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What Actually Worked After My First Launch (Real Numbers + Real Lessons)

After your first launch… then what?
That’s the question most new entrepreneurs quietly carry.

In Episode 6 of my 21-day series From Purpose to Impact, I shared what actually happened after my first launch in 2020, including the revenue, the profit margin, what I spent, and what truly worked.

Not to brag. Not to make it about money.

But because when I was starting my online business, I wanted to know what was realistic. Not just what was possible. Not flashy ads claiming a million dollars in two years.

I wanted to know:

• What did a real person make?
• What were their expenses?
• What was their profit margin?
• Were they running ads?

So let’s talk about it.

What Happened After My First $10K Launch

At the end of March 2020, I launched my first digital course, The Digital Clutter Cure, and generated around $10,000.

It was completely organic. No ad spend.

But here’s what most people don’t talk about.
The next two months, I didn’t even make $500.

Why?

Because I was delivering the program.

I had launched. I had 95 students. And I was focused on serving them.

This is where many entrepreneurs panic.

The big launch is over. Revenue slows. Doubt creeps in.

But the best decision I made was this:
I relaunched the same program three months later.

The Power of Relaunching Quickly

In July 2020, I rebooted my five-day challenge.

I raised the price of my course from $97 to $247.

• I duplicated the same challenge model.
• I tweaked the messaging.
• I refined the content.
• I opened enrollment again.

That second launch generated another $10,000.
Still organic. No ads.

Even though the price was higher and I had fewer students.

And here’s what made it powerful:

It was 10 times easier.

• The course was already built.
• I didn’t have to recreate lessons.
• I simply showed up live for weekly Q&A and coaching.

Momentum compounds when you relaunch quickly. You are not starting from scratch.

The Hidden Benefit of Cohort-Style Launches

Because I had done two cohort launches close together, something else happened.

In August, I generated over $9,000 in revenue without running another full cohort.

$4,200 came from one-on-one coaching and around $4,700 came from a paid workshop.

Why did this work?
Because cohorts build trust and relationships.

Students wanted to work with me more closely.

So I offered single coaching sessions and three-session packages. And people bought.

This is one of the hidden values of cohort-style experiences versus do-it-yourself evergreen courses.

Cohorts build depth, not just revenue.

Creating a Workshop Based on Real Need

Through those first two cohorts, I noticed something.

Many of my students were Mac users who didn’t know how to optimize their computers.

So I asked a simple question online:
On a scale of 1 to 10, how confident are you that you’re using all the benefits of your Mac?

Dozens of responses came in. Most people said 2, 3, or 5.

So I created a three-session live workshop called Maximize Your Mac.

Three Zoom sessions. $97 enrollment. That first round generated almost $5,000.

• I didn’t overthink it.
• I didn’t plan it for six months.
• I responded to a need I saw in real time.

That workshop later became an evergreen product and generated much more revenue over the years. It’s now outdated, so I no longer offer it. But what I learned from it was invaluable.

Launching teaches you what to build next.

I would never have known there was demand for that workshop without first launching my cohort and listening to my students.

My Third Launch and Testing Ads

In October of that year, I launched The Digital Clutter Cure again.

That launch generated over $12,000. I tested a small amount of ads, spending around $500.

My profit was similar to previous launches, but I was also building my audience which was an important shift.

The Big Picture of Year One

From March to December 2020:

Revenue: Just under $64,000
Expenses: Just over $28,000
Profit: $35,447
Profit Margin: 55%

For the first 10 months in an online business, that is strong. Anything over a 50% profit margin is healthy, especially when you’re reinvesting and testing new strategies.

And here’s what I want you to notice.

This wasn’t built on:

• Viral growth
• Massive ad spend
• One perfect launch

It was built on:

• Launching the same program multiple times
• Relaunching quickly while momentum was fresh
• Listening closely to students
• Creating new offers based on real needs
• Building relationships through cohort experiences

Each launch was data.

• Launch one validated my offer and taught me what to refine.
• Launch two built efficiency and improved my systems.
• Launch three built authority and gave me confidence to implement paid ads.

Suddenly, I wasn’t guessing. I was building based on evidence.

The Real Lesson

My first year was not built on one perfect launch. It was built on repetition. Iteration. Momentum. And staying close to my students.

Those decisions built:

• Coaching income
• Paid workshops
• Recurring launches

And eventually, more sustainable revenue models

Launching is not a one-time event. It’s a learning system.

And that’s how purpose turns into impact.

Submit Your Question for the Podcast

If you’re wondering what to launch next, how to structure your offers, or how to build sustainable revenue in your online business, I’d love to hear your question.

Submit it at: youronlinebusinessmentor.com

Many episodes in this series are inspired by real listener questions. When you submit one, you’ll also be entered into the listener giveaway for access to programs designed to support your journey.

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This post is based on Day 6 of a 21-day series. Follow or subscribe to Your Online Business Mentor so you don’t miss the conversations ahead.