• Course
  • Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing

Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing
Review

How to build a six figure blog without millions of visitors or selling your soul

Medium
  • Last updated 28/02/2025
by Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

What you'll learn ? Overview

Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing is a comprehensive online course designed to teach bloggers and online entrepreneurs how to create and implement a successful affiliate marketing strategy. The course covers everything from the basics of affiliate marketing to advanced techniques for increasing conversions and maximizing earnings.

Created by Michelle Schroeder-Gardner, who reportedly earns over $50,000 per month from affiliate marketing alone, the course aims to share her proven strategies and insights. It includes 6 modules with over 30 lessons, worksheets, bonuses, and access to an exclusive Facebook group for additional support and networking.

The course is suitable for both beginners and experienced bloggers looking to improve their affiliate marketing skills. It focuses on ethical practices and building trust with your audience while monetizing your blog effectively.

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Is this course for you?

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Prior experience needed

Beginner (No Prior Experience Needed)

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Time commitment

moderate Moderate (5–10 Hours/Week)

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Learning style

Self-Paced (Work On Your Own Schedule)

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Goal

Make Money

Best suited for:

Bloggers and online entrepreneurs looking to monetize their websites through affiliate marketing, particularly those in the early to intermediate stages of their blogging journey

Instructor

Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Personal finance blogger and entrepreneur. Legitimacy Score: 9/10
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner is a renowned personal finance blogger and entrepreneur who founded Making Sense of Cents in 2011. Initially starting as a hobby, her blog has grown into a multi-million dollar business, helping readers learn how to make extra money, save money, and achieve financial freedom. Michelle's expertise lies in affiliate marketing, blogging, and personal finance, with her monthly income reports showcasing earnings of over $100,000 per month at peak periods.
Michelle began her career as a financial analyst in 2010 after earning her Master's degree in Finance. In 2011, she launched Making Sense of Cents while working full-time. By 2013, her blog income allowed her to quit her day job and focus on blogging full-time. Since then, she has developed multiple income streams, including affiliate marketing, sponsored content, and online courses. Michelle's unique lifestyle as a digital nomad, living on a sailboat with her family while managing her business, has further solidified her authority in the personal finance and lifestyle design space.
• Paid off $40,000 in student loan debt in just 7 months
• Grew blog income to over $100,000 per month
• Earned over $5,000,000 from blogging since 2011
• Created successful online courses: 'Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing' and 'Making Sense of Sponsored Posts'
• Featured in major publications including Forbes, CNBC, Time, and Business Insider
• Achieved financial independence and early retirement through blogging
• Speaker at FinCon, the financial content creators conference
• Guest on the Choose FI podcast
• Interviewed on the Afford Anything podcast with Paula Pant
• Featured on the Side Hustle Nation podcast with Nick Loper
• Guest on the Couple Money podcast
• Appeared on the Do You Even Blog podcast with Pete McPherson
Michelle maintains a robust digital footprint across various platforms. She regularly updates her blog with new content, often posting 2-3 times per week. On social media, she shares daily insights on Instagram and Facebook, covering topics such as personal finance tips, travel experiences, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of her nomadic lifestyle. Her YouTube channel, while less frequently updated, features in-depth discussions on blogging and affiliate marketing strategies.

Course Details

  • ⏱ DurationN/A
  • 📶 DifficultyMedium
  • ⌛ Access Lifetime
  • ⏰ Time investmentModerate (5–10 Hours/Week)
  • 🧠 PrerequisitesBasic understanding of blogging and website management
  • 💻 RequirementsComputer with internet access
  • 💸 Hidden CostsPotential costs for recommended tools or software, not specified in course materials
  • 🙋‍♂️ Support OptionsExclusive Facebook group, course updates

Course content

  • Welcome Module: Introduction, workbook, and Facebook group access
  • Module 1: What is Affiliate Marketing, Why it's Great, Basics, How Affiliate Links Work
  • Module 2: Finding and Applying to Affiliate Programs, Traffic Requirements, Reader Wants, 80+ Affiliate Program Ideas
  • Module 3: Following Rules, Disclosures, Nofollow and Sponsored Links
  • Module 4: Getting Readers to Convert, Building Trust, Deep Linking, Click-Through Rate, Bonuses
  • Module 5: Strategies to Promote Affiliate Links
  • Module 6: Rinse and Repeat, Maintaining and Growing Your Strategy

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Feedbacks

Overall sentiment

Generally positive, with some mixed reviews

Praised points

- Comprehensive content covering all aspects of affiliate marketing
- Valuable insights from a successful affiliate marketer
- Helpful worksheets and resources
- Access to an exclusive Facebook group

Criticisms

- Lack of video content (text-based only)
- Some information may be outdated
- Price point considered high by some reviewers
- May not be as beneficial for advanced marketers

Testimonials

"Michelle's course was incredibly helpful and instrumental to me. Five years later, I make about $8,000-$9,000 per month with affiliate marketing." - Kristin Hanes, The Wayward Home

"My income rose 40% and has since quadrupled only 4 months after working with her!" - Rosemarie Groner, The Busy Budgeter

"The course was really good, extremely digestible for beginners, and there are certain strategies that I learned that I still think about today (over 5 years later!)." - Anonymous student

"This includes staff writing, blog, virtual assistant tasks." - Michelle Schroeder-Gardner (on her early income)

"Michelle gave me the basic tools and strategies that I could immediately implement on my blog (even though I was just a beginner!)." - Anonymous student

Social insights

Mixed opinions on Reddit and Quora, with some users finding great value and others feeling the course is overpriced for the content provided

Marketing Analysis

Claim Verification

Michelle's income claims are backed by published income reports, lending credibility to her expertise

Price History

The course has maintained a consistent price of $197 since its launch in 2016

Upsell Practices

No significant upsells reported

Student Success

Several success stories shared, with some students reporting significant increases in affiliate income

Platform & Delivery

Learning Platform

Custom platform, text-based content delivery

Content Accessibility

Lifetime access to course materials and updates

Mobile Compatibility

Text-based format should be compatible with most devices

Technical Requirements

Standard internet connection and web browser

Red flags check

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Complaints

Some complaints about the course being overpriced for the content provided

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Refund policy issues

30-day money-back guarantee offered

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Marketing practices

Generally transparent, with Michelle openly sharing her income reports

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Community feedback

Mostly positive, with some concerns about the relevance of information for advanced marketers

Is this course legit?

Value For Money

Generally considered good value, especially for beginners, though some advanced marketers may find less new information

Conclusion

Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing is a legitimate and comprehensive course that can provide valuable insights for those looking to start or improve their affiliate marketing efforts

FAQs about this course

Yes, the course is designed to accommodate learners of all levels, including complete beginners to affiliate marketing.

The course is self-paced, so completion time varies. Most students can work through the material in 4-6 weeks, depending on their schedule and prior knowledge.

No, the course is a one-time purchase that includes lifetime access and updates.

While Michelle reports earning this amount, individual results will vary greatly depending on niche, effort, and strategy implementation.

Michelle states that the course is updated, but some reviews mention that certain information may be outdated. The frequency of updates is not specified.

The course offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to request a full refund if you're not satisfied with the content.
thumbnail Images
$ 197
Total score: 8,0/10 ⭐
  • DurationN/A
  • DifficultyMedium
  • Release Date01/01/2016
  • Format Self-Paced
  • AccessLifetime
  • Time InvestmentModerate (5–10 Hours/Week)
  • Payment Options One-Time or Installments
  • LanguageEnglish
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Our Methodology

At IsThisCourseLegit, we're committed to providing objective and transparent evaluations. Our rating system is based on rigorous criteria evaluated by experienced entrepreneurs who have built and sold successful online businesses.

Our Rating System

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Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing Review