If you have searched for “best affiliate marketing SEO course”, you have probably seen The Affiliate Lab come up more than once. For years, it was known as a deep, data-driven program for building and ranking affiliate sites, and many students credit it for big jumps in traffic and income.
Things have changed, though. In 2025, The Affiliate Lab stopped taking new students. Some review links now redirect to Diggity Marketing’s main site, which promotes agency services instead of the course. That leaves many bloggers wondering whether this program is still worth thinking about, and what to do instead if you cannot join.
In this review, I walk through what The Affiliate Lab was, who it helped, why it built such a strong reputation, and what the current status looks like. I will also share some parent-friendly alternatives that are open today, including my top recommendation, Wealthy Affiliate, so you can choose a path that fits your time, budget, and family life.
Creator: Matt Diggity
Type: Advanced SEO and affiliate site building course
Status: Closed to new enrollments in 2025
Price When Open: $997 one time or 2 × $597 split pay
Includes: Niche selection, keyword research, on-page and off-page SEO, conversion optimisation, flipping sites, bonus mini courses, private community
Best For: Intermediate and advanced bloggers who want to build and flip SEO driven authority sites
Not Ideal For: Total beginners, parents with very limited time, or anyone wanting a gentle, hand-held first course
Refund Policy (When Active): No refunds
Overall Rating (Course Quality): 4.6 / 5
Looking for a course you can actually join today?
My top recommendation for parents is Wealthy Affiliate. It combines WordPress hosting, SEO tools, training, and community support so you can build a blog on your terms.
You can also explore my Best Blogging Resources for Parents for more courses and platforms I have personally reviewed.
What Is The Affiliate Lab?
The Affiliate Lab was an advanced SEO and affiliate marketing course that showed you how to build, rank, and monetise niche websites. It focused on organic search traffic and long-term, white-hat strategies.
Instead of teaching general blogging tips, the course went deep into:
- Choosing profitable niches with real buyer intent
- Doing data-driven keyword research
- Structuring sites and content for strong SEO
- Building high-quality links that stand up to Google updates
- Improving conversions so more visitors become buyers
- Growing and then selling sites for a lump-sum payout
You get video lessons, SOPs, templates, case studies, and a private community. It was built for people who wanted to treat websites as real assets, not side projects.
Today, The Affiliate Lab is closed to new students. Existing members keep their access, but new bloggers cannot currently join.
Who Created The Affiliate Lab?
The Affiliate Lab was created by Matt Diggity, a well-known SEO expert. He runs several companies, including:
- Diggity Marketing
- Authority Builders
- The Search Initiative
- LeadSpring
His background is in building and ranking affiliate sites, then testing SEO ideas across many different projects. He became known in the SEO world for relying on data and testing, not opinions.
Inside The Affiliate Lab, Matt taught the exact processes he used in his own businesses. That is one reason advanced bloggers rated the course so highly. The methods were built from real experiments and real results, not theory.
On his main site now, Matt focuses more on agency services, done-for-you SEO, and other resources. He still references The Affiliate Lab as part of his story, but it is no longer a front-end offer for new students.
Is The Affiliate Lab a Scam?
The Affiliate Lab is not a scam. It was one of the most respected SEO and affiliate marketing courses online. Students got real training, clear systems, and proven strategies. Matt Diggity has a strong reputation in the SEO community and runs several legitimate businesses.
The course is closed to new members, but that does not make it risky or shady. It simply means no one can enrol today. Existing students keep their access, and the training still works for building and ranking websites.
The only downside now is availability. If you want a similar system, you need to look at alternatives that are active and up to date.
How Did The Affiliate Lab Work?
The course followed a structured system that walked you through building and growing an affiliate site step by step. Everything was broken into clear modules you could follow at your own pace.
The core process looked like this:
Choose a profitable niche
You learned how to judge competition, check ranking difficulty, and spot keywords with buying intent.
Do data-driven keyword research
The course taught you how to analyse search results, study competitors, and build keyword lists that matched realistic goals.
Build a site that Google understands
You learned how to structure categories, posts, internal links, and on-page SEO so the site could rank faster.
Create high-quality content
You used templates and guidelines that helped you write content Google trusts. This included review posts, information posts, and comparison pages.
Earn backlinks safely
The link-building section was one of the biggest selling points. It focused on safe outreach, website relationships, and clean methods that protect your site from penalties.
Improve conversions
You learned how to increase clicks on affiliate links, optimise your layout, and boost earnings per visitor.
Grow and sell
The final modules covered valuations and the process of selling a site once it has earned consistent income.
Parents who used the course liked the structure because it helped them stay focused. You never had to guess what to do next. You followed the system one step at a time.
What Happened to The Affiliate Lab in 2025?
The Affiliate Lab stopped accepting new students. It is no longer an active course you can buy. Matt Diggity now points people toward services and tools on his main site. These include SEO agencies, done-for-you SEO, and resources like Authority Builders.
The training inside The Affiliate Lab is still valid, but you cannot join today. Anyone looking for a full SEO system now needs to choose an alternative that is available and supported.
How Much Did The Affiliate Lab Cost?
The Affiliate Lab cost $997 one time when it was open. Students got lifetime access, all future updates, and entry to the community. There were no monthly fees and no subscription.
Since the course is now closed, there is no active pricing or enrolment page. If it ever returns, the cost may change. For now, the only way to learn Matt Diggity’s methods is through his free content or alternative training programs that cover similar SEO systems.
Refund Policy
The course offered a 30-day refund when it was open. Students could request a refund within the first month if the training was not a good fit. That policy applied only to active enrolments, and there is no current option to join.
Do You Get Any Support?
Existing students still have access to the support options included with their purchase. New students cannot join, so support is no longer available to anyone outside the original group.
Here is what the support looked like when the course was active:
Private student community
Members shared SEO questions, site wins, and progress updates. It was one of the most valuable parts of the course.
Answers from Matt and the team
Matt Diggity and senior members were active in the community. Their feedback was practical and based on real case studies.
Templates and checklists
Students used worksheets, content templates, and SEO audits to speed up their workflow.
There is no active onboarding today because the course is closed.
Who Was The Affiliate Lab For?
The course worked best for:
- Bloggers with a working site
- People ready to learn SEO with a long-term mindset
- Anyone aiming to build and sell niche sites
- Students who like data-driven processes
- Parents who want a structured plan and clear steps
- Bloggers who prefer video lessons and real case studies
You got the most value if you were ready to publish content every week and follow a consistent SEO workflow.
Who Was It Not For?
It was not ideal for:
- Beginners who had not built a blog yet
- Bloggers wanting quick traffic
- People looking for low-cost training
- Anyone who prefers community features built into a platform
- Bloggers who want coaching or live calls
If you wanted support, hosting, tools, and coaching in one place, a platform like Wealthy Affiliate worked better.
Pros and Cons of The Affiliate Lab
Before we move into alternatives, here is a clear breakdown of where the course performed well and where it fell short.
Pros
- Clear SEO system with proven results
- Strong keyword and competition training
- High-quality link-building lessons
- Real case studies and examples
- Templates for content and audits
- Focus on long-term rankings
- Great for authority-style niche sites
Cons
- No longer open for enrolment
- Expensive for new bloggers
- No hosting or tools included
- No built-in platform community
- Requires consistent effort
- Not ideal for complete beginners
What Are the Alternatives?
If you were considering The Affiliate Lab for SEO and niche-site training, there are still strong options available. These programs offer similar skills, updated training, and real support you can access today.
Wealthy Affiliate
All-in-one blogging and SEO platform with hosting, tools, keyword research, and 24/7 support. Best for parents who want everything in one place and need clear steps without tech headaches.
Blog Growth Engine
Advanced SEO and content strategy for bloggers ready to scale. Strong fit if you want a more hands-on system for authority sites and you already understand the basics.
Stupid Simple SEO
Focused keyword research and content planning. Straightforward lessons, ideal for growing steady organic traffic without getting lost in technical details.
Passive Income Geek
Teaches how to build simple, lean niche sites with SEO and helpful content. Easy to follow, though currently not open for enrolment.
Each of these courses fits a different stage of blogging.
- Wealthy Affiliate gives you all-in-one support and tools.
- Blog Growth Engine suits intermediate bloggers who want to scale.
- Stupid Simple SEO delivers a clear keyword process.
- The 31 Days challenge helps you build strong content habits.
Here’s a quick look at how these alternatives compare.
| Course / Platform | Focus | Price | Best For | Support | Open Now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Affiliate Lab | Advanced SEO and site flipping | $997 one-time (archived) | Intermediate and advanced bloggers | Community + templates | Closed |
| Wealthy Affiliate | All-in-one blogging & SEO platform | Free starter, then monthly options | Beginners to advanced | 24/7 support + community + weekly classes | Open |
| Blog Growth Engine | Authority sites and advanced SEO | High-ticket | Intermediate bloggers | Coaching + community | Open |
| Stupid Simple SEO | Keyword research & content strategy | $497 one-time | Bloggers wanting focused SEO training | Facebook group | Waitlist |
| Passive Income Geek | Lean niche sites with SEO | $399 first year, then $199/year | New and intermediate site builders | Community + templates | Closed |
Final Thoughts: Is The Affiliate Lab Still Relevant?
The Affiliate Lab was one of the strongest SEO courses when it was active. The training was clear, the case studies were helpful, and the system worked for building and selling niche sites. The challenge today is simple. You cannot join it anymore.
If you already own it, you can still use the training. If you are searching for something similar, you now have better, more accessible options that offer updated lessons and real support.
Platforms like Wealthy Affiliate or Blog Growth Engine give you a clearer path forward today, especially if you want guidance that fits around family life.
Let’s Chat
Got a question about The Affiliate Lab or another SEO course?
Drop it in the comments. I reply to every message and I’m happy to help you figure out the best next step for your blog.
