Zesty Agency Review (2024): Do Em Lucin & Sam Despo Hold The Key To TikTok Success?

Zesty Agency Review

We all need a bit of excitement in life, a bit of magic, a bit of zest.

That’s the philosophy of the guys at the Zesty Agency. Firm believers in the power of TikTok, the Zesty Agency crew are on hand to supercharge your business’s social media marketing strategies.

But you’ve probably got a few questions here.

  • Is Zesty Agency the right choice for making money through TikTok and social channels?
  • Can just anyone make this kind of business model work?
  • Is TikTok even worth bothering with these days, as an outright ban becomes increasingly likely?

I’m going to be answering all these questions and more as part of my Zesty Agency review.

So let’s get straight into it and find out exactly what we’re working with here…

Training Curriculum
Mentorship
Community

Average Rating

3.33

These guys provide very good training, and you'll learn a lot about handling a TikTok launch and getting the most out of the features. The mentoring also looks excellent, though it's a bit expensive. Users also seem to be responding well to the community.

Pros

  • There's great content from an enthusiastic team, which may excite you.
  • The team has a strong track record in marketing, so you can believe in what they say.
  • Lots of their students seem happy, so you might feel confident enough to join them.

Cons

  • It's very TikTok-heavy, which is worrying with all the uncertainty around the business model.
  • Individual coaching is quite expensive, and some people may feel priced out.
  • Social media marketing will not make you money alone, and some students might be left wanting more.

TLDR – Is The Zesty Agency The Right Call For Digital Marketing Success?

Is The Zesty Agency The Right Call For Digital Marketing Success

The Zesty Agency are riding one of the biggest social media waves going right now – TikTok.

Basically, if there’s anyone who knows how to handle TikTok SEO, create content ideas, and develop winning TikTok strategies, it’s these guys.

And they’ve put together the Zesty Agency to pass on this knowledge and capability to their students.

I’ve got to say, I’m very impressed with what they’ve created here. They’ve got comprehensive courses, a selection of one-off masterclasses, and one-to-one coaching to really help students excel as TikTok creators and marketers.

With so many resources available, and with an obvious commitment to student support and success, I think lots of people are going to enjoy this program. It’s got basically everything you need…

as long as what you need is TikTok.

TikTok’s Shaky Foundations…

The Zesty Agency

The only real fault I can find with these guys is their focus on TikTok. Yes, TikTok is fun and exciting, and for sure there is lots of money to be made here. If there wasn’t, you wouldn’t get so many brand partnerships and influencer projects on the platform.

My big worry is that it’s based on the shakiest of foundations. From late 2023 into 2024, TikTok removed more than 5 million ads from their platform.

Whether these ads were selling the wrong thing, picking up bad feedback, or just generally breaching TikTok guidelines, I don’t know. But what I do know is someone paid to create and publish them… and they ain’t there anymore.

For an organization just to cull so much of the ad content is was hosting is pretty wild. But it could be about to get wilder…

The TikTok security situation is getting serious now. It looks like the service is going to be banned altogether in the USA, unless it detaches from its Chinese parent company.

I don’t know if this is actually going to happen, but it doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence. I’d at least hang back and wait until you know what’s going on with the industry before I made any big decision on the program like this…

… Or, I’d Check Out An Alternative.

I much prefer something with more real stability… something like Digital Leasing.

Digital Leasing is all about local lead generation. You build a simple but effective website, and you start driving traffic to your local niche.

Then, you lease the website out to local business clients. They get the amazing leads they need to survive. And you get reliable monthly income, up to $2k or even more across as many websites as you want to run.

What makes this so reliable? Two things…

  1. You own the website and all your pages… you’re not building your business on someone else’s platform.
  2. Business owners really need your leads… you’re not dealing with the uncertainty of TikTok marketing, because your local business clients will always need your lead gen services.

For me, local lead generation and the Digital Leasing were real gamechangers.

To find out what Digital Leasing can do for you, check out this video…

AreaScoreDescription
Time Investment2.6 out of 5 starsIt really depends. If you get TikTok marketing right, you might shoot a video and launch it and get on with your day. Get it wrong… and you’ll be working hard for nothing. 
Level of Control0.5 out of 5 starsControl is very lacking here. It always is with social media marketing, but especially with TikTok. If the platform ends up getting banned in the USA, you’ll need to find another way to promote your products.
Ease of Implementation2.9 out of 5 starsI think the Zesty Agency team do a superb job of making these methods easy to implement. However, one of the reasons they do such a good job is that they are amazing at it. Many other people might not find it so simple.
Profit Potential1.5 out of 5 starsHave you seen how many people are promoting products on TikTok? You’ll need to be better than an awful lot of people just to make any money at all. And if that ban does come in… any money you do make is going to evaporate.

Who Can Benefit From The Zesty Agency… And Who Won’t?

Who Can Benefit From The Zesty Agency... And Who Won't

Who is this really for?

You Might Benefit From This, If…

  • You already have a product or service to promote.
  • You love the TikTok and social media model.
  • You’re really impressed with what the Zesty team has achieved.

You Probably Won’t Benefit, If…

  • You’re looking for a more complete business model.
  • You want more control over your business strategy.
  • You’re worried about possible TikTok bans.

Explore my detailed listing of the best Social Media Marketing Courses & Gurus for additional recommendations.

The Zesty Agency – Your 1,000 FT View

The Zesty Agency – Your 1,000 FT View

To really get to know all about a program, sometimes you’ve got to take a bit of a step back. And that’s exactly what we’re going to be doing right now…

The Business Model: Social Media Marketing

The Zesty Agency business model is social media marketing. In particularly, these guys are focusing on one of the hottest social media platforms around these days.

Whether you find TikTok pretty bewildering, or if you can’t get enough of it, I’m sure you’re aware just how popular this platform is. I’m sure you’re also aware of the money making potential over here.

The team at Zesty certainly seem to be well aware. But consider these key aspects before you dive in.

1. It’s believed that around 10 million TikTok videos are uploaded every single day. So you’ve got a lot of competition in your fight get noticed.

2. In the fourth quarter of 2023, TikTok removed an incredible 4.9 million ads from its platform due to violations… then removed another 1.4 million ads the next quarter. TikTok has a habit of doing this, and there’s very little control here for entrepreneurs. 

3. And if that wasn’t bad enough, there’s a real possibility of a nationwide TikTok ban in the USA in the near future. If this happens, it won’t matter how much you toe the line with your ads.

How Much Does Zesty Agency Cost?

You need to know the Zesty Agency cost before you can decide whether it’s good value or not. So let’s take a look…

  • The 1:1 Coaching is AUD$347(USD$229) a week, and you can cancel at any time…
weekly price
  • The Membership (including the TikTok Marketing Bootcamp and the TikTok Marketing Community) is AUD$999 for one-off lifetime access, or AUD$199 per month (cancel any time).
one time joining price
  • Masterclass #1 is AUD$129 (USD$85)
  • Masterclass #2 is AUD$149 (USD$98)
  • Masterclass #3 is AUD$159 (USD$105)

One thing to keep in mind with this one is GST… goods and services tax. You might end up paying a bit more than the advertised price just because of how Australian prices work.

Who Are The Zesty Team – Introducing Em Lucin, Sam Despo, and Georgia Davies

Em Lucin, Sam Despo and Georgia Davies are the guys behind the Zesty Agency, but who are they exactly?

Em Lucin

Em Lucin is originally from Westmeadows in Victoria, Australia. Sport and fitness are two of her passions, and she’s actually worked as a fitness coach and lifeguard in the past. She also has certification from the Victorian Fitness Academy, as well as a diploma from the William Angliss Institute.

Since 2018, however, she’s been making big money in ecommerce. After four years of success in this market, she founded Zesty Agency with Sam Despo and Georgia Davies.

Sam Despo

Sam comes from Melbourne, and is a graduate of a business degree at Monash University. He also studied advertising with Coles Group and has more than a decade of experience in marketing.

As well as founding Zesty Agency, Sam also had success with the Pulp Digital Agency.

Georgia Davies

The third co-founder is Georgia Davies, an experienced marketing professional also from Melbourne. She studied at York College and Shaw Academy, and has made a name for herself in marketing consultancy.

Is There A Zesty Agency Scam Going On Here?

Nothing about this is saying “Zesty Agency scam” at all. I’d say the agency and their programs are all fully legit.

The three co-founders and the team all seem like a great bunch of human beings. Everything you can expect is clearly laid out, and this is exactly what you’ll receive.

So no scam here… if you’re dead-set on the TikTok marketing model, you might want to give this a whirl.

My Personal Opinion On The Zesty Agency

my opinion

Here’s my personal opinion on Zesty Agency…

I’m a fan of these guys. There’s a real love of life and possibility with the whole team, and I’m sure that’s going to rub off on everyone who signs up.

The Zesty team give you great information on content pillars and brand development on social media. Their one-on-one coaching is a little expensive, but I’m sure you’ll get some decent insight on creating content as well as on website building and web design.

But it just feels a little bit too TikTok heavy for me. I’m always concerned about any program that puts all its eggs in the social media basket. There’s just so much that can go wrong.

And when we’re talking about TikTok, with a nationwide ban hanging over it, it all feels a bit less like “could it all come crashing down?”… and more like… “when..?”

This is why I actually prefer something a bit more stable.

And that something is local lead generation and Digital Leasing.

With Digital Leasing, you’ve got control. You own the site, you own all the assets… you even own the telephone number and email address you send your leads to.

You’re not constantly worrying that your social media account is going to get blocked, or that the whole platform is going to just disappear.

You’re also gaining a directly profitable set of skills. TikTok marketing has certainly worked for some people, but it’s not going to make money all by itself. You still need a product, service or business to promote.

Digital Leasing gives you what you need to start driving awesome leads to your local business partners… leads that are going to make a real difference to real people.

Does this sound like something you’d like to get involved with?

Hit the link to begin your Digital Leasing journey right now…

What’s Inside The Zesty Agency Course Content?

The Zesty Agency

Let’s find out what’s inside the Zesty Agency’s course content…

The TrainingThe ContentWhat’s It All About?
TikTok Marketing BootcampModule #1 – TikTok Is A MUST For BrandsWhy it’s important to use TikTok
What brands tend to do wrong on TikTok
How to get TikTok marketing right
How to make money on TikTok
Module #2 – Account Set-up SECRETSHow to find your niche
Weighing up brand (creator) against (creator) brand
Getting account setup right
Choosing the face to front your channel
Module #3 – Ultimate TikTok How-to GuideGetting into the mindset of a creator
How the algorithm actually works
Using the most important metrics to go viral
Choosing sounds and music for your videos
Selecting the right descriptions and hashtags
How to use analytics
How often to post
When to post
Getting famous with videos
Making sure your community is engaged
Getting the length right
Repurposing content
How to plan and schedule content
The tools to use in filming and editing
Module #4 – Strategies That Feel Illegal To KnowWhat are content pillars
Choosing your own content pillars
Identifying the perfect niche
Module #5 – Our Secret Source To Blowing UpIntroducing the Zesty Secret Sauce
Learning a million dollar TikTok strategy
Building an evergreen strategy
Launching your campaigns and new content
Module #6 – Creating High Performing ContentFinding content ideas
Structuring your videos
Hooking your viewers
Scripting and filming videos
Using trending and controversial topics
Creating a series of videos
Building tension and suspense
How to capitalize on a viral video
Module #7 – TikTok SEO Is A Must Understanding TikTok SEO
Getting the best out of TikTok SEO
Module #8 – The Content Creator HandhookThe benefits of user generated content
How to work with different content creators
How to hire other content creators
How much content creators usually charge on TikTok
Why reposting creator content doesn’t work
The 1:1 CoachingWeekly Coaching CallsEvery week, you’ll get direct coaching from the Zesty Agency’s own TikTok strategist.
You’ll chat about this for 45 minutes, gaining the insight you need to move forward with your own strategy.
Reviews and AnalysisThe Zesty Agency team give you a useful TikTok audit as soon as you sign up.
This is crucial for understanding what you’ve been doing right, and… even more importantly… what you need to improve.
Community Building and Viral Content StrategiesThe guys at Zesty are very, very keen on communities and viral content, describing them as “the building blocks to success”.
This is where the Zesty “Secret Sauce”, they believe, can make all the difference.
Insights Lead Review And FeedbackAfter the audit, the Zesty team now want to go deeper.
You’ll get profound insights into your strategy, so you can really push the boundaries of what’s possible with your content.
Ongoing Content Hook and Script IdeationA big part of the coaching is focused on coming up with ideas, and then developing those ideas.
You’ll benefit from frameworks and hooks that align to your specific business objectives.
Bespoke Coaching According To Your NeedsFinally, the Zesty Agency pledge to offer unique and tailored support to all of their users.
They promise to approach all of their clients in an individual way, so that each set of coaching services is unique.
The Masterclass #1Secrets To SuccessThis is billed as the ultimate “how to” guide for TikTok. The masterclass covers…
Secrets to growing a TikTok business and the ideal objectives
Weighing up Instagram and TikTok and avoiding key mistakes
Building view and follower counts
Getting the setup right for your profile
Posting at the right time and in the right way
Understanding the algorithm and building your content around it
Learning the secrets of top TikTok creators
The Masterclass #2Create Content Like A ProThis masterclass is focused on viral content, helping users to plan, film and execute viral videos. You’ll learn…
Using storytelling techniques
Getting more confident in front of the camera
Achieving a constant flow of content ideas
Writing great video scripts for maximum impact
Overcoming the scrolling urge by hooking the user
Looking at how the experts do TikTok voiceovers
Creating and editing an entire video
Choosing the best content creation tools 
The Masterclass #3Million Dollar TikTok StrategyMasterclass #3 is all about turning TikTok content into sales. It covers…
Growing leads and selling out launch nights, the Zesty way.
Learning all about the Zesty Secret Source, which is the agency’s funnel
Reaching your target audience
Scheduling your posts and creating a checklist for publishing
Understanding what makes the best pieces of content go viral
Doing TikTok search engine optimization the right way
Translating TikTok engagement into actual sales.

My Zesty Agency Review – The Conclusion

It’s time to bring the curtain down on my Zesty Agency review…

I’d say it’s great… my one big worry is just how stable TikTok really is these days. You might end up finding all your hard work comes to nothing if the platform gets banned.

So, unless you’re already on that social media hype and you’re in love with the process, I can’t recommend this one. Instead, check out my #1 pick for making money online in 2024.

I also have reviews on two other courses.

My Instagram Hacks University review covers a quick-paced training with a focus on community, featuring exclusive mastermind chat sessions and a private Facebook group, though mentoring is limited.

Additionally, see my Wojo Media reviews, which highlight a minimal training approach, focusing mainly on providing a done-for-you social media ads service, with little emphasis on mentoring or community support.

What Is My Top Recommendation For Making Money Online In 2024? 

Recommendation

Back in the day, I was lucky enough to make a bit of money with Amazon FBA, dropshipping, affiliate marketing… that kind of thing.

But it just wasn’t sustainable… any good days were followed swiftly by long periods of loss.

Then I found something way better… Digital Leasing.

With the Digital Leasing approach, I was able to build a local lead generation site and start firing great leads to businesses in my local niche.

I leased the site out, and started getting a solid income, every single month.

Here’s what makes this so special…

  1. It’s Almost Passive Income: Once my sites were set up, I found I was spending less than an hour a day keeping my business running. The rest of my time was my own.
  2. Making A Massive Difference: The leads I was sending to my partners were keeping their businesses afloat. Digital Leasing makes a genuine difference to real people.
  3. It’s Simple To Scale: Adding two, three, or even more sites is easy. You just use the Digital Leasing methods you already learned. And you’re scaling sustainably… not using something like TikTok that could just disappear at any time.

Click the link right here and get started with Digital Leasing today!

Elijah Olivas
Founder | 9 To 5 Renegade

Hey, I'm Elijah! I ditched the typical 9-to-5 after realizing it wasn't for me. Once I graduated, I launched a garage door and fence business but struggled to attract customers. That changed with a local marketing course, which skyrocketed my business.

Now, I run Digital Shortcuts, sharing insights about life-altering courses. It's about carving your own path and discovering what truly changes your life. Join me in exploring these unique journeys and turning entrepreneurial dreams into reality.

Learn more about my #1 opportunity here.