Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 5 hours ago
Are online courses still selling in 2026? The honest answer is yes — but the online course industry has changed dramatically over the past few years. In this video, I’m sharing the real truth about what’s happening in the digital product space, why some creators are struggling to sell courses right now, and what actually still works if you want to build a profitable online business today.
If you’ve been wondering whether creating an online course is still worth it, whether webinars still work, or if AI tools like ChatGPT
are replacing digital products entirely, this episode will help you think about the industry more clearly and strategically.
I also talk about:
-Why some major course creators are shutting down flagship programs
-How the online course industry has evolved since 2010
-What changed after 2020
-Why some niches are becoming harder to sell in
-The real reason audience-building matters more than ever
-How buyer behavior has changed in the AI era
-What still makes people willing to buy online courses today
Whether you already have an online course, are thinking about creating one, or just want to understand where online business is headed, this video will help you cut through the noise and focus on what actually matters.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction
03:01 The Different Eras of Online Courses
06:24 What the Data Says About the Online Course Industry
09:37 Why Selling Courses Has Become More Challenging
13:20 The Digital Marketing Industry vs Other Niches
13:51 Do Evergreen Webinar Funnels Still Work?
15:38 Why Some Big Course Creators Are Shutting Programs Down
19:00 Are People Still Buying Online Courses?
20:15 Why Video Content Still Matters in the AI Era
21:42 Why Building an Audience Matters More Than Ever
25:55 Final Thoughts on the Future of Online Courses
🔹 Watch my free YouTube workshop to learn how to get your first 1,000 subscribers in just 3 months: creatorfasttrack.com/workshop-registration
🔹 Want to see exactly how my most profitable funnels work? Watch me break down one of my $100K sales funnel here: gillianperkins.com/bts
🔹 Get my Small Business 101 course for FREE: gillianperkins.com/free-training-small-business-101
// WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- what to focus on in the FIRST WEEK of starting an online business: youtu.be/O8wIhknoQpk
- 5 Practical Steps to Start Your First Business (as a Stay-at-Home-Mom): youtu.be/gvGLoRQUQe8
- Why I'm RADICALLY Changing My Business Model for 2025 (and maybe you should to...): youtu.be/SySD3KaMJ7E
// LINKS
Learn more about Gillian and find resources to build your online business:
gillianperkins.com
Follow Gillian on Instagram to get a BTS look at what it's like to be a digital entrepreneur: instagram.com/gillianzperkins
// FILMING EQUIPMENT
Main camera: amzn.to/3rhibrl
Clip-on lav mic: amzn.to/46DwN4n
Tripod: amzn.to/2w7sIJ6
Main light: amzn.to/3HHHhFX
Other lights: amzn.to/2OKhzEv
RBG light strip: amzn.to/3WmuPiR
NOTE: This description may contain affiliate links to products we enjoy using ourselves. Should you choose to use these links, this channel may earn affiliate commissions at no additional cost to you. We appreciate your support!
Are online courses still selling in 2026? The honest answer is yes — but the online course industry has changed dramatically over the past few years. In this video, I’m sharing the real truth about what’s happening in the digital product space, why some creators are struggling to sell courses right now, and what actually still works if you want to build a profitable online business today.
If you’ve been wondering whether creating an online course is still worth it, whether webinars still work, or if AI tools like ChatGPT
are replacing digital products entirely, this episode will help you think about the industry more clearly and strategically.
I also talk about:
-Why some major course creators are shutting down flagship programs
-How the online course industry has evolved since 2010
-What changed after 2020
-Why some niches are becoming harder to sell in
-The real reason audience-building matters more than ever
-How buyer behavior has changed in the AI era
-What still makes people willing to buy online courses today
Whether you already have an online course, are thinking about creating one, or just want to understand where online business is headed, this video will help you cut through the noise and focus on what actually matters.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction
03:01 The Different Eras of Online Courses
06:24 What the Data Says About the Online Course Industry
09:37 Why Selling Courses Has Become More Challenging
13:20 The Digital Marketing Industry vs Other Niches
13:51 Do Evergreen Webinar Funnels Still Work?
15:38 Why Some Big Course Creators Are Shutting Programs Down
19:00 Are People Still Buying Online Courses?
20:15 Why Video Content Still Matters in the AI Era
21:42 Why Building an Audience Matters More Than Ever
25:55 Final Thoughts on the Future of Online Courses
🔹 Watch my free YouTube workshop to learn how to get your first 1,000 subscribers in just 3 months: creatorfasttrack.com/workshop-registration
🔹 Want to see exactly how my most profitable funnels work? Watch me break down one of my $100K sales funnel here: gillianperkins.com/bts
🔹 Get my Small Business 101 course for FREE: gillianperkins.com/free-training-small-business-101
// WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- what to focus on in the FIRST WEEK of starting an online business: youtu.be/O8wIhknoQpk
- 5 Practical Steps to Start Your First Business (as a Stay-at-Home-Mom): youtu.be/gvGLoRQUQe8
- Why I'm RADICALLY Changing My Business Model for 2025 (and maybe you should to...): youtu.be/SySD3KaMJ7E
// LINKS
Learn more about Gillian and find resources to build your online business:
gillianperkins.com
Follow Gillian on Instagram to get a BTS look at what it's like to be a digital entrepreneur: instagram.com/gillianzperkins
// FILMING EQUIPMENT
Main camera: amzn.to/3rhibrl
Clip-on lav mic: amzn.to/46DwN4n
Tripod: amzn.to/2w7sIJ6
Main light: amzn.to/3HHHhFX
Other lights: amzn.to/2OKhzEv
RBG light strip: amzn.to/3WmuPiR
NOTE: This description may contain affiliate links to products we enjoy using ourselves. Should you choose to use these links, this channel may earn affiliate commissions at no additional cost to you. We appreciate your support!
