Dave Nick’s Automation Systems Review – 12 YouTube Automation Tools For Beginners + A Faceless Alternative

Dave Nick’s Automation Systems is an online course that teaches 58 lessons focused primarily on YouTube automation and channel growth. It also includes tactics to maximize your revenue and Dave’s blueprint for getting 14M visitors to your offers. Dave Nick says he’s the real deal in YouTube traffic generation, where he has garnered more than 54M views on his main channel.
People from YouTube and Reddit have mixed opinions about Dave Nick and his courses. There have been claims that Dave has scammed a few people. One Reddit user expressed dissatisfaction with the course and had to wait months for the refund to arrive. However, Dave Nick does not seem like a total scam. Others still find his teaching valuable and helpful. For example, Youri Hofwegen said that Dave’s strategies cut your learning curve.
In my opinion, as someone who runs my own YouTube channel, Dave Nick’s Automation Systems is like standing in line at Magnolia Bakery in New York City. Everyone wants their famous banana pudding, but the line’s so long you might never get a taste. That’s what YouTube automation feels like now. You never really know if the YouTube algorithm will give you traffic or turn off the spotlight. Plus, the growing AI market has led to overcrowding. This makes your chances of getting high views (and high revenue) even lower. You could be generating endless videos and spending money on them, but not get anything in return.
In this Automation Systems review, I look at its pros and cons, content, and inclusions. I also cover Dave’s story from a 13-year-old YouTuber to a multi-millionaire. Also included in the discussion is the profitability of YouTube and YouTube automation. Lastly, I recommend a more secure business model, called local lead generation, that generates monthly income.
What Are Automation Systems Pros and Cons?
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The Automation Systems course is a comprehensive compilation of various traffic strategies. | Dave is not transparent about his student’s results. You can’t find proof that backs up the success of his students. |
| The Automation Systems course also provides alternative ways to earn money from YouTube besides YouTube AdSense. | You cannot find the refund policy on the sales page. You need to go to the Terms of Use page to find the policy. |
| Dave Nick is an expert in generating traffic because he has generated over 54M views on his channel. | The upsell of building a monetized done-for-you channel makes little sense for this course. |
| This course is best for entrepreneurs with an existing product or service offer. |
| Price | The Automation Systems costs $995. It has an upsell of $495 if you want a monetized channel done for you. |
|---|---|
| Training | The Automation Systems training has self-paced training videos. |
| Group | Dave Nick has a private group from Skool called “Online Business Friends” with 8.9k members. |
| Refund Policy | The Automation System refund policy grants a full no-questions-asked refund within thirty (30) days after making a purchase and consuming less than 10% of a course. |
| Origin | The Automation Systems course started in 2022. |
| Reputation | Dave Nick has a mixed reputation online. He appeared on some prominent websites, but he has a few claims of scamming. The claims only revolve around unreturned refunds and content delivered below expectations. He has over 896K subscribers on his Dave Nick channel and 313K subscribers on his Dave Nick Daily YouTube channel. He also has 71.7K subscriber on Instagram. |
What Are the 12 YouTube Automation Tools For Beginners?
| AlphaCTR | An AI graphic designer for creating YouTube thumbnails. |
|---|---|
| Get Magical: | Helps with email outreach, negotiations, and productivity for brand deals. |
| Capcut: | A video editing tool with various effects and auto-caption features. |
| Nexle.io: | A niche finder for researching keywords and trending topics. |
| ytsummary.app: | Summarizes YouTube videos to save time on content research. |
| IsThisChannelMonetized: | Checks if a YouTube channel has monitezation. |
| dfydave.com/monetization: | Instantly monetizes your YouTube channel. |
| Creator ML: | Analyzes video topics and predicts their potential to get views. |
| Thumbnail AI: | Rates your YouTube thumbnails and provides improvement suggestions. |
| Morise.ai: | Automates writing descriptions, titles, and tags for your videos. |
| Magic Thumbnails: | Generates multiple thumbnail variations using stock footage. |
| vidiq.com: | Offers keyword research tools and insights on trending videos. |
What Is Automation Systems?
Automation Systems is a comprehensive program designed by Dave Nick. It aims to help individuals build and scale successful YouTube. It teaches advanced automation techniques and strategies for content creation. The course covers various aspects of YouTube management. This includes channel monetization and affiliate marketing. It also covers print-on-demand strategies, brand deals, and using AI for content creation. The course provides practical guidance on optimizing your YouTube channel’s growth and revenue. It features real-life case studies, action guides, and insider tips.
What’s Included in Automation Systems?
Automation Systems includes 58 comprehensive lectures on traffic generation. Dave calls it the ADR Traffic System. This system generates 120K-160K of warm traffic per month for Dave Nick’s main channel.
He also talks about the 14,700,000+ Visitor Blueprint. This section talks about automating content creation. You will also get more revenue strategies to augment the AdSense income from YouTube. This is through affiliate marketing and providing freelance services. It also teaches brand deals and selling YouTube channels.
Finally, you will also get live 24/7 support. This is helpful when you’re trying to put in place the recommendations and you encounter difficulties.
What is Automation Systems’ Curriculum?
- Welcome To Traffic Automation Systems. The module begins with an introductory video that welcomes participants and outlines the program. It also covers foundational concepts. It guides users in creating a personalized roadmap to success based on proven strategies. A feature called “ReFriday” offers personalized feedback on users’ YouTube ventures. The module concludes with an action guide designed to help users solidify their goals and dreams into actionable plans.
- Claim Your Free Gift! Automation Systems 2.0. To claim your gift, Automation Systems 2.0, you need to unlock the course. Once you have access to the course, you can enjoy the benefits and resources provided.
- Quick Case Study. This case study provides a real-life example of an automation channel generating $400,000 per year. The brief video highlights key strategies and insights that contributed to the channel’s success. It offers practical takeaways for viewers looking to replicate similar results.
- Before We Start - Getting Tech Out Of The Way. This section focuses on overcoming technical hurdles to pave the way for automation. It includes a video on leveraging automation for greater freedom and efficiency. It also covers understanding YouTube’s platform. Including how to create a channel, upload videos, and add titles, tags, and descriptions. The course includes an overview of YouTube Studio’s features and functionalities. This equips users with the skills to manage and optimize their YouTube channels effectively.
- Let’s Start - Setting You Up For Success. This section prepares users for achieving success on YouTube. It begins with an introductory video that sets the stage for the journey ahead. Following this, a detailed exploration of battle-tested niche ideas and examples. It aims to provide inspiration and guidance. The “How To Choose Your Perfect Niche” video introduces the LPM (Lifestyle, Passion, Market) concept. This helps users identify the ideal niche for their channel. The section concludes with an action guide that assists users in writing their LPM and making a final decision on their niche.
- Beat The Algorithm - Knowing What You’re Up Against Is Half The Battle. This module aims to help understand and overcome YouTube’s algorithm. It starts with an overview video that introduces strategies for beating the algorithm. The next video explains the do’s and don’ts of the algorithm, providing crucial insights. Following this, “The Art of Getting Traction” video delves into methods for gaining views and subscribers. It encourages users to observe successful channels in their niche. Then, identify the key factors contributing to their success.
- Content Creation - On the Verge of Innovation & Automation. This comprehensive module delves into advanced content creation strategies. It focuses on innovation and automation. It begins with an introduction to the most important types of content and an overview of content types. The module offers pioneering methods for generating unlimited video ideas. It also explains the Universal Video Framework. It warns against actions that can lead to costly legal issues and provides a complete breakdown of the video creation process. The course extensively covers scriptwriting secrets. This includes free tools and negotiation tactics. It also explains voice-over methods and introduces a powerful video generator tool. It also covers upload and SEO strategies, thumbnail creation, and optimal publishing times. Additional resources include an Upwork job description formula. It is an action guide for creating perfect videos, and a case study on passive income from a single video. The module concludes with a look at revolutionary AI-driven video creation methods.
- Bonus: Leveraging the Power of AI Bots. This bonus section focuses on harnessing AI technology to grow your YouTube business. It begins with an introduction to how AI can enhance your YouTube growth and essential considerations before using AI. The module also covers generating viral video ideas and creating scripts using AI. It also explores AI-driven solutions for voiceovers, video editing, and thumbnails. The module also includes generating descriptions and tags. Each segment provides practical guidance on implementing AI tools. Especially to streamline and optimize various aspects of YouTube content creation.
- [NEW] Secret Ways To Get More Views & Subscribers. This section reveals advanced techniques for increasing views and subscribers on YouTube. It starts with a video on leveraging AI bots to gain actual views. Next is an exploration of secret YouTube settings that can enhance channel performance. The video explains the ‘16:8’ method, a strategy that might double views. Finally, they reveal a simple trick that can boost watch time and attract more views. Each video offers practical tips to help users improve their YouTube channels.
- Bonus #1: Reach a Wider Audience, Get More Views and Aggressively Increase Your Revenue. This bonus section provides strategies to expand your audience and boost revenue. It begins with a video on making videos for a wider audience to increase views and revenue threefold. It is followed by an updated version of this strategy. Additionally, it presents a bonus platform that enables you to publish videos and maximize your earnings. These insights aim to help users broaden their reach and enhance their revenue potential.
- Extra Content: 100,000,000 in 9 months. This extra content features a case study detailing the growth of a YouTube channel to 100 million views in nine months, as of July 2022. The video provides an in-depth look at the strategies and tactics used to achieve this rapid growth. It offers valuable lessons and insights for users aiming to replicate this success in their channels.
- Part I: Rare Channel Monetization Secrets ($600,000/Year Secrets). This part unveils rare monetization strategies to achieve significant revenue. It starts with a module overview outlining the content. It presents two options for channel monetization: the standard approach and an expedited method to get monetized in just one day. Additionally, it includes a tutorial on setting up Google AdSense to ensure proper payment. It also comes with a guide on optimizing YouTube video ad placement to increase revenue by over 500%. The module also provides an action guide document to help put in place these strategies.
- Part II: Making Money (My $1,000,000/Year Blueprint) - Affiliate Marketing. This part of the course details a blueprint for generating $1,000,000 through affiliate marketing. It begins with an overview of the affiliate marketing process. It then explores different offers and provides extensive guidance on where to find profitable offers. The course outlines the best methods to promote these offers. It also includes successful real-life examples to illustrate these strategies. The course provides an action guide to help users implement and follow through with these tactics.
- Part III: Print On Demand + YouTube Automation = Automated Money Machine. This part combines Print-on-Demand (POD) with YouTube automation to create a powerful revenue stream. It begins by explaining how one can monetize POD alongside YouTube automation. The course highlights the best POD platform and how to leverage it effectively. It offers an efficient approach to creating your designs. It also includes downloadable content featuring a free Done-For-You design bundle. The last video details the most effective way to promote your designs using faceless videos. It provides a comprehensive strategy for maximizing earnings through this automated system.
- Part IV: Making Money With Brand Deals - My Private Lessons After Hundreds of Successful Brand Deals. This part focuses on securing and profiting from brand deals. It draws from extensive experience with many successful partnerships. It begins with a video revealing a powerful method to attract brand deals, even with a small channel. Accompanying documents include a brand deal email template to craft effective pitches. It also shares an agreement template to formalize deals and an exclusive list of companies open to collaborations. These resources provide a comprehensive toolkit for monetizing your channel through brand partnerships.
- Revealing The Real Automation Secrets - Achieve Freedom by Working Less, While Making More. This section uncovers advanced automation techniques to maximize efficiency and profitability. It begins with a video sharing true insider automation secrets. It also gives a detailed guide on setting up an automation system using a unique tool. Additionally, it offers a document that provides practical steps to automate content creation. The module helps you streamline your workflow and achieve greater freedom by working less while making more.
- Bonus #2: Make Money By Selling DFY (Done-for-You) YouTube Automation Videos/Service. It talks about how to monetize by offering Done-for-You (DFY) YouTube automation videos and services. It begins with a video explaining the reliable method used by major players to sell DFY YouTube automation services. The second video reveals a little-known trick for acquiring clients for these services. It provides valuable insights and strategies to expand your business in this niche market.
- YouTube Shorts: Fast Track To Millions of Views. This section focuses on leveraging YouTube Shorts to increase views and engagement. It starts with an introduction to YouTube Shorts and their potential, followed by strategies to go viral using Shorts. The video details the creation process of YouTube Shorts. The section concludes by uncovering the best methods to monetize YouTube Shorts.
- The $10,000,000 Key. This upcoming module will reveal critical strategies to unlock significant revenue potential. It aims for the impressive milestone of $10,000,000.
Who Is Automation Systems For?
Automation Systems is for established entrepreneurs with a strong product or offer. The focus of the course is on bringing traffic to your website or offer. If you don’t have an offer in place, you will get no benefit from the course. This is because you need to figure this out first before learning more ways to generate traffic. In short, this is not for beginners.
While you can use the lessons to bring traffic to your YouTube channel, if you don’t have an offer, you will only get revenue from YouTube Adsense. Which, according to Dave, is not the best way to make money with the YouTube Automation method.
Who Is Dave Nick?
Dave Nick, also known as Dejan Nikolic, is a popular Serbian YouTuber. He is also a digital marketing expert, online business coach, entrepreneur, and course creator. He is a Gen Z entrepreneur born on October 29, 2001. Dave started working at 13 to support his financially struggling family. Dave began his YouTube career with a compilation of several educational YouTube channels. He operates many YouTube channels, and he established his main channel on September 7th, 2015. He has gathered over 800,000 subscribers and has accumulated over 54 million views. His estimated net worth is $12,680,000.
He also has an online learning platform called OnlineBusinessAcademy.com. This is where all his courses are available. He received two Golden Play Buttons from YouTube for 1,000,000+ subscribers and multiple Silver Play Buttons for 100,000+ subscribers. He claimed that his Automation Systems course enrolled over 2,500 students and was the Best Selling YouTube Course of 2022.
Dave has launched multiple courses, however, they don’t seem to last very long. You will notice a couple of reviews and press releases on programs that he launched before that are no longer available.
What’s impressive about Dave is he started early at 13 years old. He is only 22 years old and has already become a millionaire, with the potential to earn even more quickly. He received media coverage from outlets such as Daily Caller, Flaunt, the New York Times, American Daily Post, and Yahoo.
Is Dave Nick a Scammer?
No, Dave Nick is not a scammer, but we have seen complaints for a different product - DFY Dave. He’s been called out in the YouTube Automation subreddit by user Spirited_Mango9440 for not delivering on the promise of a monetized channel. Dave’s support team refused to provide a refund to the user. However, the user could finally get a refund after filing a dispute with PayPal, but it took months to get the money back.


Daniel Umeh is a content creator who runs the YouTube channel Daniels Hustle. He claims that a course he bought from Dave Nick called Unique YouTube Method is trash. It’s trash because of one tip that Dave Nick gave to get a channel monetized quickly. He tells students to create an hour-long video of them randomly doing stuff. You don’t need to talk, just record yourself for 1 hour. Then post that video inside the private Facebook group that supposedly has thousands of members. But the group is not active. So the tip makes no sense because it doesn’t build an audience and no one will waste their time watching an hour-long video that has no benefit to them.

I don’t think these complaints make Dave Nick a scammer, but it puts him and his courses in a bad light. I have yet to find a student thanking Dave Nick publicly. This is a concern because, without social proof from former students, that can cast doubt on the effectiveness of the course. However, on his website, you can find a lot of positive reviews about Dave and his course. For instance, Incognito Money said that Dave is one guy who helped him start his channel and grow it to over 70,000 subscribers. Youri Hofwegen said that the strategies shown will easily cut your learning curve. A review from EMAL in Quora also states that Dave Nick’s ideas work, but only if you will put in the effort.

What Is Online Business Academy?
Online Business Academy is Dave Nick’s learning platform. This is where you can find all of Dave’s learning programs and events, including Automation Systems. Other courses on his platform are YouTube Shorts Billions, Online Business Models, and many more.
Alternatively, if you want to learn how to create a personality channel, check out Ali Abdaal’s Part-Time Youtuber Academy course.
What Are the Alternatives to Automation Systems?
- YouTube’s Creator Academy. This is completely free. If you’re starting, it makes little sense to hire freelancers right away. This is because you don’t know what to delegate and you could not tell if the freelancer did a good job. You wouldn’t be able to judge if you are hiring a good freelancer. I’ve seen many people who lost money trying out many courses and done-for-you scheme. They took courses and hired freelancers that didn’t deliver the results that were promised. They got low-quality work while paying a lot of money. If you want to succeed on YouTube, you need to put out high-quality videos. So, it’s best that you learn the business from scratch before you do any automation.
- YT Insiders. This course focuses on building faceless YouTube channels using long-form content and SEO. The program is praised for its emphasis on evergreen content and ranking strategies, rather than short-term viral hacks. Reviews mention that the course is well-structured, though it may require patience and consistent video production to see real momentum.
- YouTube Pilots . This offers a done-for-you YouTube automation service promising hands-off income. While the concept appeals to busy professionals, reviews suggest mixed results. Some clients report profit, but others complain about unoriginal content, poor niche selection, and limited transparency on performance metrics.
- Automate Channels . This program centers on building faceless YouTube channels with viral-style content. Reviews are divided: some praise the course for getting them monetized quickly, while others claim it’s overhyped, with cookie-cutter strategies that don’t work in saturated niches. The refund process also seems to be a common point of frustration.
What Is the YouTube Automation Method?
The YouTube Automation Method is a way to create faceless videos. You can use freelancers to write the script, record the videos, edit the videos, and upload the videos to YouTube. Automation is not through software but by creating systems to delegate the work. AI technology also made it easier to create faceless YouTube videos without hiring freelancers.
Is YouTube Automation Saturated?
Yes, YouTube automation is saturated , but it’s not dead. In fact, it remains highly viable and beneficial. Grand View Research predicts that the global AI market, valued at $136.55 billion in 2022, will grow by 37.3% annually from 2023 to 2030. Businesses are increasingly investing in AI, with 91.5% seeing it to improve their work, as noted by Business Focus Magazine. YouTube has 2.5 billion users. It remains the second most popular social platform, offering significant opportunities for automation.
However, it is crucial to follow YouTube’s automation policies to avoid penalties like channel bans. McKinsey reports that 71% of customers value personalized experiences. This emphasizes the need for a balanced approach to automation.
You can earn anywhere from $0 to more than $1,000,000 per year from YouTube automation. It all depends on how well you understand your audience and the YouTube algorithm, plus the quality of work that you put out. I’ve seen many aspiring creators never make money, even after six months to one year of creating content on YouTube. They simply cannot capture enough views on their videos or enough subscribers on their channel.
And then some creators really understand their market and can generate thousands and even millions of views. If you can do this, then there are many ways to make a passive income on YouTube, such as YouTube AdSense, brand deals, and affiliate marketing. The dirty little secret of many YouTube influencers is they make more money selling courses.
In an article in the New York Times, Dave Nick mentioned that 85% of his income came from course sales and not AdSense. That’s why it’s important to have an offer before you try learning how to generate traffic.
Is YouTube Still Profitable?
Yes, YouTube is still profitable , but it’s much harder for YouTube automation channels to earn big. According to Marketing Charts, 82% of US adults use YouTube, making it the second most popular search engine globally after Google. It has more searches per month than Microsoft Bing, Yahoo, AOL, and Ask.com combined. YouTube reported it boasts over 2.7 billion monthly logged-in users. It has a competitive nature and unpredictable algorithm. But YouTube’s vast audience and potential for revenue make it a valuable platform.
Demand Sage reported that people watch over one billion hours of videos daily. Statista values YouTube at $29.71 billion in 2023, up from $23.89 billion the previous year, highlighting its profitability. Typical earnings for a YouTube channel in the US are around $29.05 per hour, according to ZipRecruiter. However, competition is fierce, with over 114 million active channels, as noted by Wyzowl
Is Automation Systems Worth It?
Automation Systems is not worth it because it’s expensive. Sure, the 58 strategies taught might bring in more traffic. But you can easily get that knowledge from free resources like YouTube or more affordable courses.
Automation Systems’ sales page also claims that they had over 38 students who joined the pre-launch and have made $315,320+ from YouTube Ad revenue alone. However, the page didn’t have any testimonials or names. There are no published case studies of successful students, making it impossible to verify the claims.
Finally, it’s now much tougher to make money with YouTube automation. Even if you follow all the steps religiously, you are never guaranteed success. If you’re looking for a more stable business model, you should look elsewhere. I highly recommend local lead generation as it’s a secure and passive business.
Why I Recommend Local Lead Generation Over YouTube Automation
I recommend local lead generation over YouTube automation because it’s a business that doesn’t rely on a platform you don’t control. Here, you build service websites and use local SEO to rank them quickly. These are your own digital assets. Once these sites get traffic, you sell the leads to local businesses in the area. These businesses are willing to pay big for quality leads that convert.
With YouTube automation, the core problem is you’re building a business on someone else’s platform. Algorithm updates, policy changes, and market saturation can wipe out your progress overnight. After watching countless creators struggle with unpredictable growth, fluctuating income, and unreliable freelancers, it’s best to step away from algorithm-based systems entirely. Instead, build digital assets you can fully own, like local lead generation sites. Unlike YouTube automation, you control the websites, rankings, and cash flow.
In my opinion, building a passive income stream through YouTube automation is like renting a booth at Comic-Con. You might land in a great spot, but you don’t control where you’re placed or how long the crowd lasts. One algorithm tweak or policy change, and your traffic disappears. Local lead generation, on the other hand, is like owning a storefront on Main Street. You choose the location, set the prices, and keep all the profits.
The difference is consistency. YouTube automation depends on variables you can’t control (CTR, retention, and algorithmic favoritism), so results fluctuate wildly. Local lead generation offers stability. Rank a site for “Plumber in Denver” or “Tree Removal in Austin,” and as long as people search for those services, you keep getting leads and payments.
Local markets also have less competition. While thousands chase faceless AI-driven YouTube channels, few build simple websites targeting profitable, local keywords. YouTube is full of copycats, but most roofers, landscapers, and HVAC companies still lack an effective online presence. That’s an opportunity for those who act now.
At the end of the day, YouTube automation is gambling with limited control. Local lead generation is ownership - an asset that drives steady income. For anyone seeking real freedom and sustainability, it’s the smarter foundation for long-term passive income.
Local Lead Generation Is My Top Pick for an Automation Business

Local lead generation is my top pick for an automation business because it’s true passive income. The websites work on their own. It’s both faceless and automated, too. I now have 50+ local lead gen websites that make a monthly total of $52k. One of my high-earning websites, Riverside Elite Roofing, 10098 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, California 92503, 951-633-8880, riversideeliteroofing.com, generates $2,500 every month. This website’s visitors are quality leads that are ready to convert. I sell them to a local roofing company for a 5% commission. Homeowners need services, and service providers need clients. I link them and earn passive income on autopilot.
If you want true automation, go for local lead generation. I created a local lead gen course to teach you how to start this business. You can earn commission from one of my clients. Just build and rank roofing websites for him.

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