This review contains affiliate links. Please check out my affiliate disclaimer for more info.
Congrats on landing on my unbiased and revised review of the Commission Academy for 2023!
According to its creator (Dale) – Commission Academy is “the best free affiliate marketing course”.
But can it REALLY compete with other top-dog affiliate Biz training platforms in today’s climate, and at ZERO cost too?
Or is the whole thing nothing but smoke and mirrors designed to scam the pants off total newbies like you?
All the honest answers you seek are right here in THIS review, so hang tight, tiger!…
At a Glance
Name: Commission Academy.
Owner: Dale.
Mentors: Dale & Simon.
Cost: Free + expenses.
Who’s it For?: Mainly affiliate marketing beginners.
My Score: 8/10.
PROS
- 100% free to join (no credit card needed)
- Solid (+ regularly updated) step-by-step newbie-friendly video training
- Member discussion threads under videos (Dale & Simon also chime in to lend a hand)
- Heaps of free high-quality resource recommendations
- Private support from ME (if you join via this review) + a HUGE 2+ million member community
- Live weekly hangouts via the private YouTube channel
- Dale & Simon are successful Super Affiliates (they really know their stuff!)
- Affiliate marketing’s a proven kick-ass Biz model for earning a sustainable full-time online
CONS
- A handful of videos are fairly short – they need beefing up, in my opinion
- No guidance on mindset & goal setting, etc (I hope this crucial stuff is covered at some point)
- Some freebie tool recommendations have limited functionality (that’s why they’re free I guess lol)
- Expenses for certain tools & upsells come into play (building an online Biz is never truly a $0 cost)
- It’s not for “get rich quick” seekers (online success requires plenty of learning, elbow grease, time & patience)
Summary:
To cut a very long story short, I’ve done affiliate marketing since 1999 (YUP, I’m vintage!)…
And lost $1,000s on garbage training programs, but balanced out those losses with wins from following legitimate and quality courses over the years.
So, I’ve certainly been there, done that, and got the faded retro-looking t-shirt.
But the good news is that when it comes to Commission Academy, it DEFINITELY falls under the latter category – ticking all the right boxes.
Because Dale and Simon’s free step-by-step training actually delivers a tremendous amount of real-world value that helps newbies succeed in the affiliate marketing space.
But the guys don’t end things there…
They also engage with members via training discussion threads, recommend some top-notch tools, and do live weekly hangout videos to go hand-in-hand with their course.
But does their platform really offer the BEST free training on the entire cyber planet, you ask?
Everyone has a different view, at the end of the day…
So, I’ll let you figure it out when you become a zero-risk member below and tuck into the training 😉
Either way, Commission Academy is certainly one heck of an EPIC starting point (in my opinion) if you’re looking to learn the ropes and eventually bank a 6-figure affiliate income down the road.
==> Join Commission Academy Free Here!
However, because there’s not really a “one size fits all” approach to building a profitable affiliate Biz from scratch – I prefer to keep an open mind.
So, with numerous directions to pick from, I recommend you also check out THIS training program as a beginner.
Which, btw, can also pair up with Commission Academy quite nicely in my book.
Final Verdict: Highly Recommended.
But before we dig into the meat and potatoes of Commission Academy…
Who The Heck Is The Creator (Dale)?
Dale is your average 20-something-year-old English guy who “accidentally” discovered affiliate marketing (his words) for himself.
Which basically led to him earning a full-time income online, becoming a webpreneur, and quitting his day job as an electrician.
Fast forward a bit and Dale’s passion lies in helping newbies accomplish the same.
Which is why he created Commission Academy and brought his wingman on board (Simon) as a mentor too.
Simon’s also a successful super affiliate, in case you hadn’t have guessed 😛
Say hello to the duo who met and had a blast at Wealthy Affiliate’s Super Affiliate Conference in Las Vegas, baby! (2020).
Since then, the pair have been great buddies and a true asset to the internet and affiliate marketing landscape.
They are definitely the dudes you really must rub shoulders with if you truly wanna “live your best life” as a webpreneur too.
What Is Commission Academy All About, You Ask?
Put simply, Commission Academy is designed as a $0 step-by-step video training program on affiliate marketing.
More specifically, the course actually shows you how to start a blog from scratch and transform it into a highly lucrative affiliate Biz.
The last “free” course I tried was My Online Startup – But it doesn’t help you connect all the dots when it comes to getting started.
Whereas Commission Academy DOES.
Which is a total breath of fresh air.
However, given the fact that Dale and Simon are both Wealthy Affiliate community members, and Commission Academy almost mirrors its sales page and training…
The way I see it, Dale’s course is basically a *GASP* steppingstone/introduction to Wealthy Affiliate.
Which, isn’t necessarily a bad thing because Dale prepares you for a more in-depth platform…
An umbrella one that offers you so much more of everything – tools, training, support, you name it, for even BIGGER success 😉
Who Is Commission Academy For, You Wonder?
Whether you suck at affiliate marketing or you’re a newbie looking to start an affiliate Biz for free – then the Academy has your name all over it.
Or as Dale puts it on the homepage – it’s “Perfect For Beginners”.
However, just don’t go into the Academy with a get-rich-quick mindset because you’ll be deeply disappointed.
YES, Dale and Simon can help break the shackles of your day job to live the dream life you want.
But you must take that word called ACTION and be prepared to invest at least 10 – 20 hours a week, and make some sacrifices along the way.
This is something I’ve learned from experience, plus my successful buddy – Ian Pribyl (‘From Nothing‘ author and FIMP creator).
That’s the only path to success as a blogger in the affiliate marketing arena, at the end of the day.
How Commission Academy Works Behind The Scenes
Once you’ve signed up for your free membership and logged into the dashboard, you’ll begin with the Fast-Start Training.
Here’s a tiny glimpse of said training (that I’ve personally gone through) from Dale and Simon:
The training comprises 16 lessons that basically help you start your new blog/affiliate Biz with a sprinkling of other strategies for good measure.
Before we move on, a newly-added cool training feature I really love is the discussion thread – there’s one underneath every video.
As an example; here’s a 31-comment thread (at the time of writing) – Dale and/or Simon reply to everyone, further demonstrating their commitment to helping folks.
I digress.
The Fast-Start Training lessons are as follows:
- Meet Your Instructors (4.09 minute video)
- The Process Explained (10.20 mins)
- Choose A Niche (5.50 mins)
- Launch Your Website (You’ll use SiteRubix to build a blog)
- Laying The Foundations For Success (2.43 mins)
- Customizing Your Website (7.21 mins)
- Creating Your Initial Content (12.13 mins)
- Leveraging An Email List (8.27 mins)
- Preparing To Make Money (1.05 mins)
- Finding Profitable Keywords (14.20 mins)
- Creating Content That Ranks (21.08 mins)
- Adding Affiliate Links (11.44 mins)
- Leveraging Product Reviews (7.18 mins)
- Creating Income On Demand (13.25 mins)
- Scaling With Videos (8.33 mins)
- Congratulations & Your Next Steps (1.36 mins)
But it doesn’t stop there!
Because in comes the Advanced Training stuff that covers the following 12 lessons:
- Introduction To Google Search Console (12.46 minute video)
- How To View & Track Your Website Visitors (10.56 mins)
- Ranking In Google In 48 Hours (Or Less) (11.18 mins)
- Monitoring Your Search Engine Positions (12.58 mins)
- Outsourcing Content Production (7.30 mins)
- Boosting Your Pages With Internal Links (8.12 mins)
- Multiplying Your Revenue With Display Ads (6.07 mins)
- Building Backlinks To Rank Even Higher (6.21 mins)
- Growing Your Email List 10X Faster (20.16 mins)
- Realising Your Own Digital Asset (6.31 mins)
- Leveraging Automated Chatbots (15.20 mins)
- Using Paid Ads For Rapid Results (19.07 mins)
On the whole, I think the training’s bloody brilliant – It’s jam packed with so much value, I tell ya!
But a couple of things I will say about the Fast-Start training though:
First of all, there are a few videos that are fairly shallow – I hope the lads will address this in future training updates.
And secondly, you’re taught to run before you can walk (kinda).
Because, for example, you don’t need to be overwhelmed by the thought of email marketing and YouTube from the offset.
Your #1 PRIORITY is to launch a blog and scale it to generate at least some level of consistent traffic from Google BEFORE you focus on other strategies.
Trust me, I learned this the hard way. UGH.
They’re my only complaints with Commission Academy really – so, nothing major to worry about.
In addition to the training and discussion threads, Dale and Simon run live weekly hangouts via their YouTube channel.
Where you’ll gain even more insights into succeeding with this affiliate marketing “stuff”.
How Much Does The Academy Actually Cost?
The good news is that Commission Academy won’t cost you a single dime for the training.
But having said that, there’s no such thing as a free lunch – ESPECIALLY in the digital marketing arena.
Because you’ll still need to invest in Dale’s third-party resource recommendations to start your own website and build it into a thriving affiliate Biz.
So, in the name of transparency, here’s a full breakdown of essential resources as recommended by Dale throughout the starter training:
- Wealthy Affiliate (see full costs) – WA is the hands-on starting point of your new Biz. You’ll receive tools, in-depth training, 1-on-1 coaching + community support 24/7.
- Fiverr (from $5 a gig) – You’ll hire a professional designer to create your site’s logo.
- Grammarly (free – $12/month) – A writing tool to check grammar & spelling mistakes in your content.
- Aweber (free – $19.99/month starting price) – An email autoresponder to create a website opt-in form & build a subscriber list.
- Mangools (free 10-day trial, then $29.90 or $49/month basic level) – A keyword tool to find the right keywords for Google rankings & traffic to your website.
- Canva ($0 – $100+/year) – A cool tool to design your own blog post graphics.
- TubeBuddy ($4.99/month – $24.49/month – cheaper if paid yearly) – An advanced tool to easily rank videos on YouTube for traffic.
There are more costs for other optional tools in the advanced training, but you’ll see them for yourself.
Is Commission Academy A SCAM? (The Verdict’s In)…
The short answer is: Absolutely not.
While there’s still room for improvement when it comes to the basic training (in my opinion) …
Commission Academy is still WAY better than any shitty WarriorPlus product by miles.
Not that I’m measuring d*cks or anything.
Joking aside, I love the fact that both Dale and Simon are EXTREMELY knowledgeable when it comes to affiliate marketing.
Not to mention the fact, they’re both massively successful Super Affiliates.
Which speaks volumes.
So, you’re DEFINITELY in good hands with the guys – they teach you everything you need to know about starting off on the right foot online in 2023 and beyond.
But obviously, their training will only pay off when you put it into practice.
So, if you’re prepared to roll up those sleeves and take action to become an affiliate success story yourself – then I invite you to…
==> Join Commission Academy Free Here!
Your buddy, Neil.
Got any questions or thoughts on Commission Academy? We’d love to hear them below…
I recently completed the Commission Academy program, and I wanted to share my experience and thoughts on it.
First, I have to say that the content of the program was fantastic. The training was thorough and easy to understand, and I felt like I was learning valuable information that I could immediately apply to my business. The modules were well-structured and provided a clear roadmap for building a successful affiliate marketing business.
One of the things I appreciated most about the program was the emphasis on taking action. There were plenty of opportunities to implement what I was learning, which helped me make real progress in my business.
In terms of my experience with the program, I have to say it was great. I was able to apply the strategies and tactics that I learned in the program and I started to see results almost immediately. I was capable of increasing my income and got more confident in my ability to grow my business.
Overall, I highly recommend Commission Academy to anyone interested in building a successful affiliate marketing business. The program provides valuable information and actionable steps, and I truly believe it can help anyone achieve their goals.
I recently had the pleasure of taking the Commission Academy course and I have to say, it truly is the best free affiliate marketing course out there. From the very beginning, the course is designed to be user-friendly and easy to understand, even for complete beginners like myself.
The instructors Dale and Simon are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about affiliate marketing, and their teachings were clear, concise and easy to understand. They provided valuable insights and strategies that I was able to implement immediately to start making passive income.
I especially appreciated the hands-on approach of the course, with the step-by-step guides and the practical assignments that allowed me to apply what I was learning in real-time.
I highly recommend Commission Academy to anyone looking to get started in affiliate marketing. It’s a great starting point and a valuable resource for anyone looking to make passive income.
Good on ya, Kevin!
You took the words right out of my mouth LOL.
I totally agree with everything you’ve said about CA, the training course is a no-brainer in my view.
Very interesting info about Commission Academy. It is nice to see a site that sticks by what it actually says it is. I have also found that Wealthy Affiliate is the same way.
I was looking at other programs, that cost a lot more, when I stumbled upon WA. Would you recommend people to start with Commission Academy and then migrate to WA, or start with either of them and stick with them?
I couldn’t agree more…
If only more programs were as “transparent” from the offset – It would save newbies so much time, money and frustrations.
In my view, Commission Academy is the place to start because newbies are introduced to the blogging and affiliate marketing landscapes (100% risk free), which in turn, helps towards informed decision making when it comes to going “all in” with Wealthy Affiliate.
Fantastic review! As I read through the comments below I see that Commission Academy is really a one step way to introduce the Wealthy Affiliate community.
I have used the internet to market products for several years using my suppliers websites and stumbled onto Wealthy Affiliate less than a year ago.
Cheers Phil! 😀
Yes, (at the time of writing), Commission Academy is a bridge to Wealthy Affiliate (which is a good thing, as you’ll know).
But as Dale stated below, his goal is to make CA a more of a stand-alone platform that complements WA. I dunno about you, but I can’t wait to see how CA evolves down the road!
Most people believe that online programs like this one are scams because most believe that you will press a button and instantly win millions. This could not be more far from the truth and it’s really sad because if you really put in the work the results will show after some time.
Most don’t want to work at all and make money which is not how things work even in the online world.
I’m 100% in agreement,
Unfortunately, the scam artists with their garbage “get rich quick” sales pitches are to blame for programming vulnerable minds with unrealistic expectations.
If those folks are unwilling to roll up their sleeves online, others will gladly step in to take advantage of this MASSIVE life-changing opportunity.
Hey Neil, Dale here from CA. Just stumbled across this review & first off, I have to say that I really appreciate it. I’m glad that you enjoy CA overall. It means a lot as we’re really trying to deliver as much value as possible through CA & when I say we’ve been working tirelessly on it, I really mean it, haha.
Got some really great things coming up for it as well, which have been a long time in the works. One of the things you touched on is that some of the lessons are quite short – and this is something we’ve really struggled with – finding that happy medium of providing enough value, but not causing people to tire and discontinue with the training.
In our recent update (rolled out a few days ago) we’ve got the ability to add “additional learning” modules to each lesson, so this is something that we’re going to be working on to provide optional in-depth deep dives.
And along with that, we also rolled out discussions under each of the lessons to help people get easier access to assistance. Our end goal is not to be the stepping-stone to WA, but to be fully complementary to it, offering our own personal takes on niche marketing.
Thanks again! 🙂
It’s a real pleasure Dale, and THANK YOU for chiming in 🙂
To be honest, I’ve already seen (with my own eyes) the amount of effort you guys have already poured into Commission Academy. So, I’m excited for what lies ahead for 2022!
But I do see where you’re coming from with the training “depth” thing – I guess you can’t please every member at the end of the day lol.
Appreciate your input, I’ll soon be updating this review to reflect the new additions to CA.
Thanks for the detailed review. Seems like a legit kickstarter for anyone wanting to start an affiliate business. It’s true no online business can be created with zero expense, especially if you want a decent website hosting platform that can give your online business better rankings in search engines…
But at least it would be a lesser expense by gaining experience through Commission Academy.
Anytime! 😀
Yup, there’s no question about it. I totally agree, Commission Academy teaches noobs how to fit the puzzle pieces together, which in turn saves time and frustrations as well.
Hi,
Quick question. I just ran across what I thought was an independent review of Commission Academy by some dude named “Dale.” Only to read your article and find Commission Academy is Dale’s business. Should I feel weird about that? (Cause I am interested …)
When product publishers/course creators REVIEW their own stuff (especially from a biased standpoint), I can see why Dale’s review would leave you feeling kind of skeptical.
Which is why it’s best to read actual member reviews for the lowdown from both positive and negative points of view to paint a clear picture.
But with that said, taking into account that Commission Academy is zero risk and Dale walks the talk, there’s every reason to trust him.
Hope this answers your question, I look forward to helping you, Kristen.
Hi, Neil, thank you very much for this vital review of the Commission Academy of Dale & Simon.
As you have said, it is superb for any beginner/newbie. When I was starting out looking for what I could do online, I first encountered Matthew Tang’s three-step method. I enrolled and in the end, ran away as costs after costs started to come on every step, and yet there were no tangible results to see.
I started thinking of the 3 Step method of Mr. Tang to be a scam. As I continued searching, that is when I came to the Commission Academy of Mr. Dale. This is where I got my first training and indeed introduction to Affiliate Marketing.
Now I am training at Wealthy Affiliate, but I trace my journey from Commission Academy. I am still in contact with Dale and he is very helpful. I would recommend Commission Academy to any newbie who wants to learn and make an informed decision to leverage Affiliate Marketing.
It’s a real pleasure, Hawumba! 🙂
The only one I can think of is the 3 Step Method scam I reviewed. But either way, it sucks that you were out-of-pocket – unfortunately, some folks are out to screw you over on the web.
But the guys behind the Commission Academy are NOTHING like that, and I’m SO glad you found the right direction with both their platform and Wealthy Affiliate.
I appreciate your chiming in.
Thanks for such a detailed review on Commission Academy.
Honestly, anything you go into has both pros and cons with it, it’s really about how one looks at it. There are just so many products out there that I have no idea where to start my online business. But this looks like it’s for me.
Don’t mention it, Kiersti!
That’s very true when it comes to online Biz training platforms – just ensure the pros outweigh the cons when picking one though 😛
Commission Academy is DEFINITELY an awesome starting point – so go for it!
I have heard about Commission Academy before, and as with many other courses, I did wonder if it was a scam, or legitimate platform to teach you affiliate marketing. So I am very pleased to see that Commission Academy is a recommended course that can help beginners to learn about affiliate marketing.
And as with everything in life, there is no such thing as a free meal. So the course content might be provided free of charge, but to actually run your business, you will need to pay for certain tools and platforms. Commission Academy sounds like a course that could help me to expand my knowledge and help me to become a successful affiliate marketer.
I don’t blame you for being on guard because the internet can be a seedy place these days – So good on ya for researching Commission Academy and fining your way to my review 😀
I echo what you’re saying (or is it vice-versa? lol). But yeah, Commission Academy is certainly your knight in shining armour, as long as you do the work to succeed.
This is a great view, however, in the transparency department for the cost breakdown, Commission Academy is offering Wealthy Affiliate as an external tool. For someone who is already a wealthy affiliate member, this doesn’t make sense to me. Why would I want to get a free account if most of the tools they are recommending I pay for already come with a premium membership on WA?
Unless they are teaching some things that I can’t learn on WA, then I really don’t think I would sign up to learn from them. I’m already stretched way too thin running my brick and mortar business as well as putting in the hours at WA to learn how to create a successful online business.
I suppose it could be worth it to check out their free membership area when I have more free time.
That’s because you’re already a Wealthy Affiliate member lol – Commission Academy is really a starting point to introduce the WA community to non-members.
But with that said, you’re more than welcome to still join the Academy because you can still learn a thing or two about building an online empire, since no two mentors are ever the same – they all teach marketing in different styles.
Thank you for your detailed and honest review. I like the part where you are talking about cons, too. In reality, not any platform is perfect and I’m glad you decided to talk about that from every point of view and not just to praise them.
It’s great to see articles like this. Especially for those who know nothing about online marketing and are wondering if something is legit or a scam.
You’re welcome, Alisa!
Happy to hear it, we don’t live in a perfect world sadly. I think it’s important to always see things (especially online training programs) from both sides of the coin to make informed decisions.