Douglas James Training is an ad agency course. The basic premise is that you’ll learn how to build your own ad agency, land clients, and get them results.
Running an agency (even though they’re a bit of a commodity nowadays) isn’t a bad way to get your feet wet in the world of online business.
That said, there are a lot of moving parts with this business model:
- Prospecting – you need to know how to find potential clients
- Sales – you need to know how to convince those clients to give you money
- Media Buying – you need to know how to run ads profitably
- Copywriting – you need to know how to tailor your ad messaging for the right customers
- Design – you need to know how to design ads/landing pages to maximize conversions
- Email Marketing – you need to know how to follow up with prospects and customers
- Automation – you need to know how to connect everything properly
Now, most course-sellers will try to make this easier on you by telling you they’ve managed to “automate everything”, offering “plug-and-play” campaigns, and “pre-built templates”.
Here’s the thing though:
Markets are always changing. They get more savvy as time goes on.
If you buy a program with thousands of other students, where everything is built out for you, there’s an almost 100% chance those templates don’t work.
Why?
Because if thousands of other students are using those exact same “plug and play” campaigns, tens of millions of people have already seen them, reducing their effectiveness.
Not to mention, with most agency programs, the templates are actually built by some virtual assistant in the Philippines or India, and have never actually been tested in real life.
And if they have, there’s a good chance they’re extremely outdated, since most programs don’t bother updating their templates after launching. The course creator gets too busy just trying to sell to more and more students, instead of focusing on quality education.
Now, here’s the most sinister part of this whole thing:
Most course creators market their agency courses as something you can do anywhere in the world. You might hear them say things like “The world is my office” or “This is a simple passive income business”.
That’s just plain false. Running an effective agency is in no way passive. Look at the list above, and remember that you can’t rely on pre-built templates. You’re responsible for every part of the process.
Does that really sound like a business you can do from a laptop on the beach?
See how this could be a problem?
Now, what if there was a way you could build a passive income stream that’s actually passive?
An income stream that doesn’t require:
- Mastering 100 different roles
- Needing to be a technology wizard
- Working round the clock just to keep things from blowing up
An income stream that brings in consistent revenues every single month (from a couple thousand dollars to well over $10,000)?
An income stream you could actually build in your spare time, and grow as large or as small as you want to, without having to spend hours a day chasing, selling, or managing anything?
If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, check out Digital Leasing.
However, if you’d still like to know more about Douglas James Training, keep reading.
Who Is Douglas James?
Douglas James, aka the “High Ticket Client Guy“, is digital marketing and online sales expert.
His coaching services and courses teach you how to make money online building a successful business using lead generation, Facebook advertising and online marketing.
His most successful students also offer support in his private Facebook group.
He first embarked on his journey in 2014 where he worked as a Navy Corpsman. His deployment on USNS Mercy visited Guam, Papua New Guinea, and Fiji where they offered help to those living in impoverished communities.
When he came back and was stateside, he truly desired to live a life where he had financial freedom and time freedom.
Of course he has his own rags to riches story like all the other gurus out there, and finally, one day, he came across a course that would change his life forever.
That program was Job Killing by Dan Klein.
In that course he learned lead generation for local businesses.
Similar to what he teaches now.
Dan however focused on building and ranking local websites, a method of higher profit margin passive income
It doesn’t seem like Douglas James had the patience for ranking websites that you ultimately own though.
He wanted to make money now.
Fair enough.
So Douglas decided to cut ties with Dan and start his own program where he taught Facebook ads to generate leads to small business owners.
Although his recent marketing may have confused you when he mentions Digital Leasing. No matter which way you cut it, Facebook ads cannot be viewed as Digital Leasing because you don’t own anything.
You don’t own the platform, it can suspend you whenever it wants, and your client can stop paying you whenever.
What Is Douglas James Training?
The pressure is on and the stakes are high with digital marketing.
Douglas James utilizes lead generation on big social media platforms. More specifically, he uses Facebook as his bread and butter.
A platform he uses to attract students and help his agency’s clients gain more business. It is important to ensure his strategies are carefully crafted so they can work smoothly for you.
He has offered a couple different course variations over the years and has them listed on his website. We will take a look at this down below.
What Are The Douglas James Training Courses About?
He offers various courses that all share the key ingredient to success which is how to grow your business.
The focal point of his content is producing fast results.
The training provides insights on how to find sought after clients and close the deal. It also generates growth so students can make an income from doing what they love.
Money no longer holds them captive– they don’t have to worry if they will have enough to pay their next bill.
They teach you the ins and outs of successful Facebook ad campaigns.
He has witnessed first-hand the defining factor that has changed the lives of many entrepreneurs: online marketing.
His Goal:
To help others to land high-ticket clients on their own by providing the device to accomplish that.
High-ticket clients can be the defining factor of where you fall on the meter. It could be the difference between financial freedom and financial stress.
Douglas James believes this to be the KEY to help entrepreneurs find their success.
He wants to hone in on that earning potential and draw it out of his future entrepreneurs.
What’s Inside Douglas James Courses?
It includes versatile courses for all entrepreneurs to benefit from.
The High-Ticket Experience:
This course includes lessons over:
- Closing deals over the phone
- Scheduling sales calls
- High-Ticket coaching
- Consult Services
- Finding your niche
The cost is unknown on James’ website. It does not effectively teach you how to start up your business however. It only provides insights into sales and extends your scope of knowledge.
Local Business Funnels And Ads:
This course goes over:
- Creating custom ads
- Get views on ads
- Market funnels that gain leads
- Automatic generated system for local businesses
- Facebook support team
Provides pre-made ads and funnels
The Industry Marketing Academy:
It includes:
- Secret Weapon
- How to generate leads
- 50 plug and play industry funnels
- Advanced training
- Automated system access
- Weekly coaching calls
- Private Facebook group
- Messenger support team
- Access for life
Douglas James includes a VIP day in this course. You can buy high-ticket products and choose high-ticket packages as well.
These courses teach how to find customers but not how to sell your products value. Which is a crucial component for customer engagement.
One thing I’ll say is that I don’t like is his application process.
It is set up in a typeform quiz format.
And the very first question it asks you is this:
I understand why he’s asking a question like this, but it just doesn’t sit right with me 100%.
I know they are financially qualifying you, just as he’ll teach you how to financially qualify your own leads for you agency down the road, but it just feels as if it’s more money focused.
I suppose a question like this wouldn’t upset me too much if it was actually mixed in with the rest of the application questions. In my opinion, it just shouldn’t be the very first question because it comes off a bit materialistic to some people.
And now this leads us to…
How Much Does Douglas James Training Cost?
The exact cost of Douglas James Training Products is unknown.
At one point in time Douglas had a basic Facebook Ads high ticket program that he sold for $3,000.
At the time, the price and the value was about on point for what was similarly being offered in the guru market.
However with so many different offerings it is unclear what all the differences are.
These different types of offerings remind me of the tiers Chance and Abdul offer with Modern Millionaires.
It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if Douglas James offers the same type of structure as well.
His regular program that could be labeled as a “DIY” might still be $3000.
But the programs where you’re in for 6 months could be closer to $15,000 since there will be a maximum of 25 spaces.
After all, the high ticket client guy isn’t exactly gonna spend his time with people paying him just $3000 total right?
Unfortunately I believe that his lowest offering is $3000 and that’s for the bare minimum training.
For the coaching and one on one interaction that you’d really need, I fear you’re looking easily at prices north of $10,000 minimum. Something like VIP Day is likely $25,000 based off industry standards.
Douglas James Reviews – What Does The Internet Have To Say?
Let’s check out some reviews – this one isn’t too hot:
“No Integrity No accountability
I wrote a negative review of the Douglas James marketing company on Aug 19,’22 because the Douglas James people did not fulfill their promises. They got in touch the next day to schedule a phone call to go over my account. I paid for the VIP business package of $ 25,000. This is a “done for you” business arrangement where the Company would take care of setting up your business with a client and follow through in 90 days. I even contacted their recruiter who told me what the Douglas James asked him to tell prospective students.
He said the same thing. It’s “done for you” business that they would complete for VIP students in 90 days. These promises were not kept. They’ve modified their language and student expectations in the last couple of months. They no longer make those promises of setting up VIP students with a client. I started this program in Oct. ’21 and there were many other students that have had the same experience. Empty promises.
On the phone call which took place on Aug. 29,’22, they mentioned a refund but wanted to review my account. I emailed them on Oct 4 and got a reply that thanked me for my patience and said they would get back to me as soon as they completed their review. I emailed them again on Oct 12 and got a reply that they were still reviewing my account and would get back to me when they’ve completed their review. I emailed them again on Oct 18 and NO reply. I asked them not to ignore me. No email reply. Since I paid them $25,000 I would have expected them to be professional, honorable and show some accountability. I take no pleasure in writing this review but this has been such a bad experience.”
This one isn’t too great either:
“Are Douglas James Marketing courses worth it?
Douglas James Marketing courses can be worth it for some entrepreneurs, but others might not find any value from them.
Some people will invest their time and money into Douglas James courses because they believe he is an expert in online marketing who knows how to make money online through his training programs. They may also get Douglas James’s personal connecting with the courses to make them feel more trustworthy and legit.
However, some may find Douglas James Marketing Courses are not worth it because they don’t really offer anything new or different from other online marketing companies that teach similar information at a lower cost. They may also be put off by Douglas’s approach on how to market your business and Douglas James Marketing courses may not be the best fit for them.
Is Douglas legitimate or a scam?
It’s hard to say whether Douglas James is a scam or legit, but there are some red flags in Douglas’ marketing approach that you should watch out for when deciding whether DouglasJamesMarketing.com is worth it.
Red flags in Douglas’ marketing approach include his video approach on how to market your business, his lack of transparency about his own background and the courses are not supported by any testimonials or proof that anyone has actually made money from the courses.
Douglas makes it sound like you can make a ton of money with zero work just by following his advice. He claims you can get rich by just following his simple online marketing strategies, but doesn’t really say what students would actually be doing to make money. Douglas does mention that he’s been working with some of the biggest names in business and has helped them generate more traffic for their websites using Google Adwords, which is why Douglas James Marketing costs $3,997. Douglas claims he will share the “secret” to his success with you, but never actually tells anyone what this secret is.
Douglas also doesn’t disclose information about himself or where he lives in his marketing videos. DouglasJamesMarketing.com is based in the U.S., but Douglas doesn’t tell you where he lives or any other personal details about himself. He fails to provide proof that anyone has actually made money from his courses.
Douglas also fails to disclose his credentials on DouglasJamesMarketing and if he is even an expert in online marketing or not! Douglas does say that you will learn how he made over $100 million using Google Adwords for his clients, but Douglas never says why he’s qualified to teach you how to do this.
Overall, I would recommend avoiding Douglas’ courses at all cost. The course isn’t worth $3,997 and Douglas’ lack of transparency is a deal breaker.
If that isn’t enough. Douglas will ask you for over $10,000 if you want support. Yes, that’s right – the $4,000 you give him is for video access only. $10,000 to get in his Facebook group! Absolutely ridiculous if you ask me.
His prices go even higher. Up to $25,000 for his team to directly help you beyond the Facebook group. Finally, you can spend $50,000 if you want him to do the work for you. Yikes!”
This one is more positive:
“A well-oiled machine with practical…
A well-oiled machine with practical information along the way. The only thing I would tell myself 2 days ago is to be aware that you have to inquire about the additional packages. In the beginning I wanted the premium, completely ready-to-go version and the package presented is the do-it-yourself version. I haven’t had any issues so far with the resources and materials that I’ve been told are provided with this version.
So far, it’s the best I’ve seen since they provide sales videos, facebook ads templates, emails, winning scripts to close the phone calls. I haven’t seen this comprehensive of a training program for marketing success online and I am confident in myself to follow through with the work.”
Another good one:
The training is top-notch, and I have paid for many high-ticket programs in this space. The trainers are knowledgeable and want to help you succeed. I feel like I am pushing my account manager and questioning her about where I am in the process. I think her job should be to push me and my progress? There is so much happening, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed.
I experienced some breakdowns in the “done for you” part of the program for my deliverables. I think they are in a growth mode and fulfillment isn’t keeping up. I don’t think the account managers push along the deliverables process and when I got them, they seemed pretty generic. I can update those to suit my needs, that’s ok. I wouldn’t know where to get the training packaged how they present.”
Is It Worth Your Time And Money?
While it sounds easy enough, running the Facebook Ads is more difficult than people realize. The Douglas James Marketing Program portrays it as easy.
ESPECIALLY when you take his courses.
As LONG as you follow all of his techniques and all of his strategies he shared with you, there’s no reason you won’t see the same success as other positive Douglas James reviews.
And while it is possible to master the high-ticket advertising techniques to gain high paying rewards, there is no safety net to catch you if you fall.
His courses lack the education on how to overcome potential obstacles.
Considering the cost to join and weighing the value of the content, the cost does seem a little overpriced for what you’re receiving from the course.
However, the price shouldn’t be the sole determining factor.
You should ask yourself, “Can this help me find success and financial security that it claims while allowing us to pursue something we’re passionate about?”
If you’re not personally convinced it will be a good investment of your money, maybe it is not worth it.
Is Douglas James Training A Scam?
So, is Douglas James Training a scam? Not technically. You can make money with this program, but it’s definitely not as easy as he makes it sound.
There’s a ton of work to be done upfront, no real guarantee of success, and – most importantly – running an agency is extremely active income (NOT passive).
Now, there’s nothing wrong with front-loading the work and making the money later.
But if you’re getting into this game to live life on your terms, travel the world, and generate passive or semi-passive income from anywhere, then this isn’t for you.
What if, instead, you could put in a couple hours a day (in your spare time) to build a single digital asset, and your reward was a $500 to $2,000 payment that came in every single month?
And what if you could get started today and have your first payment in a week?
And what if you could double it next week?
Well, that’s the power of Digital Leasing.
And, unlike a traditional ad agency, you can legitimately do this from anywhere. It’s a true lifestyle business.
Your laptop and an internet connection is all you need.
Some of the most successful students in this program run their entire 6-figure businesses from:
- A camper in the middle of the woods
- A beach chair on the water in Mexico
- A small villa in Greece
They’re able to travel around, living their lives first, and focusing on their income second.
Because even if they stop working for an extended period of time, the money keeps coming in.
So adventure, memories, and experience are the top priority.
And they never have to worry about how to pay for the next trip, or consider asking for time off.
If this sounds more like the type of life you want to lead, just click here to find out more about Digital Leasing.
Are There Any Alternatives After Reading Douglas James Reviews?
Yes, there are plenty of other business models to choose from if you want to pursue this making money online. Here are just a few:
What Is Our #1 Way To Make Money Online In 2023?
Our team has spent months researching, reviewing, and vetting dozens of business models and thousands of programs.
While there may be no “perfect business”, the research IS conclusive:
Digital Leasing is the #1 online business model for those just starting out.
Whether you’ve never made a dollar online, or you’ve been in this space for a while but never really “made it,” Digital Leasing is for you.
Why?
1) It’s Flexible: got an hour a day? You can do this. Ready to drop everything else and dive in full time? You can do this. Yes, the more time you put in, the faster you see results. But even with a little time each day, you can move the needle in a Digital Leasing business.
And because this system is so flexible, you don’t have to constantly be working to make more money. It’s called PASSIVE INCOME because if you stop working, the money doesn’t.
Imagine taking 3 months off to just tour around Europe, rent a cabin in the woods to write a book, hike the Appalachian Trail, or live on the beach and surf all day.
This is only possible if you have an income stream that’s not tied to your time.
2) You Own & Control EVERYTHING: With an ad agency, you don’t really own anything.
You’re a hired gun for clients, and entirely at their mercy.
Sure, you own your agency, but if your business grinds to a halt once you stop working, all you really have is a self-created job.
With Digital Leasing (a passive income stream), you own all the assets, which means you have all the power and all the control.
3) Little To No Startup Costs: It’s possible to get into Digital Leasing with zero dollars upfront. Because, using the strategies outlined in this program, you can get a client to pay you BEFORE spending a penny out of your own pocket…even before you do any work.
Even without getting paid in advance, you can have your first Digital Rental Property up, running, and generating profits for less than $100.
4) Easy To Duplicate: Ok, here’s the best part: once you have your first Digital Rental Property up and running, you can literally DOUBLE your income with a few clicks, a couple keystrokes, and a single phone call (and you don’t actually need the phone call).
Remember: each Digital Rental Property is worth $500 to $2,000 a month in semi-passive income (over 95% profit). Every time you decide to create another one and increase your income, it gets easier.
Because you have more knowledge, more experience, more results, and more momentum.
If you wanted to double your income with an ad agency, you’d have to double your clients OR double the monthly payment of your existing customers. And, guaranteed that’s a lot harder than a few clicks and a few minutes of your life.
5) Make Money Helping Real People: This part is what makes it all worth it. With Digital Leasing, you’re actually helping people by solving your clients’ biggest problem:
Small, local businesses need more customers, and with Digital Leasing, you are unleashing a flood of happy, paying customers for these businesses.
You make money by helping them make money.
Not a big, faceless corporation either…a small business owner who’s using that money to put food on the table for their family, start a college fund for their kids, or take care of a sick parent.
Once you see how Digital Leasing makes a real impact in the lives of real people, you’ll sleep like a baby with a big smile on your face.
Now, the choice is yours. You could continue browsing, looking at opportunities like Douglas James Training which could one day make you money.
You could continue researching, never making a decision.
OR, you could take a look inside, consider what you really want, and join a program that makes your dreams a reality. At the same time, joining a community of over 2,000 successful students that are living life on their own terms thanks to Digital Leasing.
A consistent, reliable, semi-passive stream of income that doesn’t depend on you or your time to keep producing profits.
All while genuinely helping real people who are grateful and happy to pay for it.
If this sounds more like what you want out of life (or if you just want some nice side income), click here to learn more about Digital Leasing.
17 Responses
Douglas James program is a SCAM. first off they play out a tag team of people who work for him to ask you questions to make sure your serious. They bring up a 198 ish fee every month to work with James and have his software and program unlocked. I immediately said I would not be able to do that for a month or more and they said it was fine to come back but to still watch the video. I did so. At the end of three days of meetings videos and questions/conversations with team leaders the final video ended with a if you pay now you get the 5K program for only 3K with an immediate down payment of $500. They attach a timelimit to this ‘great deal’ and then the video just shuts off. No person to talk with etc. My son is a Navy wounded Veteran. I am seriously pissed off at his play on being an honorable Navy man. So a 5K buy in 3K if you pay 500 immediately. You have to get the software. then there is the roughly 200 monthly fee. The fee I would have paid gladly by the third month if revenue started to trickle in. No problem but not right away. Then the added 5K and feeling I wasted a wekk of my time. Sad. I have screen shots and proof of what im saying. His lying and fees damage his credibility.
Navy MOM
I am very sorry to hear about your experience with Douglas James and his team. Thank you for sharing your story so others can see! I wish you the best in your future endeavors!!
It’s a scam, plain and simple.
How can I get my money back I only attended one class want me to spend more money I just don’t have
SCAM! I tried out his course and the instructions were confused and inconsistant! I demand a refund!
This is TRULY a SCAM!!!!! I was pressured into signing and they pulled the rug out on me ! Took my last money then put me in a system of endless videos. Spoke with humans at first and promised the world …then subjected me to nothing but videos all the while I was paying them. Anyone considering these unprofessional and unscrupulous thieves should run,..in another direction! Their 30 day no questions asked refund is crap as well. I have been trying to get my refund for almost three weeks now !!!! I signed up less than a month before I requested my refund. They are thieves PLAIN AND SIMPLE !!!!! Buyer be ware !!!
Check out this recent review on TrustPilot. As a fellow VIP Agency victim, I share the sentiments expressed in this review.
Do NOT do the VIP Douglas James program
On Oct. 5, ’21 I invested $25,000 for the Douglas James VIP program to set up a “done for you” digital marketing business. Do NOT buy into the VIP program. By contract, they are supposed to have your digital marketing business fully functioning in 90 days with a client. In their words from their website, thevipagency.net, “the VIP agency is a Done For You Service that builds, automates and systematizes a proven revenue ready digital agency business for you. Everything is done and set up so you just have to press go. The process is simple, you enroll, you onboard, we build out everything, hand it over to you, coach you on everything, we get appointments, you close deals, and do fulfill for you, that’s completely turn key, we do all the work, you collect checks. Our team of experts will be holding your hand the entire way, like a VIP, and give you coaching and training on how to run and scale this business independently.” These promises were not kept. There was no hand holding at all. When we had a specific problem we would hopefully get it solved by one of the coaching staff in a group zoom call but it ultimately turned out to be – “YOU do it.” We were all hoping for a 1 on 1 experience to get through the necessary material. There wasn’t direct coaching. This was not a “Done for You” experience.
It has been 10 months and the team has not delivered on their contractual promises. I’m not alone in this experience. There are many upset people in this VIP group. I don’t know of anyone who has a client that the Douglas James team has brought to them. This has been a financial disaster. Remember we paid $ 25,000! I’m dealing with their false promises. This is an unethical business practice.
Date of experience: August 19, 2022
Thanks for sharing your experience. I was leaning towards working with him because he was a veteran. I will definitely not now. I’m sorry it turned out so badly.
Thank you for the heads up. I was literally 80/20 before I saw that big amount they wanted and then after reading this I will pass.
DISRESPECT TO THE FORCES USING HIS SERVICE TO SCAM PEOPLE
not sure bout this dude now….saw him on youtbe….ur not saying hes a scam but also kinda hinting i think lol…eyah nahhhh
Okay, I give the guy credit. Very nice intro video to some of his videos, very sleek. Sells the rich/cool guy vibe pretty well. Might even be a decent guy/decent course etc…but his price is too high for possibly sketchy results.
Will hop on a call with your recommendation – the “Digital Leasing” guy and see what kind of investment is required. I am willing to pay up for the right material – but it needs to hit the right value for me.
So far I am interested.
Anyone coming on YouTube Ads selling courses with big promises is a scam. It is the nee thing a fad and a scam. Do your due diligence before buying any course. Otherwise go attend a live certification or college and the hard way. These “gurus” need to be eliminated from YouTube.
What is the scam-risk score for Douglas James?
While we have no official score, our opinion is that you have much better options available like those listed in our “Alternatives” section as well as our #1 Recommendation.
Don’t do it unless you have a lot of time. If you’re looking for a part-time business this is not it for you. I signed up for this course. I paid $25,000 for them to do it for me and the only thing they did was really bad presentations, and ad material… That I could’ve done (and had to redo) myself. I was hoping that they had some insight in the niches that they had me select from, but I had to do everything as far as research and coming up with all of the ideas and content… They gave no leg up on this unless you selected chiropractor or dentistry junk. You will not be able to get your money back and you will be sorry. The only people that make it in this course are people who are already doing it and are looking for more assistance in getting it done. They throw a million videos at you and live streams during the daytime when people are working and if you’re not ready, yet, you feel overwhelmed from the get-go. And if you’re working during the day you can’t attend anything live… so you get no individual assistance. They also say that they will give you one on one but you don’t get any one on one either… and during the meetings that I can’t attend they always mention please don’t contact us individually. What is that? I paid $25,000. You better answer my question. Do something. Provide scripts or SOPs… do anything other than what I can get free off of another website. I basically took my money and threw it out the window when I did this. Not to mention they make you sign up for other things that cost a monthly fee, as well as setting up an LLC . So now if you don’t have any income, you still have to file with the IRS. It just sucked in every which way it can. Look somewhere else. These are a bunch of great guys that are doing a great job on their own thing, but they do not know how to teach. if you can get on the live calls, you might get some answers. Highly disappointed and I can’t seem to get my money back. They also don’t really give you a cut and dry contract or real invoices that can prove whether or not you received whatever you just paid for.
Thanks for sharing. I set up an appointment with the program but l decided to quit after reading comments.