Why Your Course Isn’t Selling (and What’s Working Now)

The Course Market Has Changed

If your course sales have slowed, you’re not alone.

What worked in 2020 doesn’t work the same way in 2025. The online education industry has entered what many experts call a trust recession and it’s reshaping everything about how people buy and learn online.

AI is everywhere, ad costs are climbing, and audiences are more skeptical than ever. They no longer want more information. They want transformation.

And that means your success today depends on how well you position and package your offer for clarity, connection, and results.

What Is the “Trust Recession”?

The trust recession describes the growing skepticism buyers feel toward online programs.

After years of overpromised “six-figure blueprints” and cookie-cutter courses, people are hesitant to invest unless they can clearly see:

• A believable transformation

• A real person guiding them

• A proven framework they can finish

Your audience doesn’t just want another video library. They want a journey.

Why Evergreen Courses Alone Aren’t Enough

Evergreen programs still have value, but they’re not converting the way they used to.

Most buyers purchase with good intentions… then never log in again. Without accountability or momentum, even the best course collects dust.

That’s exactly what happened to me.

In 2020, I launched my very first course, The Digital Clutter Cure, as a cohort-style experience even though I didn’t know that’s what it was at the time.

Ninety-five students enrolled in a $97 program that wasn’t even built yet. Each Monday, I released a new lesson. Each Thursday, we met live for Q&A and coaching.

The result? That one program generated over $200,000 in two years.

When I later turned it into an evergreen course and stopped doing live launches, annual sales dropped to around $20,000. The content is still great, but without live launches, people only buy during special campaigns, and without the community and accountability, many who purchase simply don't finish.

The Power of Cohort-Style Courses

A cohort-style course is a guided learning experience where everyone moves through your program together toward a shared goal.

Instead of “go at your own pace,” you create:

• Structure: a clear start and end date

• Connection: live sessions, feedback, and Q&A

• Momentum: accountability and progress milestones

This live-led structure drives:

1. Clarity – Students always know their next step.

2. Momentum – Group energy keeps them moving.

3. Accountability – Shared wins build belief and trust.

Transformation happens in motion... not in isolation.

Real-World Results From Cohort Experiences

After The Digital Clutter Cure, I tested the same model across other offers:

Challenge Launch Roadmap (2022)

• 3-month live experience

• Generated $68,000 in revenue

• Students implemented faster and achieved bigger results

Kajabi Course (2024)

• Six-week guided experience

• Offered free to new Kajabi partners who joined through my link

• Resulted in 92 new affiliate partners and consistent recurring revenue

Each of these offers succeeded because students weren’t left to learn alone. They had guidance, accountability, and a community moving forward together.

Why Simplifying Your Framework Boosts Sales

Here’s one of the biggest mindset shifts I’ve had to make as a course creator & membership owner:

More content doesn’t equal more value.

In fact, too much information overwhelms your audience and prevents action.

People buy what they believe they can complete.

If your program looks like 12 modules, 50 lessons, and a 6-month timeline, it feels heavy and unreachable.

Simplify it.

Position your course as a 3-part framework or a 6-step roadmap. Make it feel achievable within a 30-day sprint or a 6- to 8-week journey.

When you simplify the process, your students get quicker wins—and you get more sales.

How to Position Your Offer in Today's Market

If you want your offer to stand out in today’s crowded landscape, focus on positioning it for transformation, not information.

1. Lead With Outcomes

Instead of “Learn how to grow your audience,” say “Build an audience that buys from you consistently.”

2. Sell the Experience, Not the Lessons

Use phrases like:

• “Go through it with me.”

• “Work alongside others reaching the same goal.”

• “Get feedback and support as you implement.”

3. Show the Finish Line

Give people a timeline and clear deliverables so they can visualize success.

4. Build Connection and Community

Your offer should make people feel seen, supported, and guided... not just sold to.

How This Shift Increased My Revenue by 50%

After three years of steady income, leaning fully into community-driven, live-led experiences changed everything.

In 2025, our overall sales increased by 50%.

The biggest driver? My Ignite Membership, which functions like a continuous cohort.

Each month, members join live masterclasses, Q&A sessions, and co-working calls. They’re not just learning... they’re implementing together.

That’s the secret: connection + community = results.

The Bottom Line

AI can replicate information, but it can’t replicate transformation.

• Your audience doesn’t want another course.
• They want a guide. They want community.
• They want to believe change is possible and your framework is the path.

When you position your offers around clarity, connection, and results, you’ll stand out in this new trust economy.

Ready to Create A Cohort Experience That Generates over 6-figures annually?

If you’re ready to package your expertise into one powerful, profitable offer that converts in today’s market, join me for my upcoming live workshop:

🎟 How to Package, Position & Price Your 6-Figure Offer 
🗓 LIVE Event on November 5 at 1 PM ET (includes lifetime replay + bonus Q&A on November 12 and a 6-figure offer GPT)
Investment: $47

You’ll learn exactly how to:

• Package your expertise into a results-driven offer
• Position it for connection and clarity
• Price it so you can profit

Resources Mentioned

• Join the Workshop: How to Package, Position & Price Your 6-Figure Offer

•  Learn more about my IGNITE Membership

•  Get Kajabi for 50% Off the 1st Year (the platform I use to run my business)

•  Get The Digital Clutter Cure