From Idea to Brand: Building With Wealthy Affiliate
When I first joined Wealthy Affiliate, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The training was straightforward and easy to follow, which gave me a solid head start. Learning the platform itself took a little more hands-on exploring. I had to figure things out step by step but once I did, the gears started turning.
Now here I am, just about to hit my one-year mark and I’ve built a brand I genuinely love. A brand I’m proud of. Something that started as a spark in my mind and has now become a living, growing presence online.
What I’ve Built in Year One
This year was all about brand awareness. I wasn’t chasing fast money or trying to push sales. I was focused on crafting a message, building trust, and finding the people who resonated with what I’m creating.
And it’s working.
Every single day, I now have organic traffic flowing in from Google and Bing. Social media has become a core driver too especially Facebook, which has become the heartbeat of my brand’s visibility.
Let’s break that down.
From January 1 to April 7, 2025, my Facebook page generated:
- 210,600 views
- 111,200 reach (up 539.1%)
- 3,700 content interactions (up 745.7%)
- 50% of traffic now comes from organic posts
- 2 hours and 51 minutes of watch time
- And my follower count just passed 10,500
I’ve gone from a page with no direction to a daily stream of attention, engagement, and growth. My audience is mainly men aged 18–34, mostly in the U.S., U.K., and Canada and they’re connecting with the kind of content I love to create.
That’s the power of doing things your way and staying consistent.
This page started out as an ad build, evolved into a hybrid strategy, and now runs as a fully organic content engine supported by the structure I built right here at WA.
I’m also proud to say that I’m earning monthly through my book, which is tied directly into my brand’s storytelling. What was once an idea is now a product that pays.
Building Pinterest: A New Layer of Growth
Just over a month ago, I started expanding onto Pinterest — and the early results are looking great.
In just 60 days, I’ve pulled in:
- 18.8k impressions
- 546 engagements
- 116 saves
- 6.89k total audience
- 14 outbound clicks — and growing
Pinterest is opening up a new visual audience and giving my content fresh visibility, especially among people who love story-driven, mysterious, or thought-provoking content.
It’s a slow but exciting start and it’s already proving to be a valuable new platform to grow into.
What’s Next
With a strong foundation in place and traffic flowing in daily, I’m now shifting into expansion mode.
Here’s what’s coming next:
- Growing my Pinterest strategy
- Launching a YouTube channel
- Creating animated content to bring my stories to life
- Releasing my book series to deepen the experience for readers and fans
This next chapter is about reach and connection — showing up on more platforms, offering more ways to experience the brand, and turning curiosity into community.
Final Thoughts
A year ago, all of this lived in my head.
Now it’s alive growing across platforms, generating income, and connecting with people who get it.
That’s the beauty of building through Wealthy Affiliate. You’re not just learning how to build a website. You’re learning how to build something real something that lasts.
And the best part? I’m just getting started.
Always remember the big key:
If you can think it, you can build it.
The power is yours to harness.
"You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great."
– Zig Ziglar
Here’s to the next phase of the journey bigger reach, deeper impact, and a brand that keeps evolving.
Shawn
Recent Comments
14
Thank you so much, Teri! I’m staying focused and taking it one step at a time. Grateful for the support!
Shawn
This is a major win Shawn, congrats on your hard work!
Pinterest is doing okay as long as I pin. Haven’t been very active on FB.
Instagram is gaining followers for my guitar site so that’s cool
You said you’re getting organic traffic from Google? I’d like to see that data!
Thanks, SteveO! Really appreciate the support, man. Pinterest’s been steady for me too, just like you, as long as I pin. Facebook’s been quieter, but I’m testing some new stuff. Glad to hear your guitar site is gaining traction on Instagram—that’s awesome! I’m following you on Instagram too, by the way 🤘
As for the organic traffic, yeah, it’s starting to roll in. Check this out
I grabbed a quick screenshot from Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools
-Google (last 3 months): 2.1K impressions, 17 clicks
-Bing: 6.3K impressions, 84 clicks, 1.33% CTR
Now here's the crazy part—just 4 months ago, I had to rebrand everything. Changed the domain, name, and overall direction of the site after realizing I needed to pivot and align everything properly—content, message, strategy, all of it.
These aren’t massive numbers, and I’m totally okay with that. What matters to me is it shows the system is working. My biggest key right now? Just waiting. Letting things build. Trusting the process.
I’m only 11 months in, and I finally feel like I’m getting my “web legs” walking. Still learning, still building—but it’s moving forward and that’s what counts
Thanks bro,
Shawn
Ahhh thank you for following my IG!
I’m excited to see your site growing as it gives me hope. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve realized the guitar site is only going to grow w YouTube, TikTok, and IG. The new web design is looking killer! A little more tweaking and it’ll be ready to leave the staging area.
Weight loss site needs to be redone like what you did but I’m not sure how much effort I want to invest in it. I did purchase a new domain for it so we shall see.
Meanwhile, I spun up a new site dedicated to beginner bloggers. Using it to promote WA and other relevant products or services. Used the Kadence theme w this one and it already looks very professional.
Ahhh thanks man I appreciate that a lot
It’s been a grind but seeing it all slowly come together feels good
Sounds like you’re making solid moves too
The guitar site really has huge potential especially with YouTube TikTok and IG
Once that new design is dialed in and out of staging you’ll be flying
As for the weight loss site I get it
Sometimes it’s tough to decide where to put your energy
But picking up a new domain means there’s still something there
Just trust your gut on when to go for it
That beginner blogger site sounds super smart
Kadence was a solid pick and I think WA fits great in that space
Excited to see where that one goes
Also you should consider joining your IG with Pinterest and Facebook
That way when you post on IG it automatically pushes to the other two
Then on Pinterest and Facebook you can do a separate image and share it back to IG
That little loop might boost your views
I know my IG has helped both my Pinterest and FB quite a bit
Right now I’m mainly testing what happens when I only change the Pinterest pin
Just to see how that performs
Also curious—do you make short reels teaching people how to play different cords?
That could be a killer strategy for you
Even super basic ones could pull in views and grow your audience fast
Your stuff’s looking killer man keep going strong
Shawn
Awesome Shawn! 1 year of commitment for those results, now just 10 x that over the next couple of years and BOOM, you've got a thriving business!
Hey Jeremy, it’s funny, when I started this Facebook strategy, I had no clue where it was heading. I stumbled a lot at first, but now it really feels like this page is a part of me. The support from people like you has made all the difference. Thank you for the kind words and for taking the time to comment, it means a lot! I seriously can’t wait to see where this all goes, or how many people it might help along the way.
Shawn
Good job, Shawn!!
It's coincidental that you chose Zig's quote. I just shared that on another blog before reading yours.
Hey Howard, haha, no way that’s awesome! Great minds think alike, right? I’ll have to check out the one you shared. Zig’s got some real gems that just stick with you. One that always hits me is, “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.” Appreciate you checking out the post and the kind words, means a lot!
Shawn
Yes, that Zig quote has always been a favorite for business growth philosophy: help people and you will be helped too.
I shared that quote on this post: Using Self-Motivation Quotes to Help You Stay Focused Press on, Sir!
See more comments
Shawn,
I am pleased to see you making so much progress. Please continue down this road to success. You are the one who has the power to achieve your dreams. It seems as if you just got out of the terminal.
Jerry
Jerry, that really hit home,thank you. You’ve got such a powerful way with words, and this message gave me a real boost. I’m definitely out of the terminal and finally moving full throttle toward where I’m meant to go. Grateful for your wisdom and support along the way. Let’s both keep rising!
Shawn
Shawn,
We will both advance out of the terminal and head out toward our destinations. Each of us will have challenges, but with the support of friends and family, we shall overcome them. As a gesture to those who follow us, we will help all who need it.
Jerry