Turning a hobby into an income stream is every woman’s dream—especially when it involves something you genuinely love, like sharing outfits and styling tips on social media. For years, platforms like LTK and Amazon have given me the chance to do just that, combining my love for fashion with a bit of extra income. But the truth is, as fun as it’s been, affiliate marketing often feels like a never-ending cycle of buying, linking, and hoping for clicks. That realization led me to shift my focus toward something more sustainable and rewarding: network marketing with Arbonne. 

Let’s talk more about affiliate marketing vs. network marketing, from someone who actively does both.

Hobby vs. Business: Why I’m Shifting Focus

There’s something to be said about turning a hobby into an income stream. Affiliate marketing, while fun, is unpredictable. It’s a hobby that pays, but not nearly enough to be called a sustainable business. And the reality is, I can’t pass my LTK profile or social media following down to my kids. It’s temporary, and that’s okay—as long as we acknowledge it for what it is.

Shopping, styling, and sharing outfits is something I genuinely love. Fashion has been my passion project for years, bringing me joy through every move, job change, and even motherhood. But while I adore clothes, the income just doesn’t quite match the effort. Commissions often pay pennies, and because the products aren’t consumable, the cycle never stops. Once a pair of jeans is sold, that’s it—the customer isn’t coming back every month for another.

The Numbers: Affiliate Marketing vs. Network Marketing

In the past 23 days alone, I generated $47,000 in sales through LTK, but my commission was only $2,000—about 4.3%. The math is simple: to make a sustainable, full-time income through affiliate marketing, the volume of sales would need to be astronomical.

This is where network marketing comes in. With Arbonne, I make 15% on all personal sales and a percentage of my team’s sales—which increases as you promote through the success plan. This means that my compensation grows as I do. Unlike affiliate links that expire, Arbonne’s business model is built on consumable products that people reorder every month. 

That difference is huge. It’s the choice between earning once or earning residually on products that people actually need. It’s about building a team, leveraging a compensation plan, and creating something that lasts. The income isn’t just better—it’s sustainable and, more importantly, willable to my family.

This chart shows the 2023 annual gross earnings of Arbonne Independent Consultants at different levels of the compensation plan. For more information, go to earnings.arbonne.com. Earnings depend on individual effort, and there is no guarantee of earning similar amounts to the earnings described in this blog post.

What I Sell: Sustainable Products with Real Impact

Let’s get more specific. I’ve built my business around three core Arbonne products that I genuinely love and use:

1. Arbonne Essential Meal Replacement Protein Shake (Vanilla Flavor)
   This vegan protein contains 9 essential amino acids, carbohydrates for energy, and healthy fats from avocado oil. It features a powerhouse blend of vitamins and minerals that support your skin, heart, bones, metabolism, hormones, brain, nervous system, energy, cells, immunity, and vision. It also supports a healthy weight and lean physique and is formulated without gluten.

2. Arbonne GreenSynergy Elixir
   You get a rainbow of fruits and veggies, support digestion and gut health, and boost skin radiance in one powerhouse formula. Formulated with 12 essential fruits and vegetables, including broccoli, kale, spinach, and spirulina, packed with powerful phytonutrients and antioxidants to support your daily nutrition. It includes prebiotics and 13 key digestive enzymes to enhance digestion and reduce bloating. Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid work together as the perfect blend of skin-loving ingredients to help build collagen, strengthening the skin and improving its elasticity and resilience.

3. Arbonne Energy Fizz
   Made with Green Tea and Guarana, this drink helps boost energy levels, temporarily promotes alertness, and enhances cognitive performance. Green Tea and Guarana deliver 55mg of naturally derived caffeine.

Want to try all of them? Grab them here.

These aren’t just products—they’re solutions to real problems that people actually want and need every month. The best part? Customers reorder because they feel and see results, not because of a limited-time link in an Instagram bio.

Is the Juice Worth the Squeeze: My Final Thoughts on Affiliate Marketing Vs. Network Marketing

Let’s be real. I can’t see myself twirling around in cute outfits for the rest of my life. But I can see myself building a business that gives me freedom and flexibility—one that allows me to spend more time with my family, renovate that dream kitchen, and take beachside vacations without checking my phone every five minutes for sales notifications.

Network marketing might not be for everyone, but it’s absolutely worth a second look. Why? Because network marketing has the power to transform your family’s financial future—building something sustainable that you can pass down for generations. Twenty years from now, I want to look back on a business that continues to grow and provide, not just a fleeting side hustle. 

So, don’t settle for what you want now, when you can work towards what you want most. If you’re ready to go all in, take a fresh look at Arbonne. Let’s build a future of freedom, flexibility, and the rewards of hard work. DM me over on IG here and let’s talk more about it. Or, read this blog post.

To see typical earnings for Arbonne Independent Consultants, visit earnings.arbonne.com. Earnings depend on individual effort, and there is no guarantee of earning similar amounts to the earnings described in this blog post.

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