Stuck on “Which platform should I use?” Melissa Kara shares a practical, values-aligned way to choose, ship, and iterate without getting lost in tech or design.

You’ll learn:

• A simple order of operations so platform choice doesn’t delay your launch
• How to keep momentum when you don’t have an audience (yet)
• What makes a sales page convert (templates, flow, and micro-decisions)
• Safe ways to customize without breaking your page

About our guest:
Melissa Kara is the founder of The Kara Collections, a studio creating plug-and-play templates with built-in copy prompts for course creators.

The Kara Collections supplies plug-and-play templates with copy prompts and beautiful, high-converting designs — all at affordable prices and easy enough for anyone to use. Our mission is to make it simple for every business owner to choose the right platform and create stunning pages that convert, without the stress or tech overwhelm.

Links & resources:

• The Kara Collections (templates)
• Work with Melissa

If tech is stalling your launch, pick a usable platform, apply a proven template, publish your first lesson, then iterate.

Please Note that Shannon Boyer no longer uses this platform and now hosts everything on Skool.

Get started on your own course creation journey or learn how to make your existing course even better at The "Your Best Course" Build Lab, my interactive and supportive online community.

To get started creating your own online course, check out my new freebie that will take you through the steps of choosing a topic that will be profitable for YOU.

To be in the know about new offerings and opportunities, make sure you sign up for my newsletter.

This podcast is produced, mixed, and edited by Cardinal Studio. For more
information about how to start your own podcast, please visit www.cardinalstudio.co
or e-mail mike@cardinalstudio.co

You’ve got a course. You’ve got testimonials. But no one’s seeing it.

If you’ve ever felt like your incredible offer is just sitting in a corner of the internet gathering dust, this episode is for you. I’m joined by Zach Spuckler, marketing strategist and host of Not Your Average Online Marketing Podcast, who pulls back the curtain on what actually works when it comes to running Meta ads to build your audience and grow your course-based business.

Zach brings 10+ years of experience and breaks down the difference between ads that waste money and ads that grow an email list of the right people - without needing a $10K funnel or a million views.

We get into the realistic starting budgets, how to know if your leads are quality, when to DIY and when to hire, and why the long game is your best bet.

🔍 In this episode:

• Why boosting a post is not the same as running an ad, and what to do instead
• The three types of ads (and why course creators should start with lead gen)
• How to tell if your ad leads are actually worth the money
• A behind-the-scenes look at real numbers: ad spend, list size, conversion windows
• When it’s too early to hire an agency, and what to know before you do
• Why email lists beat social media algorithms when it comes to selling your course
• What not to believe about $37 funnels and the myth of passive income

📌 Mentioned in the episode:

• Zach’s Bootcamp – A 5-day experience for creating your first Meta ad campaign
• Not Your Average Online Marketing Podcast – Zach’s podcast, including his take on the passive income myth
• The Build Lab – Shannon’s community for course creators who want to build high-quality, high-impact programs
• Zach Spuckler on Instagram
• Zach's website - Heart Soul Hustle

🎧 Listen now if you’re:

• Wondering whether ads are worth it (especially with a small list or tight budget)
• Tired of being invisible online and want to build a consistent audience
• Thinking about hiring help but aren’t sure if you’re ready
• Curious about how real course creators use ads to grow their email list and community

Your course deserves to be seen. This episode will help you get it in front of the people who need it without wasting your time or money.

➡️ Subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and tag @shannonlboyer with your biggest takeaway!

Get started on your own course creation journey or learn how to make your existing course even better at The "Your Best Course" Build Lab, my interactive and supportive online community.

To get started creating your own online course, check out my new freebie that will take you through the steps of choosing a topic that will be profitable for YOU.

To be in the know about new offerings and opportunities, make sure you sign up for my newsletter.

This podcast is produced, mixed, and edited by Cardinal Studio. For more
information about how to start your own podcast, please visit www.cardinalstudio.co
or e-mail mike@cardinalstudio.co

Once upon a time, online communities were alive - buzzing with conversation, collaboration, and connection. But lately, many of them feel... quiet. Too quiet.

In this episode, Shannon pulls back the curtain on what’s really happening in online spaces that once thrived, and why the problem isn’t spam, it’s silence. She explores how community “rules” designed to protect authenticity may have accidentally stripped it away, leaving creators and entrepreneurs unsure how to show up, share, or sell without guilt.

From her own experience running The Classifieds, a thriving Skool community where promotion and collaboration coexist beautifully, Shannon reveals how a new wave of community design is making it possible for entrepreneurs to be both genuine and visible.

You’ll hear:

• The hidden reason engagement has dropped across online spaces
• How well-meaning guidelines often stifle connection instead of fostering it
• Why Skool’s model is changing the game for course creators and community builders
• Real stories of collaboration and generosity that prove business and community can grow together

If you’ve ever wondered how to revive the soul of your online community, or how to talk about your business without breaking “the rules”, this episode will change how you see what’s possible when authenticity and entrepreneurship finally get to coexist.

🎧 Listen now to discover why a community that sells isn't necessarily a sell-out.

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Join The Classifieds on Skool
  
  
• Check out Skool (affiliate link)

Get started on your own course creation journey or learn how to make your existing course even better at The "Your Best Course" Build Lab, my interactive and supportive online community.

To get started creating your own online course, check out my new freebie that will take you through the steps of choosing a topic that will be profitable for YOU.

To be in the know about new offerings and opportunities, make sure you sign up for my newsletter.

This podcast is produced, mixed, and edited by Cardinal Studio. For more
information about how to start your own podcast, please visit www.cardinalstudio.co
or e-mail mike@cardinalstudio.co