Why So Many Online Businesses are Struggling Right Now (And What to Do About It)

You’re Not Crazy. The Game Changed. And You’re Not Alone.

If your business feels like it’s stuck in neutral—content not converting, leads ghosting, revenue stalling—here’s the truth: it’s not just you.

Not too long ago, I surveyed hundreds of experienced online business owners—coaches, consultants, course creators, service providers. The question was simple:

What’s your biggest business concern right now?

91% of them gave some version of the same answer:

“I have no idea what I’m doing anymore.”

Let that sink in for a minute.

These aren’t beginners. These are seasoned entrepreneurs. Women who’ve built real businesses. Women like you. And they’re stuck. Confused. Tired. Wondering if they’re the only ones feeling like they’re spinning their wheels.

So let me say this plainly:

You are not alone. You are not broken. And you’re definitely not crazy.

But something has changed. The rules of the game shifted. The online business model that once worked so beautifully? It’s collapsing under its own weight.

And unless you make a pivot—soon—you’ll keep working harder and harder for fewer and fewer results.

Let’s unpack what’s happening—and exactly what to do about it.

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I’ve Seen This Before—But Not Like This

I’ve been building online businesses since 2010. I’ve ridden the waves of SEO, Pinterest, Facebook ads, and everything in between. I’ve built four 7-figure brands, spoken on big stages, and mentored over 15,000 entrepreneurs.

And even I’ve felt the shift.

Because this isn’t just a momentary dip or a slow quarter. This is a market-wide shift. A full-blown identity crisis for online business owners everywhere.

But what’s happening isn’t your fault. You didn’t lose your magic. The rules just changed.

Welcome to the Trust Recession.

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What the Survey Revealed (And Why It Matters)

Honestly, I didn’t expect the answers to be quite so unanimous.

Hundreds of responses came in. Many from business owners who’ve been in the game for 5+ years. People who already have products, audiences, and some degree of past success.

And yet:

• 51% said they have no idea what strategies actually work anymore.
• 41% said people just aren’t buying like they used to.
• 40% said the market feels too saturated to stand out.
• Only 9% said they feel confident in their current direction.

Let me say that again: 91% of business owners feel lost.

The #1 issue?

Lead conversion.

You’re getting some traffic. You’re creating the content. People are watching. Maybe they’re even engaging. But when it comes time to sell?

Crickets.

This is the part where most people either double down on the old tactics—more funnels, more content, more launches—or start questioning their entire business.

But neither of those paths work.

Because this isn’t a you problem. This is a market problem.

We are in the middle of what I’m calling the Trust Recession.

And it’s reshaping everything.

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The Trust Recession: Why People Aren’t Buying Like They Used To

Here’s what you need to understand: the online business space as we knew it? It was built on a very specific model.

One I now call the Marketing Economy.

It rewarded:

• Automation
• Scalability
• Passive funnels
• One-to-many content

And for over a decade, it worked like magic.

Build a list. Post on social. Launch a course. Watch the sales roll in.

But that was before the explosion of content. Before AI flooded every inbox with “good enough” copy. Before everyone and their cousin became a coach.

Today?

The market is oversaturated. Your audience is overwhelmed. And trust has never been harder to earn.

Because when everything looks polished, sounds professional, and promises results? Nobody knows who to believe.

Which means your biggest enemy right now isn’t obscurity. It’s skepticism.

People are still spending money—but only with people they trust.

So if you’re showing up and doing “all the things” and still not seeing results?

You don’t need to work harder. You need to build trust faster.

That’s the shift.

That’s the new game.

And the entrepreneurs who figure this out? They’re the ones who will dominate in 2026 and beyond.

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The Relationship Economy Is Here (And It Changes Everything)

So what replaces the Marketing Economy?

The Relationship Economy.

In the Relationship Economy:

• Visibility is no longer enough.
• You don’t win by shouting louder—you win by connecting deeper.
• Automation doesn’t build trust—relationships do.

Let me give you an example.

I have a friend—an online coach—who’s had record-breaking months this year.

She’s not launching big funnels. She’s not spending thousands on ads.

She’s having real conversations. She’s DMing people. She’s checking in. She’s following up. She’s showing up live.

And she’s booked solid.

Because people don’t buy from brands. They buy from people.

This is the future. And the future is personal.

But here’s the million-dollar question:

How do you make that scalable?

That’s where the Daily Sales Flywheel comes in.

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The Daily Sales Flywheel: Your New Business Engine

I’ve spent the past year rebuilding my own business from the inside out using this new model. And what emerged is a simple but powerful framework:

The Daily Sales Flywheel

It’s made up of three core systems:

1. Thought Leadership Platform

You don’t need more content. You need a clear message that positions you as the trusted authority in your space.

Choose your hill.

For me? It’s the Relationship Economy. That’s the drum I’m banging everywhere—this blog, my podcast, Instagram, emails, all of it.

Stop trying to be everything to everyone. Start saying one powerful thing, over and over.

2. Trust-Building Offer

You need a low-risk, high-value entry point into your world. But not another PDF download or $27 tripwire.

This offer should:

• Create real connection
• Deliver real results
• Bridge the gap to your core offer

It’s not about the price—it’s about the experience.

For me, that’s the Daily Sales Incubator. It’s $49/month, but gives people live coaching, real implementation help, and direct access to what’s working right now.

3. Customer Engagement Hub

This is the system most entrepreneurs don’t have—and the one that changes everything.

It’s where you:

• Track actual human interactions
• Follow up intentionally
• Create real momentum with the leads already in your world

We have team members responsible for 700–1000 relationships each. And it’s not about spammy DMs—it’s about caring enough to remember where someone is in their journey and showing up accordingly.

These three systems feed each other. They build momentum, not burnout.

That’s the power of a flywheel over a funnel.

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Your Belief Shift: It’s Not You. It’s the Strategy.

Let’s make one thing clear: you didn’t forget how to run your business.

You just haven’t pivoted your model to match the market.

And if you keep trying to scale with funnels built for 2019, you’re going to keep burning out, launching to crickets, and wondering if you’ve “lost it.”

You haven’t. The market changed.

But that means you must change with it.

The good news? If you do, you’ll be miles ahead of everyone else still clinging to broken strategies.

This is your opportunity.

And now is the moment to act.

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Want to Build Your Flywheel with Me?

If this post spoke to you—if you’re tired of spinning your wheels and ready to rebuild your business on trust, strategy, and connection—then you need to be inside the Daily Sales Incubator. It’s my ridiculously affordable, done-with-you business coaching program, designed to help you build all three pieces of your Daily Sales Flywheel as quickly as possible.

Here’s what you get:

• The Daily Sales Bootcamp: Learn the full flywheel framework in one high-impact training
• Live Coaching: Monthly calls with me to troubleshoot, refine, and optimize your system
• Implementation Labs: My team helps you build out your systems in real time
• Supportive Community: Surround yourself with smart, savvy business owners who are pivoting with you

All for just $67/month. No long-term commitment required. Cancel anytime. Because I believe I should have to earn your business every single month.

Join the Daily Sales Incubator here and start building your flywheel today.

The entrepreneurs who pivot now? They’re the ones who will own the market in 2026.

Let’s get you ahead of the curve.