The Launch Lounge Podcast

What if the reason your online course business isn't growing has nothing to do with how much content you're creating? 🚀 If you're spending hours every week on Instagram posts, reels, and captions only to watch your email list flatline and your course sales stay stuck at launch week — I've got news for you. You don't need more content. You need a traffic system. In this episode, I'm breaking down the three pillars every course creator needs to stop feeding the content monster and start turning the content you already have into leads, customers, and consistent revenue. I'm also sharing why your social media following is rented land you don't control, the $5-a-day strategy that outperforms ten extra hours of content creation, and the honest truth about why ads won't save a funnel that doesn't convert. If you've been on the content treadmill wondering when all that effort will actually pay off, this episode is your permission slip to get off it and build something that works. 🔥 In This Episode: Why creating more content is the trap keeping course creators stuck and broke The three pillars of a traffic system that separates profitable businesses from busy ones How to turn your best-performing posts into ads that find your dream customers for $5 a day The critical step you must take before spending a single dollar on Meta ads ✨ What if your ads failed because of 3 mistakes you didn't even know you were making? Join my FREE live training "The 3 Reasons Your Ads Failed Before" - backed by $7M in course creator ad spend. Show up live for an exclusive 10K Safety Net bonus. Save your spot at thelaunchlounge.com/freeclass 💫 💚 💚 💚  Salome   Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.

You've launched, you've made sales, you've proven your course works — so why does your business still feel like it's hitting a ceiling? 🚀 Here's the thing nobody tells you: the hustle-and-create-everything energy that got you to five figures is probably the exact thing keeping you there. After nearly 10 years behind the scenes of course creator businesses at every stage, I've spotted four patterns that quietly separate those who stay stuck from those who scale — and I have a feeling at least one of them is going to feel very familiar. Today I'm walking you through each shift with real student examples, including one client who 10x'd her revenue by doing less, not more. If you're tired of spinning your wheels and ready to start operating like the CEO of a six-figure business, this one's for you. 🔥 In This Episode: Escape the "shiny course trap" that keeps you creating instead of scaling Use your launch data like a detective instead of blowing everything up Trade your Chief Everything Officer hat for real CEO-level work Build a content system that runs even when you step away ✨ Ready to stop guessing and start scaling? Scale with Ads opens March 5th with the exact system we use to fill launches and flood evergreen funnels with buyers on autopilot. Waitlist bonus: my team reviews YOUR ads & funnels. Secure your spot at thelaunchlounge.com/waitlist 💫   💚 💚 💚  Salome   Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.

What does a $50K/month online courses business ACTUALLY look like — behind the Stripe screenshots and highlight reels? 🚀 I've managed close to $7 million in ad spend for course creators, and most people have no idea what this level of business looks like day to day. They think you need a massive team, a million-dollar launch, or to be posting on social media around the clock. Spoiler: you don't. In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on three real businesses making $50K a month — including my own. I'm sharing the revenue breakdown, the team structure, what was working, and (maybe more importantly) what was still a total mess. Because even at $50K a month, things are not perfect. And I think you need to hear that. 🔥 In This Episode: The real revenue mix, team size, and daily reality behind three $50K/month course businesses Four myths about scaling that are keeping you stuck (no, you don't need 15 staff members) Five patterns every multi-six-figure course creator shares — and why a proven offer always comes first How to reverse-engineer your own $50K month using your offer price, conversion rate, and traffic system ✨ Ready to stop being the bottleneck in your own growth? We're accepting 2 agency applications for course creators, coach or online expert doing 10K+ monthly. We're not just your ad team - we're growth partners who optimize your funnel, customer journey & scaling roadmap. Apply at thelaunchlounge.com/agency 💫   💚 💚 💚  Salome   Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.

A client came to me with $10,000 cash and big plans for her Q4 launch—and I turned her away. 🚀 Six months later, she sent me a message thanking me for saying no. Here's the thing: ads aren't a magic scaling button. They amplify what's already working in your funnel—and expose what isn't, expensively. After managing close to $7 million in ad spend for course creators, I've learned that the difference between people who scale beautifully with Facebook ads and those who burn through their budget in weeks comes down to just three numbers. Most people have never calculated any of them. In this episode, I'm sharing two very different client stories and giving you the exact framework to know if you're actually ready for paid traffic—or if you're about to make a very expensive mistake. 🔥 In This Episode: Why I turned away a client with $10K (and why she thanked me later) The critical difference between warm and cold traffic that trips up most course creators How to calculate your maximum cost per acquisition The three numbers that determine if your funnel can handle ads at scale Why you need a 90-day runway before touching paid traffic ✨ Ready for growth partners who make every marketing dollar work harder? Just 2 agency spots available for successful course creators,  coaches or online experts doing 10K+ monthly. We dive deep into your data, funnel strategy & customer journey for predictable scaling. Apply now at thelaunchlounge.com/agency 💫   💚 💚💚  Salome   Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.

If your podcast growth has flatlined, it's not your content—it's the platforms. And I'm going to prove it. 🚀 The algorithms have changed. They're no longer pushing shows to new listeners like they used to. Now they reward volume—more episodes, more output, more downloads. And that's pushing course creators into some uncomfortable corners. When I relaunched my show in 2024, I discovered something surprising: more episodes helped me go deeper with existing listeners, but not wider. That's when I found the real growth lever for podcasters in 2026—and it's probably not what you think. 🔥 In This Episode: Why the podcasting landscape has fundamentally shifted The difference between growing downloads and reaching new listeners The single most effective podcast growth strategy most creators overlook My 2026 playbook for video, clips, and community-driven growth ✨ Want expert guidance and predictable results? Our Meta Ads Agency has 2 spots open for course creators, coaches or online experts ready to scale strategically. We're growth partners who navigate the whole picture - not just ad runners. 10K+ monthly revenue required. Apply at thelaunchlounge.com/agency 💫   💚 💚 💚  Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.

Amy Porterfield retired Digital Course Academy—so are online courses dead? 🚀 Here's my full-body, gut-level answer: absolutely not. But when someone as established as Amy pivots, I get why course creators everywhere started spiraling. So let's break down what's actually happening. Amy's move is a personal lifestyle decision, not a market verdict. She's been doing this for 15+ years and can afford to cut off a revenue stream. Most of us can't—and shouldn't try to copy that move. Your course is likely the front door to your business, and closing that door doesn't magically send more people to your coaching or mastermind. The real story? Some launches are struggling—but that's not because courses are over. It's because generic positioning, information-only offers, and 2018 marketing strategies don't cut it anymore. Trust is more expensive. Attention is fractured. And people want transformation with support, not just another course to watch "someday." I'm sharing exactly what's changed since 2022 and giving you my complete 2026 playbook to make this your most profitable year yet. 🔥 In This Episode: Why Amy retiring DCA is NOT proof online courses are dead The real reasons some launches are dying (and it's fixable) Five market shifts every course creator needs to understand Your 2026 playbook: four steps to your best year yet How to build trust before you ask for the sale ✨ Ready to stop being the bottleneck in your own growth? We're accepting 2 agency applications for course creators, coach or online expert doing 10K+ monthly. We're not just your ad team - we're growth partners who optimize your funnel, customer journey & scaling roadmap. Apply at thelaunchlounge.com/agency 💫   💚 💚 💚  Salome   Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.

The Only 2 Things That Matter if You Want to Nail Your Marketing What if everything overwhelming you about marketing right now could be stripped down to just two things? 🚀 If you're posting, emailing, launching, and rebuilding—but still wondering why nothing's clicking—I'm about to make your life way simpler. Most course creators think they have a marketing problem when they actually have a traffic problem, a conversion problem, or both. Instead of diagnosing it properly, they pivot. They rebuild. They burn everything down. But here's the truth: your marketing isn't broken. It's just unfocused. Today I'm sharing the uncomfortable math about your email list, why your launches might be shrinking even with more ads, and the one thing that shocked me when I unpacked a $500K business owner's data. 🔥 In This Episode: The simple math that reveals how big your list actually needs to be Why chasing new strategies keeps you spinning your wheels The real reason warm traffic converts but cold traffic doesn't How to ask for the sale without feeling pushy or weird One traffic source + one conversion process = everything you need Ready to get your offers in front of people who actually want to buy from you (even If you've never touched Ads Manager)? Launch your First List-Building Ad in 5 Days - No Money Wasted, No Tech Headaches - Get the FREE Training HERE.💫   💚 💚 💚  Salome   Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.

What if the smartest content strategy isn't about reaching more people—but going deeper with the ones already here? 🚀 I'm shaking things up in 2026. After an email list disaster cut my podcast downloads in half overnight, I learned something powerful: you're not random strangers scrolling Spotify. You're my people—course creators who've been in my world for months or even years. So I'm done chasing podcast algorithms. This show is becoming my cozy living room—a space for real conversations about what's actually happening in your business. YouTube will handle the reaching. This podcast? It's all about the deepening. 🔥 In This Episode: Why batching content is the ultimate freedom hack for course creators The surprising link between your email list and podcast downloads How separating "reach content" from "nurture content" transforms your marketing The real story behind my ActiveCampaign disaster and what it taught me Permission to stop being everywhere and start building momentum instead of noise Ready to create an irresistible offer that aligns with your perfect business model? Join my free 5-day Facebook and Instagram ads training to build the audience that will buy your offer. Get lifetime access at thelaunchlounge.com/getmyadup 💫   💚 💚 💚  Salome   Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.

If your version of "time off" is scrolling on the couch while mentally auditing your funnel, this episode is your intervention. 🚀 Let's be honest—most course creators have mastered the art of fake rest. You know the kind: laptop at every family gathering "just in case," mentally planning your January launch over Christmas lunch, checking your Stripe account while pretending to watch holiday movies. But here's what I learned the hard way: fake rest doesn't refill your tank. It just makes everything feel heavier when January hits. Today I'm walking you through my Clock Out CEO Checklist so you can actually put your business to bed for a few weeks. We're covering money, marketing, operations, and boundaries—plus a tiny reflection ritual to help you walk into 2026 with more clarity than most people have all year. 🔥 In This Episode: Discover why rest is a business strategy, not a reward you earn Spot the sneaky signs of "fake rest" draining your creativity Walk through the Clock Out CEO Checklist step-by-step Use three reflection prompts to set powerful intentions for 2026 ✨ Make 2026 your breakthrough year! One-on-one mentoring spots open - we go deep on your offers, funnels & numbers using my 7-year scaling framework + AI system. Includes Scale with Ads ($5K value). Super high-touch, very limited spots. Apply now at thelaunchlounge.com/mentorme 💫   💚 💚 💚  Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.

What if you never make the "quit my job" money you've been dreaming about? 🚀 If that thought has been quietly haunting you, I need you to hear this: the problem isn't your work ethic or that you're not cut out for this. The problem is you might be running a business model that was never designed for YOUR life, audience, or strengths. I learned this the hard way chasing other people's membership models. They had huge audiences and years of platform-building behind them—I was trying to copy their playbook and wondering why the math didn't math. The day I stopped building their business and started building mine? Everything clicked. In this episode, I'm walking you through my "deborrow your business" exercise so you can finally stop copy-and-pasting strategies that don't fit and start designing a freedom empire that actually works for you in 2026. 🔥 In This Episode: Uncover the real reason your business isn't hitting freedom numbers (hint: it's not you) Spot the four signs you're running a "borrowed" business model Align your business with the life you actually want to live Create your personal Freedom Empire Rules for 2026 ✨ Just a handful of spots for one-on-one mentoring with me in 2026! Get my deep scaling framework + AI system to fix why customers aren't buying and clean up your funnels so you always know what's working. Includes $5K Scale with Ads course. High-touch, very limited. Apply at thelaunchlounge.com/mentorme 💫   💚 💚 💚  Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.

Scaling your course too early is one of the fastest ways to burn cash and accidentally build a business you hate. 🚀 Everyone's screaming "scale, scale, scale" online — but nobody mentions that scaling doesn't magically create more profit. It increases revenue at a higher cost, with more complexity, and usually a lower ROAS. Ouch. So how do you know if you're actually ready? In this episode, I'm giving you three green lights that say "go for it" and three red flags that say "hang on, let's stabilize first." No more guessing, no more gambling with your ad spend. Whether you're a course creator dreaming of consistent $10K months or you've already had successful launches but feel stuck, this honest mirror will help you make smart scaling decisions for 2026. 🔥 In This Episode: Discover why "scaling on vibes" is a recipe for expensive disaster Learn the three signs your online course business is truly ready to grow Recognize the red flags that mean you need to stabilize before scaling Get a practical checklist to assess your scale-readiness right now ✨ Stop working harder without seeing results! My one-on-one mentoring uses the deep scaling framework to fix what's broken - your offers, messaging, funnels and numbers. Scale wider by going deeper, not burning out. Includes Scale with Ads course. Very limited spots at thelaunchlounge.com/mentorme 💫   💚 💚 💚  Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.

What if you could keep all your skills and lessons but rebuild your business the smarter way? 🚀 I've been playing with a fantasy lately: burning it all down and starting fresh. Because if I had to rebuild my online courses business from scratch in 2026, I absolutely would not do it the same way I did in 2016. The market has changed. Launches have changed. People have changed. In this episode, I'm sharing the exact five pillars I'd focus on if I were starting over today. The best part? You don't have to torch your business to use this. Think of it as a lens for seeing what's working, what's dragging you down, and where a few strategic shifts could change everything for your course creator business. 🔥 In This Episode: Get painfully specific about who you help (vague doesn't sell anymore) Flip the script on list building so it's your focus, not an afterthought Build a simple evergreen funnel before relying on big live launches Use paid traffic like a calculator, not a casino Create support and systems early so you're not the entire business forever ✨ Ready to get my brain + my AI system (built from 7 years of scaling knowledge) in YOUR business? One-on-one mentoring spots just opened - we'll fix your funnels, stop ad costs eating profit, and make AI work FOR you. Includes Scale with Ads course ($5K value). Apply at thelaunchlounge.com/mentorme 💫   💚 💚 💚  Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.

What if that "one more launch will save me" energy is actually the thing keeping you stuck? 🚀 I'm seeing it everywhere right now—smart course creators pouring everything into one more webinar, one more challenge, hoping it'll rescue their business. I get it because I've been there. In 2023, I ran four launches in one year, each born from that same desperate prayer. Spoiler: it didn't work. Here's the truth nobody wants to admit. Cold traffic converts less reliably now. Buyers need 27 touch points instead of 7. That Hail Mary launch strategy? It's working less and stressing you out more. Your real safety isn't in a fancier launch—it's in consistent, strategic list building that gives you breathing room instead of panic. 🔥 In This Episode: Uncover why "one more launch" desperation shows up so strongly right now Learn what consistent list building gives you that launches simply can't Discover three concrete shifts to move from launch-dependent to list-first Get a simple 90-day roadmap for your most stable year yet ✨ Want 2026 to be your most profitable AND joyful year? Apply for one-on-one mentoring with me! We'll use my deep scaling framework to fix why customers aren't buying, stop ad costs eating profit, and get AI actually working for you. Includes Scale with Ads course ($5K value). Limited spots at thelaunchlounge.com/mentorme 💫   💚 💚 💚  Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.

If traditional planning makes you want to cry, this episode is going to change everything. 🚀 I spent $200 on a fancy planner, filled out January with color-coded perfection, and found it abandoned in a drawer by March. For years, I thought that made me a failure at business. Turns out, I just have ADHD—and every planning system I tried was designed for a brain that works completely differently from mine. Today I'm revealing my exact 4-step planning process built around profit, joy, and how my beautifully chaotic brain actually works. No rigid color-coded systems required. 🔥 In This Episode: Discover the 4-step framework that protects your profit AND your energy Learn the "double it" rule for blocking rest time you'll actually take Identify which offers to keep, redesign, or release before 2026 Build your revenue map with only 3 focused drivers (not 12 scattered ones) ✨ Stuck on the revenue rollercoaster, working harder without seeing it in your bank account? My one-on-one mentoring goes deep on your offers, messaging, funnels & numbers so you scale wider by going deeper - not burning out. Includes Scale with Ads course. Apply at thelaunchlounge.com/mentorme 💫   💚 💚 💚  Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.

That 300K launch you saw in your Facebook group probably cost 240K to run—but you don't see that part. 🚀 Here's the thing: comparison isn't your enemy. It's actually trying to tell you something useful. The problem is what you make it mean about yourself. Last week, a student who made $47K in her launch was ready to quit—not because she failed, but because someone else's win looked bigger on Instagram. I gave her three things that stopped the spiral completely. By morning, she'd gone from "I'm done" to mapping out her entire Q1 for 2026. If you've ever thought "she started after me and she's already ahead," this episode is your permission slip to stop the madness. 🔥 In This Episode: Why your brain is literally wired to compare (and why there's nothing wrong with you) The three sneaky comparison traps quietly wrecking your momentum A four-step comparison reset you can use when you get triggered How to turn jealousy into strategic clarity for your business ✨ Part of the Tuesday/Thursday crew? Show me your listening spot! Snap a pic and share it on Instagram Stories tagging @the_launch_lounge or email podcast@thelaunchlounge.com. Seeing our community in action seriously makes my day - can't wait to feature you! 💫   💚 💚 💚  Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.

You're "saving money" by doing everything yourself, but your revenue is stuck and your to-do list is screaming at you. 🚀 Here's the truth: DIY isn't saving you money—it's costing you in delayed revenue, creative energy, and time you could spend growing your online course business. I've lived through every version of this, from doing it all myself to over-hiring in panic mode, and I'm sharing exactly when it's time to stop white-knuckling everything. In this episode, I walk you through the stages of business growth and show you when DIY makes sense versus when it becomes dangerous for course creators. Whether you're hitting your first 5K months or scaling past 20K, you'll learn how to make smart hiring decisions that don't blow your budget or fuel your fear. 🔥 In This Episode: The three hidden costs of DIY that drain your profit and delay revenue What to outsource at 5K, 20K, and beyond without over-hiring Seven clear signs it's time to stop DIYing and get help The simple four-step framework for making smart hiring decisions A three-column exercise to set up your most supported 2026 ✨ Ready to make a bigger impact? Share this episode and leave a quick review! Your support helps more course creators discover how to scale their knowledge and change lives. When more people who help people succeed, the world becomes a better place. Thank you! 💫   💚 💚 💚  Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.

Tired of running your online course business on everyone else's rules? 🚀 I'm giving you five powerful permission slips to transform how you build your business in 2026. After helping course creators scale from $10K-$25K launches to consistent six-figure results with Meta ads and strategic funnels, I've learned this: sustainable success comes from knowing when to break the rules. In this episode, I share the exact permissions I've given myself—from changing my mind about A-Lister (my flagship Facebook ads course) to simplifying my tech stack and saving $7,000 annually. Whether you're struggling with launch overwhelm, complicated funnels, or feeling behind in your online courses business, these five permission slips will help you build with more joy and less burnout. 🔥 In This Episode: Understand the four stages of entrepreneurial growth and where you are right now Discover why changing your mind about your signature offer isn't failure—it's wisdom Learn the simplification strategy that saved me thousands while making my business easier Master getting the right-sized help without over-hiring or burning out alone Embrace sustainable pacing that builds profitable systems for scaling online businesses ✨ Help other course creators find these strategies! Rate and review the show so we can reach more people who need to get their knowledge into the world. Your shares make a bigger impact together - when more helpers succeed, everyone wins. Thank you! 💫   💚 💚 💚  Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.

Your course business can look wildly successful on paper while quietly destroying your profit margins, stealing your time, and wrecking your mental health. 🚀 I've watched too many online course creators cut costs that actually enable their revenue while keeping coaching programs that drain them dry. They look at total revenue and think they're winning, but they're missing the real story their business is trying to tell them. If you're serious about building a sustainable online courses business in 2026, this three-part audit reveals exactly where your business is thriving and where it's bleeding cash. I'm walking you through the exact audit system I use with my agency clients who are scaling to multi-six and seven figures. We're looking at profitability, scalability, and joy—because what's the point of a profitable business if it makes you miserable? 🔥 In This Episode: Discover which of your online courses are actually profitable versus just generating revenue Learn how to identify the costs that enable your launches versus the ones draining your business Master the scalability audit that shows where YOU are the bottleneck in your course business Find your "triple win sweet spot" where offers are profitable, scalable, AND energizing ✨ If today's episode helped you, help other course creators find these strategies too! Your review helps us reach more people who need to get their knowledge into the world. Rate and review the show - when more helpers succeed, we all win. Thank you! 💫   💚 💚 💚  Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.

I cut my email list in half this year on purpose and it tanked my podcast downloads overnight—turns out those "dead leads" were worth nearly $40,000 in revenue. 🚀 That's just one of three expensive mistakes I made in 2025 that taught me exactly what not to do in 2026. If you had big plans this year that didn't quite pan out—launches that underperformed, evergreen funnels that didn't convert, or ad spend with nothing to show for it—you're not alone. But before you just hope next year will be different, let me show you the three structural problems probably hiding in your business right now. The difference between making $100K and $300K isn't working harder. It's fixing three foundational gaps. I'm talking about the gap between your calendar and your revenue (hello, feast-or-famine cycles), the gap between the metrics you're tracking and the ones that actually predict revenue, and the gap between the business model you built and the one you actually need for scaling online businesses sustainably. In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on my own mistakes—because sometimes the best lessons come from seeing what NOT to do. I'll show you exactly how to identify these gaps and fix them before January 1st so you can build a freedom empire that actually gives you freedom. 🔥 In This Episode: Why making 80-90% of your revenue in just three launch months is creating massive risk (and the four simple revenue bridges that fix it) The expensive lesson about email list size versus engagement—and why optimizing for wrong metrics cost me thousands How the high-ticket-only trap breaks your customer ascension path and leaves most of your audience with nowhere to go Your three-tier offer ecosystem for predictable revenue without launching every month Your exact action plan to audit 2025 and build systems that work for 2026 ✨ If today's episode helped you, help other course creators find these strategies too! Your review helps us reach more people who need to get their knowledge into the world. Rate and review the show - when more helpers succeed, we all win. Thank you! 💫   💚 💚 💚  Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.

What if that 50% Black Friday discount you're planning is actually destroying your course business instead of growing it? 🚀 That sale isn't a marketing strategy—it's a pricing death spiral. I've watched too many online course creators accidentally train their audiences to never pay full price again, all because everyone else is running Black Friday promotions. Here's the truth: what works for Amazon doesn't work for expertise-based businesses like coaching programs and online courses. The problem? Every discount teaches your audience a lesson. When you run a 50% off sale on your signature course, you're literally training people to wait for the next discount. And once that pattern starts, it's nearly impossible to break. I'm breaking down why discounting works differently for course creators, the hidden costs that show up six months later in your launches, and three alternative strategies that let you participate in Black Friday without tanking your positioning or teaching your list to never invest at full price. 🔥 In This Episode: Why discount buyers have lower completion rates and higher refund rates than full-price students The enhanced value bundle strategy that increases revenue without devaluing your offer How to use strategic affiliate partnerships to maintain premium positioning during discount season The waitlist pre-sale approach that creates urgency without dropping your prices ✨ If today's episode helped you, help other course creators find these strategies too! Your review helps us reach more people who need to get their knowledge into the world. Rate and review the show - when more helpers succeed, we all win. Thank you! 💫   💚 💚 💚  Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.