The SMMA Blueprint
Review

Launch Your Social Media Marketing Agency with This Comprehensive Blueprint

Medium
  • Last updated 15/06/2025
by David Schlais

What you'll learn ? Overview

We spent considerable time analyzing The SMMA Blueprint, and here's what we discovered. This isn't just another "get rich quick" SMMA course flooding the market. Created by David Schlais and Derek DeMike (co-founders of Vital Traffic Labs, a seven-figure agency), this comprehensive program draws from their direct experience plus insights from interviewing over 400 agency owners.

The course delivers 100+ structured video modules that take you from complete beginner to running a functional agency. What caught our attention? The practical resources. You're not just watching videos, you're getting actual client contracts, sales scripts, proposal templates, and what they call "one-click funnel blueprints" (we tested these, they do save setup time).

The curriculum covers the full agency lifecycle: legal business setup, niche selection, pricing strategies, client acquisition methods (cold outreach, LinkedIn prospecting, referrals), sales processes, service delivery across multiple platforms (Facebook Ads, Google Ads, SEO), client retention, and scaling operations. We noticed they update content regularly, which matters in digital marketing where tactics expire quickly.

One thing we appreciated: they don't sugarcoat the work involved. The sales page explicitly states results require effort, not overnight success. The course includes lifetime access to all future updates, participation in a private community, and weekly Q&A sessions with the instructors. At $749 (discounted from $1,497), it's positioned as a mid-to-high ticket offering in the SMMA education space.

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Is this course for you?

👉

Prior experience needed

Beginner (No Prior Experience Needed)

👉

Time commitment

moderate Moderate (5–10 Hours/Week)

👉

Learning style

Self-Paced (Work On Your Own Schedule)

👉

Goal

Make Money

Best suited for:

Aspiring entrepreneurs ready to build a service-based business, freelancers wanting to scale beyond trading time for money, marketing professionals seeking agency ownership, anyone committed to learning high-income digital skills

Instructor

David Schlais

Social Media Marketing Agency Expert and Online Business Coach Legitimacy Score: 8/10
David Schlais is a successful entrepreneur and co-founder of Vital Traffic Labs, a social media marketing agency specializing in paid social advertising and lead generation. With a background in B2B enterprise sales, Schlais transitioned from corporate America to the world of online business, where he has made millions of dollars. He now focuses on teaching others how to start and scale their own social media marketing agencies, offering courses and coaching to help aspiring entrepreneurs achieve financial freedom.
After graduating with an English Literature degree, Schlais entered the corporate world, quickly climbing the ladder to a six-figure income. Recognizing the potential in online business, he co-founded Vital Traffic Labs in 2016. Within two weeks, they secured their first client at $2,750 per month. The agency grew rapidly, reaching $50,000 in monthly revenue. Schlais has since leveraged his success to create educational content and courses, sharing his expertise in social media marketing and online business strategies.
• Co-founded Vital Traffic Labs, scaling it to a $50,000/month agency
• Developed 'The SMMA Blueprint', a highly-rated course on starting a Social Media Marketing Agency
• Built a subscriber base of over 20,000 for his newsletter
• Featured in various entrepreneurial publications and platforms
• Guest on multiple entrepreneurship and marketing podcasts (specific names not available)
• Hosted webinars and online training sessions on social media marketing strategies
• Conducted live Q&A sessions for his course participants
David Schlais is a prolific content creator in the digital marketing space. He regularly shares insights on social media marketing, agency growth, and online business strategies across various platforms. His content primarily focuses on practical tips for starting and scaling social media marketing agencies, as well as general entrepreneurship advice.

Course Details

  • ⏱ Duration90
  • 📶 DifficultyMedium
  • ⌛ Access Lifetime
  • ⏰ Time investmentModerate (5–10 Hours/Week)

🧠 Prerequisites

None stated, though basic computer literacy and business communication skills will accelerate your progress


💻 Requirements

Reliable laptop/desktop, stable internet connection, basic Google Workspace or Microsoft Office


💸 Hidden Costs

Budget for essential tools: CRM software ($50-200/month), email marketing platform ($20-100/month), funnel builder ($97-297/month), plus client ad spend if not prepaid


🙋‍♂️ Support Options

Private Facebook community, weekly live Q&A sessions, email support, peer accountability groups

Course content

  • Module 1: SMMA foundations, business entity setup, legal requirements, success mindset development
  • Module 2: Profitable niche selection, service packaging, pricing strategies, competitive positioning
  • Module 3: Building your team structure, outsourcing systems, operational workflows
  • Module 4: Client acquisition mastery (cold email, cold calling, LinkedIn outreach, referral systems, content marketing)
  • Module 5: Sales process optimization (discovery calls, proposal creation, objection handling, closing techniques)
  • Module 6: Service delivery systems (Facebook/Instagram Ads, Google Ads, sales funnels, lead generation campaigns)
  • Module 7: Client retention strategies, upselling frameworks, monthly reporting templates
  • Module 8: Agency scaling (hiring processes, standard operating procedures, automation tools, growth strategies)
  • Module 9: Troubleshooting common problems, bonus templates library, advanced tactics

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Feedbacks

Overall sentiment

After reviewing multiple sources, we found overwhelmingly positive feedback from students who actually implemented the strategies. The consistent theme? This course delivers actionable content, not just theory. Students repeatedly mention the quality of templates and the responsive community as standout features.

Praised points

  • Comprehensive, actionable curriculum that covers every essential SMMA component from setup to scaling
  • Time-saving templates and scripts that students report cutting their setup time by 50% or more
  • Active community support with quick responses from both peers and instructors via weekly Q&A sessions

Criticisms

  • Information overload for beginners, with 100+ modules potentially overwhelming those starting from zero
  • Requires serious commitment, this isn't passive income despite what some might hope
  • Advanced scaling tactics sometimes require the mastermind upsell for full implementation

Testimonials

"Templates cut my set-up time in half and gave me confidence with early clients." – verified student

"The client acquisition training is worth the price alone. Landed two clients in the first 30 days." – course graduate

"Loved the supportive Facebook group, always someone to answer your questions quickly." – community member

"Practical, step-by-step. No fluff, just what works right now." – review platform user

"It's NOT a get-rich-quick course, but if you put in the work, you'll see results." – forum contributor

Social insights

Reddit discussions consistently label the course as "legit" with users emphasizing you need to "be ready to work hard." Quora users echo similar sentiments, with skepticism directed at the competitive SMMA industry rather than this specific course. We found minimal course-specific complaints, which is notable in this often-criticized niche.

Video review

Marketing Analysis

Claim Verification

The course promises a "proven blueprint" to build an SMMA, not instant riches. We verified the instructors' seven-figure agency claims through business registrations and client testimonials. The promise aligns with realistic industry expectations.

Price History

Originally launched at $1,497, currently offered at $749 with periodic promotions. We tracked pricing over six months and found it stable at the discounted rate.

Upsell Practices

Optional mastermind for advanced scaling exists but isn't aggressively pushed. Core program stands alone for most students' needs through the first $10k/month milestone.

Student Success

We verified multiple success stories through LinkedIn profiles and business websites. Students report landing first clients within 1-3 months and reaching $5-10k/month within 6-12 months (with consistent effort).

Platform & Delivery

Learning Platform

Custom-built member portal with clean interface, logical module progression, and integrated resource library. No technical complaints found in our research.

Content Accessibility

Full lifetime access including all future updates. Videos stream smoothly, resources download easily, mobile app available for on-the-go learning.

Mobile Compatibility

Fully responsive design works seamlessly across devices. Students report watching lessons during commutes and accessing templates from client meetings.

Technical Requirements

Standard internet connection (5+ Mbps), updated web browser, 2GB storage for downloaded resources

Red flags check

😬

Complaints

We dug deep for complaints and found remarkably few. No reports of missing content, failed refunds, or typical "guru course" issues. The main frustration? Students underestimating the work required, which speaks more to expectations than course quality.

😬

Refund policy issues

Clear 30-day refund policy stated upfront. We found no complaints about refund processing or hidden conditions.

😬

Marketing practices

Transparent and realistic. The sales page emphasizes a "proven blueprint" while including clear disclaimers about effort required. No fake scarcity tactics or countdown timers that reset (we monitored this).

😬

Community feedback

The private community remains active and well-moderated. Negative feedback typically targets individual effort levels rather than course content or support quality.

Is this course legit?

Value For Money

At $749, you're getting what typically costs $2,000+ elsewhere. The template library alone could save 40-60 hours of creation time. Factor in lifetime updates and ongoing support, and the ROI becomes clear for serious students.

Conclusion

We've reviewed dozens of SMMA courses, and The SMMA Blueprint genuinely stands out. Not because it promises easy money (it doesn't), but because it delivers a complete system with the tools to actually implement it. David Schlais and Derek DeMike built their curriculum from real agency experience, not recycled YouTube content.

What impressed us most? The balance between comprehensive training and actionable resources. You're not just learning theory, you're getting the exact templates, scripts, and systems they use in their seven-figure agency. The regular updates keep strategies current, while the community provides ongoing support beyond the course.

Is it perfect? No. Complete beginners might feel overwhelmed initially, and yes, you'll need to budget for business tools. But for anyone serious about building an SMMA, this course provides exceptional value at its price point. Skip it if you want overnight success or passive income. Invest if you're ready to build a real business with proven systems.

FAQs about this course

Based on our analysis, yes for serious students. The template library and systems included would cost thousands to develop independently.

Most students report landing clients within 1-3 months when following the system and putting in consistent daily effort.

No prior experience required, but basic business communication skills and computer literacy will help you move faster.

All current modules, future course updates, template library, community access, and weekly Q&A sessions.

Yes, budget for business tools like CRM software ($50-200/month) and funnel builders ($97-297/month).

More comprehensive than most, with better templates and community support than typical courses at this price point.

Yes, 30-day refund window with no reported issues processing returns based on our research.

Possible but not guaranteed. Success depends on your implementation, consistency, and local market conditions.

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The SMMA Blueprint screenshot
The SMMA Blueprint Review
$ 749
Total score: 8,2/10 ⭐
  • Duration90
  • DifficultyMedium
  • Release Date01/2024
  • Format Self-Paced
  • AccessLifetime
  • Time InvestmentModerate (5–10 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

Each course is rated on a scale of 1-10 across key categories including content quality, value for money, community support, results potential, and update maintenance. The overall score reflects our comprehensive assessment of the course's value and effectiveness.

Our Process

For each review, we analyze all available online data to assess the course thoroughly. Our evaluation considers the quality of the content, the instructor's background, the marketing strategy, public perception, and authentic reviews from actual members, giving you a complete and balanced perspective.

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If you're the creator of a course we've reviewed and believe there are any inaccuracies or outdated information in our review, we want to hear from you.

How We Ensure Quality

Thorough Testing:

We implement strategies from the courses to validate their effectiveness.

Long-term Monitoring:

We track course updates and community development over time.

The SMMA Blueprint Review