Search

Zesty Agency Review (Updated 2025): Are Em Lucin & Sam Despo The Best New Gurus On The Block?

By: Joel & Josiah
zesty agency review

There are no shortcuts to building sustainable income online or in any business. Building a 5 or 6-figure business will typically require several weeks or months of dedicated focus, and it will likely involve recurring expenses for essential tools and related resources. It is crucial that you fully understand these factors when evaluating any business opportunity.

Zesty Agency is a new TikTok agency coming out of Australia, advertising themselves as the best newcomers in the digital marketing game.

In fact, if you’re reading this, you probably got here after being hit with one of their ads, featuring Sam Despo, Georgia Davies or Em Lucin, the company’s co-founders.

I’ve gotta admit, their website is pretty slick, which can go a long way toward building trust with the younger folks they’re targeting with their sales pitch. After all, Gen Z is known to be the “TikTok generation”, flocking to the app that has caused some controversy by its addictive, manipulative nature.

In fact, the China-owned app has almost been banned in the United States due to security concerns.

However, the Zesty team doesn’t seem too concerned about any of that, and they are turning the addictive app into more money in their pockets – and maybe yours, too.

You see, they basically wanna build up more of themselves – more TikTok marketers, that is. Zesty figures they’ve got market research and web design all figured out, and now they’re running a program designed to help you launch your own company.

I’m gonna be real with you: I get it.

An app that’s exploding in popularity, founders who seem to know how to build a catchy ad…and the 9-5 grind just ain’t what it used to be.

You’d probably rather be working online, making some passive income, spending more time with the family and friends you really care about…

…but you also know there are scammers out there, looking to take some people for all their worth. So you’re clicking around, trying to figure out if Zesty is really legit or not, or maybe even checking out some of their competition like Iman Gadzhi.

It can be kinda scary! They know there are real opportunities out there for entrepreneurs, so the scammy types will basically try to sound like the legit programs, making it hard for people like you to tell the difference.

Well, that’s where I come in.

You see, I’ve been grinding away reviews and guides for years now, on everything from affiliate marketing niches to how to become a real estate investor. After a while, you start to notice some red lights and green lights – who’s legit and who’s not.

So, I’m gonna help point out the upsides and downsides to Zesty, figure out how much this all costs, and then we’ll see if there are any decent alternatives out there for you.

But for now, let’s get rolling with our Zesty Agency review!

Disclaimer:
This Zesty Agency review has been thoroughly researched with information and testimonials that are available to anyone in the public. Any conclusions drawn by myself are opinions.
Training Curriculum
Mentorship
Community

Average Rating

2.67

Zesty Agency has a decent training program in that their business model (running an ad agency) is good, and they do recommend TikTok SEO over paid ads...but they are extremely limited and vulnerable by only using TikTok instead of branching out to other social media outlets. They seem to have a decent community, but I wish they had coaching sessions weekly instead of every two weeks, which kinda makes the monthly service fees (for only two group sessions) seem a little high. That said, you might give their mentorship a boost if learning from young TikTokers (or Australians) is a bonus to you.

PROS

  • Zesty has built a nice site for themselves, which means it's possible their promises of helping you easily create your own could be true.
  • TikTok is increasingly in popularity, which means your audience should keep on growing.
  • They offer 1-on-1 coaching for a higher fee, which means you could get more intimate coaching if that helps you.

CONS

  • TikTok is still considered a national security risk by some US politicians, which means your agency could be ruined overnight depending on how each election goes.
  • No refunds! You can cancel the monthly charges at any time which is nice, but this means that your big one-time payment is gone forever no matter the value you receive.
  • You aren't the first person who's ever thought of using TikTok to make some money, which means that every young man or woman with a pretty face (all around the world!) will be competing against you.

Why Listen To Us?

My name is Josiah, and this is my Dad, Joel.

Together, we make up the team here at Scamrisk.

If you’ll let me bother you for two minutes, I’d like to quickly explain why I’m even here writing this review.

In early 2020, I had just graduated from college & had no real career prospects.

I knew I was destined for something more, but I had no clue how I was going to make it happen.

I had this sinking feeling in my gut all the time… like the “big man upstairs” had accidentally given me the version of life where I’d be mediocre forever, instead of the one where I was, ya know – happy & fulfilled.

Anyway…

I had fiddled around with some different online businesses in college:

Some random MLMs, a bit of affiliate marketing, a (failed) dropshipping store or two, all the usual suspects.

Even my dad had been involved in MLMs back in the day… selling knives & other random nonsense people (probably) didn’t need.

All I really wanted was to find something that was going to actually work for me.

Maybe those things had worked for others, but for me it all turned up a fat “0” in the bank account department.

So I searched! And searched… and searched… and searched…

And eventually, I somehow stumbled upon a program that promised to help me build an income online (read about it here if you’re curious).

I didn’t really want to be “rich”.

The thought of making a reliable $5K per month & not having to worry about clocking in to a 9-to-5 ever again was all I needed.

Sure, there were people in the program doing high-6 and low-7 figures per year… but that wasn’t what I was out for.

I just wanted to provide freedom for myself, and if I was lucky, take my family along for the ride.

Fast forward a few days and a few phone calls & I was enrolled!

Here’s the first “money making website” I put up:

I built that site in 2020, and it still makes me $1,500 per month. It’s a basic 5 page website I built based on a template the program provides.

The best part to me? My dad and I get to do it all together!

So between the:

  1. Ease of reaching $5-$10K per month in income online
  2. Straightforward-ness of the system to do it
  3. Fact that I get to do it w/ my family

Is why I recommend local lead generation as my #1 business model for making money online.

Sure, it takes some work and dedication – but anyone that tells you that there’s a business out there that requires no work is selling you a lemon.

I’m not saying you need to sign up for the same program I did, but I would definitely recommend giving the business model a peek!

Contents

TLDR – What’s The Verdict On Zesty Agency?

zesty agency em lucin sam despo

The Zesty Agency is a hyper-focused sub-niche of the Social Media Marketing Agency business model. In this case, they just work with TikTok.

While it’s nice to focus in on and specialize on something, I do feel like Zesty is missing out on branching out services to other social media sites like Facebook, Instagram or Twitter/X. So, this can’t really be my favorite sort of agency, since it’s limited to TikTok.

And if TikTok is ever taken offline in the USA, your entire ship will sink.

But on the flip side, running an ad agency is a pretty great idea – you just have to learn how to do it the right way…and I will admit, the Zesty agency does do a good job of not just teaching you about paid ads – they also teach you how to run SEO for TikTok.

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the best way you can drive traffic to your sales funnels. This kind of “organic” traffic not only saves you on monthly expenses for paid ads, it actually generates better leads that are more likely to buy in on whatever you’re selling.

Paid ads can give you a nice little boost here or there, but Zesty is on the right track with their preference on TikTok SEO.

And if you really wanna take SEO to the next level, you won’t just limit yourself to TikTok or even one industry if you do it right. Digital Leasing is killing it with their local lead generation business model, where you get paid monthly for driving traffic to small businesses near you!

It’s a pretty sweet deal, and instead of competing against every single marketer on TikTok around the world to sell and promote the same select few products, you get to focus in on a niche of your choice, with companies of your choice.

When your whole job is to bring in customers for businesses, that means that you’ve found something that’ll never run out of demand – and that means you have control, which is the opposite of the oversaturated TikTok market.

The students seem extremely passionate about what they’re doing – not just getting by, but creating their own future.

digital leasing legit

That said, if you’d like to hear some more about our Zesty Agency review, let’s keep on rolling.

Who Benefits From Zesty Agency…And Who Is It Wrong For?

AreaScoreDescription
Time Investment4/5This shouldn’t take too long to get off the ground, especially since it only focuses on TikTok.
Level of Control2/5If you’re only on one platform – a controversial one at that – then you’re risking it.
Ease of Implementation4/5Mostly easy to start, although you’ve gotta have a good handle on social media to maximize ease.
Profit Potential4/5Love that they focus on TikTok SEO. Would be 5/5 if they branched out to other marketing!

If you spend a ton of time on TikTok, then it’s not surprising you eventually found your way around to a Zesty Agency ad. It makes sense – instead of wasting all your time on social media, then why not make some money off it while you’re there?

While their course does lack student reviews, they clearly know how to design a sleek-looking website, and seem to have a good marketing touch.

But with all that said, sometimes these courses are all walk and no talk. And of course, limited yourself strictly to TikTok is probably not the smartest thing you can do if you’re trying to give your SMMA a shot at growing into an empire.

The story with Zesty Agency isn’t that uncommon – they get the business model right for the most part, but then they miss some important elements along the way. And if you’re not getting the details done right, then it almost doesn’t matter if the coach’s style any good.

All that said, the Zesty Agency might be for you if…

  1. You love spending time on TikTok and wanna put that experience to good use
  2. You like the young gurus’ energy and vibes
  3. You’ve killed it with other marketing courses in the past (like Local Marketing Vault)

On the other hand, it probably doesn’t make sense to join up if…

  1. You’d prefer there to be more student reviews out there to judge from
  2. You are concerned that TikTok may be banned in the USA
  3. You’d like to learn more growing your audience without paying for it

Zesty Agency At A 1,000 FT View

zesty agency scam or legit

When it comes to starting up your own SMMA business, you need to make sure you’re nailing the most important aspects of online marketing.

You’ve gotta find the right mix of paid ads versus organic traffic, for a start. When you’re just kicking off your marketing business, some paid ads can be necessary to really give you a lift that can instantly boost your numbers…however, you’re gonna need to shift over to SEO (or TikTok SEO) if you wanna build some long-lasting staying power.

It seems like they market to anyone regardless of experience, but given TikTok’s young audience, it’s likely the Zesty Agency primarily aims their marketing toward teens and 20-somethings. That said, they do warn that their course won’t work for anyone “not willing to put the work in”, or expecting overnight success.

This is usually a good sign – it’s the people promising guarantees of millions of dollars overnight, or getting money for nothing that you have to worry about.

Another thing I like is there is some free content out there on the Zesty TikTok page, so you can get an idea of whether or not you can work with the course creators’ vibes or not.

Lastly, I really like that they touch on lead generation a little…but it would be so much more powerful if that was their main focus. You need a mentor who hits home on the strengths of local lead generation and expanding SEO to Google – which will get you on the front page of search results across the entire internet!

If you like stacking cash every month, it’s hard to argue with the way Digital Leasing with the way they’re taking ad agencies to the next level.

If it’s financial freedom you’re after, give it a shot!

Who Runs Zesty Agency?

who is sam despo

Sam Despo

Sam Despo is one of the three co-founders of Zesty, and refers to himself as a “marketing daddy”…yes, very Gen Z, although it seems Despo might actually be in his thirties by now.

He’s been working in digital marketing for 10 years now, and mainly focuses on the geeky side of TikTok – figuring out the latest data trends and ways to manipulate the TikTok algorithm efficiently.

who is em lucin

Em Lucin

Em Lucin has been grinding out social media marketing work for over a decade now, with more than 5 years of working with eCommerce businesses. Her and Sam seem to dominate most of the TikTok ads, putting their faces on screen as they give some free tips for potential students.

She calls herself a “mumma bear” (momma bear for us Americans) of the Zesty Community, painting herself as a charismatic, guiding figure within the Zesty world.

who is georgia davies

Georgia Davies

Georgia isn’t featured so heavily in the online ads or free content, but apparently she will be your main coach if you pay up for the 1-on-1 coaching experience with Zesty.

She’s worked in digital marketing for a while now (8 years), specifically focusing on creating TikTok content these days.

She claims to be among the best with her “killer hooks” and script writing skills, so it sounds like her coaching will hold your hand pretty tightly for any rookies out there.

How Much Does Zesty Agency Cost?

zesty agency cost

So, how much does the Zesty Agency cost? Well, at least they’re transparent about it.

You’ll get hit with a one-time charge of $999 (plus tax), and then a monthly fee of $199 (plus tax after that).

However, if you want some one-on-one coaching, you’ll have to shell out an extra $349 (plus tax) for every session.

Things can add up quickly!

What Is Zesty Agency’s Refund Policy?

zesty agency refund policy

Unfortunately, this is a pretty brutal refund policy…not only are there no refunds for the courses, but you don’t even get your money back if they cancel an event on you! You’ll just have to wait around and hope they schedule another one and go to that one.

On the bright side, you can cancel your access at any time, stopping the monthly charges.

Be careful before investing here!

Personal Opinion On The Zesty Agency

the zesty agency

It’s a pretty zany world out there – some programs are absolutely killer, while others are basically scams or don’t offer you any value at all.

And then other times you’ll find situations where the coaches are legit, but the business model just isn’t right – or when the program has the right idea, but the coach is too annoying to work with.

It’s tricky to navigate it all! So let’s get you thinking about a few things about the ideal program:

  • Can you really see yourself doing this for a long time?
  • Does the guru fit your vibe?
  • Is there a refund policy, just to give you peace of mind?

It’s hard to say if the Zesty Agency is the best at what they do – they certainly don’t seem like the worst.

All the same, here’s a quick 3 things I like about their program:

  1. TikTok is super popular
  2. They have a young and energetic team
  3. Social media marketing is doing very well right now

…and, to be fair, 3 things I don’t really like:

  1. Focusing exclusively on TikTok is limiting and risky
  2. No refunds at all
  3. Can be expensive if you want a lot of 1-on-1 coaching

Is There A Zesty Agency Scam Going On Here?

Social Media Page
TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@zestyagency?lang=en
Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/zestyagency/?hl=en
LinkedInhttps://au.linkedin.com/company/zesty-agency?trk=public_profile_topcard-current-company

“Zesty Agency scam” shows up all over Google as a top search result, probably because some people are a little nervous of the big promises and wondering if these Aussies are really practicing everything they preach…

…so, is The Zesty Agency really a scam?

Probably not.

I think they’re pretty upfront with how their program isn’t really for everyone, takes a lot of hard work, and might even take a long time to see any success – with nothing guaranteed.

So, if they’re running a scam, it’s not a very good one.

I think the better question is to ask yourself whether these folks actually offer any value to their customers. I think Em, Sam, and Georgia clearly know a thing or two about marketing on social media, especially on TikTok.

On the other hand, a scam is usually something where you fork over a ton of cash to some hyped-up gurus who don’t actually give you anything at all in return. You see this a lot with MLMs.

The Zesty Agency will give you some solid TikTok marketing advice, but I’m just not sure it’s the best way to approach the social media marketing world. Why open a pizza restaurant and only serve pepperoni, right?

It’s best to keep your options open, especially if TikTok was to ever finally be taken down in the USA. Digital Leasing covers marketing across TikTok, Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube, you name it!

In fact, learning how to rank your site on Google’s front page through organic SEO is probably the best investment you can make for your business. You’ll be able to work with local businesses and stack cash monthly if you do it right, having them eating out of your hand! And that means more time with friends and family for you.

The local lead generation model provides that financial freedom you’re really looking for, where you can really rake in the money and watch it roll in every month!

What’s Inside The Zesty Agency?

whats inside zesty agency

The Zesty Agency has 8 modules in their program, and they go a little something like this:

  • Module 1 “TikTok is a MUST for brands”
  • Module 2 “Account set-up SECRETS”
  • Module 3 “Ultimate TikTok how-to guide”
  • Module 4 “Strategies that feel illegal to know”
  • Module 5 “Our Secret Sauce to blowing up”
  • Module 6 “Creating high performing content”
  • Module 7 “TikTok SEO is a MUST”
  • Module 8 “The Content Creator handhook”

These course titles are all pulled directly from their website, so don’t get mad at me for the spelling on the last one! I can’t tell if they had a typo on “handbook”, or if it’s a handbook about catchy “hooks”, or if they are gonna give you advice on living a pirate’s life.

You never know with Australians!

All in all, they have some decent stuff in here. I do think anyone advertising a “top secret weapon“, or in this case as “secret sauce”, should be looked at with suspicion…but on the other hand, understanding that you need to know some TikTok SEO is a promising sign.

Conclusion Of My Zesty Agency Review

So, is it worth giving your time and money to Zesty Agency?

Probably not.

Unless you really wanna focus on TikTok marketing – and ONLY TikTok marketing, then you’re gonna be leaving some meat on the bone when it comes to running a social media ad agency.

If that’s all you’re interested in, then sure, you could certainly do a lot worse – these people are not likely to scam you for all your money or anything like that.

However, I just love the idea of taking an ad agency and spreading out my reach to whatever industry I want, across whatever social media platform I want.

In other words, I want to maximize my money.

I’d wanna spend the most time I can with my family and friends, and Digital Leasing gets that job dne for you. I have to keep coming back to them because selling a product that’s “evergreen” in demand – customers – is so valuable. You’ll keep the cash streaming in no matter what’s going on with the markets!

Who knows, maybe you’ll even work from the beach one day…

What’s My #1 Way To Make Money In 2025?

What Is My Top Recommendation For Making Money Online - Digital Leasing

I have spent years 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 a TikTok marketing agency, you don’t really own anything. 

You’re a hired gun for clients on ONE app, and if anything ever happens to that app, you’re done.

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.

US congress has already attacked TikTok (who is ran by China) multiple times, and if any given election slides one way, then your entire livelihood could disappear. Doesn’t sound very stable, does it?

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.

With Zesty Agency, the startup costs aren’t too bad, but they have VERY hefty monthly fees if you wanna keep up to speed with what they have to offer. And on top of that, you will have new fees every time you wanna check in with a 1-on-1 coaching session.

All in all, it’s gonna take a lot more investment with Zesty Agency, when they only teach you about ONE way to advertise – TikTok. That means no Facebook, no YouTube, and no Google ranking methods.

Personally, I think you could get a lot more with Digital Leasing.

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 Zesty 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.

And if you wanna double up your audience to start, you’d probably have to double up your paid ads to get that done. Doubling those kind of ads would also double your monthly expenses, which sounds like a real pain in the butt…

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. It’s deeper than social media marketing.

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 Zesty Agency 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.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *