323. The Black Friday Trap: Why Discounting Might Be Costing You More Than You Think

323. The Black Friday Trap: Why Discounting Might Be Costing You More Than You Think

Author: Salome Schillack November 11, 2025 Duration: 28:50

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

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For a decade, Salome Schillack operated behind the scenes, crafting the advertising campaigns that propelled many leading online course creators to success. Now, she’s pulling back the curtain in The Launch Lounge Podcast. This isn't about vague theory; it's a direct line to the precise online marketing, advertising, and business strategies that actually work for knowledge-based businesses. Each episode feels like a candid conversation in a trusted space, where Salome translates a complex landscape of digital promotion into actionable, practical advice you can apply immediately. You'll find that rare blend of hard-won tactical know-how and genuine inspiration, all aimed at building something profitable and sustainable. The goal is straightforward: to move your ideas from concept to a living, breathing enterprise. Tune in to this podcast for a clear-eyed, often fun, look at what it truly takes to construct a business around what you know, cutting through the noise to focus on what drives real growth and impact.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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