This review contains affiliate links. Please see my disclaimer for more info.
I finally did it… I QUIT Devon Brown’s 12 Minute Affiliate system (now rebranded as the Easiest System Ever).
So, unlike all the FAKE reviews on Google, I ACTUALLY set up the whole system (following Devon’s instructions), ordered my “pizza traffic”…
And even bought an upsell!
Yup, I (almost) went the whole 9 yards with the system (in two niches too) for a while 🙂
But it wasn’t to be, sadly.
So, to get the inside scoop and brutally honest thoughts from a REAL USER who was smart enough to throw in the towel – continue with THIS review…
At a Quick Glance
Name: Easiest System Ever (ESE for short).
Owner: Devon Brown.
Cost: $9.95 for a 14-day trial. Then $47 – $97/month OR $397 – $797 for lifetime access + expenses for traffic, resources & optional Upsells.
My Score: 3/10.
Blog Post Contents:
PROS
- Only $9.95 for a 14-day test drive
- Easy-to-setup system (or hire the 12MA team to do it for you)
- 3 niches to choose from
- Each niche comes with 10 Done-For-You sales funnels
- Connect your own domain, autoresponder (Aweber or GetResponse) & funnel tracking
- Every niche includes 80 pre-written email follow-ups
- ‘Education Center’ comprising some invaluable training videos
- Customer email + active members’ Facebook group for support
- Occasional ‘Copy Devon’ contests – Amazon gift cards & traffic prizes won by lucky participants
- Supported by a ClickBank 60-day money-back guarantee
CONS
- Extra costs for your own domain, email address, autoresponder + tracking software
- Revolves around buying solo ads from Devon (the dumbest traffic option my experience)
- No step-by-step training on driving your own free/paid traffic
- Very few success stories in the Facebook group
- The system can easily leave you $100s (even $1,000s) out-of-pocket (YES, BROKE!)
- The “free vacation” incentive for joining comes with strings attached (MORE expenses for hotel room tax paid upfront + travel costs, etc!)
- Comes with numerous upsells
Summary:
Don’t get me wrong, 12 Minute Affiliate (or should I say the ‘Easiest System Ever’?) does have some good points.
Because Devon has built you numerous squeeze pages, bridge pages, an email follow up sequence and even pre-selected ClickBank products to promote in the Home Biz, Personal Development and/or Weight Loss niches.
Basically, it’s a pre-built sales funnel (aka “business in a box” – hence the name: Easiest System Ever).
Furthermore, he offers some basic training videos, a FB support group, and even incentives to encourage action takers.
But unfortunately, the bad outweighs the good when it comes to Devon’s system.
Because I flushed $100s down the toilet when it came to ordering “pizza traffic” for my Home Biz and Personal Development funnels.
Yeah sure, I made a couple of small-time commissions promoting Devon’s system as an affiliate, but that’s as far as it went.
And I think you’ll find it’s the exact same story with the majority of members (the Facebook group’s proof of this).
Because solo ad traffic + Done-For-You systems are a TOXIC duo – no affiliate I know of has ever earned a life-changing income.
Trust me, as an ex (out-of-pocket) member of Partner With Anthony and My Online Startup – there are no big success stories told.
The ONLY ones laughing all the way to the bank with these DFY systems are the “GURU CREATORS”.
Period.
Final Verdict: Legit, but NOT recommended.
But if you really must take Devon’s system for a spin – join the Easiest System Ever here.
However, if you wanna build an affiliate system that you can actually make bank with online using REAL traffic methods…
==> See THIS 3-Day Business Building Challenge!
What is The Easiest System Ever About, You Ask?
According to Devon Brown, the Easiest System Ever (ESE) is “the #1 way to start an online home based business”.
While there is truth in that statement – it’s just a shame it’s far from the easiest way to actually “make money online”.
I digress.
More specifically, ESE is a ‘Done-For-You’ system for beginners to start an affiliate marketing Biz that revolves around building an email list and promoting ClickBank stuff to those leads.
Well, in fact, you can promote offers from any affiliate program/network of your choosing.
Whether it be Digistore24, WarriorPlus (NOT recommended) or JVZoo, to name a handful of examples.
You simply just replace the ClickBank affiliate links within your funnels and email follow-ups.
ESE works EXACTLY like this:
- Choose your niche: Home Biz, Personal Development or Weight Loss (or all 3 depending on your budget)
- Set up your system (using Devon Brown’s easy-to-follow instructions)
- Buy “pizza traffic” from Devon to blast your system with
And watch the buckaroonies roll in…
Or NOT (in most cases).
How The Easiest System Ever Works (In-Depth)
Once you step foot inside ESE, you’ll be required to follow the ‘Quickstart Checklist’ to get your system fully setup and running.
Which, to be honest, is fairly easy to do from a total novice perspective.
Because some steps are also accompanied by short video tutorials.
First of all, you’ll create a free ClickBank account and enter your affiliate ID into the 12MA system (this is a must-do step, or you won’t make a buck).
Secondly, you’ll sign up with Aweber for an email autoresponder service and integrate it into your system.
It’s so you can build an email list via Aweber and automatically drip-feed your subscribers with Devon’s 80 pre-written emails.
Thirdly, you’ll be asked to choose and activate your niche funnels.
For example, I chose the Personal Development niche that comes with 10 different pre-done optin and bridge page templates – revolving around the whole “manifestation/law of attraction” thing.
Here are 2 such template examples:
Admittedly, I loved the look and feel of the templates – very professional.
What’s even cooler is that your funnels are hosted by Devon.
So, there’s no need to splash out on web-hosting or software like ClickFunnels.
You also have the opportunity to connect a domain name (which is a piece of cake using the domain setup wizard) so you can brand the funnels as your own.
But if you’d much rather have the whole system setup for you, then simply bung some extra cash Devon’s direction and let his team work their magic.
And then it’s ready to rock n’ roll with the final step…
Where you’ll order some targeted visitors inside ESE to your chosen optin page(s) in order to start growing your email list.
But while whole start up process is easy to get to grips with…
Making Money With The System is Difficult (Here’s Why):
Don’t get me wrong, it’s possible to make SOME money with ESE – just like THIS guy who made his first commission in a week:
Maybe he just got lucky, who knows.
But what he failed to clarify was how much he spent on Devon’s “pizza traffic” (aka solo ads) from the offset for that ONE sale?
He could have easily forked out $100+ (which I’ll talk about in a jiffy) on traffic to start building his email list.
So, my best guess is he failed to break-even on the front end, which is often the case when it comes to junk solo ads.
In fact, he’s probably still out-of-pocket by $100s, months down the line (that’s if he’s still an ESE member).
As for ME?
Unfortunately, I failed to hit a home run right off the bat after blasting one of my optin pages with 200 website visitors bought from Devon.
But with that said, my email sequence kicked in slowly – SOME subscribers opened emails and clicked on affiliate links.
Here’s an example of my Aweber stats at the time:
Don’t get me wrong, solo ad leads CAN be responsive (to some degree).
But at the same time, most won’t purchase your affiliate offers.
Because first of all, solo ad leads are subscribed to other marketers’ lists – meaning those folks are already sick and tired of being bombarded by “promo” emails daily.
Especially if they’re already subscribed to other ESE member lists – receiving the EXACT same emails (thanks to Devon) LOL.
And secondly, when all 5,000+ ESE members use the EXACT same funnels – it can result in fewer email optins and conversions anyway.
Because none of you stand out with your own unique funnels – you’re all clones at the end of the day.
How Much Does The Easiest System Ever Cost?
There are two types of membership levels that come with ESE:
First of all, you’ll get a 1-niche test drive at $9.95 for 14 days, and then it’s $47/month or $397 one-time.
Or you can choose the 3-niche membership level at $97/month or $797 one-time.
To top that off, you’ll also need an autoresponder (starting from $15 – $20/month), domain name (roughly $15/year), and email address tied to your domain (for a few bucks per month).
Oh, and not forgetting solo ads that can easily cost you $100s (when first starting out) to $1,000s in the long run.
In addition, there are the following (optional) ESE upsells:
- ‘3X Your Results in Less Than 1 Hour Per Week‘ for $39 – It’s a 26-page report (YUP, I got it!) that’s actually got some good info for boosting your affiliate commissions.
- ‘Done-For-You Service Setup‘ for $67
But in the grand scheme of things, ESE isn’t exactly a cost-effective way to start and grow a Biz, in my opinion.
Final Conclusion: Is The Easiest System Ever a SCAM?
In my opinion, I wouldn’t go as far as calling Devon Brown’s Easiest System Ever a scam.
Because newbies can receive some value behind the scenes of system (i.e, templates, emails, basic training & support).
But when it comes to the actual MONEY-MAKING side of things, I think newbies can do A LOT better than this system.
Because it will never translate to a full-time passive affiliate income – no matter how much cash you throw at solo ads.
If Devon truly wants you to succeed – WHY does he not teach you how to design your own funnel?…
Write your own email sequence and broadcasts?…
Generate your own high-quality traffic via YouTube, blogging, Tik Tok, Pinterest, Instagram, paid ads, etc?
Instead, he locks you into some expensive “pie in the sky system”, that HE has the most to gain from.
So, there’s no way I’ll be returning to the Easiest System Ever any day soon.
At least with programs like Commission Academy, you’re taught HOW to build your own sustainable affiliate Biz from scratch.
Which is WAAAY more powerful than any DFY system out there.
Your buddy, Neil
Got any questions or thoughts to share on 12MA? Please join the conversation below…
Enjoyed reading your article. I love reading about products an services to help you to make money online. Although I am a little weary with all the scams out there. But this one does seem more legit, and it’s nice to know you have actually tried this one.
It’s good that you have been honest and listed the cons and drawbacks too. The 12 minute affiliate sounds a bit like chris farrell’s product – 10 minute to success. This is a good one too. Might give it a try.
I’m glad, Jenny!
I don’t blame you for being cautious because the internet can be a shady place.
But as for 12MA, it’s definitely worth joining (ESPECIALLY if you’re a newbie). I’m still using the system to grow my email list as we speak, but I’ve chosen the ‘Home Biz’ niche as my new direction because it’s what I know and love helping folks with best.
As for Chris Farrell, I had tried his ‘Chris Farrell Membership’ program many moons ago, he provided a ton of value. Sounds like he’s now rebranded it, I’m intrigued. I’ll have to give it another go and do an updated review.
Hey Neil. Thank you for the great review.
12 MA seems like a legit program. I am glad that it is not promoted as a get-rich-quick scheme. As you will surely know, online success is hard work, irrespective of how good the program you join is.
It does seem expensive though. It surely is geared towards a serious newbie with money to invest. However, I do like the easy-to-setup system and done-for-you sales funnels. This will go a long way to assisting an affiliate newbie to get up and running.
Don’t mention it, Les!
I’ve personally used the system for a while, and it’s 100% legit. I totally agree, there’s no DFY system on the planet that will make your wildest dreams come true from zero effort. The way I see it, 12MA meets you half way. It’s your job to do the rest to become successful.
Yes, the solo ad route for growing your email subscribers can be quite costly (at least at the beginning anyway). But there are plenty of training courses online that will teach you inexpensive ways to grow your Biz with 12MA. Speaking of which, I offer some cool bonuses to those who join via the links in my review ^^^ 😉
It’s been really helpful for me to read your in-depth reviews of programs with big claims like 12 Minute Affiliate. I am definitely at a place where I need to up my email marketing game, but I don’t know where to start.
I have a modest list that disqualifies me from many of the “free trial” options, so since I need to invest in something with a purchase, I want to make sure it’s a good choice. Thanks for the details on 12 Minute Affiliate!
Glad to hear it, Aly!
It really boils down to your niche and preferences.
If you’re looking to learn the full ins and outs of email marketing, then an actual course will be your best option.
But if you’re after the easier route of pre-done squeeze page templates, bridge pages and email sequences in the personal development, make money online and/or weight loss niches for a quicker start, then 12MA will fit the bill.
Full marks to you for walking the talk. Sounds like it might be worth a go, but you never mentioned how much you are prepared to throw at this.
I am thinking probably $3000 before you start seeing some return. Of course like all the other offers out there when is it time to pull the pin and put it all down to experience?
Thanks for putting this info out there, but thinking don’t go into this with money you cannot afford to lose.
Cheers Michael!
In all honesty, I can’t give you a definite answer in regards to my 12 Minute Affiliate investments because I already have blogging and some basic SEO skills (thanks to Wealthy Affiliate). So having those skills means I can cut back on the paid traffic side of things.
But I genuinely believe that a startup investment of $500 – $1,000 CAN be adequate for your first affiliate sale with the system. And then it’s a case of scaling up by consistently applying Devon’s training, taking part in the ‘Copy Devon Contest’ and obviously generating more paid traffic.
As for “pulling the pin” – 12MA is more about seeing it through because even though some members don’t always see results right off the bat (for numerous reasons), your time, effort, and monetary investments will gradually build momentum – rewarding you BIG time down the road.
So YES, a sizable budget is required if newbies intend on playing the long game with this system.
Hey Neil appreciate your review and in all honesty I concur with your perspective on the solo-ads. Actually, I think SEO continually tweaked and honed alleviates all the other “how to get traffic”.
For some, a solo-ad here and there may benefit, but the real deal is, just like 12 MINUTE AFFILIATE, that 12 minutes attracts the crowd of “get rich quick” and along the way so many people get into this and are unwilling to do the foundational work. Thanks for your review buddy!
Awesome sauce, Timo! 🙂
In my experience, organic traffic (especially the search engine type) is definitely THE best source. But when combined with email marketing, the results can really be explosive! Not that I’m discrediting solo ads though (lol) because they CAN work.
I agree, 12MA seems to entice the fairy tale believers on the surface. But when you actually dive into the system, Devon is 100% upfront about the keys to success with it.
You’re welcome!
Hey There Neil,
Great review, there are tons of products out there and getting honest, first hand experienced reviews like yours really helps people like me who are looking to build an online business. I do believe that it is not easy to make money online but it is worth it. You either have to invest the time or the money and your unbiased review makes that clear.
With that being said the 12 minute affiliate looks like a decent product. I really like the done for you system and not having to spend a fortune on software like Clickfunnels which I have done in the past.
Cheers, Lawrence!
It makes me VERY happy to hear it!
Unfortunately, success never magically materialises out of thin air. But for those who are prepared to work their ass off at affiliate marketing, but struggling to get off the ground, then 12MA is definitely a great solution.
And yeah, it sure is a bonus not needing ClickFunnels – you’re saving yourself $97/month! Which could go towards paid solo ads inside/outside 12MA for growing your list. 😉
I wish Wealthy Affiliate had sale funnels, this one does seem a bit pricey considering you have to buy all the extra stuff. If you’re looking into getting some help starting a business online and want to get affiliate marketing this sounds like a decent one.
I’m sticking with blogging for now but when I start looking for sales funnels I’m going to consider 12 Minute Affiliate. Thanks.
Haha, Wealthy Affiliate is a different kettle of fish. But I hear ya… Funnels would certainly be a great addition to the community.
But as for 12MA: Yes it’s pricey if you’re chucking paid traffic at your funnels because it takes a while for your leads to build and autoresponder to kick in. But sooner or later, you’ll breakeven and see some awesome results. You just need to be persistent.
Hey Neil I’m Shay and I just happened to bump into your blog here!! I must say the world needs more of you!! I really commend you for doing this for people!! You are something!! I thank you for all the time and effort you put forth and risk you take in order to help others see through the crap!!!
I mean you do it with class you provide facts and not a put down or derogatory word is said!! You are truly doing it for the people! How refreshing!! And how rare!! I was wondering if you have (and if not would you?) done a review on email elite academy system??
I am dying to know what you have to say!! Keep up the awesome work!! You are appreciated!! Thank you and God Bless!!!
Nice to meet you, Shay! WOW, thanks for all the kind words, I feel humbled. 🙂
Right now, I’m in the process of reviewing Legendary Marketer and Commission Hero Pro (I bought both!), but may review Email Elite Academy in the future.
However, with that said… I have researched EAS on other blogs and it doesn’t look good with the number of red flags raised. So tread cautiously with it.
Thank you for your honest review on Devon Brown’s 12 Minute Affiliate system. It is always good to read a review from a real user like you, instead of from people who claim to know a system yet have not used it. It is also good to know that you recommend it and it is a legit system.
I also love the fact that it is not a get-rich-quick scheme. Time and patience always pays off in the long run. I appreciate the recommendation.
Anytime, Boi! And I know EXACTLY what you mean!… You can’t beat a genuine review. 😉
If you have any questions on 12MA, you know where to find me.
Hi Neil. Very interesting review. I just created my own blog and I’m still learning how to earn money online from affiliate marketing, but looking on your review 12 Minute Affiliate seems as a solid, reliable platform.
Yet, I see minuses, like upsells or limitations to specific niches. I think it’s not a program for everyone, and I would recommended Wealthy Affiliate for a starting point, with tons of great trainings and active supportive community.
That’s great! There are many angles to doing affiliate marketing, but blogging is definitely an awesome choice you’ve made.
And yeah, 12MA sure is a great system for newbies starting out, despite some of the drawbacks (which you’ll find with ANY system because they’re all flawed to some degree, right? LOL).
I totally agree with you on Wealthy Affiliate too!… In fact, why don’t you apply WA’s blogging strategies (if you’re in the personal development, weight loss or home biz space) with 12MA – you’ll really build a supercharged affiliate biz.
Just an idea 😉
I have gone through your review of 12 Minute Affiliate, and it’s great to get the inside scoop from a real user. Well, it seems to be worth giving a try, but I do not like the fact that there is no step-by-step training on driving free traffic to your funnels.
Anyway, it’s great that it is legit. Thanks for sharing, I did not know about 12MA before.
Awesome sauce!
Yeah, definitely! Even if 12MA isn’t your cuppa, you’ve only spent 10 bucks on the trial. But I couldn’t agree more… it sucks that Devon doesn’t cover the “free” traffic side of things because it would really reduce your expenses starting out as a beginner.
You do also get a bonus PDF when you join 12MA, but there’s no substance to it because it just briefly highlights 16 different ways to generate free traffic to your DFY funnels. I guess that’s generic PDFs for ya, eh?
Thanks for your 2 cents.
I must admit started reading your review I was a bit skeptical. I knew this 12 Minute Affiliate encouraged its users to buy solo ads. And I have my reserves about this.
However reading your post I was pleasantly surprised that they actually seem to have something good going on here. It’s worth giving a closer look. Thank you for calling my attention to this system.
I can’t say I blame you because there are way better traffic methods that blow solo ads right out of the water. But if you pour enough cash into generating solo ad leads, eventually your investments CAN pay off.
So yeah, I do recommend giving 12MA a shot (like I did 😀 ).