Affiliate or MLM in Disguise? 5 “Opportunities” That Blurred the Line Too Far

byJDenesovych

838 followers

7 months ago

You ever get that pitch?

“Hey man, this affiliate thing is perfect for you. You just plug in, build your team, and boom — passive income!”

Sounds familiar? I’ve been there. Most recently with a company called MarketChair. It walked, talked, and strutted like affiliate marketing… but once I scratched the surface, it looked a whole lot like a repackaged MLM.

And MarketChair isn’t the only one. There are more wolves in affiliate clothing out there than ever — and if you’re serious about building a real online business, you’ve gotta know how to spot them.

What Is Real Affiliate Marketing? (Quick Version)

You promote a product. You earn a commission. That’s it.

No recruiting, no “ranks,” no minimum monthly spend. You’re paid based on sales — not on building a pyramid.

Now let’s dig into where it gets messy…

5 Companies That Blur the Line: Affiliate or MLM?

Here are five “affiliate” companies that raise some red flags:

• Pitched as an AI-powered affiliate platform.
• Offers overrides from multiple tiers of referrals.
• “Team bonuses” based on member performance.
• Focus is on recruitment and software licenses, not product education.

• Sells supplements, but most reps make money by signing up new reps.
• Monthly autoship is “recommended” for commissions.
• Emphasis on matrix payouts and team spillover, not direct product sales.

• Website/marketing tool suite.
• Offers 2-tier commissions — fair enough — but leans heavy on recruiting affiliates to access residuals.
• Webinars focus more on team building than using the tools.

• Known for selling “ketone” drink products.
• Affiliate tier is just the first step — it evolves into a compensation tree very quickly.
• Bonuses favor rank advancement, not customer sales.

• Travel-related “ambassador program.”
• Heavy on buzzwords and lifestyle pitches.
• Commissions tied to a binary compensation plan.
• Travel savings are the bait — the real money comes from building a team.

Let’s Compare Apples to Pyramids

Here’s a simplified structure breakdown between models:

True Affiliate Companies Worth Learning From

Here are real affiliate platforms with clean structures, where your income depends on your skill — not your team-building mojo:

• Wealthy Affiliate – Earns 50% recurring commissions. No tiers. No downlines.
• Booking.com / Expedia Affiliates – Promote travel listings, earn per sale. No team-building incentives.
• Amazon Associates – Straightforward % of product sales. No hierarchy.
• Allstays Pro Affiliate – Niche RV tool, single-level commissions, perfect for content creators.

Final Thoughts: Trust the Model, Not the Hype

If a “company” spends more time talking about their compensation plan than their product… run.

If someone says, “This is affiliate marketing with a twist!” — ask what that twist costs. Because sometimes, that twist is just a pyramid with a fresh coat of paint.

I’m not here to bash anyone grinding for a paycheck, but I am here to help you dodge the traps and build something real.