In 2009, I recommended a product called One Week Marketing by Jennifer, known online as Pot Pie Girl. It was a beginner-friendly affiliate marketing course built around Squidoo and what was then called “bum marketing,” the practice of promoting affiliate products using free platforms and sweat equity instead of paid advertising.<\/p>\n
The product itself is long gone. Squidoo shut down in 2014 when it merged with HubPages. The specific tactics One Week Marketing taught are obsolete. But the reason I recommended it in the first place contains lessons that still apply to evaluating any online marketing course today.<\/p>\n
There were four things I liked about this course that remain valid criteria for evaluating any training product.<\/p>\n
No upsell gauntlet.<\/strong> One Week Marketing was a straightforward purchase. You bought it and got the complete system. There was an optional membership forum for extra help, but it was cheap and not required. In an industry drowning in upsells, downsells, and one-time offers, a clean product at a fair price stood out. It still stands out, because the upsell problem has only gotten worse since 2009.<\/p>\n Step-by-step action plan.<\/strong> The entire course was built around a weekly action plan. Follow the steps, complete the week, then repeat with a new product. This structure matters because most beginners fail not from lack of information but from lack of direction. A clear action plan beats a massive knowledge dump every time.<\/p>\n Simple, proven approach.<\/strong> There was no secret sauce or proprietary system. It was affiliate marketing using free platforms. The basics of affiliate marketing, finding products people want, creating content that connects those people to those products, have not changed even though the platforms certainly have.<\/p>\n Real case study included.<\/strong> Jennifer documented herself helping an actual beginner work through the system, including all their communications and questions. This kind of transparency gave potential buyers realistic expectations about the process and the results.<\/p>\n The landscape of online education has exploded since 2009. Platforms like Teachable, Kajabi, and Skool make it easy for anyone to create and sell courses. That means more options but also more noise. Here is what to look for.<\/p>\n Does it teach principles or just tactics?<\/strong> Tactics expire. Squidoo is gone. Article directories are gone. But the principle of creating helpful content that connects buyers with solutions is permanent. The best courses teach you to think, not just to follow steps that will be obsolete in two years.<\/p>\n Is there proof of concept?<\/strong> Look for real case studies, not income screenshots. Screenshots can be fabricated or cherry-picked. A documented case study showing the process from start to finish is far more valuable.<\/p>\n What is the total cost?<\/strong> Calculate the real price including upsells, required tools, and recurring subscriptions. A $47 course that requires $200 per month in software is actually a $2,447 annual commitment.<\/p>\n Is the creator still active?<\/strong> The internet marketing space is littered with courses from people who made their money selling courses about making money. Look for creators who are still actively practicing what they teach.<\/p>\n One Week Marketing was a solid product for its time. The tactics are history, but the evaluation framework I used to recommend it still works for any course you are considering today.<\/p>\nHow to Evaluate Online Marketing Courses in 2026<\/h2>\n