
What you need is a place that makes it simple, doable, and real.

👉 Click here to start your free trial at Wealthy Affiliate.
No credit card. No pressure. Cancel anytime.

You’ll get:

• Step-by-step training
• A website of your own
• Tools that grow with you
• Support from people who care

You’ve read my story. Now it’s time to start yours.
If not now… when?