The Launch Lounge Podcast

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.