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

posted by:

Salome Schillack

Discover The Gap In Your Online Course Marketing And Unlock Its Full Earning Potential

Take The Most-Profitable
Course Quiz

Take The Quiz

Get Your First List Building Ad Up Without Wasting Time Or Money

Get Started

FREE Facebook and Instagram Ads Training

Your First $10K Online Course Launch

A Step-By-Step Guide To Launching Your Online Course Profitably The First Time

Sign Me Up

follow @the_launch_lounge

I love helping course creators advertise and market their courses well!

I created The Launch Lounge to provide training and coaching resources to help you master marketing so you can make a global impact, build a highly profitable business, and live life on your own terms.

Hi, I'm Salome

Discover The Gap In Your Online Course Marketing And Unlock Its Full Earning Potential

Take The Most-Profitable
Course Quiz

Take The Quiz

Get Your First List Building Ad Up Without Wasting Time Or Money

Get Started

FREE Facebook and Instagram Ads Training

Your First $10K Online Course Launch

A Step-By-Step Guide To Launching Your Online Course Profitably The First Time

Sign Me Up

follow @the_launch_lounge

I love helping course creators advertise and market their courses well!

I created The Launch Lounge to provide training and coaching resources to help you master marketing so you can make a global impact, build a highly profitable business, and live life on your own terms.

Hi, I'm Salome

Get Your First List Building Ad Up Without Wasting Time Or Money

Get Started

FREE Facebook and Instagram Ads Training

Your First $10K Online Course Launch

A Step-By-Step Guide To Launching Your Online Course Profitably The First Time

Sign Me Up

follow @the_launch_lounge

I love helping course creators advertise and market their courses well!

I created The Launch Lounge to provide training and coaching resources to help you master marketing so you can make a global impact, build a highly profitable business, and live life on your own terms.

Hi, I'm Salome

Discover The Gap In Your Online Course Marketing And Unlock Its Full Earning Potential

Take The Most-Profitable
Course Quiz

Take The Quiz

follow @the_launch_lounge

I love helping course creators advertise and market their courses well!

I created The Launch Lounge to provide training and coaching resources to help you master marketing so you can make a global impact, build a highly profitable business, and live life on your own terms.

Hi, I'm Salome

Your First $10K Online Course Launch

A Step-By-Step Guide To Launching Your Online Course Profitably The First Time

Sign Me Up

follow @the_launch_lounge

I love helping course creators advertise and market their courses well!

I created The Launch Lounge to provide training and coaching resources to help you master marketing so you can make a global impact, build a highly profitable business, and live life on your own terms.

Hi, I'm Salome

Get Your First List Building Ad Up Without Wasting Time Or Money

Get Started

FREE Facebook and Instagram Ads Training

follow @the_launch_lounge

I love helping course creators advertise and market their courses well!

I created The Launch Lounge to provide training and coaching resources to help you master marketing so you can make a global impact, build a highly profitable business, and live life on your own terms.

Hi, I'm Salome

Listen on..

APPLE PODCASTS | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE

Discover Why That 50% Off Sale Could Actually Destroy Your Course Business (And What to Do Instead)

What if I told you that running a Black Friday sale is the fastest way to destroy your online course business, not grow it? 🚀

That 50% discount you're planning isn't a marketing strategy—it's a pricing death spiral. I've watched too many course creators train their audiences to never pay full price again, all in the name of participating in Black Friday madness. Here's the truth: what works for Amazon and Target doesn't work for expertise-based businesses like ours.

I'm breaking down exactly why discounting works so differently for online course creators compared to e-commerce businesses, and I'm giving you three alternative strategies that won't tank your positioning or teach your audience to wait for sales. If you're considering a Black Friday promotion this year, you need to hear this before you hit send on that discount email.

“Every discount is a data point that trains your audience. When you run a 50% off Black Friday sale on your signature course, you're teaching your audience: don't buy at full price, wait, because she'll discount it eventually.” ✨

🔥 In This Episode:

  • Discover why discount buyers statistically have lower completion rates and higher refund rates than full-price students
  • Learn the positioning paradox that makes you choose between being premium or competing on price (you can't be both)
  • Master the enhanced value bundle strategy that increases revenue without devaluing your core offer
  • Understand the critical difference between value-add bundling and strike-through discounting for your business positioning
  • Calculate the real 12-month cost of discounting including pricing power, audience quality, and mental energy
  • Implement the strategic affiliate play that lets you participate in Black Friday without undermining your authority
  • Learn why keeping your list-building ads running during November and December is more important than you think

Grab your favorite coffee and settle in—this one's going to challenge everything you thought you knew about Black Friday! ☕️

💚 💚 💚 

Salome

✨ 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! 💫


⏱️ Chapter Guide:

(00:00) The dangerous truth about Black Friday sales that most course creators ignore completely

(09:23) Why physical product pricing strategies will destroy your expertise-based business model

(12:30) The hidden costs of discounting that show up six months later in your launch results

(15:45) How enhanced value bundles increase revenue without damaging your price authority

(18:05) Three alternative Black Friday strategies that build your business instead of undermining it

(21:15) The strategic affiliate play that maintains your premium positioning during discount season

(24:10) Why holding firm on pricing signals confidence and attracts your ideal high-commitment students

(26:45) The waitlist pre-sale strategy that creates urgency without devaluing your core offer


📚 Other episodes you might like: 

>> 322. The Worst Business Advice I Got and Why I’m Grateful for It Today

>> 321. Everyone’s Burning Out – You Don’t Have To. Here’s How

>> 320. Salome Answers Your Burning Ads Questions


🎙️ Click Here To Listen Wherever Your Get Your Podcasts 🎙️


Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

“Valuable and funny! ★★★★★

I love these tangible tools Salome gives us! Finally a podcast with a full picture strategy. And she makes it fun which makes you remember what you learned even better and you can’t wait for the next episode to air. Thank you!”

Mtillie in Sweden

Please rate, review and follow the show. When you do, it helps me reach more people and help them create wildly profitable businesses that impact millions of people! You'll also unleash good carma get the best parking spots forever (ok, I made that up – but rating and reviewing can be your good deed for today).

Click here to go to Apple Podcasts, open the app, and scroll to the bottom of the show page. Click the 5 stars to leave a 5-star rating and leave a review for us, please. While you're there, follow the show so you never miss a single episode!


Get Your First List Building Ad Up Without Wasting Money!

Free 5-Day Facebook And Instagram Ads Training 

We have recorded a FREE 5-Day Video Training for you where you can look over my shoulder as I show you everything you need to know to get your first list building ads up. 

A woman with curly hair sits at a table with a laptop, phone, notebook, and orange mug, recording herself using a smartphone on a tripod in a bright kitchen setting while discussing Black Friday discounting.

follow @the_launch_lounge

Hi,

Here to help you turn your passion, knowledge and skills into a wildly profitable business that gives you complete freedom and autonomy in your life and your work.

An entrepreneur, marketer and teacher

I'm Salome

A woman in athletic wear smiles while holding a plank position on a round rug, looking at a laptop in a bright room—perhaps researching how to fix feast or famine revenue cycles amid gym equipment and lush plants.

Business, Podcast

324. Why Your 2025 Didn’t Go As Planned (And What That Teaches You About 2026)

Learn how to fix feast or famine revenue cycles and avoid expensive mistakes in your business strategy this year.

read the post →

read the post →

Hot Off The Press!
Binge Our most popular posts

A woman sits in front of a ring light and applies makeup with a powder puff, holding a container of powder. Makeup brushes are on the table nearby. Focused and stylish, she explores proven income streams 2026 to make money between course launches.

Business

How to Make Money Between Course Launches in 2026: 7 Proven Income Streams That Actually Work

Learn how to make money between course launches and break the feast or famine cycle that many course creators face.

read the post →

read the post →

Hot Off The Press!
Binge Our most popular posts

A person types on a laptop at a bright desk with a coffee mug and calculator nearby, planning Black Friday strategies. Another person is blurred in the background, also working at a computer. The scene is well-lit and professional.

Business

5 Black Friday Strategies for Course Creators Who Refuse to Discount (And Still Crush Their Sales Goals)

Discover 5 proven Black Friday strategies for course creators who refuse to discount. Learn how to boost Black Friday course sales, maintain premium pricing & build sustainable businesses.

read the post →

read the post →

Hot Off The Press!
Binge Our most popular posts

A woman with curly hair sits at a table with a laptop, phone, notebook, and orange mug, recording herself using a smartphone on a tripod in a bright kitchen setting while discussing Black Friday discounting.

Business, Podcast

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

Learn how to run Black Friday promotions for online courses without harming your business. Discover effective strategies today.

read the post →

read the post →

Hot Off The Press!
Binge Our most popular posts

A woman wearing sunglasses and an orange headband takes a selfie outdoors against a bright blue sky with a few white clouds. As she adjusts her sunglasses, she smiles, putting aside thoughts like "my course launch failed" to enjoy the moment.

Business

My Course Launch Failed: Should I Start Over or Try Again? (Decision Framework)

Wondering why your course launch failed? Discover how to optimize instead of starting over and save valuable time.

read the post →

read the post →

Hot Off The Press!
Binge Our most popular posts

A woman sits in a cozy, well-lit room, smiling and gesturing while recording herself on a camera as she shares business advice. She is seated in front of a laptop, with plants and wall decor visible in the background.

Business, Podcast

322. The Worst Business Advice I Got and Why I’m Grateful for It Today

Discover how to scale an online course business without burnout by learning from bad advice that leads to success.

read the post →

read the post →

Hot Off The Press!
Binge Our most popular posts

A person lying on a sandy beach, using a laptop with a Sustainable Business Audit website on the screen. The ocean and rocks are visible in the background. The person is relaxed, wearing casual clothes and sneakers.

Business

The Sustainable Business Audit: 10 Questions to Identify What’s Draining You (And What to Do About It)

Explore the importance of a sustainable business audit to avoid burnout while achieving your goals and maintaining well-being.

read the post →

read the post →

Hot Off The Press!
Binge Our most popular posts

A woman in workout clothes does a squat on a yoga mat at home, smiling and following an exercise video on a laptop. Exercising like this supports stress management, with a sofa and decorative plants visible in the background.

Business, Podcast

321. Everyone’s Burning Out – You Don’t Have To. Here’s How

Learn how to prevent burnout as an online course creator while achieving your revenue goals without sacrificing your well-being.

read the post →

read the post →

Hot Off The Press!
Binge Our most popular posts

Salome, with shoulder-length curly hair, sits on a cream-colored couch in a white sleeveless top and green pants, smiling as she works on Ads Questions for an advertising project. A leafy plant adds freshness to the background.

Ads, Podcast

320. Salome Answers Your Burning Ads Questions

Learn how to fix Facebook ads problems for online course creators and adapt to constant changes in the advertising landscape.

read the post →

read the post →

Hot Off The Press!
Binge Our most popular posts

Connect with us on

facebook

Join our vibrant Community of course creators on Instagram and let's build our Freedom Empires together.

Check out OUR 

Insta

stay a while + read

The Blog

elsewhere:

Connect