PODCAST · business
The Launch Lounge Podcast
by Salome Schillack
Discover top tips & practical advice for building a wildly profitable business sharing your ideas and knowledge with the world.Get the online marketing, advertising, and business strategies you need, all wrapped up with a healthy dose of inspiration and fun.After 10 years of being the advertising secret sauce to the who's-who of the online courses industry, your host Salome Schillack reveals what it really takes to turn your ideas into a thriving online business. Salome shares all the insights she wishes she had when she was juggling a job, a side hustle, and raising two kids.Tune in and expect to learn and laugh with Salome as she helps you turn your knowledge into a profitable online product that can impact millions.Ready to build a business that offers you complete freedom? This is your podcast!
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368. How to Add 100 Leads to Your List in the Next 30 Days
If you're posting every single day and your list still isn't growing, going viral was never the missing piece. This week I'm sharing three ways to add 100 new people to your email list in the next 30 days, no big following or ad budget required. One of them added 200 leads to my own list in a single week for about $200. I also tell you the story of Michael Stelzner admitting his old strategies had stopped working, and exactly what changed when he started using hooks again, which happens to be the perfect example of the three-part content system I teach every one of my students. Building a hot audience was never just one thing. It's a system, and once you see the three pieces, you'll never look at your content calendar the same way again. "Once you start building your email list, you don't care about going viral anymore." 🔥 In This Episode: Discover the three types of content every list-building strategy needs, and why posting only promos is quietly killing your growth Learn what happened when a well-known industry leader started using hooks and gimmicks again after years of resisting them Steal the simple system for borrowing other people's audiences, no big partnership required Find out how a $200 paid collab brought in 200 email leads in a single week ✨ Tired of your business demanding all your time and giving you none of it back? Freedom Club is a six-month group coaching container built to fix exactly that — consistent income, real impact, and the freedom to actually live your life. Only 7 spots left, applications close Wednesday. Apply at thelaunchlounge.com/freedom 💫 💚 💚 💚 Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.
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367. The One Decision That Changes Your Next 12 Months
If your business looks roughly the same 12 months from now as it does today, how would that feel? There's a decision you're making right now — or avoiding making — that matters more than any new funnel or piece of content, and this episode is about seeing it clearly before the year runs out on you. I'm doing an honest look-back at where my business was exactly 12 months ago, what I set out to achieve, and what actually happened. Some of it worked. A lot of it didn't — the mentorship program that never fed into the agency the way I planned, the YouTube channel I'm still not consistent on. But some of it worked in ways I almost forgot to notice: an email open rate that climbed from 19% to over 40%, paying myself a consistent salary, bringing on a full-time hire again after years of not being ready to. And underneath all of it is the one decision that actually separates the version of you who's still stuck from the one who gets where she wants to go. That decision isn't a strategy. It's a belief — and it's simpler, and harder, than anything I could teach you in a framework. "What if you believed that everything you need to get where you want to be is already inside you right now?" 🔥 In This Episode: Discover why doing your 12-month look-back right now beats waiting until December Learn the real difference between a goal and a dream — and why "I hope" quietly sabotages your results Hear the honest wins and losses from Salome's own last 12 months, no filter Find out the one decision that shapes your next 12 months more than any funnel or piece of content ✨ Stuck watching sales dry up the moment you stop posting? Join me live and free for 10X Your Sales Without Hiring a Team on Wednesday, August 19th, and get the Seen-to-Sold System™ — a simple way to turn the content you're already making into predictable buyers, even on sick-kid weeks and school holidays. Save your seat at thelaunchlounge.com/class 💫 💚 💚 💚 Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.
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366. Why Those Who Scale Fastest Never Do It Alone
If you know exactly what to do in your business and still can't get yourself to do it, I don't think that's a willpower problem — I think it's an isolation problem. And today I'm telling you why. 🚀 I'm breaking down the specific shift that separates the businesses that scale fast from the ones that stay stuck circling the same plan year after year, because I've been guilty of it myself — I made the exact same plan for my business in 2021, 2023, and 2025, and only actually implemented it once someone else was holding me to it. Along the way I'm sharing the swim squad that's gotten me into a freezing pool at 5am for seven winters, the mastermind pricing conversation that changed my income in eighteen months, and the very unglamorous night I cried over a WordPress site I couldn't figure out. There are five real, specific ways that building alone is costing you right now — and none of them are about how hard you're working. "The system is built to break your habits, and no amount of willpower fixes a structural problem." 🔥 In This Episode: Discover why procrastination is an emotional regulation problem, not a time management one Learn why you genuinely cannot see the label from inside your own bottle Find out why "accountability" backfires for some people, and what actually works instead Understand the difference between being kind and being nice as a business owner ✨ Stuck watching sales dry up the moment you stop posting? Join me live and free for 10X Your Sales Without Hiring a Team on Wednesday, August 19th, and get the Seen-to-Sold System™ — a simple way to turn the content you're already making into predictable buyers, even on sick-kid weeks and school holidays. Save your seat at thelaunchlounge.com/class 💫 💚 💚 💚 Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.
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365. The Difference Between Growing and Scaling Your Expert Business
When was the last time a complete stranger found you online and became a paying client? If you can't remember — or it only happens when you post like a maniac for two weeks and then collapse — this episode is for you. 🚀 Getting clients doesn't have to be a terrifying event you have to psyche yourself up for every few months. There are just three parts that make it predictable. Not a 40-step funnel, not a scary tech situation — just traffic, list, and sales, connected and running on repeat. In this episode I walk you through all three, including what's working on Instagram right now for reaching new people every day, why your lead magnet's real job isn't to get downloaded, and how to start making offers in a way that feels casual and consistent instead of uncomfortable and exhausting. Most people already have one or two of these three parts. The shift isn't doing more. It's finding the gap and closing it. "Stop saving it all for one big terrifying launch. Make offers low and slow. Small, regular invitations built into your normal emails. It takes the pressure off you — and the surprise out for them." 🔥 In This Episode: Discover the three-part system that makes client-getting feel like a process instead of a lucky accident Learn what's working on Instagram right now for reaching new people without going viral Find out why your lead magnet's real job is the swap — and what that means for how you set it up See how ManyChat and Kit work together to turn a comment into an email subscriber on autopilot Stop burning out on launches and start making offers in a way that builds a selling muscle over time ✨ Stuck guessing which part of your business actually needs fixing next? Take the free 2-minute Freedom Formula quiz and find out exactly which of the 5 pillars is holding back your growth — no more throwing content at the wall hoping something sticks. Take the quiz at thelaunchlounge.com/quiz 💫 💚 💚 💚 Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.
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364. How to Stop Feeling Invisible Online
You're posting consistently, sending emails, showing up — and somehow feeling less connected to your audience than ever. You're not imagining it. And the answer probably isn't more content. 🚀 In this episode I get honest about what happened to my own content when I leaned too hard into AI — how my podcast started sounding less like me, my emails stopped landing, and my short-form videos became so generic they felt soulless. And then I share exactly what I changed. Because the next business to stand out online won't be the most polished. It'll be the one that feels the most human. And that's actually really good news — because human is the one thing AI can't manufacture. "Posting more human things doesn't mean sharing every part of your private life. You can be human without oversharing. Your edge is your judgment, your stories, your opinions, your perspective." 🔥 In This Episode: Discover the four reasons visibility feels harder right now — and the one that has nothing to do with the algorithm Find out the Instagram content shift that's driving reach and new followers right now (and it's not what most people are teaching) Fix your email list disconnection with two moves that have nothing to do with your open rate Learn the gamification trick that turns one-way content into a two-way conversation overnight Hear the piece of content advice Salome's 15-year-old daughter gave her that changed everything ✨ Stuck guessing which part of your business actually needs fixing next? Take the free 2-minute Freedom Formula quiz and find out exactly which of the 5 pillars is holding back your growth — no more throwing content at the wall hoping something sticks. Take the quiz at thelaunchlounge.com/quiz 💫 💚 💚 💚 Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.
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363. Want to Grow Faster? Stop Hiding Behind Your Content
What if the one thing you keep doing to grow your business is actually the thing keeping you stuck? 🚀 More content, more lead magnets, more podcast episodes — it can all feel like marketing. But sometimes it's just a very productive place to hide. And the real growth opportunity is somewhere else entirely. In this episode I break down the only two things that actually move the needle in any online business — building hot audiences and making offers — and give you a simple way to diagnose which one your business needs most right now. Because sometimes you don't need more content. And sometimes you genuinely do. The real skill is knowing the difference. I share the story of a student who built a beautiful, freedom-giving business on one podcast and one offer, and what happened when Apple changed the algorithm. I also talk about the guy who commented on my Instagram telling me business freedom is "always a pricing story" — and why that kind of advice, while not wrong, is never the whole picture. "Your business doesn't always need more of the work you enjoy most. Sometimes it needs you to solve the problem that's actually slowing the growth down." 🔥 In This Episode: Discover the two levers that drive every online business — and which one needs your attention right now Find out the signs that your audience growth needs urgent focus (hint: it's not always about posting more) Learn the signs that you need to make more offers — including the one that might sting a little Understand why familiar work feels productive but doesn't always remove the real constraint Take the Freedom Formula Quiz and get clarity on what to focus on in the second half of 2026 ✨ Stuck guessing which part of your business actually needs fixing next? Take the free 2-minute Freedom Formula quiz and find out exactly which of the 5 pillars is holding back your growth — no more throwing content at the wall hoping something sticks. Take the quiz at thelaunchlounge.com/quiz 💫 💚 💚 💚 Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.
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362. How Million-Dollar Launches Are Built Behind the Scenes
You've poured everything into a launch — the emails, the ads, the webinar, the sales page — and still crawled over the finish line wondering what actually worked. Sound familiar? 🚀 Here's the truth: most launches don't fail because the emails were wrong or the webinar wasn't good enough. They failed because the launch started too late. By the time cart opens, the result has usually already been decided. In this episode I walk you through the five phases behind every successful live launch, including the behind-the-scenes story of how Floret went from a million dollar launch to $2.5 million — and exactly which phase made the difference. Whether your goal is $10K or seven figures, these five phases work the same way, and skipping even one is quietly costing you sales before you even ask anyone to buy. "The biggest launches are not built during cart open week. They're built in the weeks and months that lead up to it." 🔥 In This Episode: Discover the five launch phases most course creators either rush or skip entirely Find out why cart open week is actually the last place a launch is won or lost Learn what Floret's $2.5 million launch teaches us about audience building, lead cost, and timing Understand why disappearing during cart open week is one of the most common (and costly) launch mistakes See why onboarding is actually marketing — and how it sets up your next launch before this one is even finished ✨ Stuck guessing which part of your business actually needs fixing next? Take the free 2-minute Freedom Formula quiz and find out exactly which of the 5 pillars is holding back your growth — no more throwing content at the wall hoping something sticks. Take the quiz at thelaunchlounge.com/quiz 💫 💚 💚 💚 Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.
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361. Stop Doing This If You Want $25K Months
You're posting more, sending more emails, maybe even throwing more money at ads — and you're still not at consistent 25K months. Here's the truth: you don't have an effort problem. You have a focus problem. 🚀 When you're inside your business every day, you can't read the label from inside the bottle. You end up fixing everything at once and still not moving the needle, because you don't know which one thing is actually holding you back. In this episode I walk you through the five pillars of the Freedom Formula — the same diagnostic framework I use with agency clients — and show you how to figure out which pillar is your weakest link right now. Because 25K months don't come from doing more. They come from doing the right things in the right order. I'll share how one client added $50K to her launch revenue without changing her ads, her offer, or her content. And I'll introduce you to Anne-Marie, who made her first evergreen sale from a thank you page while she was just building her list. Small move, big proof of concept. "Your offer doesn't need more noise. It needs more resonance." 🔥 In This Episode: Discover the one thing to stop doing immediately if you want 25K months Diagnose your weakest Freedom Formula pillar — and fix that one thing first Learn why a clearer offer always outperforms a bigger one Find out how a 2% to 39% landing page conversion rate increase grew revenue by 50% See why evergreen sales don't replace live launches — they just make sure your business doesn't stop when you do ✨ Stuck guessing which part of your business actually needs fixing next? Take the free 2-minute Freedom Formula quiz and find out exactly which of the 5 pillars is holding back your growth — no more throwing content at the wall hoping something sticks. Take the quiz at thelaunchlounge.com/quiz 💫 💚 💚 💚 Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.
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360. Your Offer Is Dead Without This One Thing
You're doing all the things — posting content, running ads, tweaking your sales page. And sales still feel like squeezing blood from a stone. 🚀 The problem isn't your effort. It's your offer. And in this episode I get brutally honest about the launch that taught me this the hard way — the 2023 membership that had every bonus I'd ever created, a sales page so long it nearly crashed my site, and still didn't convert the way I needed it to. The fix isn't more bonuses or a prettier page. It's one thing. And it starts with a P word most course creators are too afraid to lean into. I'll walk you through the three wrong starting points that kill an offer before it's even made, then give you a three-layer pain framework — functional, emotional, and identity — that transforms a noisy, cluttered offer into a conversion conversation your ideal customer feels deeply seen by. "Your people are already telling you what they need. All you have to do is pick up their words and reflect back with compassion." 🔥 In This Episode: Discover the three offer-killing starting points — and which one burned my 2023 launch to the ground Uncover the 8 emotional pain points hiding inside every ideal customer's frustration Tap into identity pain — the layer most offers never reach, and the one that drives the most powerful buying decisions Build a free library of your ideal customer's exact language from Facebook groups, Amazon reviews, and YouTube comments Stop adding more bonuses and start building offers that feel like a conversation with someone who finally gets it ✨ Ready to stop being the bottleneck in your own growth? We're accepting 2 agency applications for course creators, coaches, or online experts doing 10K+ monthly. We're not just your ads 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.
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359. How Coaches and Course Creators Really Use Meta Ads to Make Sales
You've run the ads. The clicks came in. And then... nothing. So you spent more. And it got worse. Here's the truth nobody tells you: cold traffic is not coming to save you. It's an expensive way to make your problem worse. 🚀 In this episode I break down the five pillars that actually have to be in place before ads can make you money — and how to spot which one is quietly costing you sales right now. This is the Freedom Formula I use with every agency client, and it's the difference between ads that drain your budget and ads that build your business. The good news? Every single one of these pillars is completely within your control. No algorithm cooperation required. I'll show you how to build an audience without burning out on social media, how to turn your offer from a module list into an irresistible bridge from pain to outcome, why your funnel might be leaking in places you're not even looking, and how to track your data without a single spreadsheet-induced panic attack. 🔥 In This Episode: Discover why more traffic to a broken funnel just makes the problem more expensive Build an audience on a platform you actually love — without being everywhere at once Turn your modules into a transformation bridge buyers can see themselves walking across Master the "clicker on the airplane" method that makes data simple and actionable Protect your business from algorithm changes with diversified products and traffic sources ✨ Ready to stop being the bottleneck in your own growth? We're accepting 2 agency applications for course creators, coaches, or online experts doing 10K+ monthly. We're not just your ads 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.
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358. Your Sales Page Is Leaking Money If It's Missing These 5 Things
Your sales page might be quietly losing you sales — and it's not because your offer sucks or your audience is broke. 🚀 It's missing five specific things buyers need to see before they say yes. People are clicking, reading, even scrolling all the way down... and still not buying. That's not an offer problem. That's a page problem. In this episode I break down the five fixes that instantly increase conversion on any sales page, starting with the hero section formula that turns a skeptical reader into a curious one, and ending with the FAQ section that's secretly doing way more work than just answering questions. Here's the truth: a great sales page isn't a pretty page with a buy button. It's a trust-building conversation. It names the dream your reader wants, speaks to the pain they're already feeling, shows them exactly who it's for (and who it's not), and answers the quiet objections in their head before those objections turn into a closed tab. I'll show you the exact headline formula to steal, the pain-building technique that took me years to get right, the five types of testimonials your page is probably missing, and the one mistake on most sales pages that's pulling buyers away before they even reach the offer. 🔥 In This Episode: Discover the 3-part headline formula that turns skeptics into readers Learn why calling out the pain feels cringe — and how to do it without sounding sleazy Turn your testimonials section from "a few nice quotes" into a conversion machine with 5 specific testimonial types Steal the FAQ framing trick that quietly dismantles objections instead of just answering questions ✨ 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.
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357. The Market Changed. Here's How You Have To Pivot To Stay Relevant
Everyone keeps saying online courses are dead — and they're only half right. 🚀 The half they're missing is costing course creators everything. The market didn't die. It grew up. And the people still selling the old way are about to get left behind. In this episode I break down what actually changed, why "blame the economy" rarely holds up, and the simple offer shift that keeps you selling in 2026 and beyond. Here's the truth: generic, copy-paste, information-only content is dying. But the business of transforming people? That's a $204 billion industry still growing about 8% a year. Your audience hasn't stopped spending — they're just spending more carefully, on outcomes they can't get from an AI search bar. I'll show you exactly what AI quietly killed (the value of undifferentiated information), how to turn your tired list of modules into a transformation-driven system people happily pay premium for, and where the money is really hiding right now. 🔥 In This Episode: Discover the one thing that actually died (it's not what the doom-posters think) Learn the $204 billion proof your market is still buying — just differently Turn your modules into a system buyers beg for instead of a course they ignore Steal the 3-part offer formula that makes you impossible to replace with AI ✨ 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.
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356. 10+ Years as a Digital Creator: Stephanie May Willson Shares What She's Learned
What if the secret to a business that lasts ten years isn't a better funnel — it's just being a human? 🚀 I've known Stephanie May Wilson for almost a decade, and watching her build her business has shaped how I think about marketing more than almost anything else. She's an author, podcaster, and course creator who built her very first funnel before the word "funnel" even existed. How? She asked the most human question possible: what's the best way to actually serve these people? That instinct once turned $7,000 in ad spend into a launch worth around $91,000 — the moment that changed how I saw what's possible in this whole industry. In this episode, we get real about the stuff most course creators feel but rarely say out loud. Why launch week can quietly wreck your self-worth. Why ads still work (even for a $37 journal). And why Stephanie walked away from social media completely — and what she does instead. If you're stuck in the feast-or-famine cycle and tired of dancing for the algorithm, consider this your permission slip. 💚 🔥 In This Episode: Why "being a human" is outperforming every funnel hack she's ever tried The hole-in-the-hose reframe that takes the heartbreak out of launches How she profitably sells a $37 journal with ads (breaking the "low-ticket" rule) The $5-a-day engagement ad strategy that grows an audience without social media ✨ 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.
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355. Screw Organic Socials - Here's How To Get Attention With Ads
Ready to stop hoping the Instagram algorithm shows you some mercy and start building a real list of buyers instead? 🚀 If you've been posting, promoting and wondering why your audience still isn't buying, this episode is your permission slip to step off the organic treadmill. As a course creator, coach or online expert, you sell transformation — and transformation requires trust. The problem? The organic algorithm on Facebook and Instagram isn't built for trust. It's built for seven-second entertainment. That's why I'm walking you through why Meta ads are the most controllable, predictable way to build your email list — even if you have a tiny budget, no fancy gear, and zero viral moments to your name. 🔥 In This Episode: Discover why waiting to start running ads is the most expensive mistake course creators make Learn the exact daily ad budget I recommend for list building (plus the $1-a-day workaround) Master the low-budget engagement ad strategy that builds warm retargeting audiences on autopilot Uncover why the ads algorithm is far more stable than the organic one you're chasing ✨ Doors are OPEN for Ads Foundations! Get the step-by-step Meta ads training that fills your list with hot leads ready to buy - stop dancing for the algorithm and start selling to buyers. Enrollment closes soon at thelaunchlounge.com/join💫 💚 💚 💚 Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.
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354. Design Ad Creatives That Gets Attention - Here's How
Tired of being told you need 500 fresh ad creatives every single day just to keep your Meta ads alive? 🚀 Here's what most ad advice gets wrong for course creators: it wasn't built for you. It was built for e-commerce — for selling lipsticks, hoodies, and fidget spinners on a tight seven-to-ten-day promo window. When coaches and course creators follow that advice, it quietly backfires. You're not selling widgets. You're selling transformation. Your funnels are longer, your campaigns are mostly lead magnet and webinar ads, and you only need to reach the right person once to get that email address. In this episode I walk you through the creative strategy actually designed for online experts — including the "microsecond test," the placement "twin set" trick, and the anti-fiddling plan that makes Facebook and Instagram ads feel easy again. ☕️ 🔥 In This Episode: Discover why e-commerce ad advice actively penalizes course creators who follow it Learn the "microsecond test" that tells you instantly if your creative will stop the right person Master the placement "twin set" method so your ads work in newsfeed, stories, and reels Build a simple three-to-five concept system you can set up once and leave alone for seven days Ready to get off the content treadmill? Ads Foundations opens May 26th - the step-by-step Meta ads training that fills your list with hot leads ready to buy. Waitlisters get FREE personal ads & funnel audits from my team. Join at thelaunchlounge.com/waitlist 💫 💚 💚 💚 Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.
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353. Meta Ads - What's Really Working Part 2 - ABO vs CBO
Ready to discover the boring little campaign setting that's quietly draining your meta ads budget before your best ads ever get a fair chance to work? 🚀 Most course creators blame high ad costs on weak creative or the wrong targeting. But there's a sneaky little setting sitting inside your campaign structure that can drain your budget fast — long before your best ads get a fair chance to fill your email list with ready-to-buy leads. In this episode I'm finally explaining CBO vs ABO without the tech overwhelm, and showing you exactly when to let Meta drive your budget and when to take the wheel yourself. It's the strategy I'm teaching my students right now to scale online courses, coaching programs and memberships without wasting another dollar on low-quality leads. 🔥 In This Episode: The real difference between CBO and ABO (and why getting it wrong drains your budget fast) The "Idol auditions" framework for testing audiences before you commit serious ad spend The exact moment to switch from CBO to ABO so you stop paying for low-quality leads The 7-day "hands off" rule that finally lets your ads optimize properly Ready to get off the content treadmill? Ads Foundations opens May 26th - the step-by-step Meta ads training that fills your list with hot leads ready to buy. Waitlisters get FREE personal ads & funnel audits from my team. Join at thelaunchlounge.com/waitlist 💫 💚 💚 💚 Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.
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352. Meta Ads - What's Really Working Now Part 1
Ready to stop attracting freebie seekers and start filling your email list with leads who actually buy your online course? 🚀 The Meta ads game has shifted again — and if you're still optimising for cheap clicks and high lead volume, you're quietly filling your email list with people who'll never open your emails or buy your courses. Between Apple's privacy updates and Meta's brand-new Andromeda algorithm, the platform has gone almost blind to what happens once someone leaves the news feed and lands on your funnel. In Part 1 of this Meta ads series, I'm pulling back the curtain on what I've been teaching my mentoring students and Scale with Ads beta testers about what's actually working right now — including the one performance-goal setting most course creators get wrong, and how to use Value Rules to claw back control inside Advantage Plus audiences. ✨ 🔥 In This Episode: Why the Andromeda algorithm is quietly making your ads less effective The critical difference between "Maximise Number of Leads" and "Maximise Number of Conversion Leads" How to use Value Rules to control who Meta puts your ads in front of The 60-second email-list audit that reveals if you're attracting buyers or freebie seekers Ready to get off the content treadmill? Ads Foundations opens May 26th - the step-by-step Meta ads training that fills your list with hot leads ready to buy. Waitlisters get FREE personal ads & funnel audits from my team. Join at thelaunchlounge.com/waitlist 💫 💚 💚 💚 Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.
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351. What AI Can't Do For Your Business (And What It's Actually Good For)
If you're using AI to write your emails, make your decisions, build your strategy and create your content, this episode might just save you two years and six figures. 🚀 There are four things AI absolutely cannot do for your course business — and most course creators, coaches and online experts are quietly outsourcing at least two of them right now without realising it. The result? Content that doesn't connect, decisions you can't defend, audiences drifting away, and a business that feels weirdly disconnected from the human running it. After managing nearly $7 million in ad spend and building my own AI assistant (her name is Ada, she's trained on 10 years of my marketing brain, and yes — she's dressed like she walked off the set of Peaky Blinders), I'm walking you through the exact line between AI as leverage and AI as a slow leak in your business. This is the final episode in The Good Advice Trap series, and honestly, AI is the perfect topic to end on. 🔥 In This Episode: The four things AI absolutely cannot do for your course business (and why outsourcing them is costing you sales) Why your audience can smell the AI sheen on your content — even when they can't name what's off How to use AI as your thinking partner without losing your CEO decision-making muscle The six things AI is genuinely brilliant at — and exactly how to use them without losing your voice ✨ Proven your course sells but scaling feels like a whole other job? Get a custom scaling roadmap in 30 days - no ongoing agency fees. Business audit + 2 sessions with me + guaranteed profit increase or your money back. Apply at https://thelaunchlounge.com/intensive💫 💚 💚 💚 Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.
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350. Passive Income Isn't Passive. Here's the Truth.
Ever daydream about Stripe notifications rolling in while you sip a latte and never touch another funnel? 🚀 Here's the truth no one wants to say out loud: passive income is never actually passive. There's still a funnel to watch, numbers to track, messaging to fix, and platforms that keep shifting the goal posts on you. In this episode of The Good Advice Trap series, I'm pulling back the curtain on why evergreen funnels aren't the magical freedom pill we've been sold, why every online course business needs recurring revenue (and why that's NOT the same thing as passive income), and the reframe that will change how you think about freedom in your business for good. If you've been chasing passive income because you're exhausted and craving more time with your family, this one's the real talk you need. 🔥 In This Episode: Why "one funnel is not a business" — and what to build instead The real difference between passive income, evergreen, and recurring revenue Why Pat Flynn is quietly dropping "passive" from his brand The reframe that turns your passive income fantasy into a real, sustainable plan ✨ Ready to scale beyond six figures without throwing more money at ads? The LaunchLounge 30 Days Intensive gives you deep data analysis, custom strategy, and clear roadmap - profits guaranteed or your money back. Apply at https://thelaunchlounge.com/intensive💫 💚 💚 💚 Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.
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349. The Launch Mistake That's Costing You the Most
Your last launch underperformed — and there's a very good chance you've been fixing the wrong thing. 🚀 Misdiagnosing a launch is one of the most expensive mistakes a course creator can make. In this episode, I'm walking you through the four launch mistakes that cost online course creators the most — the big, sneaky ones that make everything feel harder than it should and leave you questioning your offer when the real problem is the strategy underneath. We're talking about skipping your pre-launch runway, scrapping an offer that was actually closer to working than you think, overfeeding your webinar audience with so much teaching they leave feeling full (but never buy), and pouring Facebook and Instagram ad spend into a funnel that was never ready for it. 🔥 In This Episode: Discover why your audience wasn't mentally ready for your offer — and how to fix that before your next launch Learn how to tell if your offer is actually dead or just has a leak (they are very different problems) Understand why teaching everything in your webinar is the fastest way to kill your conversions Find out when your funnel is truly ready for paid traffic — and what "signs of life" really look like ✨ Proven your course sells but scaling feels like a whole other job? Get a custom scaling roadmap in 30 days - no ongoing agency fees. Business audit + 2 sessions with me + guaranteed profit increase or your money back. Apply at https://thelaunchlounge.com/intensive💫 💚 💚 💚 Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.
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348. More Followers Won't Make You More Money
Your follower count is growing. Your revenue isn't. And Instagram couldn't care less. 🚀 Here's the uncomfortable truth most online marketing gurus won't tell you: followers on Instagram are borrowed. The algorithm decides every single day how many of your own audience actually sees what you post. For course creators and coaches trying to build a real business, that is a dangerously shaky foundation. In Part 4 of The Good Advice Trap series, I'm showing you what to build instead — a deliberate content system with three clear jobs, a follower-to-subscriber path you actually own, and a welcome sequence that turns strangers into people who genuinely can't wait to hear from you. Plus, I'm answering a brilliant listener question about whether to ditch the algorithm grind and just run ads instead (spoiler: yes, and also no). 🔥 In This Episode: Discover why Instagram is optimizing for entertainment — and why that's working against your course business Learn the three-job content framework that stops you from asking one post to do everything at once Understand exactly when list-building ads should replace your top-of-funnel organic content Build a welcome sequence that makes new subscribers feel like they've finally found their people ✨ Ready to scale beyond six figures without throwing more money at ads? The LaunchLounge 30 Days Intensive gives you deep data analysis, custom strategy, and clear roadmap - profits guaranteed or your money back. Apply at https://thelaunchlounge.com/intensive💫 💚 💚 💚 Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.
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347. Content Is Not a Growth Strategy
Your content is getting love — but your business still isn't growing, and it's starting to feel personal. 🚀 Here's what nobody tells you: content is not a growth strategy. It's evidence. It proves you exist, you know your stuff, and you show up consistently. But a menu doesn't feed anyone — someone still has to order. In this episode, I share a real email from Gareth, a listener who has generated £50K through word of mouth, built 15 podcast episodes, and shows up across multiple platforms. Engaged audience. Zero sales from any of it. His story reveals the single most common mistake coaches and course creators make — and the exact fix that doesn't involve creating more content. 🔥 In This Episode: Discover why consistent content without a conversion path is just a very pretty dead end Understand the difference between awareness content and conversion content — and why you probably only have one Work through three diagnostic questions to find out if your offer is actually ready to receive traffic Learn how to find the scalable offer hiding inside your existing bespoke, word-of-mouth work ✨ Want a freedom empire that grows while you enjoy Friday Pilates? The 30 Days Intensive analyzes your business, dives into your data, and creates your custom scaling plan - guaranteed results or refund. Apply at https://thelaunchlounge.com/intensive💫 💚 💚 💚 Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.
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346. Why Your Offer Isn't Selling (It's Not What You Think)
Your offer isn't selling — and I'd bet it's not for the reason you think. 🚀 The standard online business advice says build your list, run a live launch, create urgency, cart closes Friday. That advice isn't wrong. It's just built for a very specific type of buyer — one person, one credit card, one Friday deadline. If that's not your buyer, the whole playbook quietly falls apart. In this episode, I share Laura's story. She has 35,000 subscribers and her audience is not buying. Not because her offer is bad. Not because her content is weak. But because every piece of advice she followed was drawn on a map for a completely different business. I'll show you exactly how to spot the same trap in yours. 🔥 In This Episode: Discover why good advice in the wrong context is silently killing your sales Identify who is actually making the buying decision in your business (it's not always who you think) Run the 3-person test to find out if your business model can actually sell on social media before spending another dollar Understand why paid Meta ads and organic content are completely different sports — and how ads can work even in professional, non-entertainment niches ✨ Ready to scale beyond six figures without throwing more money at ads? The LaunchLounge 30 Days Intensive gives you deep data analysis, custom strategy, and clear roadmap - profits guaranteed or your money back. Apply at https://thelaunchlounge.com/intensive💫 💚 💚 💚 Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.
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345. Your Email List Is Rotting. Here's the Fix.
Your email list isn't dead — it just doesn't have a job description yet. 🚀 You're showing up, emailing consistently, doing everything right. And yet nobody's clicking, nobody's buying, and the silence is starting to feel personal. Before you clean your list, grow your list, or change your subject lines — there's one question you need to ask first: what is my list actually for right now? In this episode, I share how I accidentally halved my own list (and my podcast downloads in the same week) by following list-cleaning best practices a little too literally. I also read out a real email from a listener called Beth — 12,200 subscribers, a 60% opt-in conversion rate, growing fast — and still completely stuck on what to do next. If your list feels like it's not pulling its weight, this one will give you a lot of clarity. 🔥 In This Episode: Why "grow your list" and "clean your list" are usually the wrong first questions The real reason a once-converting list quietly stops working (hint: the market shifted) What Beth's story reveals about the difference between list growth and list monetisation The one-sentence exercise that gives your email list a clear job — and makes everything easier from here ✨ Proven your course sells but scaling feels like a whole other job? Get a custom scaling roadmap in 30 days - no ongoing agency fees. Business audit + 2 sessions with me + guaranteed profit increase or your money back. Apply at thelaunchlounge.com/intensive 💫 💚 💚 💚 Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.
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344. "I've Wasted Money on Ads Before" — How to Make Paid Traffic Actually Work This Time.
If ads have burned you before, this episode will change how you think about paid traffic forever. 🚀 Here's something surprising coming from someone who runs a Meta Ads Agency: if your funnel isn't converting without ads, ads are not going to fix it. Ads are an accelerant — they amplify whatever is already happening in your business. If it's working, they'll pour petrol on that fire. If it's broken, they'll just drain your budget faster than you can say "cost per click." So if you've ever whispered the words "I've wasted money on ads," this one's for you. I'm walking you through the four shifts that separate course creators who profit from Facebook and Instagram ads from those who keep losing money — plus a four-question diagnostic you can use right now to figure out whether your ads actually failed, or whether something else was the real problem. 🔥 In This Episode: Discover the non-negotiable rule that must be true before spending a dollar on ads Learn the "temperature ladder" for warming up cold audiences before making the ask Identify the three funnel leaks where most course creators silently lose 70% of their leads Track only the three metrics that actually matter for scaling your online course business ✨ Ready for consistent 100K launches instead of feast-or-famine? Scale with Ads audits your funnel BEFORE you spend a dollar so you know it'll be profitable. Get the complete system + 6 weeks live coaching. Enrollment closes March 13th at thelaunchlounge.com/join 💫 💚 💚 💚 Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.
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343. How to Get Out of the 1:1 Trap (And Into a Scalable Offer)
If you stopped working tomorrow — no calls, no sessions, no emails — how long would money keep coming in? If that question made your stomach drop, keep listening. 🚀 Here's what nobody tells you about running a one-on-one coaching or consulting business: there's a hard ceiling on your income, and it's called your calendar. You can raise your prices, sure. But you can't clone yourself (yet). And if you're so busy delivering that you never have time to build anything else? That's the trap. In this episode, I'm breaking down exactly how to escape the one-on-one model and build a scalable offer — without burning your current income to the ground. I'm sharing the real math, the identity shift that keeps even smart entrepreneurs stuck, and the three-step process I use with every course creator I work with to make this transition safely. Whether you're a coach ready to productize your method or a consultant exploring hybrid business models, this is your no-drama roadmap to building a business that scales with systems instead of your blood, sweat, and tears. 🔥 In This Episode: The simple math that exposes the hard ceiling on one-on-one income The hidden identity trap keeping you stuck in hour-for-hour delivery Three hybrid models that give you leverage without losing the personal touch How to productize your method (you probably already have 80% of a course) Building a financial bridge so you transition without risking your income The four-point readiness check to know if you're ready to create a course right now ✨ What if your ads failed because of 3 mistakes you didn't even know you were making? Join my FREE live training "The 3 Mistakes That Made Your Ads Fail Before (And How To Fix Them This Time)" - backed by $7M in course creator ad spend. Show up live for an exclusive 10K Safety Net bonus. Save your spot at thelaunchlounge.com/training 💫 💚 💚 💚 Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.
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342. You Don't Need More Content, You Need a Traffic System
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.
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341. Stop Doing 5-Figure Things If You Want a 6-Figure Course Business
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.
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340. What a $50K/Month Online Course Business Actually Looks Like (Real Examples)
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.
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339. She Had $10K for Ads. I Told Her No.
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.
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338. Podcasting - What's Working in 2026
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.
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337. Amy Porterfield Retired DCA… So Are Online Courses Dead?
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.
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336. The Only 2 Things That Matter if You Want to Nail Your Marketing
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.
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335. What You Can Expect in 2026
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.
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334. Stop Half-Working Through Christmas
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.
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333. Still Not Making 'Quit My Job' Money? This Might Be Why
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.
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332. 3 Signs You're Ready to Scale (And 3 Signs You're Not)
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.
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331. If I Had to Start Over Again: What I'd Do Differently in 2025
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.
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330. Your "One More Launch" Is Keeping You Stuck
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.
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329. Your 2026 Success Map Starts NOW: My Planning Process Revealed
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.
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328. The Comparison Trap: What to Do When Everyone Else Seems Further Ahead
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 [email protected]. 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.
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327. The Real Cost of DIY: When to Invest in Help for Your Business
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.
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326. The Permission Slip You've Been Waiting For
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.
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325. How to Audit Your 2025 Revenue: What Worked, What Didn't, and What to Double Down On
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.
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324. Why Your 2025 Didn't Go As Planned (And What That Teaches You About 2026)
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.
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323. The Black Friday Trap: Why Discounting Might Be Costing You More Than You Think
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.
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322. The Worst Business Advice I Got and Why I'm Grateful for It Today
What if the advice that nearly broke you was exactly what you needed? 🚀 I made $2,000 on my first launch and quit completely. That might've been the dumbest decision I ever made. But here's the twist - the advice that led me to quit, the advice that nearly broke me, and the advice I absolutely hated hearing ended up being the same advice that helped me build a seven-figure online course business. Sometimes the worst advice teaches you more than the best advice ever could. And sometimes the advice that makes you want to throw your laptop is exactly what transforms everything. In this episode, I'm breaking down three pieces of terrible (and terribly necessary) business advice I received as a struggling course creator. The kind that made me cry in every coaching call. The kind that kept me starting over with new strategies. And the kind that eventually changed everything about how I built my freedom empire. 🔥 In This Episode: Why "hustle culture" advice nearly destroyed my business (and the three strategic activities that actually drive revenue for course creators) The frustrating truth about "you're exactly where you need to be" and why it's the most valuable advice for scaling your coaching business Why constantly switching strategies cost me more than failed launches - and the simple data tracking that would've saved me years Three things to stop doing right now if you want sustainable success with your online courses ✨ Loved this episode? Share it! Your reviews help more course creators discover how to scale and make an impact. Take 2 minutes to rate the show - together we reach more people and transform more lives. When helpers succeed, the world gets better. 💫 💚 💚 💚 Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.
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321. Everyone's Burning Out - You Don't Have To. Here's How
Your most successful year might be the one that destroys you. 🚀 Three months ago, one of my clients hit her $47K revenue goal but sent me a 2 a.m. message: "I can't do this again. I'd rather go back to my corporate job." She'd worked until midnight for three weeks straight, snapped at her kids constantly, and survived on coffee and adrenaline. Six weeks later, she launched again. Same revenue. But this time she finished by 4 p.m. daily, took weekends off, and actually enjoyed it. Here's the uncomfortable truth: Burnout isn't a badge of honor. It's a business strategy problem. I'm seeing course creators hit their financial goals while simultaneously falling apart - making more money than ever while feeling exhausted, anxious, and disconnected from why they started. 🔥 In This Episode: The energy audit system that reveals which 60% of your activities drain you without moving the revenue needle Why operating at 100% capacity is the fastest path to burnout (and the 60% rule that actually increases profitability) How to design your business around your natural energy patterns instead of fighting against them The recovery cycle framework successful launchers use to prevent burnout before it starts I'm sharing my own burnout story from 2021 - the panic attack that changed everything, the three-year recovery, and the exact framework I used to rebuild sustainably. Because your business is not worth your health, and you'll lose more money when you burn out than when you slow down. This episode is part of our Building Your Freedom Empire series. Every Tuesday and Thursday in November, we're creating a complete framework for approaching 2026 differently. This isn't just planning - it's setting yourself up for your best year ever. Ready to transform those scary ad campaigns into your most powerful lead generation tool? Grab my Free 5-Day Facebook & Instagram Ads Training at thelaunchlounge.com/getmyadup 💫 💚 💚 💚 Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.
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320. Salome Answers Your Burning Ads Questions
Tired of waiting for the "perfect time" to run Facebook ads? 🚀 Here's the truth: Meta is always going to change. While you're waiting for ideal conditions, other course creators are scaling to six figures because they learned how to adapt instead of wait. I've spent 10 years running Meta ads and I've seen it all—account shutdowns at 5 AM, mysterious disapprovals, ads that suddenly tank. Every single frustration has a solution that doesn't involve giving up on ads entirely. In this episode, I'm walking you through the four most common Meta ads frustrations that stop course creators in their tracks, plus exactly how to navigate each one so you can build an ad strategy that works right now. 🔥 In This Episode: The exact steps when Meta disables your account (stop negotiating with the algorithm and take your power back) Why your previously successful ads stopped working and three specific things to check first The truth about algorithm changes (I've seen ONE major change in 10 years that truly impacted results) Why hiring an ads manager didn't work and what you need to master before scaling with paid traffic ✨ Stomach clench every time you think about ads? Stop letting fear keep you stuck! Scale with Ads makes your funnel profit-ready BEFORE you spend a dollar - so you'll know mathematically if your campaigns will work. Beta enrollment opens with 6 weeks live mentoring. Join at thelaunchlounge.com/join 💫 💚 💚 💚 Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.
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319. Why Most Course Creators Waste Money on Ads (And What Actually Works)
You've run Facebook ads before and maybe it felt like you were better off putting your money on the roulette tables in Vegas. 🚀 I get it. You're watching other course creators post their "6-figure launch" screenshots while you're bleeding money on ads that don't convert. But here's what nobody tells you: ads aren't the problem. Your approach is. In this episode, I'm breaking down the five biggest reasons course creators waste money on Facebook ads and Instagram ads and exactly how to fix them. These are the battle-tested benchmarks we've refined over seven years managing millions in ad spend specifically for online course creators scaling their businesses. Whether you're running Meta ads for live launches or evergreen funnels, this episode gives you the proven framework to turn failed ad campaigns into your most predictable revenue stream. 🔥 In This Episode: The exact conversion benchmarks your funnel needs before spending a single dollar on Meta ads Why e-commerce ads managers fail course creators every time The cold traffic clarity gap that's costing you thousands How to match your funnel length to your price point so your ads actually profit ✨ Tired of crossing your fingers and hoping your ads work? Get mathematically certain BEFORE you launch with Scale with Ads. Your funnel becomes profit-ready first - no more wasting money on campaigns that don't convert. Beta open now with live mentoring at thelaunchlounge.com/join 💫 💚 💚 💚 Salome Get full show notes here Follow The Launch Lounge on Instagram.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Discover top tips & practical advice for building a wildly profitable business sharing your ideas and knowledge with the world.Get the online marketing, advertising, and business strategies you need, all wrapped up with a healthy dose of inspiration and fun.After 10 years of being the advertising secret sauce to the who's-who of the online courses industry, your host Salome Schillack reveals what it really takes to turn your ideas into a thriving online business. Salome shares all the insights she wishes she had when she was juggling a job, a side hustle, and raising two kids.Tune in and expect to learn and laugh with Salome as she helps you turn your knowledge into a profitable online product that can impact millions.Ready to build a business that offers you complete freedom? This is your podcast!
HOSTED BY
Salome Schillack
CATEGORIES
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