What if I told you that you don’t need a finished course to start selling?

No modules.
No workbooks.
No curriculum uploaded anywhere.

I pre-sold $57K (and eventually crossed six figures) before creating a single piece of course content and I want to walk you through exactly how it worked, why it worked, and how you can apply this approach to your own program or course.
If you’re an expert who’s been stuck wondering how much you need to build before people will buy, this might completely change how you approach launching.
💡 Spoiler: The answer is far less than you think.

The Two Pre-Selling Traps Most Experts Fall Into

When it comes to pre-selling programs, I see people fall into one of two camps — and both create unnecessary struggle.

Camp 1: Build Everything First

This group creates:

• Every module
• Every lesson
• Every workbook
• Every bonus

…before making a single sale.
They spend months (sometimes years) building a “perfect” program — only to sometimes find out later that:

• People don’t want it
• The offer isn’t landing
• Or the messaging is off

🎯 The risk: You waste time, energy, and momentum building something nobody validated.

Camp 2: Sell With Almost Nothing

This group swings the opposite direction.
They have:

• A vague idea
• A promise
• A price

And that’s about it.
They try to pre-sell, but prospects hesitate because there’s nothing concrete to trust.
🎯 The risk: Buyers can’t see how you’ll actually get them results.

The Sweet Spot: Pre-Selling With Confidence (Without Content)

Here’s what I discovered:
You don’t need a finished course — but you do need enough substance to build trust.
When I pre-sold Course Complete, I had:

• ❌ Zero videos
• ❌ Zero modules
• ❌ Zero workbooks

But I did have four specific assets that gave people clarity, confidence, and certainty.
Those four assets generated over $57K in pre-sales — before I built anything.
Let’s break them down.

Asset #1: The Offer Document ✅

This is where everything starts.
Your Offer Document is not a fancy pitch deck or a 20-page business plan.
It’s a one-page Google Doc that clearly answers:

• Who this is for
• Who this is not for
• The transformation you’re promising
• What’s included
• How the result is delivered
• The price
• Your guarantee
• Any urgency or scarcity

That’s it.
When I first sold Course Complete, I literally shared a Google Doc on sales calls.

No design.
No fluff.
Just clarity.

🎯 Why this works:
Clarity builds trust. Complexity creates confusion.

How to Create Yours

Open a Google Doc and write:

• The transformation your program delivers
• What’s included
• Who it’s perfect for
• Who it’s not for
• The investment

You can refine it later — but clarity sells, not polish.

Asset #2: The Program Outline 🧭

Some prospects will ask for this. Some won’t.
But you need it.
Your Program Outline is not a final syllabus — it’s a roadmap.
When I pre-sold, my outline was only about 80% complete — intentionally.
Why? Because beta clients shape the final version.
 

Focus on Transformation, Not Topics

Instead of:

• Module 1: Introduction
• Module 2: Strategy
• Module 3: Implementation

Think:

• Phase 1: Foundation
• Phase 2: Creation
• Phase 3: Launch

This shows:

• You have a process
• You understand the journey
• You know how to get people results

🎯 Key reminder:
Your outline is a guide, not a contract.

Asset #3: The Onboarding Email 📬

This is where most programs quietly lose momentum.
Poor onboarding creates:

• Confusion
• Buyer’s remorse
• Refunds
• Disengagement

Great onboarding does the opposite.

The 20% That Creates 80% of the Result

Your onboarding email should do two things really well:
1. Celebrate the decision
Make people feel seen, supported, and excited.
2. Clarify logistics in one place

• Where to access everything
• How the program works
• Who to contact with questions
• What’s available now vs. later

If something isn’t ready yet (common in beta programs), tell them exactly when to expect it.
🎯 People succeed when they can plan.

Asset #4: The Welcome Video 🎥

This is the fastest way to build trust.
Your welcome video doesn’t need to be polished or fancy.
It needs to be human.

What to Include

• A genuine welcome and thank you
• Excitement about their journey
• A clear first step
• Reassurance that you’re there to support them

⏱️ Keep it between 3–7 minutes.
🎯 Authenticity beats perfection every time.

Why This Works Better Than Building Content First 🚀

These four assets outperform a half-built course for three reasons:

1. You’re Selling the Outcome

People don’t buy courses.
They buy transformations.

This approach keeps the focus where it belongs.

2. You Build Confidence Before Content

When you are clear, selling feels aligned — not pushy.
Confidence transfers.

3. You Validate Demand First

If people won’t buy based on clarity, they won’t buy your finished program either.
Better to learn that early.
That’s exactly how I built Course Complete — and why it worked.

Your Next Step 🎯

Stop building content.
Start building these four assets:

• Offer Document
• Program Outline
• Onboarding Email
• Welcome Video

Get these right, and you can pre-sell with confidence — just like I did.

✨ Want Support?

You have two options:

• Book a discovery call — a zero-pressure conversation to explore your idea and next steps
• Join the Course Complete waitlist to be first to know when enrollment opens

FAQ❓

1. Can I really pre-sell a course without content?

Yes — as long as you clearly communicate the transformation, process, and experience using the four assets outlined above.

2. Is this approach ethical?

Absolutely. Transparency, timelines, and strong onboarding are what make pre-selling ethical and effective.

3. What if my program changes after pre-selling?

That’s expected — especially in beta launches. Your outline is a roadmap, not a rigid contract.

4. Do I need sales calls to pre-sell?

Not always, but 90% of the time I recommend it — especially for higher-ticket programs and/or if you have a small audience.

5. Who is this best suited for?

Experts who have validated experience and want to turn their knowledge into a scalable program or course.