First impressions of Dan Vas’s Shopify Freedom Course...in a word: underwhelming.
The official site does not even have a logo.
Vas uses the same font to write the course name (or the course logo header) as well as the content.
It's amazing that someone who talks so much about longevity and building a brand isn't doing the basics of Shopify Freedom's landing pages.
Are you being too critical?
It's only that if someone claims to have mastered brand marketing, it would seem like they'd apply some of their expertise to their course site...
C'mon, a logo can be considered branding 101 and I can make one in 20 minutes.
This is just my opinion.
As you can see, I was immediately concerned about this course. I wish I could say that there were no more red flags after that.
But I can't.
Let me explain.
Introduction to Dan
Dan Vas is probably someone you know from his YouTube videos or perhaps you have invested in his Amazon Freedom Course Review . The Amazon course is still getting a lot of attention than the Shopify Freedom Course.
It all began in 2017 with Dan opening his first Amazon eCommerce store. After some failures, and some success, Dan opened his first eCommerce business with Amazon in 2017. In 2018, he launched a dropshipping shop.
The Amazon Freedom Course.
Dan seems to spend a year working on a business model. He then becomes a master (his words), and then creates a course that shares all his newfound knowledge.
( I don't know if you are a savant, but there's not much you can do in a year .... to be considered a "master" in.
Dan claims that he invented dropshipping branding. "
He designed branded stores with fast shipping of 2-3 days and high-quality products.
Sorry bro .... but that's completely absurd.
Dropshipping has been a successful business model for many years. Gymshark, for instance, has been droppingshipping and building their brand using their own packaging and very short shipping times since 2012.
We'll leave all that aside now.
Dan claims he has made a lot. ( I think most of it was on Amazon. I am sure that he made even more money from his courses. But I will still give him the benefit. He feels qualified to teach you the same. Fair enough.
So I set out to find out if he can keep his promises.
I tried to find experiences of people who had taken the course via Reddit, but couldn't find anything. So I did my own research ....
Dan Vas has over 4k followers on his FB Page, and Dan had more than 25k Instagram followers at the end of December 2022.
Dan has a large following on Social Media with accounts on YouTube and Instagram.
Dan has 279k YouTube followers, who keep up with his fast talk.
One of my favorite comments was "Solid information, I watch all my videos at 1.5x speed. Thank you for that.
What can you expect from this course?
9 modules, 75 videos in just over 10 hours.
Shopify Freedom claims that is all it offers:
Unlimited 24/7 Access
True - Unlimited access to the course, private Facebook group and other content.
More than 75 hours of step-by-step video
False - More than 75 videos, not hours.
Complete Training Broken Down Into 10 Modules. This Course Will Show You Everything You Need to Start A Successful 6-7 Figure eCommerce Company
True - However, it is not all you need to " launch a profitable 6-7 figure eCommerce company. There are many factors that will determine your dropshipping success. Start is only one step.
Side Note: My FREE Dropshipping Manual will help you get started. It contains 14 steps. Click the button to view it.
Key Points and Downloadable PDFs Below Every Course Video To Help You As You Go
True -
Full Plan of Action with Expert Mentorship + Guidance
Ehhhh - I am wary of courses that include the word "complete". You might think it is "complete" according to the course instructor, but 3 year college degrees don't count as "complete" either. They can't teach you all and make it 100% foolproof.
- Mentorship and guidance are available from the FB Group.
Unlimited Mentorship with Dan Vas Via his Personal Private Facebook To Ask Any Question You Have About Shopify & Online Business
Ehhhh - You can Google Dan's mentorship and see that many students are unhappy about it. One example of this is when a student asked Dan via FB Messenger a question and got a quick yes/no or a more detailed, but not very informative response.
It's understandable, I admit. But keep in mind that he has thousands of Amazon Freedom Course students who he provides "unlimited mentorship".
Red Flag - I understand that he has many students. But don't let him advertise anything you can't or won't deliver on. It's not cool to sell someone something without the intention of delivering the true value. Dan doesn't offer mentorship one-on-one.
2 hours of bi-weekly LIVE Mentorship Group Calls
True - You have access to the Group calls. As there are hundreds of students on the call, don't expect all your questions to get answered.
Private Facebook Community Access To Ask Questions And Receive Additional Support
True - You can expect feedback and support from other members of the group, but not Dan.
BONUS - Millionaire Mindset Secrets Course Access To A COMPLETE Mindset Training Course With Dan Vas Unreleased Anywhere Else ($2,497 Value).
True - It is not available anywhere else. However, it is in the same vein as Dan's YouTube videos about the subject...
Just an (important) word of caution: When you see "student results" like these, remember that these are SALES figures.
This is the one I am going to try really hard to nail down: Total revenue IS NOT profit.
Dropshippers must subtract all expenses from their income in order to determine how much they get to the end of each day.
We don't know the exact amount these dropshippers paid advertising. They could have suffered losses.
You should ignore people who show you their revenues, but not their expenses, to be safe. This is a sales trick that was used to trap beginners.
We've covered that... Now, let's get to the course breakdown.
Shopify Freedom Course Breakdown
This course includes 9 modules (including the Bonus section), 75 videos, and more than 10 hours of content.
Module 1: Introduction
Module one introduces you to Dan and what to expect in the course. Dan highlights the following things:
Module 2: Intelligent Product Research
Module Two is where Dan explains how to find a product that will last.
Dan gives you practical examples of dropshipping products that have been successful. These examples will give you an idea of what to watch out for. However, you will need to register an LLC in order to sell these products and obtain certain licenses.
He can also show you how much your competitor's store makes and where to find Amazon FBA products. His "mastery" over Amazon was a plus, but I wanted more.
Dan teaches you how to validate your product so it can be sold.
Dan's process reminded me a lot of Anton Kraly Dropship Lifestyle and Scott Hilse Simplified dropshipping methods. So it's not "new".
Module 3: Finding a High-Quality Supplier
Dan will show you how to locate the right supplier(s).
It is important to build a strong relationship with your supplier. Dan has included a Supplier Checklist.
He will also show you how to obtain samples from potential suppliers, so you can verify the quality and delivery.Dan will also discuss payment options and how you can choose your store.
It is essential to find suppliers who have US warehouses. Otherwise, it can take weeks for your products to reach you.
Notice: AliBaba is a resource that deals with manufacturers (not suppliers). They require a minimum order quantity. Dropshipping is not an option. You will need to order the units, then ship them yourself when orders are received.
Module 4: Creating Your Store
Dan shows you how to create your Shopify store in this module. These videos are similar to the ones you will see in many courses about dropshipping.
This information can be found on YouTube, where you can also find it for free.
Dan covers the following - how to get a domain name- building your brand- setting up pages- retargeting and other techniques are covered- setting up shipping.
How to make video ads.
This module featured outstanding training, including how to set up an email campaign and how to deal abandoned carts. Also, product remarketing via SMS was a highlight.
Module 5: Zero to Expert with Facebook Ads
Dan teaches how to set up your FB Ad account. This includes:- Setting up columns and opening the account.- Setting up your FB Pixel. - FB Ad optimization.- Launching a FB Ad. How to set up a retargeting funnel. - Scaling and setting-up Lookalike and Broad Audiences.
How to Save Money on Ads and Killing Ads That Don't Work
Module 6: Facebook Ads
Module Six is where Dan discusses his strategies for scaling your FB ads. This is an important part of your marketing campaign, and Dan does a good job explaining it.
His methods of scaling are what's important, and Dand shares Five different strategies you can use.Dan will give you guidance on how to create the best strategy for you.
Module 7: Elite Influencer Marketing
This module focuses on Influencers. When marketing your product, Influencers can be a powerful tool.
Dan has some great tips. How to find the right influencers. Striking deals without breaking the bank with influential people Social Media setup to maximize your marketing efforts. - Finding and using micro-influencers
Module 8: Store Automation & Scaling to 1M/Year
Module 8 is reserved for those who have been able to make consistent profits and grow their business.
If you find yourself spending too much time on repetitive tasks, such as placing orders for customers, it's time to scale up your business.
Some aspects cannot be automated, so it is necessary to hire a VA (virtual assistant).
Controlling your cash flow is an important part of managing your business. It is important to set up customer service functions in order to grow your business.
However, this should be done right from the beginning and not after you have made some money.
BONUS: Millionaire Mindset Secrets ($2,497)
It is my sincere desire to find out how Dan got to $2,597. It's especially when the success strategies and methods of others are rehashed, like Grant Cardone, Napoleon Hill and others.
This module is basically an extension of Dan's YouTube videos on the same topic.
Dan also suggests the 80% mindset and 20% work principle (The Pareto principle) and the Us vs Them (91%, 1%) principle. These principles can be easily researched and found online for free. This is a great post about these principles.
It is essential to have the right mindset. You won't achieve your goals if you don't visualize them.
Does it make sense?
Dan seems to be living the laptop lifestyle. You can follow him on social media to see his exotic locations, flashy cars, and expensive apartments.
He's now able to afford the money. There is no doubt about it.
It is a good idea to always ask the question, "Where did the money come from?"
Do gurus still make money selling dropshipping products or from dropshipping courses?
The course description:
Is Dan Vas' Shopify Freedom Course worth $497?
This is not the most expensive course. Dropshipping courses offered by gurus cost around $2,000. Ecom Success Academy is my top dropshipping course and costs $2,497. However, it has over 140 hours of content ...)..
The Shopify Freedom Course offers good value for money.
Franklin Hatchett's Ecom Elites is a great budget option at $197. Oberlo 101 has the same content, but costs only $49.97.
The problem with is not the price..it's what you put into it.
Dan is already a speedy runner. He's always running at 1.5x speed. However, the content is not as comprehensive as other courses.
This course is for you if you're just getting started, like Dan Vas once did, and have $500 to spare. However, I would not recommend this course to you if you don't know that there are better courses.
contains my top dropshipping course recommendations.
Dropshipping can sometimes make me $10k per month. It's a side-hustle that is quite lucrative.
Dropshipping is a side-hustle that I will never make a living from.
Because I make more money elsewhere, and it takes less effort.
If you are serious about dropshipping, I recommend that you take a look again at my free guide. If you are looking for the best online business model, then I recommend you read my #1 recommendation before making your final decision.
Review Conclusion
I have already reviewed Shopify Freedom's selling points at the beginning of this review. I won’t repeat them here. Click here if you haven't seen it.
The course's sales blurb looks great. It includes everything, and even covers more than one FB Ads scaling strategy. This course will help you build a long-term brand business.
Although Dan speaks a lot about mentoring I have come across several online forums where students claim Dan doesn't answer their questions as promised. He replies infrequently via Messenger, and sometimes in a vague manner. He also seems to have a tendency to ban members from the group.
I find the course a bit disappointing, particularly since the majority of the content can be found free of charge on YouTube. The $497 price tag is not worth the few tips Dan gives.
What do I like?
What I didn’t like:
Dropshipping is really so amazing?
It was once. It was possible to make lots of money with very little input in 2017.
Dropshipping is still a lucrative business. I would not have spent more than 100 hours creating my Dropshipping Manual if I did not believe so. It is available. It is free BTW. There is no catch. I don't need your email.
Dropshipping in 2022 will be difficult because the market has changed significantly over the past few years. It is amazing how quickly things can change on the internet. Dropshipping isn't the right business model for it to last.
There are far fewer dropshipping success stories than there were three years ago. In the past, there were many dropshippers who could make six figures in one month. But now it is rare for a new dropshipper that can reach five figures within six months or a year.
The dropshipping failure rate stands at a staggering 90%
Reddit has a great thread that explains why dropshippers often fail. Although it's long and has many comments, it's well worth the effort as it provides an insider's view of dropshipping from actual dropshippers.
(The thread from Above Reddit can be found.
It is often because people enter a new business model without researching it thoroughly. You might think that if I take a course, they won't have any mistakes and I will be successful.
It's not that easy, I fear.
It all comes down to your work ethic, determination, and hard work. Dropshipping isn't as simple as it once was. It's going be hard work, long days, and nights, and months of not being profitable, and possibly even in the red before you see the light at end of the tunnel.
Aside from that, it is becoming harder to find dropshippers since 2017. Learning to be a smart marketer is essential to stand out from your competitors.
You must know exactly what it takes to build a brand, run Facebook ads, and know when to scale up, how to retarget, and when.
Dropshipping requires patience. Most of this patience must be directed at yourself. These things are not easy to learn. You will only be able to master some of them if you put in the effort, fail, and persevere through the tough times.
It all starts with experience. This is something that a course cannot teach.
One month, a dropship shop brought in $48k. It sounds amazing, right? Think again You can find out more about it as a case study .
Dropshipping is now a much more lucrative business than it was back in the day. I make about $10k per month, if I'm fortunate.
I put in less effort when I made $48k in one month than I do now. Dropshipping will be more challenging in 2022, which is my opinion.
Dropshipping seems like a dead end...but where to?
.... I have good news!
An alternative is available that allows me to make more income each month than dropshipping.
This online business model consistently makes me more money than in my single most profitable dropshipping months (yes, the $48k).
You can find more details here: I make $50k/month through local lead generation.
This is a completely new concept for you. Here's an example from one of my lead generation sites:
This lead generation site was created years ago. It still receives over 300 calls per month for my client. He is happy to pay $2k each month as long as it continues to do that. Forever...
This business model offers passive income and virtually unlimited opportunities to grow your business.
Start by renting out one lead generation site and ranking it. You then repeat the process until you build an empire.
Although passive income is more lucrative than dropshipping, I prefer lead generation to dropshipping.
For a moment, let's forget all about the earning potential of lead generation.
It's also a great way to get connected with your local community. You can help entrepreneurs grow their businesses, or even start new ones! Do you see the point? This is a life-changing experience that can literally change lives.
You do well when they do well.
If you ask me, we have more need of it now than ever.
It's a better business model than selling useless crap on the internet.
There is no comparison.
There you have it. Local Lead Generation is my number one choice in 2022 and beyond.