Full Disclosure: I'm a Systeme.io Affiliate (And Here's Why That Matters)

Initial evaluation:

• Read all public reviews (positive and negative)

• Research company background and history

• Check BBB ratings and complaint records

• Review Terms of Service thoroughly

• Analyze pricing structure and hidden costs

• Compare to competing solutions

• Read user discussions in forums

For Systeme.io, this revealed:

• Founded 2018, profitable and growing

• Consistently positive user reviews (4.7/5 average across platforms)

• Zero BBB complaints

• Transparent pricing with no hidden fees

• Significantly lower cost than competitors

• Active user community praising support

Red flags I look for:

• Consistent complaints about support

• Hidden fees or unclear pricing

• Overpromising in marketing

• High refund rates

• Company instability

• Unethical business practices

I don't just "try" products—I stress-test them.

My Systeme.io testing process (2021):

Month 1: Basic features

• Created test course with 10 lessons

• Built 3 sample funnels

• Set up email sequences (5 campaigns)

• Tested all core functionality

• Compared to platforms I was using

Month 2: Advanced features

• Built complete webinar funnel

• Created membership site structure

• Tested automation workflows (12 scenarios)

• Evaluated A/B testing capabilities

• Pushed platform to limits

Month 3: Real-world implementation

• Migrated one actual course (247 students)

• Ran live campaign with real traffic

• Processed real transactions

• Provided actual customer support

• Measured performance vs. old system

Questions I answered:

• Does it do what it claims? Yes

• Is it reliable under load? Yes

• Is support responsive and helpful? Yes (4-12 hour response time)

• Are there deal-breaking limitations? No

• Does it provide good value? Exceptional value

• Would I stake my business on it? Yes (and I did)

Testing never stops.

I continuously monitor:

• Platform stability and uptime

• New features and improvements

• Support quality and response time

• Pricing changes

• User community feedback

• Competitive developments

My commitment: If Systeme.io ever stops meeting my standards, I'll stop recommending it—even if it costs me affiliate income.

Real example of this commitment:

In 2023, another tool I promoted changed their pricing model significantly. The new pricing was less favorable for my audience. Even though I was earning $ 800-1,200 monthly from that affiliate relationship, I:

• Stopped actively promoting it

• Updated all content with the new pricing reality

• Recommended alternatives for those the new pricing hurt

• Contacted existing users to ensure they understood changes

Cost to me: ~ $ 10,000 annually in lost commissions

Value to audience: Trust maintained, better recommendations provided

How I actually promote:

What I always include:

• Full disclosure of affiliate relationship

• Honest assessment of limitations

• Comparison to alternatives

• Who it's NOT right for

• My personal experience and results

What I never do:

• Hide the affiliate relationship

• Exaggerate benefits

• Minimize real limitations

• Create false urgency

• Use manipulative tactics

Example from my Systeme.io content:

I always mention:

• It's less polished than Teachable's interface

• Advanced email marketers might miss some ConvertKit features

• The template library is smaller than ClickFunnels

• It's better for solopreneurs than enterprises

• Some features have a learning curve

Why share negatives? Because when I'm honest about limitations, people trust my assessment of the strengths.

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Trust = (Credibility + Reliability + Intimacy) / Self-Interest

Let me break down how I approach each element:

How I establish credibility:

Share real data:

• Actual revenue numbers ( $ 189,500 in course sales)

• Specific metrics (6.3% funnel conversion rate)

• Time investments (174 hours migration time)

• Honest results (both successes and failures)

Show my work:

• Screenshots of actual dashboards

• Detailed process walkthroughs

• Real campaign results

• Student testimonials

• Behind-the-scenes documentation

Admit what I don't know:

• "I haven't tested this for [enterprise-level needs]"

• "I can't speak to how it performs with [100,000+ subscribers]"

• "This isn't my area of expertise, but here's someone who knows better"

My credibility comes from specificity, not vague claims.

How I demonstrate reliability:

Consistent messaging:

• I've recommended Systeme.io for 3+ years

• My assessment hasn't wavered with trends

• I use it daily in my actual business

Regular updates:

• Monthly content about my experience

• Honest reports on new features

• Updates when anything changes

• Transparent about any issues

Long-term commitment:

• I'm not promoting "product of the month"

• I've built my business on these tools

• I'm invested in my recommendations working for others

Track record:

• 3 years of content

• 847 students using my recommendations

• 99.6% satisfaction with platform migration

• Consistent positive feedback

How I create intimacy:

Real stories:

• The integration failure that cost me 47 subscribers

• The 3 AM panic when a campaign broke

• The relief when migration went smoothly

• The frustration with early limitations

Personal details:

• My actual tech stack evolution

• Financial decisions and trade-offs

• Time management struggles

• Learning curve challenges

Vulnerable moments:

• Admitting when I was wrong

• Sharing failures alongside successes

• Discussing doubts and concerns

• Being honest about limitations

Example: I openly shared that my first month on Systeme.io was frustrating. The interface felt different, I missed some Teachable features, and I questioned my decision. But I worked through it, and the benefits became clear. That honesty helps people trust the recommendation.

Here's the hard truth: No matter how credible, reliable, or genuine you are, if people sense you're primarily motivated by self-interest, trust collapses.

How I minimize perceived self-interest:

Disclose everything upfront:

• "I'm a Systeme.io affiliate" (in headlines, not footnotes)

• Exact commission structure when relevant

• Alternative options that pay me nothing

Recommend non-affiliate alternatives:

• I frequently mention tools I don't have affiliate relationships with

• I suggest free options when appropriate

• I compare fairly to competitors

Prioritize audience success:

• I've talked people OUT of purchases when not right for them

• I recommend starting with free plans

• I suggest cheaper alternatives for smaller budgets

Provide value regardless:

• 90% of my content has zero affiliate links

• I give away substantial free resources

• I answer questions whether people buy or not

Real example: A reader emailed asking if they should upgrade to Systeme.io's $ 47/month plan from the free plan. Based on their business size (under 1,000 subscribers, one course), I recommended staying on the free plan for 6 more months. Cost me a potential commission, gained lifelong trust.

Year 1 results:

• 14 Systeme.io sales through my affiliate link

• Average commission: $ 60 per sale

• Total earnings: $ 840

• Value: Modest income

Year 2 results:

• 47 sales (growing trust)

• Total earnings: $ 2,820

• Plus: Word-of-mouth referrals

• Value: Meaningful income

Year 3 results:

• 89 sales (compounding trust)

• Total earnings: $ 5,340

• Plus: Increased engagement across all content

• Plus: Higher course sales (trust halo effect)

• Value: Significant income + enhanced reputation

The pattern: Trust compounds. Short-term sacrifices for long-term integrity create exponentially better results.

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The alignment is genuine:

1. I legitimately use it daily
My entire business runs on Systeme.io. Not exaggerating.

2. It solves real problems I see
Every week, I hear from people:

• "I can't afford multiple platforms"

• "The integrations keep breaking"

• "I spend more time on tech than content"

Systeme.io directly addresses these issues.

3. The value is exceptional

At $ 47/month (or free to start), it's genuinely the best value I've found.

4. My audience benefits regardless of affiliate status
Even if I earned zero commission, I'd still recommend it. The savings and benefits are that significant.

5. The company aligns with my values

• Transparent pricing

• Generous free plan

• Good support

• Growing and improving

• No predatory practices

Systeme.io affiliate commission structure:

• 30% recurring commission on paid plans

• Startup ( 27/month):: 8.10/month per customer

• Webinar ( 47/month): 14.10/month per customer

• Unlimited (97/month):: 29.10/month per customer

My earnings (2023):

• Total referrals: 89

• Monthly recurring commission: ~ $ 890

• Annual earnings: ~ $ 10,680

• Percentage of total income: 5.6%

Context matters:

• This represents 5.6% of my total business income

• My course sales ( $ 189,500) are 94.4% of income

• I'm not dependent on affiliate income

Why this matters: I'm not pressured to oversell. My business succeeds whether you use my affiliate link or not. This independence allows honest recommendations.

Potential conflict scenarios and my approach:

Scenario 1: A better tool emerges

• My commitment: If I find a genuinely better option, I'll recommend it

• Even if: It costs me affiliate income

• Why: Long-term trust is worth more

Scenario 2: Systeme.io changes for the worse

• My commitment: I'll update all content immediately

• And: Stop active promotion until issues resolve

• Recent example: When they had a brief service issue in 2023, I mentioned it to new prospects

Scenario 3: Someone asks if they should switch FROM Systeme.io

• My response: I assess their needs honestly

• Sometimes: I recommend competitors (no commission)

• Recent example: Told an enterprise client to stay with their current solution (HubSpot) because Systeme.io wasn't built for their complexity

The principle: Your success matters more than my commission.

1. Total transparency

• I'll always disclose affiliate relationships upfront

• I'll share both strengths and limitations

• I'll update content when situations change

2. Personal experience only

• I'll never promote what I don't personally use

• I'll test thoroughly before recommending

• I'll share real results, not theoretical benefits

3. Your success first

• I'll recommend what's best for YOU, not what pays me most

• I'll suggest alternatives when appropriate

• I'll talk you out of purchases when not right fit

4. Continuous evaluation

• I'll keep testing and reassessing

• I'll stop recommending if quality declines

• I'll update you on new developments

5. Accessible support

• I'll answer questions whether you buy or not

• I'll provide value regardless of affiliate clicks

• I'll be honest even when it costs me

Don't just trust me. Verify:

1. Check if I actually use it

• Look for specific details only real users know

• Ask questions that require hands-on experience

• See if I can discuss limitations honestly

2. Compare to my other content

• Is this consistent with my usual approach?

• Do I provide similar depth?

• Is the tone genuine?

3. Look at the recommendation context

• Am I addressing a real problem?

• Are there non-affiliate alternatives mentioned?

• Is this part of broader, value-focused content?

4. Test my responsiveness

• Ask challenging questions

• See if I'll admit drawbacks

• Check if I'll recommend against purchase when appropriate

5. Evaluate over time

• Do my recommendations stay consistent?

• Do I update when situations change?

• Is there a track record?

If I fail any of these tests, don't trust the recommendation.

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What I'd like to see change:

1. Mandatory disclosure standards
Clear, upfront affiliate disclosures should be industry standard, not fine print.

2. Usage verification
Platforms could require proof of personal use before granting affiliate status.

3. Transparent commission structures
Consumers should know what promoters earn from their purchases.

4. Long-term thinking incentives
Reward affiliates for customer success, not just initial sales.

5. Consequence for deception
Clearer penalties for misleading affiliate promotions.

Protect yourself:

Red flags in affiliate content:

• No disclosure of affiliate relationship

• Only positive aspects mentioned

• Creates false urgency ("ending tonight!")

• Compares to weak alternatives

• Lacks specific personal experience

Green flags in affiliate content:

• Clear, upfront disclosure

• Honest discussion of limitations

• Personal, detailed experience shared

• Alternative options provided

• No pressure tactics

Questions to ask:

• "Do you actually use this daily?"

• "What don't you like about it?"

• "What would make you stop recommending it?"

• "Who is this NOT right for?"

• "What's your commission on this?"

Good affiliates will answer honestly. Bad ones will dodge.