Affiliate Marketing Case Study Week 4

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This week’s focus in the Affiliate Bootcamp was all about mastering the process of writing and publishing authority-building product reviews.

It was a big step forward – moving from foundational setup and strategy into real, on-site execution. I completed my first major review post outside of the Wealthy Affiliate review that I published previously, built a reusable review framework, and started preparing a pipeline of future review targets.

While the process was more time-consuming than expected, it was also incredibly valuable. I now have a clearer picture of what goes into a quality review and what I’ll need to streamline as I move forward.

Week 4 Focus: Product Reviews

This week’s official Bootcamp module centered on developing consistent, trustworthy product reviews – the cornerstone of affiliate authority.

The goal was to:

• Learn how to evaluate a product fairly
• Build a standard template for all reviews
• Collect real evidence, screenshots, and user insights
• Publish a complete review with proper compliance, structure, and tracking

Each step is designed to help affiliates create content that builds trust and credibility while converting readers into informed buyers.

Official Week 4 Tasks

The class checklist focused on building and publishing a review from start to finish. Here is a summary of the Week 4 Tasks that were assigned.

1. Choose Targets and Plan
   Pick one main product to review, two alternatives to reference, and write a “pain + promise” statement for each.
2. Set Up the Review Framework
   Use or create a reusable review template with sections for summary box, pros/cons, features, comparisons, verdict, and CTAs.
3. Research and Evidence
   Gather verified product information, screenshots, and user feedback from trusted sources like Trustpilot.
4. Draft the Review
   Write the full review using the framework, adding visuals, pros/cons, and clear verdicts.
5. Build Decision Aids
   Add comparison tables and rating widgets for quick reference.
6. Navigation and On-Site Organization
   Place the review in the proper category, add it to menus, and maintain visual consistency.
7. Compliance, Links, and Tracking
   Include affiliate disclosures, tracking codes, and clear calls to action.
8. Publish and Promote
   Post the review, share on social channels, and engage through comments.
9. Engage and Improve
   Monitor performance metrics, gather feedback, and refine the review.
10. Prep Next Steps
    Add new reviews to your pipeline and duplicate your template to save time.

What I Accomplished

1) Choose Targets and Plan

I selected my primary review topic – InteleTravel and PlanNet Marketing – and began identifying the next three products I’ll review. I’ve chosen one so far, Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing, and plan to finalize two more this week.

2) Set Up My Review Framework

I built a standard, reusable review template with all the key sections: a summary box, pros and cons, comparison chart, verdict, and CTAs. This structure will help keep all my reviews visually consistent and easy for readers to navigate.

3) Research and Evidence

Because I already knew the program I was reviewing quite well, gathering information was straightforward. Still, I realized how much time the process can take when starting from scratch – especially for verifying facts and comparing pricing tiers.

I’m developing a more efficient research system going forward, including a standardized outline and checklist for each review.

4) Draft the Review

Writing the review took longer than expected, but I’m happy with the final product. It’s balanced, factual, and structured for easy readability.

This is the review post: InteleTravel and PlanNet Marketing Review

6) Navigation and On-Site Organization

I already had my Reviews category and menu structure set up when I created Smart Online Journey, so organizing and publishing the post was seamless.

7) Compliance, Links, and Tracking

I added my affiliate disclosure, ensured clear anchor text for links, and started implementing basic tracking. My next step will be to go back and expand tracking on older posts while improving CTAs site-wide.

8) Publish and Promote

My first external product review is officially live and shared in the Bootcamp class thread. This marks a key milestone in building credibility and diversifying the site’s content.

Ongoing Tasks

We’ve been adding certain tasks each week of this bootcamp, some of which are one time tasks, and others which will be ongoing things that will help us run and promote our business going forward.

• Schedule social media posts for the week

Conclusion

While I completed most of the Week 4 tasks and published my first review, I’m aware that my process still needs refinement. Writing detailed, trustworthy reviews takes time – especially when verifying facts and formatting visual elements.

But I also gained confidence and clarity. I now have a consistent structure to follow, a better understanding of how long a quality review really takes, and a stronger commitment to building out this part of my site.

Affiliate marketing success isn’t just about writing more – it’s about writing smarter. Week 4 proved that building authority takes time, but every post moves me closer to the business I want to create.

In case you missed earlier weeks, you can follow along with my entire Bootcamp Case Study and see what’s going on.

Is it your turn now? Thinking of starting your own site? Wealthy Affiliate’s free Starter membership gives you hosting, tools, and training to get your first site live in 24 hours. If I can do it in a week, so can you.