Are Influencer Courses Still Worth It in 2025, or Just Built on Yesterday’s Internet?

ByJohn Dawson

Online courses promise to teach you how to make money as a content creator. But are they really worth the price today, or are many influencers just repackaging outdated methods that no longer work?

In practice, here’s how it plays out:

  • Many influencer-led courses are based on strategies that worked years ago, not today.
  • Buyers often discover the method is already saturated or obsolete.
  • Refunds are rare once you realize the gap between the promise and reality.
  • A few courses still provide good value, but only when they focus on skill-building, real practice, and personalized feedback.

This post looks at whether these programs are still worth your investment, or just a way for influencers to keep cashing in on yesterday’s internet.

A young woman is sitting in a coffee shop, focussing and typing on an open laptop in front of her, wearing headphones.

The Influencer-to-Educator Pipeline

What’s Still Worth Paying For?

Final Thought

Coming Up: Real Reviews of Big-Name Courses

A while back, I wrote this post wondering whether aspiring creators should take those flashy online courses from influencers, the ones who made it big, then repackaged their journey into a 12-module video series with bonus PDFs.

Back then, I took a charitable view: “If the course is genuinely good value, it could help people cut through the noise and get started, instead of being crushed by the overwhelm.”

And to be fair, for some, that may still be true.

But as I’ve continued on my own journey, I’ve grown more skeptical. Because here’s the thing:

Most of these influencers aren’t teaching the method that works now. They’re teaching the method that worked for them, years ago.

And often, the people buying in are years too late.

The Influencer-to-Educator Pipeline

Here’s the pattern:

  1. An influencer gets lucky: right place, right time, early growth.
  2. They cash in on their success by launching a course.
  3. The method becomes saturated or outdated, but the course keeps selling…
  4. The next wave of buyers struggle, but the refund window is long gone.

It isn’t always malicious, but it is often misleading. Some of these influencers already had a million followers before they launched their course. Their funnel may have worked back in 2019, but it no longer applies in 2025. And the platforms that once drove their traffic have since changed their algorithms countless times, leaving new students with a strategy that’s outdated before they even begin.

What’s Still Worth Paying For?

Despite the drawbacks, not every course is a waste of money. The ones that stand out are those designed around real skill-building rather than simply retelling the influencer’s personal story. A good program is taught by someone who still practices what they preach, not just someone who stopped creating years ago to sell courses full-time.

The best courses also include personalized feedback: real interaction instead of just a library of pre-recorded videos and a forgotten Facebook group. And, of course, the value lies in whether the program can genuinely save you time and cut through the overwhelm that comes with starting out.

Final Thought

Learning is still essential. But in 2025, paying an influencer for a supposed shortcut isn’t always the smartest path. Too many courses are built on methods that worked years ago but don’t hold up against today’s algorithms or the saturation of digital platforms.

That doesn’t mean every course is a waste. The ones that truly stand out are those designed to build transferable skills, provide personalized feedback, and are taught by creators who are still active in the field. Before investing, it’s worth asking: Does this course teach me something I can apply across different contexts? Does it help me grow now, or is it just retelling someone else’s past success story?

From my own experience, I recommend focusing on developing your skills first. Even if you later decide to invest in a course, you’ll be in a much stronger position to ask the right questions and make the most of what it offers than if you were starting completely from scratch.

The reality is that some of the most valuable lessons come from direct experience. Creating, experimenting, failing, and trying again not only develops skills but also builds the confidence no video module can deliver. Often, investing in tools, time, and a clear strategy tailored to your situation pays off more than chasing the next overpriced “secret formula.”

Influencers can inspire, but they can’t walk the path for you. Betting on yourself: your skills, your consistency, and your willingness to adapt remains the safest and most profitable investment in today’s creator economy.

Coming Up: Impartial Reviews of Big-Name Courses

Before you swipe your card or sign up for one of those big-ticket courses, stick around.

In the next few posts, I’ll be digging into some of the most talked-about influencer courses: think Adam Enfroy, Nick Dave, Mark Tilbury, and others. We’ll look at what they promise, what they actually deliver, and whether they’re built for real creators… or just the influencer’s bottom line.

No affiliated reviews. Just the facts to help you avoid costly mistakes.

🎧

Prefer to listen? This topic is also explored in one of my podcast episodes:

Portrait of John Dawson over a blue stippled background.

Great to have you here! Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.

Hi, I’m John Dawson, the creator of DawsonDecoded. Whether you’re here to start a blog, explore new ways to earn online, or rethink your career path, I hope you’ll find something useful, and maybe even inspiring.

Want honest insights on blogging, online income, and simple tools to build something of your own?

Subscribe and get new posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, just the good stuff.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More Course Reviews:

Screenshot of Adam Enfroy's BGE video on the BGE homepage.

Blog Growth Engine by Adam Enfroy: A Blogging Blueprint or an Outdated SEO Playbook in 2025?

Is Adam Enfroy’s Blog Growth Engine still effective in 2025? A complete, independent review of the course, with sources and updated platform context.

More Course Reviews:

You Might Like:

Woman working on a desktop computer.

Adapting to AI-Powered Search (Google’s SGE Era): How Bloggers Can Still Win

Google’s new AI Overviews are reshaping search, driving up zero-click results and cutting blog traffic. This post shows how smart creators can adapt, from formatting content for AI to building authority and diversifying traffic, so your blog stays visible and profitable in the AI era.

A young woman working from home on her laptop seemingly happy as she creates her first website in WordPress.

How to Start a Blog and Make Money in 2025 – Part 2/5: From Idea to Website

In Part 2 of this beginner’s guide, we move from idea to reality by getting your blog online. You’ll learn what domains and hosting actually are, and how to install WordPress in just a few clicks.

A young woman looking tired at home from working on her laptop.

How to Finally Stick to a Pinterest Strategy (Without Burning Out)

Most bloggers fail on Pinterest not from bad design, but from burnout. Learn a simple system to stay consistent and drive steady traffic without pinning 50 times a day.

Screenshot of Adam Enfroy's BGE video on the BGE homepage.

Blog Growth Engine by Adam Enfroy: A Blogging Blueprint or an Outdated SEO Playbook in 2025?

Is Adam Enfroy’s Blog Growth Engine still effective in 2025? A complete, independent review of the course, with sources and updated platform context.

A woman casually sitting on a window's ledge, holding a coffee mug while considering things.

How to Start a Blog and Make Money in 2025 – Part 1/5: Picking a Topic and a Name

Learn how to choose a blog niche you’ll love and a name that can grow with you, the first step in building a profitable blog in 2025.

AI Generated image for the purpose of illustrating the topic of this post: A satirical product advertisement showcasing an AI generated showbiz star.

The Dark Side of Online Income: How Scammers Are Using AI and Social Media to Make Millions

Scammers use AI and social media ads to create fake funnels that mimic legitimate ones. This post explains how they work and what ethical marketers can learn.

Photo of a woman working at her home study with an open laptop on her desk.

Why Blogging Is Still Worth It, and Why You Should Start Now

Blogging is far from dead in 2025. With full control over your content, lasting SEO reach, and multiple ways to earn, it remains a solid path if you’re patient.

A photo combination with on the left some lotto balls, and on the right a computer screen featuring a blog.

Betting on Yourself: Why Creating Content Will Always Be More Profitable Than Playing the Lottery

Why blog instead of buying lottery tickets? Because the odds and the long-term payoff make content creation a far smarter bet for financial success.

A young woman is working at home in her study. She holds with both hands a coffee mug with a dreamy gaze with in the background, on her desk, an open laptop showing Pinterest pins.

Pinterest: Why It Could Be the Best Platform to Grow Your Blog in 2025

Pinterest is still one of the best ways to grow blog traffic in 2025. Here’s how to use it to get steady visitors for months, even years after posting.

Close-up of a camera lens held to take a shot, with the street lights reflecting in it.

Can You Really Make Passive Income with Stock Photography in 2025?

Can you really earn passive income selling stock photos? I tested it myself. Here’s what the reality looks like and what it takes to make it work.

You Might Like: