Maker Ads Guide
Review

The Last Facebook Ads Course You'll Ever Need To Make Profit For Your Maker Business

Medium
  • Last updated 14/06/2025
by Nico Jeannen

What you'll learn ? Overview

We discovered Maker Ads Guide positions itself as the definitive Facebook Ads playbook for indie makers, SaaS founders, and creative entrepreneurs. Created by Nico Jeannen (who managed over $1M in ad spend and sold two startups for a combined $265,000), this course caught our attention for its laser focus on practical results over theory.

After reviewing the curriculum, we found it covers the entire Facebook Ads journey, from setting up your Business Manager to scaling profitable campaigns. The course includes 33 video lessons that walk through account setup, audience targeting, creative design, campaign structure, and optimization strategies. What sets it apart? The inclusion of 100+ tested ad templates that students can adapt directly, potentially saving weeks of trial and error.

Here's what surprised us: while most Facebook Ads courses target general e-commerce or agencies, this one specifically addresses the unique challenges of software makers and creative entrepreneurs. The material focuses on acquiring users for apps, SaaS products, and digital tools, which explains why testimonials frequently mention rapid user acquisition (some students report gaining subscribers within their first week).

We noticed the course changed ownership in November 2023, with Amy Penellum (former ads strategist at Loom, Hotjar, and Klaviyo) taking over from Nico. However, the sales page still prominently features Nico, which could confuse buyers about who's actually running the show. Despite this transparency issue, the core content appears intact and continues to deliver value based on recent feedback we've analyzed.

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Is this course for you?

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Prior experience needed

Beginner (No Prior Experience Needed)

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Time commitment

light Light (1–5 Hours/Week)

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Learning style

Self-Paced (Work On Your Own Schedule)

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Goal

Make Money

Best suited for:

Perfect for indie makers, SaaS founders, app developers, and creative entrepreneurs who need to acquire users quickly without hiring an agency. Also ideal for bootstrapped startups looking to validate product-market fit through paid acquisition.

Instructor

Nico Jeannen

Indie SaaS Founder and Self-Taught Developer Legitimacy Score: 9/10
With a career that pivoted from e-commerce and digital marketing to indie software entrepreneurship, Nico Jeannen is recognized for building and selling two startups for a combined $265,000 between 2022 and 2024. He is particularly known for his transparent documentation of the indie hacking journey, candidly sharing both failures and successes to inspire others entering the SaaS and maker spaces. His expertise spans marketing, rapid prototyping, and product validation, with an emphasis on learning by doing and iterative business building.
Jeannen’s professional milestones include managing over $1 million in advertising spend as a freelancer before teaching himself to code in 2022. He launched 17 apps in a single year, quickly iterating and validating business ideas. Notably, he built and exited two SaaS startups: TalkNotes, which reached $5,000 in monthly recurring revenue and was sold for $200,000, and an AI startup that was created in 48 hours and sold for $65,000. His story is often cited as a modern example of rapid digital entrepreneurship.
  • Built and sold two startups for a total of $265,000 between 2022 and 2024
  • Managed $1 million+ in ad spend as a freelancer
  • Developed 17 software applications in 12 months
  • Sold TalkNotes.io for $200,000 after less than a year of operation
  • Created and sold an AI startup for $65,000 within three months
- Featured on the 'Do You Even Hustle' podcast (Episode 72: How A School Drop Out Created A Software Company From Scratch) - Interviewed by FlipMySite on his coding and SaaS journey - Appeared on YouTube in 'He Made $65,000 in Just 48 Hours (Nico Jeannen's Story)' - Profiled by A Better Lemonade Stand on Instagram for his rapid AI startup exit
Frequently shares detailed breakdowns of startup launches, exits, and lessons learned via his personal blog and Twitter. His YouTube channel features behind-the-scenes insights into building SaaS products, while interviews and podcast appearances highlight his entrepreneurial philosophy. Engagement is consistent, with updates tied to major product milestones and indie maker trends.

Course Details

  • ⏱ Duration7
  • πŸ“Ά DifficultyMedium
  • βŒ› Access Lifetime
  • ⏰ Time investmentLight (1–5 Hours/Week)

🧠 Prerequisites

No Facebook Ads experience required, but you should have a working product, app, or MVP ready to promote


πŸ’» Requirements

Computer with internet access, Facebook account, Business Manager setup


πŸ’Έ Hidden Costs

Facebook ad spend budget (minimum $5-10/day recommended for testing), no additional software required


πŸ™‹β€β™‚οΈ Support Options

Email support, private community access (activity level under new ownership unclear), Ad Roasting service available separately

Course content

  • Module 1: Facebook Ads Fundamentals - How Facebook Ads work for makers, Business Manager setup, Facebook Pixel installation, adapting to iOS14+ changes
  • Module 2: Audience Mastery - Custom audiences from website visitors and email lists, lookalike audiences for expansion, interest-based targeting strategies, optimal audience sizing
  • Module 3: Creative Development - Ad copywriting formulas that convert, designing visuals without design skills, testing creative variations, navigating ad policies
  • Module 4: Campaign Architecture - Choosing objectives (conversions, traffic, engagement), budget strategies (CBO vs ABO), ad set structuring, step-by-step campaign setup
  • Module 5: Scaling & Optimization - Key metrics analysis, scaling successful campaigns, troubleshooting low performance, retargeting strategies
  • Bonus Materials: Nico's Ad Copy Formula, Ad Creative Checklist, Campaign Launch Checklist, ROAS Calculator, 100+ tested ad templates

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Feedbacks

Overall sentiment

We found overwhelmingly positive feedback from indie makers and SaaS founders who've taken the course. Students consistently report getting tangible results quickly, though advanced advertisers find it too basic. The community particularly values the no-nonsense approach and maker-specific focus.

Praised points

  • Actionable from day one, no theoretical padding or filler content
  • Rapid results, several students report gaining paying users within their first week
  • Templates save massive time, pre-tested ad copy and creative frameworks included

Criticisms

  • SaaS-focused examples, less relevant for physical products or general e-commerce
  • No live coaching, purely self-paced with email support only
  • Basic for experienced advertisers, best suited for complete beginners to intermediates

Testimonials

"Super useful course, it really helped me get started with FB ads for my SaaS cliplama.com."

"Nico took over my account, did some magic... 2 months later, +$14,600 revenue for my product." - Marc Lou, founder at Shipfast

"I grew my app to $7500 MRR in 6 months using my own advertising tips and was able to sell my startup for $200k after." - Nico Jeannen (about his own results)

"Nico's the go-to-guy when it comes to social ads. Tons of improvement points from a quick look at my ad account."

"In my first week I was able to land 7 subscriptions for my product."

Social insights

On indie hacker forums and Twitter, we discovered genuine enthusiasm for Nico's teaching style and transparency with real numbers. Reddit discussions confirm students achieve quick wins, though some express skepticism about long-term scalability. The maker community particularly appreciates the focus on bootstrapped businesses rather than venture-funded startups.

Video review

Marketing Analysis

Claim Verification

The headline promises this is "The Last Facebook Ads Course You'll Ever Need." For beginners in the maker space, this holds largely true, the comprehensive curriculum covers everything needed to start and scale initial campaigns. However, calling it the "last" course oversells it, advanced practitioners will eventually need deeper strategies. The profit claim depends entirely on product-market fit and consistent application.

Price History

Originally $197, currently discounted to $119. No evidence of frequent price manipulation or false urgency tactics.

Upsell Practices

The "Ad Roasting" service ($29) offers personalized video feedback on existing campaigns. No aggressive upselling detected, just this single complementary service.

Student Success

Marc Lou reports adding $14,600 in revenue, while Nico himself grew an app to $7,500 MRR before a $200k exit. Several testimonials mention gaining 7+ subscriptions in the first week. These specific results add credibility, though individual outcomes will vary based on product quality and market demand.

Platform & Delivery

Learning Platform

Course hosted on standard platform (likely Gumroad or similar based on Nico's previous products), interface appears clean and functional based on preview screenshots

Content Accessibility

Lifetime access to all 33 videos, downloadable templates and checklists, no mention of content expiration

Mobile Compatibility

Video lessons accessible on mobile devices through standard web browser

Technical Requirements

Basic internet connection for streaming videos, Facebook Business Manager access required for implementation

Red flags check

😬

Complaints

We found no major complaints about content quality or delivery. Students generally receive what's promised. The main issue? The sales page still heavily features original creator Nico Jeannen despite the ownership change to Amy Penellum in November 2023.

😬

Refund policy issues

The main course refund policy isn't clearly stated on the sales page (we only found refund terms for the "Ad Roasting" service). This missing information represents a transparency gap that should concern potential buyers.

😬

Marketing practices

The marketing stays refreshingly grounded, avoiding typical "get rich quick" promises. However, the lack of transparency about current ownership is problematic. While Amy Penellum is mentioned in the footer, casual visitors might assume Nico still runs the course.

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Community feedback

No patterns of negative sentiment or scam accusations surfaced in our research. The testimonials include specific details and real company names, adding credibility. The ownership confusion remains the primary concern across discussions.

Is this course legit?

Value For Money

At $119 (down from $197), we find this course delivers strong value for makers new to Facebook Ads. The 100+ templates alone could save weeks of testing, potentially worth the price. Compared to hiring an agency or wasting budget on ineffective campaigns, the ROI potential is significant for those who apply the lessons consistently.

Conclusion

After thorough analysis, we conclude Maker Ads Guide is a legitimate and valuable resource for its specific target audience. Nico Jeannen's track record (managing $1M+ in ad spend, selling startups for $265k combined) provides real credibility, and student testimonials consistently report quick, tangible results.

The course excels at what it promises: teaching makers and SaaS founders how to run profitable Facebook Ads without the fluff. The practical focus, included templates, and maker-specific examples justify the price point. Students regularly report gaining paying users within their first week, which aligns with the course's promise of rapid results.

However, two concerns prevent a higher legitimacy score. First, the sales page misleadingly features original creator Nico Jeannen despite Amy Penellum taking ownership in November 2023. While Amy brings strong credentials (Loom, Hotjar, Klaviyo experience), this lack of transparency could disappoint buyers expecting Nico's direct involvement. Second, the missing refund policy on the main course creates unnecessary doubt.

For beginners in the maker/SaaS space looking to master Facebook Ads quickly, we recommend this course with a 7.2/10 legitimacy score. Just understand you're buying Amy Penellum's management of Nico's original content, not ongoing access to Nico himself. The core material remains solid and actionable, making it worthwhile despite these transparency issues.

FAQs about this course

The course was created by Nico Jeannen but sold to Amy Penellum in November 2023. Amy now owns and manages it, though the sales page still prominently features Nico.

Primarily yes, the examples and strategies focus heavily on software, apps, and digital products. E-commerce sellers might find it less relevant.

Several students report gaining paying users within the first week, though this depends on your product quality and market fit.

Plan for $5-10/day minimum in Facebook ad spend for testing, so roughly $150-300/month on top of the $119 course fee.

Email support and community access are mentioned, but no live coaching or calls are included at this price point.

Under new ownership since late 2023, the update frequency is unclear. Given Facebook's constant changes, this is worth asking before purchasing.

This course targets beginners to intermediates. If you're already running profitable campaigns, you'll likely find it too basic.

The main course refund policy isn't clearly stated on the website, which is concerning. Only the Ad Roasting service mentions refunds.

Yes, the video content is accessible via mobile browsers, though you'll need a computer for actually setting up campaigns.

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Maker Ads Guide screenshot
Maker Ads Guide Review
$ 119
Total score: 7,6/10 ⭐
  • Duration7
  • DifficultyMedium
  • Release Date01/2023
  • Format Self-Paced
  • AccessLifetime
  • Time InvestmentLight (1–5 Hours/Week)
  • Payment Options One-Time
  • LanguageEnglish
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Our Methodology

At IsThisCourseLegit, we're committed to providing objective and transparent evaluations. Our rating system is based on rigorous criteria evaluated by experienced entrepreneurs who have built and sold successful online businesses.

Our Rating System

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Maker Ads Guide Review