Is Project Breakthrough a scam? Our readers keep asking us about these guys after reading our top ranked High Traffic Academy Review.
Here’s the skinny: High Traffic Academy is the predecessor internet marketing program of the new Project Breakthrough.
Both programs are produced by Vick Strizheus (actually co-producer of Project Breakthrough) who is a serial internet marketing product producer, and known for producing several products that are considered online scams.
As well, he also was convicted of insurance fraud. Speaking of insurance fraud, be careful with American Income Life Insurance, a known pyramid scheme.
One internet training programs in particular that Vick produced, Global Success Club, was shutdown by the police.
Project Breakthrough comes up with the typical slogans that most online scams advertise, phrases like..
“Live life on your own terms…”
“Earn over $100,000 a month…”
When I hear slogans like these, my Spidey Senses immediately go into scam alert mode.
Those are just some of the things that Project Breakthrough promises potential members.
The sales page is full of the usual hype and tries to hook you on a promise and an ideal lifestyle.
But, of course, it doesn’t reveal much information about what the product is all about.
So, if you’re wondering what Project Breakthrough is and if you found yourself wondering, “Is Project Breakthrough a scam?” then this review is for you.
In this review, I’ll take a look at the product, and then we’ll decide if it’s worth our time and if it really can be used to create your ideal lifestyle.
Project Breakthrough Review:
- Name: Project Breakthrough
- Owner: Vick Strizheus and Jacon Mcclain
- Website www.projectbreakthrough.com
- Advertised Price: Free Trial or $297 Monthly
Is Project Breakthrough a Scam?
No, I don’t think Project Breakthrough is a scam.
It’s a video training course that claims it can teach you how to create a full-scale internet business as fast as possible.
In fact, the creators promise that you’ll be seeing cash within 14 days (which is a little unrealistic) and you will never have to work another day in your life (a common hook used to sell these kind of programs).
There’s a free version and a paid version.
The free version doesn’t offer much but lets you poke around and have a look at the member’s area (where there are lots of up-sells).
Of course, there are a few free training videos that you can check out but they aren’t very in-depth.
I should also mention that there are lots of up-sells (more than most), and these up-sells are not your ordinary up-sells.
They’re really expensive, each one is about $177/month and if you choose other up-sells you’ll be looking at a massive monthly bill (I think there are a total of 10 up-sells).
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It’s All About Value:
I like to stay away from these high-ticket products, unless I know without a doubt that it’s not a scam.
Otherwise you risk losing a lot of cash for something that could be found anywhere else for free.
People say that you have to spend money to make money, and though that has some truth to it, there’s no need to spend thousands of dollars to discover what you can find in a few Google searches.
Creating a business online doesn’t require a massive investment, all you really need is hosting, a domain name, proper education and support.
All which shouldn’t cost more than $50/mo. Domains are around $15/year.
I only recommend investing in high-ticket products when you’re already financially stable and, if you lose the cash, it won’t make much of an impact on your life.
Plus the product must provide value – That’s a Must!
Having said that, the first 14 videos are free, and once you’re done consuming those training videos, it’s up to you to decide if you want to continue with the program, in which case, a membership is required.
Once you reach the third video you’ll be asked to sign-up to Elite membership which costs around $297 a month, but that’s optional, and you don’t have to sign-up to continue with the 14 day training material.
What’s Project Breakthrough About?
The main idea is to build a list and create a sales funnel. They provide sales funnel themes and recommend traffic sources.
Know This!
It does involve spending cash on traffic, but the traffic sources are not that expensive. You also don’t have to use their paid traffic.
If you want to use free traffic (Facebook, Twitter, etc) that’s fine too, but they recommend you buy traffic, as it delivers the quickest results.
Basically, it’s all about creating a sales funnel and driving traffic to that system to scale results. It’s not a bad idea nor a new idea, lots of programs recommend creating sales funnels, and it is indeed a solid way to make cash online.
Sales funnels are a great strategy to earn money online, it can be quite effective.
But you don’t need to pay $297/mo to learn how to do this.
The only problem is product creation and some poor advice from Project Breakthrough.
Most of these programs urge people to create products as quickly as possible.
And we all know when people rush a project, the quality is almost always poor at best.
The focus should be on creating a valuable product, not to create a sales page as fast as possible.
When you create something online based on quality – there will be no end to sales.
What I Didn’t Like:
I didn’t like the price. It’s a bit too expensive for the average person, especially someone who doesn’t have much cash and is looking for supplemental income.
I also couldn’t tell if the value is equal to the cost.
I didn’t like the rush factor, there’s a lot pressure and promises that you’ll make money fast.
That you need to go through the training fast (i.e. create product fast, create a funnel fast, etc).
Everything feels rushed…
I think it’s best to let people take their time with training because everyone progresses at different speeds. Not everyone’s marketing knowledge is at the same level.
You have to spend a lot of money on PPC (Pay Per Click).
I noticed there are a few videos dedicated to teach people to find reasonable paid traffic sources.
If you’re already paying $297 + a month, spending more cash on traffic might not be the best idea.
I guess it all depends on your financial situation.
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What I Liked About Project Breakthrough:
I did notice that the 14 day free video training is not bad and does contain some useful information.
It builds a little foundation for you to work with to decide if you want to continue with the training or not.
But, honestly, I don’t think it’s worth the price, and you can get much more value (not to mention direct support from an active community).
Conclusion on Project Breakthrough
Is Project Breakthrough a scam?
Well, not necessarily, but it does charge more than usual for their training material.
It’s created by a guy who’s had a shady past, but I can’t say that the training is totally useless.
I also can’t say that you won’t be able to find the same training elsewhere (even for free).
Most people sign-up to this opportunity for the affiliate program.
Why?
Because it’s a high-ticket item which means the commissions are quite high, in the $100 to $200 per referral range.
Personally, I don’t recommend this system.
What do I recommend?
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Thanks for reading our Project Breakthrough Review, got comments, let’s hear them.
Very helpful review on Project Breakthrough! Although I don’t totally agree with you because I don’t see how can you not categorized it as a scam!
If it’s anything like Vicks four percent “training” I would go as far as calling it a scam. It’s a constant fight on trying to up-sell you stuff!
Also the techniques involved are basically spamming others and paying people to do it for you!
At least that’s how I feel about anything that Vick produces. He is also a hell of a snake tongue, he is really energizing and convincing, but in my experience he doesn’t go beyond that!
Thank you
Nice feedback on our Project Breakthrough review Gian, thanks a bunch.
Hey, thanks for this review on Project Breakthrough. It is amazing that someone would pay this much to go through internet marketing training.
The other thing that gets me is that most of these types of programs are all the same.
Vick is now doing the 4% club which is another type of business that seems to ask for a lot of money. Thanks for this review, it sheds some light on what to look out for.
You bet Ralph, happy to help. Thanks for your feedback on our Project Breakthrough review.
Hello Todd!
I can not quite understand that you see this as a completely legal business when the monthly price is so high.
I know that there is a need for teaching and help if I want to be successful online but both you and I know that it can be done much better and cheaper.
So my question is what is it about this course that makes it worth the money?
Steen
Hi Steen,
That’s pretty much the sum up of our Project Breakthrough review, that it’s not worth the high price tag and there are many more resources to get a solid internet marketing training.
As a matter of fact our Free Internet Marketing training course is loaded with tons of great free resources and info to get started with a proper online education in internet marketing.
Best,
Todd
Thanks for your honest review of the Project BreakThrough. The $297/month cost seems pretty ridiculous. I’ve come to realize there is no easy way to make money online fast. It requires dedication, passion and time. The only thing I would do is give the free videos a viewing but that’s it. I like that you offer a free eCourse. Thank you.
You bet Joey and thanks for your feedback on Project Breakthrough. There’s a lot of good information online that you can get for free.
When you’re starting an online business, you want use the right tools and resources.
The reality is that you can run a full time online business for a couple bucks a day.
I actually broke down the totals in this post.. How long does it take to make money online.
Thanks,
Todd
Hi Todd! I actually found Project Breakthrough in an ad on facebook and I was actually considering whether to join it or not and that’s how I landed on your site!
Anyways, after reading your review, I am really glad I did not join this program as there is another program out there which you recommend. Will definitely try when I have the time and hopefully one day, I’ll be able to make money online!
You’ll do it Fernglow. I know where you’re at and it will get better. It’s hard to works so hard on something without the financial reward in place.
I get it.
It’s hard to deal with and was super tough on me. That’s when you’ve got to take a different approach and look at things.
And here it is…
Do not accept defeat with internet marketing. If you strive to help people and provide quality content regarding your niche, then you should be proud of this.
Take this journey like you’re going to college for a couple of years. The major difference is that when you go to college, you expect to pay a lot, maybe acquire debt, and don’t expect to make money.
This is the same as far as going to school. Except while you learn, you’re also building your online business which does have the ability to make money. As a matter of fact, you should be making consistent income 6 months into internet marketing.
Even sooner if your niche is very specific. After 2 or 4 years, you’ll be amazed at what you’ve accomplished.
You can do it.
HeyyTodd
I have never heard of Project Breakthrough!
Thank goodness you have enlightened me. There are so many scams and people trying to separate a fool and their money, we must be grateful for people like you.
People who truly want to help newbies like myself.
What is a sales funnel by the way?
Hi Marcie,
Thanks for your feedback. An online sales funnel is simply a series of landing pages that cause a person to move forward through the Buying Process to eventually come to a conclusion to purchase a product.
Ever site on this site is a funnel to some degree. We strive to provide as much free helpful content as we can and at the same time, we’re always guiding people to a few select helpful resources that provide value to the customer.
To seek the end result. In our case it’s to create a successful online business that results in a business that works for you, even passively.
That’s it in a nutshell. At least it is for me. The key in internet marketing is to build a brand that helps people within a specific niche.
That’s it. Help people through education to a final result of a helpful product purchased.
Commission Earned!
Hope this helps..
Well honestly Todd, I don’t think much out there ISN’T a scam. Ever since Kyle, Carson and others showed me the real evergreen strategies for actually getting Google and other search engines to love your site…
All the other promises from these “gurus” don’t seem legit to me. Mainly because I’ve learned the truth about how to actually market so when I see these “get rich in 14 day” messages I’m like.. seriously 😐 c’mon guys.
Anyway, thanks for the great info here.
You bet Jaron and thanks for the kind feedback. There is a ton of money to make online, but you are right, there’s no quick push of the button system that works in 14 days.
It takes a bit of time but mostly the focus of creating something of value. A product or service that helps a niche audience is all you need to succeed online.
Cheers,
Todd
RIGHT! AND it’s important to actually enjoy what you’re writing about. Like if I hate apple pie(which I don’t) I wouldn’t blog about how much I enjoy it lol.
Thanks again Todd!
You bet, you’ve got it down.
Great review on Project Breakthrough. I was so close to signing up and spending hundreds of dollars. I’m so glad I read your review. After reading through your site and your Wealthy Affiliate review, I think Wealthy Affiliate is the best training program for me.
Thanks,
Marvin
Cool Marvin, check out the membership options to see which is the right level for you.
See you on the inside!
Todd
Hi Todd,
Vick Strizheus is at it again, with another program that is perhaps not a complete scam but so expensive it makes you wonder who can afford it.
When I was thinking of starting an online business a couple of years ago I came across Vick and the High Traffic Academy. At the time, I remember I thought he seemed quite a genuine sort of chap, luckily I came across Wealthy Affiliate just after so I didn’t go any further with Vick.
But you can certainly understand how he could convince newbies to go with Project Breakthrough.
At least, you get a few videos to watch for free so you may be able to form an idea that it’s not worth the money. Although driving traffic to a sales funnel might be a good way of earning money online, surely they can’t expect people to pay $297 per month.
When it’s possible to find a program that gives excellent internet marketing training, tools and support for under $50 per month why pay this sort of money?
Thanks,
Peter
Hi Peter,
Interesting point of view. Wealthy Affiliate teaches people how to put predominantly niche websites up and each post is a keyword driven sales campaign so to speak. Although as you know, Wealthy Affiliate teaches you to strive to help your niche audience, essentially each post could be thought of as a sales funnel.
With one major exception in comparison with Project Breakthrough. They’re going to encourage you to use PPC campaigns. Which if you’ve ever done PPC, you’ll know that most campaigns don’t convert sales, but the goal is to convert people to opt in to a new letter, then sell them products repeatedly. Which is also a good method that WA teaches.
Wealthy Affiliate teaches you how to rank content for free and it’s very effective. Then as that person comes to your site because you rank using the keywords they search, if your content is good, you convert sales so much easier.
How many of us have gone online looking for a review of some product, chosen the top ranked Google posts, gone on to read about the product, then click a link and go to Amazon to complete the sale?
My hands up. It’s funny, when you explain affiliate marketing like this to people, their like, oh yeah, I’ve done that before. And they instantly get it. Quality content that helps people make a decision is what converts sales.
Thanks for your feedback as always Peter, good to hear from you.
Todd
Hey Todd, thanks for this review of Project Breakthrough.
I haven’t heard of this program before, but I have heard of High Traffic academy and Vick Strizheus. I believe he is, or was a part of Empower Network at one stage?
After reading your review, I am a bit wary of the high cost of Project Breakthrough and it’s upsells. Several hundred dollars a month is extremely expensive, and you would want to be pretty sure that you are getting the value out of it.
You say that it is not necessarily a scam, but I am unconvinced that the price here is worth it. Creating your own products and setting up sales funnels can be very lucrative, but I am sure there are better options out there.
Great review, leaves some food for thought 🙂
~John
Hi John,
I think for beginners, it’s absolutely necessary to get the best education for the best price, and that’s where Wealthy Affiliate steps in.
They’ll teach you how to put up a cool website based on any niche, then learn keyword research to figure out what your niche audience is looking for. Then rank you’re content based on a niche related topic. That’s free traffic, then simply guide that traffic to a helpful product.
It does take some time, but the work I did two years ago is paying me repeatedly today. I can add new products that are beneficial and as I grow my site, I grow my long term passive income.
What makes more sense than that. If Project Breakthrough’s sales funnels convert high and are making people a lot of money, than the education would be worth it. But I don’t have that info presently.
For the myself, I know what I make online daily and am quite happy with the results. If you do want a niche site built for you without putting in the initial time and effort of mostly content, web design, and photos, I do have a new service (created by another WA member) that can save you the time if you’re willing to pay for it.
His name is Dom and his site is Human Proof Designs, he knows SEO and how to put up niche sites fast. Just another good resource for those looking to Project Breakthrough to create an online business. Go with Dom for the fast track, but WA to learn SEO, etc.
Thanks,
Todd
Hi Todd,
From my understanding and being mentored here at WA by some very influential and successful WA members, most if not all programs that promise to give your site traffic through some type of “break-through-never-before-seen” system are nothing but scams.
I commend you as you went ahead and really did research on Project Breakthrough, completely realizing ahead of time that one of the two founders of this company, Vick Strizheus had a history of creating scams and fraudulent online money making schemes.
I fully agree with one of the facts you mentioned in this program – that being the price, ($297/month) should one choose not to get in at the free rate as being incredibly high. And no doubt with “free” unlike WA’s free starter program, Project breakthrough at that $0 price would give a person very little as far as help in building his/her online business.
I also don’t like the idea of so-many “upsells” associated with this company. It’s as if Strizheus and his partner McClain only want to try and empty as much of everyone’s wallets. Who would choose to get involved with this type of program?
The whole idea of “funnel concepts” in order to get traffic to a website are ideals not taught at WA, or endorsed by several people who I trust as being long-time members of WA.
Building a viable online business, done through relevant and highly useful content, proper keyword research is the key to long term success.
In the past I was very naive, not knowing what I was doing working with other online business opportunities taught me some lessons. This was before I joined WA, I got involved with traffic exchanges, buying traffic, and other scam ideas that only ended up costing me money with no positive results.
Although you did not consider this opportunity that you analyzed in your review as actually being a scam, personally I think otherwise and would not touch it with a 20 foot pole!
Thank you for presenting such a well constructed review article of Project Breakthrough Todd.
Sincerely,
Jeff
You bet Jeff, glad you liked our review of Project Breakthrough and your personal feedback about working with Wealthy Affiliate’s training program. I hear you, WA is an awesome program, it’s hard to not think other programs that push up-sells are not scams.
But I don’t think this way about Project Breakthrough, it’s educational based, expensive, and lacks the education needed for success.
Hopefully those looking at Project Breakthrough will find this review and it will lead them to Wealthy Affiliate.
Those out there that are serious about creating a real online business should be exposed to the tools and resources that Wealthy Affiliate provides.
Thanks again for your great feedback, cheers.
Todd
Hi Todd,
Thanks for your detailed review of Project Breakthrough. I also come across this product when I explored different ideas to set up my own online business.
But their price is really too much. I too take classes at Wealthy Affiliate and now I don’t have any interest to look at further training programs.
Now with your review of Project Breakthrough, it’s just reassuring that my decision to use Wealthy Affiliate was a winner, they’re knowledge is awesome and easy to follow to build your own online business.
Thanks so much
Louis
Hi Louis,
That’s great to hear and glad our Project Breakthrough Review helped reassure your decision to go with WA. The Project Breakthrough price is excessive, and once you understand the process of making money online, you’ll realize that the right education is what’s so critical.
That and the support and guidance to help you along the way. Be ready to learn, and apply what you learn. That’s the key to success.
Cheers,
Todd
Hello Todd
I actually seen those videos, well til number 8, and you can learn a bit from them. But as you write in your review it is really a lot of money, so i didn’t go for it.
Maybe I’ll watch the rest of them on a boring day 🙂 I’ve actually got an email from them about one free month or a discount of some kind, but I never read the whole mail.
Thanks for a great review on Project Breakthrough, ver acurate assissment of PB and WA.
Jorunn
Awesome Jorunn, thanks for your personal feedback working with Project Breakthrough and our review. And the price issue is a reality. When you’re first starting to work online, you want to invest in a proper education that’s not going to cost so much that you’ll be out of business before you’re making any online sales.
Thanks,
Todd
I’m sure life will change in just 14 days if I sign up to Project Breakthrough – not mine but Vick Strizheus’s life. I mean, c’mon, $297 per month plus 10 similarly priced upsells? That’s about a frigging $2,000 per month! A few sign ups like that and he’ll be super rich – and I’ll be super poor.
While it’s most certainly possible to earn a living with online marketing, you’ll be bankrupt before you’ll earn a penny with all these subscriptions and payments running.
Great points Matthew. I’d be more skeptical of Project Breakthrough’s co-owner Vick Strizheus’s past life choices and past program reputations before risking a monthly fee of $297.
My online business produces full time income and cost me $2.12/day. I did a breakdown on how long it takes to make money online and you can read about it right here.
I think it gives a good idea to new online marketers or those researching how to make money online a good perspective.
Thanks for your take on PB,
Todd
Wow. $300 a month plus extra money for PPC campaigns and paid traffic. Sounds like a lot to me. Why, I could save up the money to buy a car.
Besides, paid traffic could raise your bounce rates, which as we all know is bad for SEO.
Add to all this the questionable character of the owner and I think I will pass.
My sentiments exactly Ben. That’s a perfect assessment of the Project Breakthrouh training program.
Thanks,
Todd