Let me guess…
You’ve spent hours (if not days) filming and editing your free online course. You’ve created a landing page, a welcome email, maybe even a workbook. You’re proud of it. You share it on Instagram. A few people sign up.
And then… nothing.
No clients. No feedback. No ripple effect. Just the low hum of digital crickets.
First of all – you’re not alone. This is one of the most common traps I see wellness business owners fall into. And it usually comes from a really good place: wanting to serve, to build trust, and to give people a taste of what you do.
But here’s the thing no one talks about enough in the wellness world:
Free online courses rarely work. Especially when you’re trying to grow a business.
Let’s unpack why – and what’s actually more effective if you’re here to build a sustainable, soul-led brand.
If you’re someone who leads with heart (and if you’re reading this, I know you are), giving value for free feels like the right thing to do.
You want to help. You want to be of service. You want people to feel better, not just eventually – but now.
And in theory, a free course sounds generous and helpful. But in practice? It usually ends up like that unread book on your bedside table. Well-meaning, full of promise, but gathering digital dust.
Why?
Because most people don’t commit to what they haven’t invested in.
Energetically, time-wise, and yes – financially.
It’s not about being salesy. It’s about human nature.
Here’s what’s really happening when you create a free course:
• You’re giving away your most valuable knowledge – often too much, too soon
• Your audience hasn’t built enough trust with you to commit to something that requires effort
• There’s no urgency or accountability – so they opt out emotionally before they even begin
• And most importantly? Free doesn’t equal transformation
And in the world of wellness, transformation is what your audience is craving.
Not just information. Not just “more content.”
They want to feel held, supported, guided – in a safe, structured way.
And that’s not something a DIY, self-paced freebie can offer.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying don’t create free content.
But the key is this: your freebie should have a clear intention and a clear next step.
Instead of trying to teach everything in one go, ask yourself:
› What’s one small but powerful shift I can help someone create?
› How can I leave them feeling empowered and curious – not overwhelmed?
› What’s the natural next step they’d want to take after this?
The purpose of your free content is not to do the work for them – it’s to build a bridge. A sense of possibility. A spark of connection. And an invitation into deeper work with you.
So what do you do instead?
Here’s what I’ve seen work time and time again – in my own business, and in the businesses of the women I mentor:
Ditch the overwhelming 5-part course.
Instead, try:
• A 3-part audio series (like “Feel Calm Again in 5 Minutes”)
• A single, powerful PDF ritual or nervous system tool
• A live masterclass or embodiment class where people get to experience you
Make it short. Sensory. Grounded in results. That’s what builds trust.
Your people aren’t confused – they’re cautious.
Your job isn’t to convince them. It’s to create safety.
That starts with clarity:
› What is your offer really helping with?
› How does it work?
› What kind of support are they getting from you?
› And how will they feel after the process?
Don’t try to sell “healing.” Sell the experience of being held, seen, and supported while healing.
You don’t need a massive audience.
You need magnetism.
That comes from storytelling, real talk, and consistent, value-packed content.
From being a human – not a brand.
From sharing what you believe, why it matters, and how you can help.
People don’t buy courses. They buy into the person they trust to walk them through it.
Here’s the hard truth I wish more people knew:
It’s safer for someone to invest in your paid offer than to sit in a free course they’ll never finish.
Because when they invest, they show up.
When they show up, they move.
When they move, they change.
And when they change – your business grows. Your impact grows. You grow.
When I stopped offering endless freebies and started creating real containers for real results – everything shifted.
Not because I suddenly “got better” at marketing.
But because I finally owned the value of my work.
And when you do that – when you hold the energy of your offer with grounded confidence – your audience feels it.
You stop chasing.
You start attracting.
You stop over-explaining.
You start embodying.
And the right people – the ones who are ready for real change – will want to be in your world.
If you’re ready to create a course, program, or membership that sells with ease and feels aligned with how you love to work – that’s exactly what I help with inside Six-Figure Course Creator.
Inside, I walk you through the entire journey:
→ Clarifying your message
→ Building your paid offer
→ Creating soulful content
→ Selling without selling your soul
Because growing a wellness business doesn’t have to feel like hard hustle.
It gets to feel soft. Strategic. And deeply supportive – for you and your people.