You can easily learn many things by searching websites like YouTube. You can get your information for free most of the time as well, but it’s usually all over the place.
Online learning platforms come in handy at this point. If they can save you a lot of time and help you share good information, they are definitely worth trying.
One example of this kind of platform is Shaw Academy. So if you’re wondering whether or not it’s worth your time, you’ve come to the right place.
In this Shaw Academy honest review, I’ll look at this online learning platform more closely to see if it’s real or a scam.
Alright, so Shaw Academy doesn’t exactly fit into a nice category.
At the end of the day, digital marketing is a… unique way to think about making money.
It’s certainly possible to make money with off-the-wall businesses like this, but unless you’re interested in taking years out of your life to experiment with an unproven business model, I would look elsewhere.
My #1 personal recommendation if we’re talking about starting a fully-online business has got to be the Lead Generation & Ad Agency business models.
There are a handful of programs that teach you the ropes, but my #1 choice that combines both of those business models into one is the Digital Rental Method program
But, if you’re hard-pressed to jump head-first into an off-the-wall business model, let’s continue to my full breakdown of Shaw Academy.
Shaw Academy Overview
- Product Name: Shaw Academy
- Product Type: Learning Platform
- Owners: Adrian Murphy & James Egan
- Price: 1 course costs $45 per month.
- Website: https://www.shawacademy.com/
What Is Shaw Academy?
Adrian Murphy and James Egan released Shaw Academy in 2013. They both live in Dublin.
The portal offers a wide selection of training programs on different topics. You will have access to live training seminars as well as video lessons. At $45 per month, the pricing is a little steep and may be too much for those who are serious about specific training.
However, you will be able to get a free seven-day trial. There is also the option to obtain diploma certification upon completion. The platform is continuously updated, and they currently have close to 50 training programs.
Shaw Academy’s Facebook page has almost 1.3 million likes.
Are Shaw Academy Courses Accredited?
Do you have concerns about Shaw Academy’s accreditation?
Students receive an NFCE-accredited certificate at the end of their training. The Edinburgh Napier University also approves the classes. In addition, the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) has granted them ten credit units.
Shaw Academy is approved by the European Qualifications Framework. So, the diploma programs are similar to ten credit units earned through the following certifications: foundation degree, Associate degree, Higher National Diploma, and Diploma of Higher Education.
Pricing: Is There A Free Trial?
Following a seven-day free trial, you will be required to pay $45 to become a premium member of Shaw Academy. The certificate will cost $59, and the assignment, which costs $49, should help you learn. And, because they’ve been there for a while, I’m hoping that they’ll be better than the pop-up ads you find on Facebook.
The Training
They provide 42 online courses divided into ten categories, all to provide students with skills:
- Business (5 courses)
- Health & Wellness (4 courses)
- Photography (8 courses)
- Finance (4 courses)
- Marketing (5 courses)
- Technology (7 courses)
- Beauty (1 course)
- Design (4 courses)
- Language (1 course)
- Music (2 courses)
They are consistently updating their classes and adding new classes to stay ahead of the curve. You can learn how to build an app, social media marketing, trade stocks, enhance your Photoshop skills, or even play the piano there.
Live webinars with Q&A sessions, assignments, video walkthroughs, and interactive quizzes are all included in each program.
I really like how the training area is laid out; you can easily find your way around, and it looks great.
Each program will have a different number of courses and modules. You can either study through the course at your own pace and develop your skills in your chosen topic, or you can pay an additional fee to take the formal assessment.
Shaw Academy is accredited by the CPD Certification Service. However, it’s not widely known or recognized. This could be a turnoff for others.
Who Is Shaw Academy For?
If you want to earn a well-known qualification, such as a Master’s or Bachelor’s degree, this training platform is not for you.
Shaw Academy is ideal for anyone who wants to learn or develop practical skills in a particular industry, such as digital marketing.
You may have reached a certain level as a program developer by viewing random YouTube videos, but now you’d like to take your skills to the next level. Shaw Academy training will provide you with a well-defined, planned, and targeted learning plan.
The end result?
You develop useful, “sellable” skills and become an authority in your chosen field, which will open a limitless number of opportunities for you in the future.
Is Shaw Academy The Best Learning Platform?
Shaw Academy now has an average rating of 3.5 out of 5 on TrustPilot.com, with 60,140 reviews.
With 85% of participants rating the website “great” or “excellent,” it’s clear that most people are happy with the online training course.
When you upgrade to a premium membership, it looks like you are given a personal learning advisor to help you get the help you need…
On the other hand, several others accuse Shaw Academy of being a scam because they claim their credit cards are charged the money every month without their knowledge.
Here is a complaint from the Better Business Bureau review page that confirms the demand for program cost clarification:
The Pros And Cons Of Shaw Academy
The Pros
1. High Quality Easily Digestible Training
It’s an excellent training program. Instead of simply listening to someone speak or watching them do something, it’s clear that the trainers went above and beyond to make the online classes as practical and interactive as possible.
For instance, most foundation courses run for about an hour with a Q&A session. This question and answer session might help you get more out of your lessons. It usually lasts 15 to 20 minutes.
The modules are broken up into small pieces, and you can choose when to attend live classes to fit your schedule.
2. Seven-Day Free Trial
The free trial time allows you to try out the coaching area and determine whether it is a good fit for you.
The Cons
1. They Should Be More Transparent About Their Prices
I had to look around in the long FAQs section to determine how much the program costs because they didn’t show their full prices upfront. Even after reading all of the terms and conditions, I was still unsure.
It looks like I wasn’t the only one who was confused.
Most of the claims are bill-related concerns, as you’ll see when I go through the member complaints.
Many claim to have been overcharged or didn’t realize they needed to cancel their subscription before the free trial period ends to avoid paying for a month’s worth of membership.
2. Support Seems Somewhat Lacking
It looks like the billing department’s customer service program could use a refresher.
When you run into problems, especially with payment, it’s important to get help and support as soon as possible. Unfortunately, customers’ second most common complaint is that they are either completely ignored or receive a poor response from support staff members.
Shaw Academy Review Update:
Many people have recently reported lots of complaints with the Shaw Academy website. Most of the reviews you’ll find of Shaw Academy won’t tell you this.
Here are just a few examples:
Failure to cancel after the free trial period – If you call them, they will lead you through loops and ask you to check the website for cancellation (which does not work).
There are issues in the paid program that prevent you from rejoining lessons when they occur. However, this can be fixed in the future. Many people have expressed their dissatisfaction with the Shaw Academy platform because of many issues.
However, negative reviews about Shaw Academy’s free trial period aren’t over yet. Some students who signed up for the free seven-day course have reported unauthorized charges on their credit cards.
It could be a glitch or temporary mistake on the site or something else that could be fixed later, but this is how many online scams work. It would be nice if you could sign up without having to give your credit card info.
Some people claim that you can’t cancel your account after the free trial period. If something like this happens to you, call customer service and ask for a refund.
Final Thoughts – Shaw Academy Reviews
My main concern is the lack of transparency regarding the course and administration fees.
It can really break trust, and from what I’ve seen, people who get charged unexpectedly might call them a scam.
Legally, you can say that they should have read the terms and conditions, but we all know that few people actually do.
Shaw Academy should help its consumers by properly stating their prices to know what to expect.
Aside from that, the training is incredibly well thought out and put together. It represents great value for students looking to improve their skills in a particular field at their own pace and time.
The seven-day free trial allows you to look at courses and test out the entire site without spending any money to see if this is right for you.
Although it’s far from perfect, I think Shaw Academy is a reputable online education platform that offers a high-quality education at a reasonable price.
3 Alternatives To Shaw Academy:
1. Udemy – 100,000’S Of Courses
Udemy.com features over 100,000 video courses on almost any subject possible, such as accounting, game programming, animal grooming, and playing poker.
2. Open University – Get Yourself A Recognized Degree
OpenUniversity.edu, one of the pioneers of online learning, offers a wide range of credentials, from diplomas and certificates to postgraduate degrees and honors degrees.
This is the pick for you if you want a proper qualification and the freedom to learn at your own pace.
3. Wealthy Affiliate – How To Build An Online Business
Since 2006, WealthyAffiliate.com has been assisting aspiring business owners in achieving online success. Their video instruction guides you through the process of creating income-generating businesses from the ground up.
You can test out their platform as a starter with free membership and cancel their $49/month Premium subscription at any time.
Are There Any Alternatives To Shaw Academy?
Yes, there are plenty of other business models to choose from if you want to pursue this making money online. Here are just a few:
Is Shaw Academy A Scam?
Time for the million-dollar question: is Shaw Academy actually a scam?
I wouldn’t technically call it a scam, though others might.
It’s technically possible to make money with this program, so in that sense, it isn’t a scam.
What I’m saying is: after buying, someone will in fact send you a login to a website where you can actually view their material. No one is riding off into the sunset with your money, leaving you empty-handed… technically speaking.
But the second, more important question is: is Shaw Academy actually worth the investment?
My honest answer is that for most people out there, probably not.
There are countless other business models that are proven & easily scalable, so why risk it for… not an incredibly huge payoff?
I’d rather have a program with thousands of successful students & plenty of room for others to join.
If you’ve followed my blog for long, you know I recommend a few different programs depending on your skills & goals.
My current top choice is using the Digital Rental Method because you have a proven, systematic path to 6-figures, and you can do it from anywhere you want.
I’ve got friends there posting deals from the middle of the woods in a camper van with their pet pig… kind of cool.
What Is My Top Recommendation For Making Money Online In 2022?
Alright, time for me to get real with my lovely readers for a moment:
I’ve personally tried all of the major online business models:
- I’ve sold fidget spinners through Amazon FBA
- I’ve dropshipped a toilet bowl putting green on Shopify
- I’ve sold women’s health supplements via Clickbank affiliate marketing
And I made money with all of them, so trust me when I say: there is no “perfect” business model.
THAT BEING SAID: I would at least recommend you implement something that is tried and true because I’ve seen TOO MANY people (including friends and family) get burned by stuff like Shaw Academy.
Read Our In Depth Breakdown Of The Top 5 OtherOpp Courses For 2024
They come out of left field with some random idea, make it seem attractive, and then make themselves a quick buck by luring in unsuspecting people.
I’m not saying Shaw Academy itself is a piece of trash; I’m just saying you need to be very, very careful.
This is a big reason why I only recommend proven, tried, and true business models, like Lead Generation & Ad Agencies.
There are a bunch of programs out there that teach you those skills, but my top choice is the Digital Rental Method program.
Why? It has proven leaders with their own 7-figure businesses implementing exactly what they teach you.
I’ve also got over a dozen personal friends there, so I feel comfortable telling you it works.
Their program works whether you’re a complete newbie or have been around the block before but have never had that “big win” to propel you forward.
Here’s why:
1)Time: You can do this if you’ve got a spare hour or two each day. If you want to drop everything and go all-in, you can do this. More time obviously means faster results, but even putting in a few hours per day is enough to see real success.
And because of that flexibility, you don’t need to trade your time for money. Once the income starts, it’s recurring (for the most part).
That means you can take a month off, travel the country, pursue a passion project, chill on the beach, or charter a boat across the world.
But you can only do that once you’ve created an income stream that doesn’t require YOU to be there all day, every day.
2)Big Margins: With most businesses, you’re often going to have really slim margins. That means you need to hit a serious scale to make serious money.
using the Digital Rental Method, your profit margin is nearly 100%. Watch here to learn how.
Just a reminder: these Digital Rental Properties are worth (at a minimum) $500/mo in semi-passive income. And each time you create another one, your income increases, and the effort put into creating the next property decreases.
Best-case scenario, you have properties bringing in over $3,000+/mo on “auto-pilot.”
3)It’s Effectively Copy-Paste: Here’s my favorite part: once you have your first Digital Rental Property up, you can literally copy-paste another version of it and find another willing “renter” in a few days. DOUBLING your income doesn’t get much easier than that…
If you want to double your income with digital marketing, you need to build sales funnels, landing pages, and websites to sell online. And I can guarantee you it’s a lot harder than a few clicks & a phone call.
4)You’re Helping REAL People: My biggest gripe with digital marketing is that you’re basically only helping yourself.
But With the Digital Rental Method, you’re helping solve REAL problems that people are ASKING for help with:
Small local businesses around the world need one thing: customers. Without them, their business would fall apart. If you can provide those customers, they’re going to be really happy – and they’re going to pay you for it.
You’re helping a struggling mother or father put food on the table for their families, put their kids through college, or simply live life a little bit more comfortably.
Having this type of impact on the world is what will help you sleep soundly at night.
So, the rest is up to you. You could keep looking at other off-the-wall business models like Shaw Academy and maybe hit it big one day.
You could keep researching and researching for the next few months (or few years), never making a concrete decision.
OR, you can look deep inside, think about those dreams, hopes, & desires, and make the decision to ACTUALLY make it happen, just like it has for thousands of other students before you.
Making a fortune while actually helping real people that need it.
If this sounds like you, click here to see how it all works.
