November 22, 2024 • 17 mins
Have you seen those bold claims all over social media? Promises to make millions working just a few hours a day from your phone, all thanks to ‘affiliate marketing’? Since we started calling out MLMs, our DMs have been popping off with another big question: ‘Is affiliate marketing a scam too?’ In this episode, we’re breaking it all down—what affiliate marketing actually is, how it works when it’s legit, and the red flags you need to spot so you don’t fall into a trap. Tune in to find out how to tell the difference between real side hustles and the flashy schemes trying to reel you in.
Acknowledgement of Country By Natarsha Bamblett aka Queen Acknowledgements.
The advice shared on She's On The Money is general in nature and does not consider your individual circumstances. She's On The Money exists purely for educational purposes and should not be relied upon to make an investment or financial decision. If you do choose to buy a financial product, read the PDS, TMD and obtain appropriate financial advice tailored towards your needs. Victoria Devine and She's On The Money are authorised representatives of Money Sherpa PTY LTD ABN - 321649 27708, AFSL - 451289.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, my name's Santasha Nabananga Bamblet. I'm a proud yr
the Order Kerni Whaltbury and a waddery woman. And before
we get started on She's on the Money podcast, I
would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land
of which this podcast is recorded on a wondery country,
acknowledging the elders, the ancestors and the next generation coming
(00:22):
through as this podcast is about connecting, empowering, knowledge sharing
and the storytelling of you to make a difference for
today and lasting impact for tomorrow. Let's get into it.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
She's on the Money, She's on the Money.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Hello, and welcome to She's on the Money, the podcast
whiles that helps you dodge the scams, skip the gimmicks,
and focus on real ways to create your wealth. I'm
your host, Victoria Devine, and if you've been following along,
you know that I have been on and will continue
to be on a little bit of a crusade against
multi level marketing schemes. Yep, those too good to be
(01:18):
true quote unquote businesses that promise big bugs but usually
end up only making your upline rich. And since I
started calling out MLMs. A lot of you have been
reaching out with questions about affiliate marketing. Is that the
same thing? Is it legit or is it just another
scheme dressed up in sleek Instagram stories and seven dollar courses? Well,
(01:39):
my friends, here is the thing. Affiliate marketing is a real,
totally legitimate way to earn money by promoting products from
brands you love. But there are some bad eggs out there,
especially on social media, that have made affiliate marketing feel, well,
a little bit sketchy. Let's just say there's a side
(01:59):
to affiliate market that isn't as shiny as the Instagram
stories make it seem, and we'll get into that a
little bit later. Today we're going to be diving into
what real affiliate marketing actually looks like, and then after
the break, I'm going to reveal some red flags to
watch for in those social media courses that don't always
live up to the hype. If you're ready to sort
the real from the red flags, lets my friends get
(02:21):
into it all right, Let's get down to basics and
start from the very start. What is affiliate marketing really?
At its core, Affiliate marketing is a way to earn
commission by promoting products or services. So think of it
like this. You're recommending a product to a friend, but
instead of just giving them a heads up, you're getting
a special link to track the sale, and if they
(02:41):
buy it, you get a cut. It's a way for
companies to reach more customers through people who genuinely like
and use their products, and for the affiliate it's pretty handy.
Side huzzle, you've probably seen a lot of your favorite
influences using platforms like lack to Know It or who
What Where and their affiliate marketing platforms. It can be
a little bit strange when you see your favorite influencers saying,
(03:04):
oh my gosh, the skirt that I'm wearing is linked here,
and you're kind of thinking, well, I wish you would
just tell me the brand of the skirt. But the
reality is, if you are wanting to click on that
link because they've essentially influenced you to purchase the product
or even just look at the product, I think they
deserve a cut. After all, they have influenced you, and
if you're purchasing a product because of them, I think
(03:26):
they deserve a bit of the cut. They've done a
lot of the marketing work, right so typically it works
like this. You sign up for an affiliate program with
a big platform or a big brand. There are big
names like Amazon and Lulu, Lemon, and even airlines that
offer these programs. So once you're in, what will happen
is you'll get a unique code or a link that's
tied to your personal account, and when someone clicks that
(03:50):
link and makes a purchase, you get to earn a
percentage of that sale. That percentage is going to vary greatly,
but usually it's between like five and twenty percent, ending
on the brand and the type of product. And the
best part, you can get started without any upfront costs,
so most legitimate affiliate programs don't require you to pay
(04:10):
any money to join them. Instead, they're betting that you're
going to have some genuine recommendations that will bring them business.
So the only way for you to make money is
if you do and vice versa, right, because if you're
signing up to an affiliate platform and sharing products that
nobody's interested in, nobody is going to be making money.
Some of the most popular places for affiliates to share
(04:32):
their links so obviously Instagram, stories, blogs, YouTube channels, literally
all over social media and even in email newsletters. The
key here is that you're genuinely recommending a product or
service that you think your audience is going to benefit from.
You're not actually pushing a membership or a subscription to
join the affiliate program itself, right, And at the end
(04:53):
of the day, if they look at the product and
don't purchase, nobody is in a worse off position. Also,
there aren't quotas to be met and things that you
need to do in order to participate. Brands aren't saying
you have to share this link this many times this month,
and if only one person purchases, you're not getting paid.
You get paid every single time it converts. And that's
(05:14):
why for big influences and people on social media, makes
a lot of sense, but they also make a lot
of money. But for smaller creators often affiliate links are
only going to bring in a few dollars here and there.
Sounds pretty straightforward, right. That's because when it's done correctly,
affiliate marketing is really straightforward, really ethical, and makes a
(05:34):
lot of sense. You're helping people find really good products
and you're getting a small thank you commission in return.
In this space, I don't believe there's any shame in
you collecting a commission for the marketing that you've done
on behalf of that brand. But here's the thing, right,
there's I would say, there's a bit of a dark
side to affiliate marketing on social media that's catching a
(05:55):
lot of you off guard. It's why a lot of
you are asking me, is a filing marketing VI a scam?
It looks really shiny, but behind the flashy promises and
influencer success stories, some of these so called like affiliate
opportunities are hiding something really sketchy. After the break, we're
going to dive into the red flags that you need
(06:16):
to watch out for so you don't get pulled into
a side housle that's more of a scam than a success.
So stick around because I don't think you're going to
want to miss this. My friends, we are back, so
let's start talking about the darker side of affiliate marketing.
Because before the break, we determined that affiliate marketing just
(06:36):
makes sense. Right, this darker side of affiliate marketing seems
to be spreading all over social media. Now by now
you should know the basics. Real affiliate marketing is very straightforward.
It's focused on promoting actual products from reputable brands. It's
typically free to join, and if you're recommending products that
aren't of interest to anybody, you're not making any money.
(06:58):
But there's this whole other side to the that's making
waves on TikTok and Instagram and beyond. To be honest,
I just live on TikTok and Instagram where certain quote
affiliate programs are advertised as the fast track way to
financial freedom, and you and I both know that that's
going to give me the ick immediately. They say things
like all you need is your phone, a laptop, Wi
(07:19):
Fi and one to three hours a day. They say,
but instead of teaching you to promote products, they're more
interested in getting you to buy their course, right ick.
One example of this that keeps popping up in the
news is Legendary Marketer. You can look them up later,
and it's a perfect case study on how these schemes work.
(07:40):
Right So, according to a report from NBC News, Legendary
Marketer starts with a hook that's pretty hard to resist,
a super low cost entry like a seven dollars fifteen
day challenge that advertises as your first step into a
side hustle that could eventually make you millions of dollars.
Right at first glance, it sounds like pretty low rech.
I mean, it's only seven bugs and like a total win,
(08:02):
just seven dollars, and you get to learn the ropes
of affiliate marketing. Right I just taught you in the
first half of this episode. But moving on, after a
few days, things start to shift. Suddenly you're introduced to
a new coach who's pitching their business blueprint package. Right,
it's a hefty twenty five hundred bucks. They frame it
as absolutely essential if you're in the business for making money,
(08:25):
and they turn up the pressure to invest in yourself.
It's so important. But here's the catch. When someone buys
that twenty five hundred dollar package, the person who originally
referred to them gets a big cut. It's usually around
one thousand dollars. So when you see those influencer or
TikTok personalities saying that they're making bank with affiliate marketing,
(08:46):
a new could too, and they're calling themselves digital marketers,
all thanks to them taking a chance on a seven
dollar course. It's not from promoting everyday products like u
Lululemon tights that you love or address that you wore
to the races, and you linked it so that other
people could buy it because you looked really cute in it.
Their income actually comes from recruiting others to buy these
(09:08):
high ticket up cells. It's giving multi level marketing and
what's taught to these new recruits as the way to
make big money. Well, of course it's selling the course
to get more people, who are then encouraged to recruit
others themselves to rinse and repeat. So what do you
hint to watch out for? Apparently everything in twenty twenty four.
(09:29):
But how do you actually spot when a program is
more about getting you to spend than actually setting you
up for success, because so many of you might actually go.
But the investing twenty five hundred dollars in a coach
makes a lot of sense for me. So here are
some key affiliate marketing course red flags that I have highlighted.
All right, So the first one is a low cost
(09:49):
bait to hook you in, so that initial really low priced,
so like seven bucks, it's a classic baiting tactic. It's
low enough to feel like really risk free. I mean
seven dollars these day is basically an oat latte, right,
And they lower your guard. But the real intention is
to get you in the door and then get you
ready to be able to be upsold to. And this
(10:10):
low cost entry kind of acts like a gateway because
once you're inside, the real pitch begins with essential upgrades
that cost hundreds and even thousands of dollars, and that
is giving massive red flag energy. The next is the
high pressure up cell midway through. So you've gotten in
and you're doing this course and you're like, this is
some money win. It's seven bucks, this is fantastic, and
(10:33):
then the course it pivots suddenly a coach or a
mentor ap who's basically out of nowhere, emphasizing that to
truly succeed in this world and with what you're destined
to do, you need to buy their business blueprint that
costs thousands. This up cell is framed as the key
to making a big like you can't make a big
without this, adding pressure to invest far beyond that original
(10:54):
seven dollar oat latte price. The next red flag is
they focus on recruitment instead of real products. We talked
about this in the multi level marketing episode. So many
of the women who are involved in multi level marketing.
If you just do a little bit of an audit
of their posts. More often than not, they're talking about
this incredible opportunity joining the business. Oh my gosh, there's
(11:18):
two spots in my downline that you could join. Like,
they're not really talking about the value of the product,
and to me, that's a massive red flag. Genuine affiliate
marketing is all about promoting an actual product or service.
They're not going, oh, join a course you could learn
about this. Like, affiliate marketing is very very simple. They
signed up to a website, they got a code, and
(11:39):
if you buy the leggings that they are talking about,
they're going to make a cut. So they might talk
about the leggings all the time, but in that interaction,
you as the consumer, you're not misled about what purchasing is.
You might be feeling a little bit misled because you're
like ve, I didn't know that because my favorite influencer
was promoting the leggings so often it was because they
were getting paid. That's a different front story. I'm very
(12:01):
much on the page of influencers getting paid for their
recommendations because at the end of the day, that's part
of the marketing wheel. But it is very transparent what
you're getting. At the end of the day, if you purchase,
you will receive the leggings in the mail, right, Like,
that's it. But these programs, however, lean really heavily on
getting you to recruit others into the same course, and
(12:24):
the income structure is built on upselling new members rather
than helping you to promote a range of real products
that arguably everyone would want. The next red flag I've
got listed down is vague earning claims and misleading success stories.
So the promoters of these courses is often going to
showcase really impressive earnings, same as multi level marketing people.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
Right.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
I saw so much content online the other week about
people saying, oh, yes, but there are twenty two millionaires
that have been created in Australia because of this business.
Yeah great, but there's also twenty two thousand of you
doing that. Those numbers don't stack up. Those numbers are
not impressive. But these promoters of these courses are going
(13:07):
to often showcase super impressive earnings or talk about the
freedom that they've achieved, but they're usually really vague on
how they're actually making that money. They might imply that
their income comes from traditional affiliate marketing, sometimes even claiming
it's from a separate account or a product link that
they never clearly reveal. In reality, most of their income
(13:28):
comes from recruiting others into the same course and upselling
them on really expensive packaging. At the end of the day,
influencers who are really promoting and making money through affiliate marketing,
they're not really talking about it, and they're not talking
about it not because they're not transparent. Influencers who are
using affiliate marketing know that the reason affiliate marketing works
(13:51):
for them is because they have a very large and
engaged audience. They know that this isn't something that anybody
could get into. I mean you could. You could sign
up for a few marketing platforms and start promoting the
leggings or the dress or the shoes or whatever fashion
you've got. And I mean, if you're doing fashion content,
that makes a lot of sense because a few dollars
here and there do add up. But if an influencer
(14:13):
is making bank through their affiliate links, it's very unlikely
that they are going to be talking about it because
they know it's not easily obtainable for the average Instagram user.
Right if you're finding it really hard to tell what
products they're promoting. So if a company is really like
a bit wishy washy, or what they're promoting, or the
details about their earnings seem a little bit unclear or
(14:33):
like overly broad, to me, that's a very strong indicator
the recruitment, not general affiliate product sales are at the
core of their business model. So you're asking me Va,
what's the bottom line? As always, I need you to
do that is it too good to be true? Test?
If something promises to turn you into a millionaire working
just a couple of hours a day, or claims that
(14:54):
you'll achieve financial freedom with zero experience or effort, it's
probably time to pause and think critically. Quick and easy
paths to wealth are very rare, and programs that overseell
simplicity are often masking what's really involved. Before you decide
to dive into any course, take a few minutes to
google the course name along with the word scam and
(15:17):
see what comes up. Scanning through real people's experiences can
reveal a lot about what's behind the flashy marketing works
with multi level marketing as well. My friends also very spicy,
good for a drink on a Friday Nash. Are there
consistent complaints about these high pressure sales tactics, Do people
mention unexpected up cells or maybe like some hidden costs.
(15:38):
Seeing these patterns is going to be able to help
you spot red flags early and avoid the trap of
spending more than you'd planned, or even being sold a dream.
If the main pitch is less about promoting real products
and more focused on recruiting others into the program, to me,
that's a definite red flag. When the emphasis shifts from
actual product promotion to recruitment, it signals a structure where
(16:01):
the real money comes from getting other people to join,
not from genuine affiliate commissions. It's never about the product
in that situation. This recruitment based model is often a
warning sign that you're dealing with a scheme that has
a lot more in common with a multi level marketing
company or MLM than legitimate affiliate marketing. Right, my friend,
(16:22):
if you enjoyed this episode, because I'm done now and
one more content that keeps you one step ahead of
the latest money scams, make sure that you are subscribed
to She's on the Money, And if you want to
see what else I'm exposing in the world of scams
and multi level marketing and get rich quick schemes. You
probably should be following me on my personal Instagram, which
is Victoria Underscore Divine and I think you'll be shocked
(16:44):
at what I'm finding and sharing. Have a good weekend, guys.
The advice shared on Shees on the Money is general
in nature and does not consider your individual circumstances. She's
on the Money exists purely for educational purposes and should
not be relied upon to make an investment or financial decision.
(17:07):
If you do choose to buy a financial product, read the.
Speaker 4 (17:10):
PDS TMD and obtain appropriate financial advice.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
Tailored towards your needs.
Speaker 4 (17:15):
Victoria Divine and She's on the Money are authorized representatives
of Money Sherper Pty Ltd ABN three two one six
four nine two seven seven zero eight AFSL four five
one two eight nine
Hello, my name's Santasha Nabananga Bamblet. I'm a proud yr
the Order Kerni Whaltbury and a waddery woman. And before
we get started on She's on the Money podcast, I
would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land
of which this podcast is recorded on a wondery country,
acknowledging the elders, the ancestors and the next generation coming
(00:22):
through as this podcast is about connecting, empowering, knowledge sharing
and the storytelling of you to make a difference for
today and lasting impact for tomorrow. Let's get into it.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
She's on the Money, She's on the Money.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Hello, and welcome to She's on the Money, the podcast
whiles that helps you dodge the scams, skip the gimmicks,
and focus on real ways to create your wealth. I'm
your host, Victoria Devine, and if you've been following along,
you know that I have been on and will continue
to be on a little bit of a crusade against
multi level marketing schemes. Yep, those too good to be
(01:18):
true quote unquote businesses that promise big bugs but usually
end up only making your upline rich. And since I
started calling out MLMs. A lot of you have been
reaching out with questions about affiliate marketing. Is that the
same thing? Is it legit or is it just another
scheme dressed up in sleek Instagram stories and seven dollar courses? Well,
(01:39):
my friends, here is the thing. Affiliate marketing is a real,
totally legitimate way to earn money by promoting products from
brands you love. But there are some bad eggs out there,
especially on social media, that have made affiliate marketing feel, well,
a little bit sketchy. Let's just say there's a side
(01:59):
to affiliate market that isn't as shiny as the Instagram
stories make it seem, and we'll get into that a
little bit later. Today we're going to be diving into
what real affiliate marketing actually looks like, and then after
the break, I'm going to reveal some red flags to
watch for in those social media courses that don't always
live up to the hype. If you're ready to sort
the real from the red flags, lets my friends get
(02:21):
into it all right, Let's get down to basics and
start from the very start. What is affiliate marketing really?
At its core, Affiliate marketing is a way to earn
commission by promoting products or services. So think of it
like this. You're recommending a product to a friend, but
instead of just giving them a heads up, you're getting
a special link to track the sale, and if they
(02:41):
buy it, you get a cut. It's a way for
companies to reach more customers through people who genuinely like
and use their products, and for the affiliate it's pretty handy.
Side huzzle, you've probably seen a lot of your favorite
influences using platforms like lack to Know It or who
What Where and their affiliate marketing platforms. It can be
a little bit strange when you see your favorite influencers saying,
(03:04):
oh my gosh, the skirt that I'm wearing is linked here,
and you're kind of thinking, well, I wish you would
just tell me the brand of the skirt. But the
reality is, if you are wanting to click on that
link because they've essentially influenced you to purchase the product
or even just look at the product, I think they
deserve a cut. After all, they have influenced you, and
if you're purchasing a product because of them, I think
(03:26):
they deserve a bit of the cut. They've done a
lot of the marketing work, right so typically it works
like this. You sign up for an affiliate program with
a big platform or a big brand. There are big
names like Amazon and Lulu, Lemon, and even airlines that
offer these programs. So once you're in, what will happen
is you'll get a unique code or a link that's
tied to your personal account, and when someone clicks that
(03:50):
link and makes a purchase, you get to earn a
percentage of that sale. That percentage is going to vary greatly,
but usually it's between like five and twenty percent, ending
on the brand and the type of product. And the
best part, you can get started without any upfront costs,
so most legitimate affiliate programs don't require you to pay
(04:10):
any money to join them. Instead, they're betting that you're
going to have some genuine recommendations that will bring them business.
So the only way for you to make money is
if you do and vice versa, right, because if you're
signing up to an affiliate platform and sharing products that
nobody's interested in, nobody is going to be making money.
Some of the most popular places for affiliates to share
(04:32):
their links so obviously Instagram, stories, blogs, YouTube channels, literally
all over social media and even in email newsletters. The
key here is that you're genuinely recommending a product or
service that you think your audience is going to benefit from.
You're not actually pushing a membership or a subscription to
join the affiliate program itself, right, And at the end
(04:53):
of the day, if they look at the product and
don't purchase, nobody is in a worse off position. Also,
there aren't quotas to be met and things that you
need to do in order to participate. Brands aren't saying
you have to share this link this many times this month,
and if only one person purchases, you're not getting paid.
You get paid every single time it converts. And that's
(05:14):
why for big influences and people on social media, makes
a lot of sense, but they also make a lot
of money. But for smaller creators often affiliate links are
only going to bring in a few dollars here and there.
Sounds pretty straightforward, right. That's because when it's done correctly,
affiliate marketing is really straightforward, really ethical, and makes a
(05:34):
lot of sense. You're helping people find really good products
and you're getting a small thank you commission in return.
In this space, I don't believe there's any shame in
you collecting a commission for the marketing that you've done
on behalf of that brand. But here's the thing, right,
there's I would say, there's a bit of a dark
side to affiliate marketing on social media that's catching a
(05:55):
lot of you off guard. It's why a lot of
you are asking me, is a filing marketing VI a scam?
It looks really shiny, but behind the flashy promises and
influencer success stories, some of these so called like affiliate
opportunities are hiding something really sketchy. After the break, we're
going to dive into the red flags that you need
(06:16):
to watch out for so you don't get pulled into
a side housle that's more of a scam than a success.
So stick around because I don't think you're going to
want to miss this. My friends, we are back, so
let's start talking about the darker side of affiliate marketing.
Because before the break, we determined that affiliate marketing just
(06:36):
makes sense. Right, this darker side of affiliate marketing seems
to be spreading all over social media. Now by now
you should know the basics. Real affiliate marketing is very straightforward.
It's focused on promoting actual products from reputable brands. It's
typically free to join, and if you're recommending products that
aren't of interest to anybody, you're not making any money.
(06:58):
But there's this whole other side to the that's making
waves on TikTok and Instagram and beyond. To be honest,
I just live on TikTok and Instagram where certain quote
affiliate programs are advertised as the fast track way to
financial freedom, and you and I both know that that's
going to give me the ick immediately. They say things
like all you need is your phone, a laptop, Wi
(07:19):
Fi and one to three hours a day. They say,
but instead of teaching you to promote products, they're more
interested in getting you to buy their course, right ick.
One example of this that keeps popping up in the
news is Legendary Marketer. You can look them up later,
and it's a perfect case study on how these schemes work.
(07:40):
Right So, according to a report from NBC News, Legendary
Marketer starts with a hook that's pretty hard to resist,
a super low cost entry like a seven dollars fifteen
day challenge that advertises as your first step into a
side hustle that could eventually make you millions of dollars.
Right at first glance, it sounds like pretty low rech.
I mean, it's only seven bugs and like a total win,
(08:02):
just seven dollars, and you get to learn the ropes
of affiliate marketing. Right I just taught you in the
first half of this episode. But moving on, after a
few days, things start to shift. Suddenly you're introduced to
a new coach who's pitching their business blueprint package. Right,
it's a hefty twenty five hundred bucks. They frame it
as absolutely essential if you're in the business for making money,
(08:25):
and they turn up the pressure to invest in yourself.
It's so important. But here's the catch. When someone buys
that twenty five hundred dollar package, the person who originally
referred to them gets a big cut. It's usually around
one thousand dollars. So when you see those influencer or
TikTok personalities saying that they're making bank with affiliate marketing,
(08:46):
a new could too, and they're calling themselves digital marketers,
all thanks to them taking a chance on a seven
dollar course. It's not from promoting everyday products like u
Lululemon tights that you love or address that you wore
to the races, and you linked it so that other
people could buy it because you looked really cute in it.
Their income actually comes from recruiting others to buy these
(09:08):
high ticket up cells. It's giving multi level marketing and
what's taught to these new recruits as the way to
make big money. Well, of course it's selling the course
to get more people, who are then encouraged to recruit
others themselves to rinse and repeat. So what do you
hint to watch out for? Apparently everything in twenty twenty four.
(09:29):
But how do you actually spot when a program is
more about getting you to spend than actually setting you
up for success, because so many of you might actually go.
But the investing twenty five hundred dollars in a coach
makes a lot of sense for me. So here are
some key affiliate marketing course red flags that I have highlighted.
All right, So the first one is a low cost
(09:49):
bait to hook you in, so that initial really low priced,
so like seven bucks, it's a classic baiting tactic. It's
low enough to feel like really risk free. I mean
seven dollars these day is basically an oat latte, right,
And they lower your guard. But the real intention is
to get you in the door and then get you
ready to be able to be upsold to. And this
(10:10):
low cost entry kind of acts like a gateway because
once you're inside, the real pitch begins with essential upgrades
that cost hundreds and even thousands of dollars, and that
is giving massive red flag energy. The next is the
high pressure up cell midway through. So you've gotten in
and you're doing this course and you're like, this is
some money win. It's seven bucks, this is fantastic, and
(10:33):
then the course it pivots suddenly a coach or a
mentor ap who's basically out of nowhere, emphasizing that to
truly succeed in this world and with what you're destined
to do, you need to buy their business blueprint that
costs thousands. This up cell is framed as the key
to making a big like you can't make a big
without this, adding pressure to invest far beyond that original
(10:54):
seven dollar oat latte price. The next red flag is
they focus on recruitment instead of real products. We talked
about this in the multi level marketing episode. So many
of the women who are involved in multi level marketing.
If you just do a little bit of an audit
of their posts. More often than not, they're talking about
this incredible opportunity joining the business. Oh my gosh, there's
(11:18):
two spots in my downline that you could join. Like,
they're not really talking about the value of the product,
and to me, that's a massive red flag. Genuine affiliate
marketing is all about promoting an actual product or service.
They're not going, oh, join a course you could learn
about this. Like, affiliate marketing is very very simple. They
signed up to a website, they got a code, and
(11:39):
if you buy the leggings that they are talking about,
they're going to make a cut. So they might talk
about the leggings all the time, but in that interaction,
you as the consumer, you're not misled about what purchasing is.
You might be feeling a little bit misled because you're
like ve, I didn't know that because my favorite influencer
was promoting the leggings so often it was because they
were getting paid. That's a different front story. I'm very
(12:01):
much on the page of influencers getting paid for their
recommendations because at the end of the day, that's part
of the marketing wheel. But it is very transparent what
you're getting. At the end of the day, if you purchase,
you will receive the leggings in the mail, right, Like,
that's it. But these programs, however, lean really heavily on
getting you to recruit others into the same course, and
(12:24):
the income structure is built on upselling new members rather
than helping you to promote a range of real products
that arguably everyone would want. The next red flag I've
got listed down is vague earning claims and misleading success stories.
So the promoters of these courses is often going to
showcase really impressive earnings, same as multi level marketing people.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
Right.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
I saw so much content online the other week about
people saying, oh, yes, but there are twenty two millionaires
that have been created in Australia because of this business.
Yeah great, but there's also twenty two thousand of you
doing that. Those numbers don't stack up. Those numbers are
not impressive. But these promoters of these courses are going
(13:07):
to often showcase super impressive earnings or talk about the
freedom that they've achieved, but they're usually really vague on
how they're actually making that money. They might imply that
their income comes from traditional affiliate marketing, sometimes even claiming
it's from a separate account or a product link that
they never clearly reveal. In reality, most of their income
(13:28):
comes from recruiting others into the same course and upselling
them on really expensive packaging. At the end of the day,
influencers who are really promoting and making money through affiliate marketing,
they're not really talking about it, and they're not talking
about it not because they're not transparent. Influencers who are
using affiliate marketing know that the reason affiliate marketing works
(13:51):
for them is because they have a very large and
engaged audience. They know that this isn't something that anybody
could get into. I mean you could. You could sign
up for a few marketing platforms and start promoting the
leggings or the dress or the shoes or whatever fashion
you've got. And I mean, if you're doing fashion content,
that makes a lot of sense because a few dollars
here and there do add up. But if an influencer
(14:13):
is making bank through their affiliate links, it's very unlikely
that they are going to be talking about it because
they know it's not easily obtainable for the average Instagram user.
Right if you're finding it really hard to tell what
products they're promoting. So if a company is really like
a bit wishy washy, or what they're promoting, or the
details about their earnings seem a little bit unclear or
(14:33):
like overly broad, to me, that's a very strong indicator
the recruitment, not general affiliate product sales are at the
core of their business model. So you're asking me Va,
what's the bottom line? As always, I need you to
do that is it too good to be true? Test?
If something promises to turn you into a millionaire working
just a couple of hours a day, or claims that
(14:54):
you'll achieve financial freedom with zero experience or effort, it's
probably time to pause and think critically. Quick and easy
paths to wealth are very rare, and programs that overseell
simplicity are often masking what's really involved. Before you decide
to dive into any course, take a few minutes to
google the course name along with the word scam and
(15:17):
see what comes up. Scanning through real people's experiences can
reveal a lot about what's behind the flashy marketing works
with multi level marketing as well. My friends also very spicy,
good for a drink on a Friday Nash. Are there
consistent complaints about these high pressure sales tactics, Do people
mention unexpected up cells or maybe like some hidden costs.
(15:38):
Seeing these patterns is going to be able to help
you spot red flags early and avoid the trap of
spending more than you'd planned, or even being sold a dream.
If the main pitch is less about promoting real products
and more focused on recruiting others into the program, to me,
that's a definite red flag. When the emphasis shifts from
actual product promotion to recruitment, it signals a structure where
(16:01):
the real money comes from getting other people to join,
not from genuine affiliate commissions. It's never about the product
in that situation. This recruitment based model is often a
warning sign that you're dealing with a scheme that has
a lot more in common with a multi level marketing
company or MLM than legitimate affiliate marketing. Right, my friend,
(16:22):
if you enjoyed this episode, because I'm done now and
one more content that keeps you one step ahead of
the latest money scams, make sure that you are subscribed
to She's on the Money, And if you want to
see what else I'm exposing in the world of scams
and multi level marketing and get rich quick schemes. You
probably should be following me on my personal Instagram, which
is Victoria Underscore Divine and I think you'll be shocked
(16:44):
at what I'm finding and sharing. Have a good weekend, guys.
The advice shared on Shees on the Money is general
in nature and does not consider your individual circumstances. She's
on the Money exists purely for educational purposes and should
not be relied upon to make an investment or financial decision.
(17:07):
If you do choose to buy a financial product, read the.
Speaker 4 (17:10):
PDS TMD and obtain appropriate financial advice.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
Tailored towards your needs.
Speaker 4 (17:15):
Victoria Divine and She's on the Money are authorized representatives
of Money Sherper Pty Ltd ABN three two one six
four nine two seven seven zero eight AFSL four five
one two eight nine
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