Magical Since 1957 – MINNEAPOLIS, MN
I’ve been watching a quiet shift happen over the years. More people are realizing that earning only an hourly wage or relying on a single source of income can feel risky—and limiting. That’s where the affiliate model comes in.
At its core, the affiliate model is simple.
If you’ve ever recommended a restaurant, told a friend about a movie you loved, or suggested a product or service that made your life easier—you’ve already done the hardest part. You know how to share what you like.
Affiliate marketing just adds a tracking link and a system behind those recommendations.
You don’t need to invent a product.
You don’t need a warehouse or customer support.
You don’t need to be a tech expert.
You simply share things you genuinely believe in—and when someone takes action, you earn a commission.
That’s why I believe anyone can succeed with the affiliate model. If you can talk, write, or type a few sentences about something you enjoy or trust, you’re already qualified.
The challenge most people face isn’t what to recommend—it’s knowing how to do it online in a way that actually works.
That’s why I like the Wealthy Affiliate platform.
It provides:
Step-by-step training (for beginners)
Website and content tools
A supportive community of real people doing the same thing
A clear path to turning recommendations into income
No hype. No pressure. Just learning how to build something that can supplement your income over time.
For me, this is about simplicity and stability.
A little extra income.
A safety net.
Something you can build at your own pace.
And the best part? You can try it without pulling out your credit card.
If you’re curious—and only if you’re curious—you can explore the platform yourself with the FREE Starter Plan.
👉 Try it here:
MagicBrad.com/WA
Sometimes the simplest models are the ones that last.
YouTube and the Academy Awards: A New Stage for the Oscars
For decades, the Academy Awards have been synonymous with traditional television broadcasts. Families gathered around the TV, networks controlled the feed, and viewers watched passively. But times have changed.
With YouTube now playing a role in showing Oscars-related content, the experience has expanded beyond the living room TV. Clips, highlights, interviews, red carpet moments, and behind-the-scenes footage are instantly available to a global audience. Viewers no longer have to stay up late or watch the entire broadcast to enjoy the moments that matter most to them.
This shift reflects a bigger trend: audiences want content on demand, in bite-sized pieces, and on platforms they already use. YouTube doesn’t replace the Oscars—it extends them, making Hollywood’s biggest night more accessible, shareable, and relevant in a digital-first world.
Here’s the revised side-by-side comparison between the Wealthy Affiliate Premium Plus annual price and the University of Minnesota annual tuition, based on the latest information available:
Wealthy Affiliate Premium Plus (the highest tier WA membership) normally costs roughly:
**About $995 per year when billed annually at the regular discounted yearly rate. Commission Academy
Some unofficial sites report annual pricing as high as ~$995 for Premium Plus when you choose the yearly option instead of monthly billing. Commission Academy
Note: During limited promotions like Black Friday, some affiliates report significantly lower annual pricing (e.g., ~$497), but that’s not the standard full annual price year-round. Thrivers Hub
👉 Typical Premium Plus annual cost: ~$995/year (regular yearly price). Commission Academy
For the 2025-26 academic year at the University of Minnesota — Twin Cities campus:
In-state undergraduate tuition & fees: about $18,626 per year (not including room & board). UMN Twin Cities Admissions
Out-of-state undergraduate tuition & fees: about $41,512 per year (not including room & board). UMN Twin Cities Admissions
In-state total cost of attendance: ~$36,656/year (with housing & food). UMN Twin Cities Admissions
Out-of-state total cost of attendance: ~$61,042/year (with housing & food). UMN Twin Cities Admissions
👉 These figures include tuition + fees + room & board + books + personal expenses as typical annual costs for a full-time undergraduate student. UMN Twin Cities Admissions
| Item | Cost per Year |
|---|---|
| Wealthy Affiliate Premium Plus annual | ~$995/year Commission Academy |
| UMN Undergraduate Tuition (in-state) | ~$18,626/year UMN Twin Cities Admissions |
| UMN Undergraduate Total Cost (in-state) | ~$36,656/year UMN Twin Cities Admissions |
| UMN Undergraduate Tuition (out-of-state) | ~$41,512/year UMN Twin Cities Admissions |
| UMN Undergraduate Total Cost (out-of-state) | ~$61,042/year UMN Twin Cities Admissions |
📉 Wealthy Affiliate Premium Plus (~$995/year) is significantly cheaper than attending a traditional four-year public university. Commission Academy
🎓 University of Minnesota tuition alone for in-state students is about $18,626/year, and total costs with living expenses can exceed $36,000/year. UMN Twin Cities Admissions
🌍 For out-of-state students, UMN costs rise to $41,512+ for tuition alone and more than $60,000/year total with room & board. UMN Twin Cities Admissions
Even at the highest Wealthy Affiliate tier (Premium Plus), the annual price is a tiny fraction of what a student spends on one year of college at the University of Minnesota — whether comparing just tuition or the full cost of attendance.
Premium Plus membership costs $99 per month or $697 annually, offering extensive features like 30,000 AI credits monthly, 10 websites, over 350 expert classes annually, and advanced tools for building multiple online businesses, significantly more than the standard Premium plan.
Get Your FREE Starter Plan!
If you’ve been looking for a simple way to start earning money online—without the overwhelm—you’re not alone. Many beginners in Fridley, Minnesota (and all around the Twin Cities) wonder if online business platforms are “too complicated” or “too techy.”
So let’s cut through the noise and talk about one of the most popular beginner-friendly systems out there: Wealthy Affiliate… and more specifically, whether it’s easy enough for YOU.
Some platforms bury you in jargon, dashboards, and endless settings. They’re built for tech pros—not everyday entrepreneurs.
But here’s the truth:
You don’t need to be a tech wizard to start earning online. You just need the right system, the right tools, and the right community.
That’s where Wealthy Affiliate comes in.
If you’re looking for something that’s:
Step-by-step
Beginner-friendly
Completely risk-free to start
Supportive, with real humans helping you…
…then the Wealthy Affiliate Free Starter Plan is the perfect place to begin.
✓ Easy website builder (zero tech skills needed)
✓ Training that walks you through everything
✓ Keyword tools to help you attract traffic
✓ A supportive global community
✓ Real ways to earn affiliate commissions
✓ A safe way to “test the waters” before spending a dime
If you live here in Fridley—or anywhere near Minneapolis or St. Paul—you’ll appreciate how simple and beginner-friendly this platform really is.
The layout is clean.
The training is straightforward.
The steps are easy to follow.
If you can browse the web, you can build an online business here. It’s that simple.
Whether you’re:
Starting fresh at 40, 50, 60, or beyond
Wanting passive income
Interested in affiliate marketing
Looking for a flexible side-hustle
Or ready to finally earn money online…
Wealthy Affiliate gives you an uncomplicated way to begin.
If you’re sitting in a coffee shop in Fridley, relaxing at home, or anywhere in the Twin Cities… you can launch your first website and start learning in minutes.
No credit card.
No obligation.
Just a clear path forward.
Contact MagicBrad OR Jeremy
👉 Get the FREE Starter Account here: MagicBrad.com/WW
Is this platform too complex?
Not at all.
It’s one of the simplest on the internet—and one of the few designed specifically for beginners who want a real chance at online income without confusion.
Start today. Explore. Learn. Build.
Your online business journey begins with one click.
Contact MagicBrad OR Jeremy‼️
👉 Join Wealthy Affiliate FREE today at MagicBrad.com/WW
MMO creature-collection game
Very similar battle style to Pokémon
Focus on 2-v-2 battles
Colorful world with lots of creatures to catch (“Temtem”)
Turn-based battles
Hundreds of Digimon to train and evolve
A bit more story-heavy and mature than Pokémon
Extremely close to classic Pokémon style
Catch, train, battle, evolve
Retro graphics that feel like GBA/DS-era Pokémon
Combines monster catching with Metroidvania side-scrolling
Skill trees for each monster
More strategy-focused combat
Heavy retro Pokémon vibes
Similar battle system and monster designs
Great if you like Game Boy Advance–style games
Collect spirits (Yo-kai)
Very popular in Japan
Different battle system but same “collect and explore” vibe
Similar structure to Pokémon
Capture and fuse monsters from the Dragon Quest universe
Darker and more mature
You recruit demons instead of catching monsters
Fusion system adds depth
Turn-based battles with monsters called “Monsties”
Explore a big world with RPG elements
“Pokémon meets survival crafting”
Catch creatures called Pals
Build bases, explore, fight bosses
Wildly different tone but has strong creature-collection gameplay
Cute, casual, farming-plus-creature-collecting
You grow your creatures from seeds
Dance battles instead of fighting
Monsters recorded on cassette tapes
Excellent fusion system
Turn-based battles with unique mechanics
Darker tone inspired by early Pokémon
Breed monsters to create new species
Stack monsters (Mirages) in combat
Mix of Final Fantasy and Pokémon vibes
Not a battle game
But you collect, raise, and manage cute slimes
Relaxing and fun
Raise colorful piñata creatures
Not Pokémon-like battles, but great collecting and care mechanics
Pokémon vs Pokemon: Why the Spelling Matters (and Why It Really Doesn’t)
If you’ve spent any time around fans in the Twin Cities—or anywhere on the internet—you’ve probably seen the word written two different ways: Pokémon and Pokemon. So which one is correct? And does it even matter? Let’s dive in.
The true, original, official spelling is Pokémon—with the little accent mark over the “e.”
That accent is called an acute accent, and it changes the pronunciation. Without it, many English speakers might read the name as “Poke-uh-mon.” The accent ensures it’s pronounced like Poh-kay-mon.
The name itself is a shortening of Pocket Monsters, originating from Japan as ポケットモンスター (Poketto Monsutā). When the franchise was brought to English-speaking regions, Nintendo and Game Freak added the accent to guide pronunciation.
So yes—Pokémon is technically correct.
But here’s the twist…
Most people type Pokemon without the accent.
Why?
Because keyboards, search bars, and mobile devices don’t exactly make accents convenient. And the internet is all about convenience.
Even official Pokémon websites frequently accept or use the unaccented Pokemon spelling for SEO, marketing, or simplicity. Search engines treat them the same. Fans treat them the same. Merchandise often includes the accent—but not always.
So while Pokémon is correct… Pokemon is perfectly normal.
Here’s the simple breakdown:
Official branding
Proper pronunciation
Used in logos, games, and TV shows
Used online for speed
Works better on keyboards
Still totally understood
Common in URLs, hashtags, memes, and casual conversation
Both versions are accepted, and both belong in the modern Pokémon universe.
If you’re writing something formal, professional, or brand-focused—use Pokémon.
If you’re texting a friend, making a quick post, or your keyboard doesn’t cooperate—Pokemon is just fine.
The franchise is massive, beloved across generations, and understood worldwide regardless of the tiny line above the “e.”
The answer is simple:
Use whichever helps you catch ’em all.
Whether you’re typing fast with “Pokemon” or keeping it official with “Pokémon,” the meaning—and the magic—are exactly the same.
If you think affiliate marketing is just Amazon links and coupon sites… buckle up. The world of affiliate programs has absolutely exploded, and some of the opportunities out there are so wild, so lucrative, and so unexpected that most people don’t even know they exist.
Whether you’re a content creator in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota—or just someone looking to earn extra income online—these programs prove that almost any industry can become a passive-income machine.
Let’s dive into a few that will blow your mind…
Some affiliate programs pay you month after month, long after you made the initial referral. This is where the real magic happens.
Imagine this:
You share a tool—someone signs up—then you get paid every month for as long as they remain a customer.
Programs like:
Website hosting companies
Email marketing platforms
Membership communities
CRM tools
SaaS automation tools
These programs are the “set it and forget it” income streams every affiliate dreams of.
Yep… even local businesses in Minneapolis–St. Paul are rolling out affiliate programs.
Think:
Home improvement contractors
Insurance agents
Real estate agents
Cleaning and organizing companies
Fitness studios and wellness coaches
More and more local businesses are paying referral fees—some even paying hundreds for a single lead.
You don’t need a huge blog. You just need connections and influence in your community.
This one surprises people every time.
High-end retreat centers in places like Costa Rica, Portugal, and Norway will pay serious commissions for sending travelers their way. The travel industry loves affiliates because you help fill their calendars.
Some programs pay:
10–30% of the retreat price
$300 to $1,000+ per booking
Share a beautiful destination, earn a beautiful commission.
From photography to crypto trading to life coaching—there are affiliate programs that pay you for simply sharing knowledge-based platforms.
Education platforms (like Wealthy Affiliate, for example) offer:
Training
Tools
Community
Recurring commissions
AND cookie durations that last for months
These are perfect for bloggers, coaches, consultants, and influencers.
Some affiliate programs ditch the small payouts and go BIG.
Think:
Massage chairs
eBikes
Home saunas
Luxury mattresses
High-end kitchen gear
One sale can pay you anywhere from $200 to $1,000+.
These programs aren’t talked about much, but they’re out there—and they’re booming.
Honestly? The only catch is awareness. Most people stick to the obvious affiliate programs because they’ve never taken the time to see what’s truly available.
The reality is:
Affiliate marketing is bigger, broader, and more profitable than ever before.
If you’re in Minneapolis or St. Paul and you’re looking to build an income stream from content, livestreaming, networking, or referrals… the world of affiliate programs is wide open.
There’s a universe of affiliate opportunities out there—and once you start exploring, you’ll realize just how limitless this income channel really is.
Whether you’re promoting SaaS tools, retreats, creative services, or lifestyle gear… one thing is certain:
You won’t believe how many ways there are to make money until you start looking.
Todd Oliver’s career took off when he introduced his ventriloquist act featuring a dog. A unique and unforgettable act that captivated audiences. #ToddOliver #Ventriloquist #DogAct #Comedy
SEE FunnyDog.com