A Bitter-Sweet End. But a Point Made!

Today is somewhat of a bittersweet day for me.

I'm sending out the final invoice to a client I've had for more than a decade. I'm not exactly sure how many years it's been, but I know it's well over ten. I could spend time digging through old records to find the exact date, but that really isn't necessary to make the point I want to share today.

When I joined Wealthy Affiliate in the fall of 2014, like many new members, I wondered how I was going to pay for my membership.

One idea was to take advantage of the extra hosting spaces included with my Premium membership.

At the time, I had experience building websites and blogs. I decided to advertise a special offer to create a small business website for a few hundred dollars. Before long, I attracted the attention of a businessman located in our state capital, about 50 miles from where I lived.

He needed a website.

I needed income to help cover my WA membership.

It turned out to be a perfect fit.

I offered a several-page website, two design options, hosting through Wealthy Affiliate, and ongoing maintenance. Each spring, I would review the site, make any needed updates, charge a hosting and maintenance fee, and renew the domain name. Anything extra I charged an hourly rate.

The arrangement worked out very well for both of us.

This spring, the owner informed me that he plans to retire next year and that this would be my final year hosting his website.

Today, I prepared that last annual invoice.

As I sat there working on it, I realized something.

For more than ten years, this one client helped offset the cost of my Wealthy Affiliate membership. In return, I hope I provided him with reliable service, dependable hosting, and a website that served his business well.

That's why I'm sharing this story.

It serves as proof that members can use the skills and tools available through Wealthy Affiliate to help pay for their memberships.

Affiliate marketing is certainly one path.

But it's not the only path.

The website-building skills, hosting services, content creation skills, and business knowledge available through WA can all become marketable services. Small businesses often need exactly this type of help.

Today, members also have additional opportunities to earn within the platform simply by contributing and helping others in the community.

Over the years, Wealthy Affiliate has been much more than an affiliate marketing training platform for me.

It has been:

• A place to learn new skills
• A hosting platform
• A business tool
• A supportive community
• A source of opportunities

This year alone, I've learned how to build a print-on-demand business. I've created two online stores and am now learning how to market and promote them. Once again, Wealthy Affiliate has helped me develop skills that may generate income outside traditional affiliate commissions.

For that, I'm very grateful.

Kyle and Carson have built something that has helped thousands of people learn, grow, and create opportunities for themselves.

So thank you, Kyle and Carson.

And to the newer members reading this, remember that a Wealthy Affiliate membership can be much more than an expense. If you're willing to learn and apply the skills, it can become an investment that pays you back in ways you may not even expect.

And sometimes, that return begins with just one client.

— Shirley Dawson