Welcome to my unbiased review of Keala Kanae’s Fullstaq Marketer (formerly AWOL Academy)!
You may have heard some affiliate marketers raving about this system for years.
In fact, there’s one affiliate, in particular, who boasts about how he’s made $900,000 in two years thanks to Kanae’s guidance…
Yup, it’s the dude who refers to Kanae’s system as “my no.1 recommendation for making money online” in his blog reviews.
That’s a fat stack of cash, so fair play to him.
BUT…
Here’s MY #1 recommendation for earning a sustainable income on the web. 😉
But is Mark the exception or are others also raking in that sort of cash?
How does the platform work, is it legit, and actually worth buying into, you ask?
To discover the ins and outs of the system and my honest opinion, dive into THIS review…
At a Quick Glance
Name: Fullstaq Marketer (FM) – rebranded from AWOL Academy (AA).
Owner: Keala Kanae.
Website: fullstaqmarketer.com.
Cost: To be announced.
Summary:
Apparently, Fullstaq Marketer is a digital marketing coaching platform that enables newbies to build successful businesses from scratch.
But at the moment, that’s all we know about the platform because it appears to still be in its development stages.
But with that said and also what concerns me the most about FM is that it was once called AWOL Academy.
If you’re unfamiliar with it, it used to be a “high-ticket” system costing over $10,000.
Basically a ‘plug n’ play’ system where you bought expensive coaching products to be able to sell the same products/system for big commissions.
It operated the same way as MOBE, Digital Altitude, and Empower Network – all three are now RIP.
So IF FM is a reflection of AA, I think the guy behind it is gonna have big problems on his hands.
Either it could get closed by the FTC or members’ eventually drop like flies because of high costs.
Final Verdict: Legit.
But before you take one more step, see other alternative ways of making a full-time income via affiliate marketing – that might float ya boat…
- First-Time Internet Marketing Profits
- Affiliate Bootcamp
- Commission Hero
- And the Super Affiliate System, to name a few.
What is Fullstaq Marketer All About, You Say?
According to the Fullstaq Marketer website (originally called AWOL Academy), it’s “the world’s greatest internet marketing training”.
RIP AWOL Academy.
But that’s a pretty bold statement because I know of marketers who deliver training courses that pack a powerful punch.
So Kanae has A LOT of competition, I’m telling ya!
FM is basically designed to help newbies get up and running in the field of affiliate marketing and create profitable businesses in the long term.
You’ll learn stuff like getting set up and creating a high-converting sales machine, generating traffic, conversion secrets, and more.
I must say, it all sounds quite promising on the surface.
But since FM was once AA, one can only assume it’s gonna be one heck of an expensive platform overall.
How Fullstaq Marketer Works For The Dough
Well, once you hit the ‘Get Started Now’ tab, you’re led to a free download page.
Where you’ll get your hands on Kanae’s short step-by-step ‘Freelance Marketing Secrets’ PDF.
Then followed by an invite to watch a 2-hour bonus masterclass that’s designed to go hand-in-hand with the PDF.
But as for FM, there’s really not a lot to go on since it’s been newly-released with some training modules still on the way.
BUT if AA is anything to go by, then Kanae may well have plans to turn FM into another “high-ticket” system.
Where you’ll purchase costly internet marketing products inside FM and refer others to FM so they do the same and earn you big commissions.
This is EXACTLY how the following systems also work:
- Big Profit System
- The Profit Shortcut (aka The Super Affiliate Network)
- Digital Income System
- Six Figure Empire
But as for the likes of MOBE, Digital Altitude, and Empower Network – they are all now defunct.
Two got shut down by the Federal Trade Commission for being costly “schemes”.
And the other went bankrupt due to being unsustainable.
What Was The Cost to Join AWOL Academy Overall?
The initial starting cost was $99 for the ‘Pro Academy’.
But then came some steep costs:
- ‘Inbox Academy’ = $297
- ‘Conversion Academy’ = $997
- ‘Traffic Academy’ = $997
- ‘Masters Academy’ = $3,497
- ‘AWOL Elite’ = $9,997
And these were the same products that taught you how to promote the AA system itself for some sizable commissions.
But the catch was that you had to buy the products yourself in order to earn commissions from promoting them.
This is what the FTC would refer to as a money-making “scheme”.
But the unfortunate thing about these schemes is that not every member can afford to go “all-in”.
Which is why the majority of folks fail to earn big.
Trust me, this comes from a former Empower Network member who struggled to afford the products and lost over $1,000.
So IF FM follows this same path, then its future looks pretty bleak, if I’m honest.
Final Conclusion: Is Fullstaq Marketer a Scam?
Well, at this present moment in time, I can’t really pass judgment on Fullstaq Marketer without any solid facts to go on.
But I do know that Keala Kanae delivered some pretty decent training back in the days of AWOL Academy.
So that’s definitely a bonus, in my book.
But IF FM is a reflection of that same platform/system, then sooner or later it will be forced to shut down…
Either by the FTC for being a “scheme” or by Kanae himself due to the majority of members’ not being able to afford the system.
So I hope for Kanae’s sake that FM is a genuine internet marketing coaching platform instead of a high-ticket system disguised as one.
Well, that’s my two cents worth anyway, but I will update this review when more info becomes available on FM.
See How I Earn Via Affiliate Marketing…
The thing you have to understand about affiliate marketing is that it shouldn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg to start and grow a profitable Biz.
Depending on the internet marketing strategy you choose, you can easily build a successful Biz for a few hundred bucks per year.
But unfortunately, the only reason why systems like AA require you to sell a kidney is so its “affiliates” can make mega commissions.
UGH.
So if you want tools, training & support for success in the world of affiliate marketing at an affordable price for any newbie…
==> Check Out Wealthy Affiliate – It’s FREE to Start!
Your buddy, Neil 😀
Got any questions or thoughts on either AA or FM? Please hop on the conversation below…
So, here are my thoughts. If Awol Academy was and Fulstaq Marketer is that expensive, there is no way that I and many hundreds of thousands of want-to-be affiliate marketers could EVER afford this. So I would have to agree, I think this system will die and it will probably come back with yet another name.
What are people thinking… It costs a lot of money so it must be something exceptional?
There have been so many of these rebrands of old products and, still, people fall for them.
Wealthy Affiliate is a much better way to go all around. It’s like you said, it shouldn’t take more than a few hundred dollars a year to set up a business and start making money online. With the training WA provides and everything else that is inside and what they do for their members… their rates are EXCEPTIONALLY low. All we have to do is add the WILL AND DETERMINATION.
I like where I am. It’s much more affordable and I think I’m getting way more bang for my buck that AA or FM could ever give me.
Wayne
Indeed, Wayne!
You only have to look at what happened to the Empower Network to understand that this “high ticket” stuff is unsustainable. There’s just no long term future for it – no matter how many times the schemes get rebranded. Period.
Unfortunately, members only see $ signs, and therefore, some are willing to invest a chunk of change to multiply their returns. But it doesn’t always pan out, which results in minus figures in the bank instead.
I think it’s a good job that platforms like Wealthy Affiliate do have our backs because they teach how affiliate marketing should REALLY be done on a budget.
Hello Neil, whenever I see these high tickets program, I am always scared to go in because it’s way too expensive. I feel this program is overpriced and not everyone can afford such a ridiculous amount of money to learn.
I know there would be other competitors’ programs even better than Fullstaq Marketer (previously known as AWOL Academy) that would charge less and even offer reasonable service.
Who knows what will become the end of this program? Anyways, thanks for helping me see the lights at the end of the tunnel regarding this program.
Howdy, Mr! 🙂
And so you SHOULD be scared, man! Firstly, the scammy Empower Network took me for a complete mug in 2013… I lost $1,000+!
And then the Digital Altitude tried it on with me for $1,000s. But luckily I quit after the first month, so all I lost was $37 ish.
But good riddance to both EN and DA, they deserved to go down the sh*tter lol.
I totally agree, there are plenty of kick-ass platforms out there similar to AWOL Academy, that are at least 10+ times cheaper.
For example, you’ve got:
Devon Brown’s ‘12 Minute Affiliate‘ ($797).
Robby Blanchard’s ‘Commission Hero‘ ($997).
John Crestani’s ‘Super Affiliate System‘ ($997).
And then Ian Pribyl’s ‘First-Time Internet Marketing Profits‘ which covers blogging ($297).
All these training courses teach the concept of “internet marketing” – helping you to build a 5 – 6-figure business through affiliate marketing.
So the guy behind AWOL Academy simply CAN NOT justify charging you many $1,000s. Well, unless he’s unlocked some Super Mario style “secret level” in cyberspace land, which I very much doubt.
But IF Fullstaq Marketer does have AA written all over it, then the owner along with all his affiliates will find themselves on a very slippery slope, I’m afraid.
You’re welcome!
Hey, I know after taking a look on Fullstaq Marketer, it’s a digital marketing coaching platform that enables newbies to build a successful business from scratch.
I am also new to this internet world and try to find new ways to become a success online. Now your review on FM helped me a lot.
Everything is fine but its price is not suitable for me. Your free start-up recommendation is very useful for me to run an online business.
What, you managed to get all that from this review?! 😛
Joking aside, IF Fullstaq Marketer is as costly as Awol Academy, then I recommend staying away because any genuine and successful affiliate marketer knows that building a profitable Biz should involve leveraging cost-efficient resources (i.e. training, tools & support).
So good on ya for choosing what I recommend!
Thanks for the insightful review of Fullstaq Marketer. It’s good to read about another ok program that won’t give you a good ROI. These programs frustrate me, and continuously won’t go away.
The claim from FM about making $900,000 in two years’ time sounds questionable. Even though that is quite possible, it sounds too good to be true with this type of program.
By the way, I used to be a member of Empower Network myself. What a huge mistake, I regret losing instead of making money going forward. So I suspect FM follows this same scheme as well. So I’m more aware and skeptical of programs such as Empower and FM.
No problem, Eric!
I hear what you’re saying, man! GRRR!! LOL.
The $900K income claim isn’t from the guy behind Fullstaq Marketer, but an Awol Academy/FM affiliate named ‘Mark’ (who’s behind BizReviewed.com and NoBSImReviews.com).
Unless you’re a serial blogger like ‘Mark’ who drives tons of organic traffic and sucks people into his “#1 recommendation“, and you’ve also got heaps of cash to blow on AA/FM products and paid ad strategies, then I think your chances of making the big bucks with the program are pretty slim.
UGH, Empower Network though! Sorry to hear you also lost a small fortune to that sh*tbag of an opportunity. But at least it’s been wiped from the face of the Earth now. 😉
I’m also thinking FM (formerly Awol Academy) is gonna follow suit because a leopard never changes its spots, right? Especially when it comes to the ‘make money online’ industry.
Thanks for the review, I think we will have to wait and see as if the program costs too much and the information isn’t great then it’s probably worth looking elsewhere like with your recommendation.
Like you say to say it will be the best course is big thing to say as there is so much good information out there, but since Kanae as a reputation of knowing his stuff and being successful, I will have to check out the final product. Only then we will know whether it’s worth the time and money.
Just wondering Neil will you be updating or releasing a new review for the final product when it comes out?
I will bookmark your site just in case though.
Josh
No Worries, Joshua!
If the Awol Academy is anything to go by, then Fullstaq’s training should be the same great quality. But I’m willing to bet my money on FM being the exact same structure as AA because if it’s not, then poor old current affiliates like ‘Mark’ will see HUGE reductions in their commissions/income.
Now, wouldn’t that be a real shame?
Well, unless Kanae can still get away with charging high ticket prices for his products without FM being a “scheme”. Hmm, we shall see…
YUP, I’ll update this review when the time comes. 😀
Hi! This is a great review for anyone thinking about taking these types of training. The costs vary but whether you go in at the low level or at the high level, you have to your part and be all in.
I have heard a couple of Marketing trainers straight up say that they cannot guarantee that you will be successful with their program because they can not guarantee that you will be all in.
I agree with you that affiliate marketing should not cost an arm and a leg. If done properly anyone can do it.
Cheers, Jesse!
Unfortunately, you must go “all in” for the biggest returns (potentially) when it comes to high-ticket systems like Awol Academy.
In all honesty, no internet marketer can guarantee your results because variables always come into the picture – whether you buy a $297, $997 or even $10K+ product.
In fact, affiliate marketing can actually be done for “free” if you sign-up for ClickBank (the easiest affiliate network to join), pick a product to promote, and place a load of ads on free classified sites like Craigslist, etc.
This is just one example of how to do affiliate marketing (at a beginner level) with zero cash to spend. BUT really, it’s best to learn more advanced strategies for building your own brand that will lead to much bigger success, like blogging, vlogging, and sales funnels, etc.
I remember AWOL Academy, and thought the price tag was not justified at all. Like you said, MOBE was operating in a similar way and they got shut down.
Lots of people spent big bucks on that program, and so many didn’t even make a few dollars from what they were teaching. I don’t think I’ll be giving Fullstaq a try anytime soon.
I’m guessing it’s the main reason why Awol Academy has been sunsetted – with Fullstaq Marketer taking its place.
Sadly, they’re all the same: AA, Empower Network, Digital Altitude, MOBE, the Super Affiliate Network, etc…
The only ones who REALLY succeed are the ones who can afford $1,000s for the products and take action by investing $1,000s more for tools and traffic methods like Facebook, Google, Bing, and Solo Ads, to name some.
But those who don’t have the funds are pretty screwed. Which is why I lost $1K+ to Empower Network years ago. UGH.