Last Updated 05/10/2026
If you’ve spent any time on Facebook recently searching for ways to make money online, there’s a good chance you’ve already seen Robby Blanchard’s ads.
Maybe it was:
- Freedom Affiliate Formula
- Freedom Income
- or The Laptop Rich Challenge
Different names… but after investigating these funnels closely, I kept noticing the same patterns appearing over and over again.
That immediately caught my attention because I’ve been researching affiliate marketing systems and online business funnels since 2011, and one thing I’ve learned over the years is this:
When the branding changes but the funnel structure stays the same, it’s usually worth slowing down and taking a much deeper look.
And honestly, that’s exactly what happened here.
The more I dug into Freedom Affiliate Formula, the more it reminded me of:
- Commission Hero
- Freedom Income
- The Laptop Rich Challenge
- and several other high-pressure affiliate marketing funnels I’ve investigated over the years
Now to be fair, affiliate marketing itself is absolutely legitimate.
I’ve personally been building affiliate websites since 2014, and it completely changed the direction of my online business journey after years of frustration chasing shortcuts and “easy money” systems.
But there’s a major difference between:
- learning affiliate marketing
and - being pushed into expensive paid-ad funnels before understanding how the business actually works.
That’s where many beginners run into trouble.
Especially when they start seeing promises like:
- “$1,000’s Per Day”
- “$180 Million Proven Templates”
- or “Zero Technical Skills Needed”
Because in my experience, affiliate marketing is rarely that simple in the real world.
That’s one reason I created guides like How To Make Money Online Safely (Without Getting Scammed) and How To Analyze Make Money Online Offers Step-By-Step — because too many people enter this industry emotionally before understanding the risks behind the marketing.
So in this review, I want to break down:
- what Freedom Affiliate Formula actually is
- who Robby Blanchard is
- how this funnel really works
- the biggest concerns I have for beginners
- and whether this is truly a smart path for someone trying to build long-term affiliate income online
Because after spending years watching funnel systems evolve, rebrand, and recycle themselves across Facebook ads…
…I think there are a few important things people should understand before jumping into programs like this.
TL;DR — Freedom Affiliate Formula Review
Freedom Affiliate Formula is not an outright scam, but I also do not believe it’s the beginner-friendly “simple 3-step system” the ads make it appear to be.
After investigating the funnel closely, I found strong connections between:
- Freedom Affiliate Formula
- Freedom Income
- The Laptop Rich Challenge
- and Robby Blanchard’s older Commission Hero ecosystem
At its core, this is a paid ads + ClickBank affiliate marketing funnel that appears heavily geared toward:
- high-ticket coaching
- sales calls
- paid traffic
- and aggressive income-focused marketing
My biggest concern is that many beginners will enter this system believing affiliate marketing is mostly:
- copy-and-paste templates
- easy ads
- and fast commissions
But in reality, paid advertising is one of the most expensive and difficult ways to start affiliate marketing online.
That doesn’t mean the model can’t work.
It can.
But in my opinion, it’s far better suited for:
- experienced marketers
- people comfortable risking money on ads
- and those who already understand how affiliate marketing actually works
For most beginners, I believe a slower, skill-based approach focused on:
- SEO
- content creation
- website ownership
- and long-term traffic
…is a much safer and more sustainable path.
That’s ultimately why I still personally recommend Wealthy Affiliate after all these years instead of high-ticket paid-ad funnels like this.
If you’re considering Freedom Affiliate Formula, I’d strongly encourage you to understand exactly how these funnel-style systems work before investing money into them.
Quick Verdict
After spending time investigating Freedom Affiliate Formula and comparing it to several other funnels currently circulating across Facebook, I do not believe this is some revolutionary new affiliate marketing system.
In my opinion, it feels much more like an evolution of the same Commission Hero-style paid ads ecosystem Robby Blanchard has been promoting for years — just packaged differently through funnels like:
- Freedom Income
- The Laptop Rich Challenge
- and similar affiliate marketing offers targeting beginners looking for fast online income
Now to be fair, affiliate marketing itself is absolutely legitimate.
And Robby Blanchard clearly understands:
- paid traffic
- funnels
- ClickBank marketing
- and online sales psychology
The issue is not whether affiliate marketing works.
The issue is whether beginners fully understand:
- the risks
- the costs
- the learning curve
- and the reality of paid advertising before entering systems like this
Because once you get past the sales messaging, Freedom Affiliate Formula appears heavily centered around:
- paid Facebook and Instagram ads
- ClickBank affiliate offers
- high-ticket coaching funnels
- and emotional income-focused marketing
That’s a very different picture than:
“ordinary people earning thousands per day with zero technical skills.”
And honestly, that’s where my biggest concerns begin.
I’ve seen too many people over the years jump into paid ads systems before learning the actual fundamentals of affiliate marketing — which is one reason I always encourage beginners to first understand Why Most People Fail At Affiliate Marketing (And What It Really Takes To Succeed) before spending money on high-pressure funnel systems like this.
For experienced marketers with:
- ad budgets
- funnel experience
- and tolerance for risk
…there may be value inside a system like Freedom Affiliate Formula.
But for complete beginners?
I personally believe there are much safer and more sustainable ways to learn affiliate marketing online.
What Is Freedom Affiliate Formula?
Freedom Affiliate Formula is an affiliate marketing program created and promoted by Robby Blanchard that appears heavily focused on:
- paid Facebook and Instagram advertising
- ClickBank affiliate offers
- pre-built funnels
- and high-ticket coaching systems
The basic idea behind the program is fairly simple:
You run paid ads to affiliate offers using templates, funnels, and marketing systems that are supposedly already proven to convert.
According to the ads and landing pages, the system is designed so that “ordinary people” can supposedly generate:
- “$1,000’s per day”
- using “proven $180 million templates”
- without technical skills
- and without prior experience
Now to be clear, paid advertising absolutely can work in affiliate marketing.
There are experienced marketers making significant income through:
- Facebook ads
- ClickBank products
- funnels
- and email marketing
But what many beginners don’t realize is that paid ads are also one of the highest-risk business models in the affiliate marketing world.
Because behind the scenes, this type of model usually involves:
- ad testing
- daily spending
- funnel optimization
- compliance issues
- audience targeting
- tracking software
- landing pages
- and ongoing losses while campaigns are being optimized
That’s a very different picture than the simplified “3-step system” often presented in the ads.
And honestly, that’s one reason I believe beginners should first learn The How-To Guide Of Affiliate Marketing and understand the fundamentals before jumping directly into paid-ad systems like this.
Another thing that stood out to me while researching Freedom Affiliate Formula was how closely the overall funnel structure resembled:
Different branding…
Different headlines…
But many of the same emotional marketing patterns underneath.
That doesn’t automatically make Freedom Affiliate Formula fake.
But it does make me believe people should slow down and carefully evaluate exactly what kind of business model they’re entering before assuming this is an easy beginner-friendly shortcut to online income.
Who Is Robby Blanchard?
If you’ve spent any time researching affiliate marketing on Facebook or YouTube, there’s a good chance you’ve already come across Robby Blanchard.
Robby is best known for Commission Hero, a paid ads affiliate marketing program that became extremely popular in the ClickBank and make money online space over the last several years.
His marketing style focuses heavily on:
- Facebook ads
- ClickBank offers
- pre-built funnels
- and simplifying affiliate marketing for beginners through templates and paid traffic systems
Over time, Robby built a massive online presence around this style of marketing, often promoting:
- lifestyle freedom
- fast-moving ad campaigns
- and high-ticket affiliate strategies
And to be fair, Robby clearly understands affiliate marketing and paid traffic.
The issue is not whether he has experience.
The bigger question is whether systems like Freedom Affiliate Formula realistically match the expectations being created for beginners seeing these ads for the first time.
Because once you look past the headlines and income promises, the actual business model behind these systems is far more advanced and risky than many newcomers realize.
That’s where I think many people run into trouble.
Especially beginners who are still learning:
- how affiliate marketing works
- how traffic works
- and how online business actually functions behind the scenes
Which is one reason I always encourage people to first focus on building real foundational skills through guides like Essential Skills For Online Entrepreneurs before jumping into expensive paid advertising systems.
The Commission Hero Connection
One thing that stood out to me almost immediately while researching Freedom Affiliate Formula was how heavily it resembled the same ecosystem Robby previously built around Commission Hero.
The:
- marketing angles
- emotional messaging
- “simple 3-step system”
- paid ads focus
- and beginner income promises
…all felt extremely familiar.
And honestly, the deeper I dug into these funnels, the more connected they started feeling.
That became even more obvious once I started comparing Freedom Affiliate Formula to:
- Freedom Income
- The Laptop Rich Challenge
- The Invisible Affiliate System
- and Adam’s Method
Different branding…
Different headlines…
But many of the same funnel psychology patterns underneath.
That doesn’t automatically make these systems scams.
But it does suggest that many of these programs are built around very similar:
- emotional sales structures
- paid traffic models
- and high-ticket backend funnels
And in my opinion, beginners should understand those patterns before investing money into systems like this.
Why Freedom Affiliate Formula Felt Familiar To Me
One of the biggest reasons I decided to investigate Freedom Affiliate Formula more deeply was because the entire funnel immediately felt familiar.
And when you’ve spent years researching affiliate marketing systems and online business funnels, that feeling usually means something important.
Because after looking through:
- the ads
- the opt-in pages
- the messaging
- and the overall sales structure
…it became very clear that this was not some completely new approach to affiliate marketing.
In many ways, Freedom Affiliate Formula feels more like another evolution of the same funnel ecosystem that has been circulating through the make money online space for years.
The Same Funnel Patterns Keep Reappearing
The more I researched Freedom Affiliate Formula, the more similarities I noticed between:
- Freedom Income
- The Laptop Rich Challenge
- The Invisible Affiliate System
- Adam’s Method
- and even older Commission Hero-style funnels
Different names.
Different branding.
Different headlines.
But underneath?
Many of the same emotional marketing patterns kept showing up repeatedly.
Things like:
- “ordinary people earning thousands”
- simplified 3-step systems
- copy-and-paste marketing
- beginner-friendly income claims
- urgency-driven messaging
- and heavy emphasis on fast results
If you’ve read some of my other investigations here on Scam Busters USA, you’ve probably noticed this pattern already.
And honestly, once you start seeing it, it becomes difficult to ignore.
The Funnel Structure Is Often More Important Than The Branding
One thing many beginners don’t realize is that in the affiliate marketing world, branding changes constantly.
Funnels get:
- renamed
- refreshed
- rebranded
- repackaged
- and relaunched all the time
Especially when:
- ad fatigue increases
- public skepticism grows
- or marketers need a “fresh” angle to attract new audiences
That’s one reason I always encourage people to learn How To Verify Affiliate Marketing Offers Before You Promote Them instead of relying purely on marketing hype or emotional promises.
Because understanding the structure behind a funnel is often far more important than the actual product name being advertised.
My Biggest Concern For Beginners
My biggest concern is that many newcomers may believe they’re entering:
a simple beginner-friendly affiliate marketing program
…when in reality they’re stepping into:
- paid traffic
- high-ticket coaching funnels
- aggressive sales systems
- and business models that often require far more money and experience than the ads imply
That doesn’t mean nobody can succeed with these systems.
Some people absolutely can.
But in my opinion, most beginners would be far better off first understanding:
- how affiliate marketing really works
- what passive income actually means
- and why so many people fail chasing shortcuts online
Before risking money inside expensive funnel ecosystems like this.
The Direction I Personally Moved Toward Instead
After years of chasing shortcuts, paid-ad systems, and “easy money” opportunities, I eventually realized I needed to stop looking for fast results and start learning how to actually build something long-term online.
That shift completely changed my direction in affiliate marketing.
Instead of constantly jumping between opportunities, I started focusing on:
- content creation
- SEO
- website ownership
- audience building
- and learning how affiliate marketing actually works behind the scenes
That’s ultimately why I still personally use Wealthy Affiliate today instead of high-ticket paid-ad funnels like this.
Why Most Beginners Fail With Systems Like This
One thing I’ve learned after being involved in affiliate marketing since 2011 is that most beginners do not fail because they’re lazy.
They fail because they enter this industry with completely unrealistic expectations.
And honestly, I understand why that happens.
When someone is:
- financially stressed
- burned out from work
- worried about retirement
- struggling with bills
- or desperately looking for a way to change their situation
…it becomes very easy to emotionally connect with marketing that promises:
- simple systems
- fast income
- easy ads
- or “copy and paste” success
I know that feeling because I lived through it myself for years.
My Own Experience Chasing Systems
Between 2011 and 2014, I spent a huge amount of time bouncing between different make money online programs trying to find the “right” shortcut.
Some programs promised:
- automation
- passive income
- done-for-you systems
- or easy affiliate commissions
And honestly, every new opportunity felt like:
“Maybe THIS is finally the one.”
But the reality usually looked very different once I got inside.
Most of the time I ended up:
- overwhelmed
- confused
- discouraged
- and constantly chasing the next system instead of learning real skills
In fact, one of the earliest systems I personally bought into was Plug-In Profit Site, which taught me some very hard lessons about hype, expectations, and the reality of online business early in my journey.
That’s one reason I eventually created guides like Why Most People Fail At Affiliate Marketing (And What It Really Takes To Succeed) and What Passive Income Really Means (And What It Doesn’t) because I think people deserve a much more honest picture of what building an online business actually looks like.
The Real Problem With Paid Ads For Beginners
To be clear, paid advertising itself is not fake.
Facebook ads absolutely can work.
The problem is that many beginners jump into paid advertising before understanding:
- traffic
- conversions
- audience psychology
- funnels
- copywriting
- tracking
- or affiliate marketing fundamentals
That creates a very dangerous situation where people are risking real money while still trying to learn the basics.
And unfortunately, paid ads are not forgiving.
You can lose money very quickly.
That’s one reason I personally moved away from chasing paid-ad shortcut systems and started focusing much more heavily on:
- SEO
- content creation
- websites
- audience building
- and long-term traffic strategies instead
That shift completely changed my direction online after 2014.
What Finally Started Working For Me
Once I stopped chasing “easy money” systems and started focusing on:
- learning skills
- building content
- helping readers
- and creating assets I actually owned
…everything finally started making more sense.
It was slower.
It took patience.
But it was also far more stable and sustainable long-term.
That’s ultimately why I still personally recommend a slower, education-first approach to affiliate marketing today instead of high-pressure paid advertising funnels that make success sound far easier than it really is.
Before joining systems like Freedom Affiliate Formula, I genuinely think people should understand both the risks and the realities behind this style of affiliate marketing model.
My Recommended Alternative
After years of chasing different systems, funnels, and “easy money” opportunities online, I eventually realized I needed to stop looking for shortcuts and start learning how to actually build something sustainable.
That shift completely changed my direction in affiliate marketing.
Instead of constantly jumping between programs, I started focusing on:
- content creation
- SEO
- website ownership
- audience building
- and learning how affiliate marketing really works behind the scenes
And honestly, that’s when things finally started making sense for me.
Why I Personally Moved Away From Funnel-Style Systems
One of the biggest problems I kept running into with programs like Freedom Affiliate Formula was that everything revolved around:
- paid ads
- constant spending
- fast-moving funnels
- and high-pressure marketing environments
There was very little focus on:
- building long-term assets
- developing evergreen traffic
- or creating something I actually owned and controlled myself
That’s one reason I eventually moved toward a much slower and more sustainable approach built around:
- websites
- search traffic
- helpful content
- and long-term affiliate marketing education
And personally, I’ve found that model far more stable over the years.
The Platform I Still Personally Use Today
The platform I’ve personally continued using since 2014 is Wealthy Affiliate.
What I like most about it is that the training focuses much more heavily on:
- real skill building
- SEO
- niche websites
- affiliate marketing fundamentals
- and long-term business growth
Instead of:
- high-ticket coaching calls
- expensive paid ads
- or “copy and paste” income promises
It’s also far more beginner-friendly in my opinion.
There are:
- no mandatory sales calls
- no hidden high-ticket upsells
- and no pressure to immediately start risking money on advertising before understanding the basics.
If you want a deeper breakdown of the platform I still personally use today, you can read my full Honest Wealthy Affiliate Review where I explain exactly:
- how it works
- what I like about it
- the pros and cons
- and why I ultimately moved toward a slower long-term approach instead of chasing paid-ad funnels.
My Honest Opinion
Do I think paid ads can work?
Absolutely.
But I also think many beginners dramatically underestimate:
- the risk
- the costs
- the learning curve
- and the emotional pressure that comes with this style of business model
That’s why I personally believe most newcomers are far better off learning:
- how affiliate marketing actually works
- how to build traffic
- how to create content
- and how to build something sustainable first
Before jumping into expensive funnel systems promising fast online income.
Before wrapping this review up, I also want to answer a few common questions people have about Freedom Affiliate Formula and similar paid advertising systems.
Frequently Asked Questions About Freedom Affiliate Formula
Is Freedom Affiliate Formula A Scam?
Personally, I would not call Freedom Affiliate Formula an outright scam.
Affiliate marketing itself is legitimate, and Robby Blanchard clearly has real experience with paid advertising and ClickBank marketing.
However, I do believe the funnel creates very aggressive expectations around how quickly beginners can start generating large commissions online.
Much of the marketing focuses on:
- copying proven ads
- using prebuilt templates
- skipping websites
- avoiding content creation
- and generating commissions quickly through paid traffic
While that approach may appeal to beginners, I think many people underestimate:
- the learning curve
- the risks of paid ads
- and how difficult affiliate marketing can become without strong foundational skills first.
How Much Does Freedom Affiliate Formula Cost?
At the time of writing this review, the front-end offer for Freedom Affiliate Formula was being promoted at $27.
The funnel also includes:
- bonus offers
- coaching-oriented messaging
- email and phone number collection
- and multiple additional training components throughout the process.
While the initial entry price is relatively low compared to many high-ticket programs, beginners should understand that the business model itself appears heavily centered around paid advertising.
That means additional costs may potentially include:
- Facebook ad spend
- landing page tools
- funnel software
- testing budgets
- tracking tools
- and ongoing campaign optimization
So while the front-end offer itself is inexpensive, the actual cost of trying to scale paid advertising campaigns can become much higher over time.
Is Freedom Affiliate Formula Connected To Commission Hero?
In my opinion, yes — very heavily.
Throughout the funnel, there are multiple references to:
- Commission Hero
- ClickBank rankings
- previous student case studies
- and the same paid advertising philosophy Robby Blanchard became known for previously.
The overall structure, messaging style, and marketing approach feel very similar to the ecosystem built around Commission Hero and related funnel-style affiliate systems.
That does not automatically make the system illegitimate.
But I do think it’s fair to say Freedom Affiliate Formula appears more like an evolution of the same business model rather than something entirely different.
Do You Need Paid Ads To Make This Work?
Based on the funnel itself, paid advertising appears to be one of the core foundations of the system.
The training repeatedly references:
- Facebook ads
- scaling campaigns
- ad templates
- winning creatives
- and paid traffic strategies
So realistically, people interested in this model should probably expect to spend money testing and running ads if they want to fully implement the strategy being taught.
That’s one reason I personally do not believe this is the ideal starting point for complete beginners.
Is Freedom Affiliate Formula Beginner Friendly?
Honestly, I think this depends heavily on the person.
The actual training may be simplified compared to more advanced paid advertising systems, but paid traffic itself still carries real financial risk.
Many beginners enter affiliate marketing already:
- financially stressed
- desperate for results
- or emotionally vulnerable to fast-income marketing
And paid advertising can become very expensive very quickly if someone does not already understand:
- conversions
- traffic
- audience targeting
- copywriting
- landing pages
- and campaign optimization
That’s why I personally believe most beginners are much safer starting with:
- education
- SEO
- content creation
- and long-term traffic strategies first
Before risking money on paid advertising campaigns.
Why Does The Funnel Focus So Much On “No Website Needed”?
One of the biggest emotional selling points throughout the funnel is the idea that people can:
- skip websites
- skip content creation
- skip SEO
- skip building an audience
- and start generating commissions faster using paid ads instead.
And honestly, I understand why that message appeals to people.
Building websites and organic traffic takes time.
But personally, after being involved in affiliate marketing since 2011, I’ve found that owning your own website and building long-term traffic assets creates far more stability over time than constantly depending on paid advertising systems alone.
That’s ultimately why I moved toward content-based affiliate marketing instead of continuing to chase shortcut-style systems.
What Do You Personally Recommend Instead?
After years of trial and error online, I eventually stopped chasing “easy money” systems and started focusing on:
- websites
- SEO
- content creation
- affiliate marketing education
- and long-term business building
That shift completely changed my direction after 2014.
The platform I still personally use today is Wealthy Affiliate because it focuses much more heavily on:
- skill building
- long-term traffic
- SEO
- website ownership
- and learning how affiliate marketing actually works
Instead of relying primarily on paid ad funnels and aggressive income messaging.
If you want to learn more about the platform I personally use and recommend, you can read my full Honest Wealthy Affiliate Review for a deeper breakdown of how it works and why I ultimately chose that direction instead.
Final Verdict: Is Freedom Affiliate Formula Worth It?
After going through the Freedom Affiliate Formula funnel myself, I do not believe this is a fake affiliate marketing system.
Robby Blanchard clearly has real experience with:
- ClickBank marketing
- paid advertising
- affiliate funnels
- and scaling online campaigns
And the training itself appears heavily focused on paid traffic strategies, ad templates, offer selection, and funnel optimization.
However, I also think the marketing creates very aggressive expectations for beginners.
A large part of the funnel revolves around ideas like:
- “copy my ads”
- “copy my blueprint”
- “no website needed”
- “make commissions quickly”
- and skipping many of the slower parts of building an online business
And honestly, that’s where I think many newcomers can get into trouble.
Because while paid advertising absolutely can work, it also carries:
- financial risk
- steep learning curves
- emotional pressure
- and ongoing costs many beginners are not fully prepared for.
That’s one reason I personally moved away from chasing shortcut-style systems years ago and started focusing more heavily on:
- websites
- SEO
- content creation
- and building long-term online assets instead.
That slower approach ultimately became far more sustainable for me over time.
So my honest opinion is this:
If you already:
- understand paid advertising
- have a testing budget
- and are comfortable with higher-risk affiliate marketing models
…Freedom Affiliate Formula may be something you explore further.
But if you are completely new to affiliate marketing, personally, I believe most people are much safer learning:
- foundational skills
- long-term traffic strategies
- SEO
- and how affiliate marketing actually works first
Before jumping into aggressive paid-advertising funnels.
That’s ultimately why I still personally use Wealthy Affiliate today instead of systems built primarily around hype-driven paid traffic models.
If you want to learn more about the platform I personally use and recommend, you can read my full Honest Wealthy Affiliate Review for a deeper breakdown of the approach that finally worked for me long-term after years of trial and error online.
Affiliate marketing is absolutely real.
The bigger question is whether people are entering it with realistic expectations — or simply chasing another shortcut that sounds easier than it really is.
About The Author
My name is Jason Taft, and I’ve been involved in affiliate marketing and online business since 2011.
Like many people entering this industry, I originally got pulled into the idea that there had to be some “secret system” that could shortcut success online. Between 2011 and 2014, I spent years bouncing between different make money online programs, chasing hype, and trying to figure out what actually worked.
Some programs overpromised.
Some completely overwhelmed beginners.
And some taught me very expensive lessons about how online marketing really works.
Eventually, I stopped chasing shortcuts and started focusing on:
- building websites
- creating content
- SEO
- long-term traffic
- and learning affiliate marketing the right way
That shift completely changed my direction online.
Today, Scam Busters USA exists to help people:
- investigate online opportunities
- recognize red flags
- understand how funnels actually work
- and make more informed decisions before spending money online
I do not believe every funnel or affiliate program is automatically a scam.
But I do believe people deserve honest, experience-based reviews from someone who has actually spent years inside this industry instead of simply repeating promotional claims.
If my reviews help even one person avoid wasting money or entering affiliate marketing with more realistic expectations, then this website is doing exactly what I hoped it would do.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some links on this website are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase through them at no additional cost to you. I only recommend platforms and tools I personally use or genuinely believe may provide value to readers.
This post takes a critical look at Freedom Affiliate Formula, suggesting it’s essentially a rebranded version of Robby Blanchard’s old Commission Hero system rather than a genuinely new opportunity. It highlights how the marketing relies on recycled claims such as “$180M ad templates” and “$1,000’s per day”, which are aimed at beginners who don’t yet understand the risks of paid advertising. The review cautions readers to exercise caution, noting that these high-ticket, ad-focused programs can be risky and expensive, and recommends more stable, skill-building alternatives for those new to affiliate marketing.
Keep up the good work!
Thank you for the thoughtful summary — you captured the heart of what I was trying to get across. Programs like Freedom Affiliate Formula always sound “new,” but once you’ve been in this industry long enough, you start seeing the same patterns repeat with different packaging.
The big income claims, the “secret ad templates,” the push toward paid ads before someone has any real foundation… those are exactly the things that drain beginners fast. I learned that the hard way back in 2011–2014 before I finally found a platform that focused on real skills instead of hype.
I appreciate you taking the time to read the review and share your perspective. It’s encouraging to see more people recognizing the difference between a business model that builds long-term stability and one that just sells the dream.
Thanks again for the support — it means a lot!
Jason, thank you for taking the time to unpack this so clearly. The way you traced the support desk, backend structure, mandatory phone field, and recycled Trustpilot badge really helped connect the dots. It confirms what many beginners feel but cannot quite explain: something looks new on the surface, but underneath it is the same high-ticket paid ads machine, just with a different mask.
Reading your breakdown brought back my own early days in affiliate marketing. Around 2015, I almost joined a similar “copy my ads” coaching system that promised quick results with Facebook ads. Instead, I chose a slower education-first route and only tested ads years later with small budgets for my own campaigns. Even with some experience and training behind me, I saw how fast ad spend can disappear when you are still learning. Your emphasis that beginners should not start with paid ads, no matter how good the templates look, made a lot of sense to me.
I like how you contrasted this with a skill-based platform that has stayed under one name for nearly two decades. That kind of stability is rare in this space. One question for you: in your view, what specific signs tell you that a “new” program is truly an evolution and not just a rebranded funnel? And second, for someone who has already built a solid foundation with organic traffic and content, at what point do you think it becomes reasonable to start experimenting with paid ads without falling into the same high-risk trap you described here?
Thank you for this thoughtful comment — you put words to something a lot of people feel but can’t articulate. That “something’s off but I can’t explain why” instinct is usually dead-on, and once you’ve seen a few of these systems up close, the recycled funnels, badges, scripts, and support structure become impossible to unsee.
Your story from 2015 felt familiar. I went through the same thing between 2011–2014 — tempted by the “copy my ads” systems, the big screenshots, the promise that experience didn’t matter because the ads were already “proven.” What they never tell you is that proven ads stop working the moment the whole internet starts running them. And as you said, even when you do know what you’re doing, ad spend can vanish fast.
You asked two great questions:
1. How do you tell the difference between a real evolution and a rebranded funnel?
Here are the signs I look for now:
• Backend stability — If the company name, support desk, corporate address, or merchant ID matches older programs, it’s usually a rebrand, not an evolution.
• New curriculum vs. recycled training — Real evolution updates the core training, not just the sales page. Rebrands keep the same modules with new titles.
• Transparency about founders — When leaders hide, use aliases, or only show up in ads, that’s a red flag. Students end up talking to “coaches,” not creators.
• Business model shift — True evolution improves the method (e.g., organic first, new tech, updated strategy). Rebrands keep the same paid-ads-plus-upsells engine.
• Longevity and brand consistency — A legitimate program doesn’t rename itself every 2–3 years. Wealthy Affiliate is a great example of the opposite — same name since 2005.
• Offers that solve real problems — When a new program simply sells “templates,” “secret ads,” or “DFY funnels,” it’s almost always a repackage. Growth-based programs shift toward skill building, not shortcuts.
If everything looks new but the structure is identical, it’s usually the same machine wearing a different logo.
2. When is the right time — realistically — to start experimenting with paid ads?
In my experience, paid ads make sense only when:
✔ You have organic proof first
Your content converts, people click your CTAs, and your offer already works with warm traffic.
✔ You understand your audience deeply
Ads fail fast when the marketer is still guessing what their avatar’s real pain points are.
✔ You have a small testing budget you can afford to lose
Ads aren’t an investment — they’re tuition until you’re skilled.
✔ You have tracking set up
Most beginners run ads without analytics, so they can’t see what’s happening or why.
✔ You have one clear offer, not a scattered site
Ads amplify what’s already working — or what’s already broken.
✔ You’re comfortable making decisions from data, not emotion
Ads require calm testing, not “I hope this works.”
If someone has built a real foundation with SEO, organic content, and trust, then ads can be a multiplier — but not before.
Most of the paid-ads programs skip straight to Step 10 and pretend Steps 1–9 don’t exist.
Really appreciate your thoughtful questions. They’re the kind of things people should be asking before spending thousands on a funnel they don’t control.
If you ever want to bounce ideas around on the organic-to-ads transition or vet another “new” program, feel free to reach out — always happy to help a fellow builder.
— Jason
Hello Scam Busters USA. I just read your article reviewing Freedom Affiliate Formula. I have not heard about Robby Blanchard before I read your article here but I am only part of the affiliate marketing world for 7 months. I am still a novice here.
I am actually going to read a few of your reviews here. This one is excellent and I see that you have a large menu to explore. I was also impressed with your positioning of links to your “#1 Recommendation” which brought me to your “Honest Wealthy Affiliate Review…” The way you segue into the Wealthy Affiliates landing page link with the statement “Looking for a safer, beginner-friendly way to start affiliate marketing” was seamless. I am very impressed with your very professional format.
Your comparison between the opt-in pages that lead to an expensive sales floor vis-a-vis an educational platform like Wealthy Affiliates is great. The comparison is very convincing and there are several very natural links to a true and trusted Wealthy Affiliates platform which is perfect. Great job. MAC.
Hi MAC,
Thank you so much for taking the time to read the review and share this — it really means a lot. And welcome to the affiliate marketing world! Seven months in, you’re still early in the journey, but you’re already doing something many people skip: slowing down, researching, and looking for the truth before jumping into high-ticket promises. That alone will save you thousands.
Robby Blanchard has been around the “copy my ads” space for years, so when I saw Freedom Affiliate Formula using the same scripts, pages, and emotional hooks, it was important to break it down clearly for beginners who may not recognize those patterns yet. These funnels always look shiny on the outside, but once you’ve been in the industry for a while, the recycled pieces start to stand out.
I’m really glad the structure of the article helped you. I work hard to make sure the transitions feel natural and that readers can follow the logic — not just a pile of warnings with no direction. If someone realizes a program isn’t right for them, I want them to immediately see a safer path forward, something built on skills and not pressure. That’s why the Wealthy Affiliate link sits where it does: not as a pitch, but as the alternative I wish someone had shown me back in 2011 when I was getting lost in the hype.
Your feedback about the comparison between opt-in funnels and real education means a lot. That’s one of the biggest problems beginners face — slick marketing makes paid-ads coaching look exciting, but real progress comes from patient training, fundamentals, and building your own platform instead of someone else’s webinar.
I appreciate your kind words about the site layout too. I try to keep things clean, transparent, and easy to navigate, especially with so many programs popping up every month.
Feel free to explore the other reviews — and if you ever want a second opinion on a program, tool, or offer you come across, I’m always here to help.
Thanks again for the encouragement, MAC. You’re off to a strong start.
— Jason
ScamBustersUSA.com
I am glad I did my due diligence and read up on Freedom Affiliate Formula before I actually bought in. I could have ended up wasting a lot of precious time and money. So thank you for this.
There seems to be no end to these types of programs on the internet, which is why I always look for reviews when I come across one of them. More often than not it is a scam of some sort. Normally if there are big claims about all the money you are going to make, that should be an immediate red flag.
Hi there,
Thanks for taking the time to share this, and I appreciate your patience while I’m catching up on a couple of comments from the past couple of days.
I’m really glad you checked things out before jumping in. These programs are designed to hit people fast with big claims, emotional pressure, and “act now or miss out” hooks. Like you said, the moment you see promises of huge daily earnings or “copy my ads and make $1,000 a day,” that’s the red flag right there. Beginners don’t realize how expensive and unforgiving paid ads really are, so these systems make it sound like success is automatic when it’s anything but.
And you’re right, there’s no shortage of these funnels online. They recycle the same templates, scripts, and income promises, just with a new name and logo every year. Doing exactly what you did, slowing down, researching, and reading real reviews, is the best protection anyone has.
I’m glad the breakdown helped you avoid wasting time and money. If you ever come across another program you’re unsure about, feel free to send it my way anytime.
— Jason
Thanks for this thorough review! I appreciate how you dug into the details — the analysis about Freedom Affiliate Formula re-using the same funnel, ad templates and marketing pitch as Commission Hero really made me pause and think. Your points about the “get rich quick” promises, mandatory phone number at opt-in and heavy reliance on paid ads and expensive upsells seem like serious red flags. As someone who’s interested in honest, long-term online income (I run a small handmade-craft site), I wonder: do you think there is any realistic path through this kind of system for someone starting with little budget and no prior marketing experience?
Hi Hanna,
Thank you for taking the time to dig into the review, I’m glad the breakdown helped. Once you see the recycled funnel, the reused “secret templates,” and the push toward high-ticket coaching calls, it’s hard to unsee the pattern. These systems are built to look shiny on the outside, but the deeper structure is almost always the same.
To your question, is there any realistic path through a system like this for someone with a small budget and no real marketing experience?
I’m going to be honest:
For beginners with limited budget, the path is basically non-existent.
Here’s why:
The entire model revolves around paid ads, and paid ads are the most expensive and least forgiving way to start online.
You’re expected to burn money while “learning,” but beginners rarely have the financial cushion to survive that learning curve.
The coaching calls usually escalate toward upsells, not toward building sustainable skills.
And even if someone had the budget, they’d still be building their business around someone else’s funnel, not their own long-term asset.
It’s like trying to learn to drive by jumping straight into a race car.
Where systems like this can sometimes work:
They’re built for people who already have:
Experience with paid ads
Existing income from another business
The ability to lose money during testing
A strong understanding of audience targeting
That’s not the typical beginner.
For someone like you — running a craft site, building slowly and honestly — the better path is the opposite:
Organic traffic
Helpful content
Email list building
Product reviews, comparisons, tutorials
Steady SEO growth
Skills first, tools second
It’s slower in the first few months, but it lasts. And it doesn’t require betting your rent money on Facebook ads that can tank overnight.
If you ever want help brainstorming affiliate angles for your craft niche or evaluating another program, I’m always happy to help. You already have the right mindset, long-term, honest, and grounded. That’s exactly what wins online.
Jason
Scam Busters USA