Webinars vs Challenges vs Mini Offers: How to Choose the Right Launch Event in 2026
Webinars, challenges, mini offers. Oh my. How are you supposed to choose which type of launch event is going to be the best for you?
Here's the thing. I've worked behind the scenes with a lot of hair and beauty educators, and I've seen all of these methods work well. There isn't a "best" launch event in general. But there IS a best launch event for your offer, your audience, and the season of business you're in right now.
I want you to choose a launch event that supports your goals instead of distracting you from them. So let's get into it.
What You'll Learn
The four main types of launch events and when each one makes sense
Current data on webinar conversions, challenge engagement, and buyer behavior
Why paid launch events are becoming my go-to recommendation
How to decide which format fits your education business
The biggest trap I see educators fall into when choosing a launch format
What Is a Launch Event for Course Creators?
A launch event sits between your pre-launch messaging and open cart. Its job is to create focused engagement, let people self-select whether they're a good fit for your program, and accelerate the trust-building process so they're ready to make a decision.
A launch event is really just a container. What actually matters is the content inside that container: what problem you're speaking to, what shift you're helping people make, and how clearly your offer connects to that shift.
Do Webinars Still Work for Selling Online Courses in 2026?
I've heard people say webinars don't work anymore, which is super untrue.
What would be more accurate is that just plugging in and checking the box of "has webinar" is no longer working. Your messaging and audience understanding needs to be on point. "This training is free" is no longer enough of a value proposition. Time has value.
The data: About 95% of marketers say webinars are essential to their strategy, and 73% say webinars produce their best quality leads. A strong landing page can convert 50-60% of visitors into registrants for free webinars. Conversion rates from attendees to customers typically run 5-20% depending on audience warmth and price point.
One of the biggest mistakes I see? Over-teaching so much that attendees feel overwhelmed instead of empowered. This is not the place to info dump. Pick one specific shift, show them the pathway, and invite them into your offer.
Should Beauty Educators Do Free or Paid Webinars?
I love putting a price tag on a webinar. Here's why:
When people have skin in the game, they're more likely to show up AND more likely to take action on the bigger thing afterwards. Data suggests people are 60-80% more likely to purchase from you again when they've already purchased from you before.
Free webinars get more initial signups. Paid webinars get better attendance and typically higher conversion rates. If you're running ads, paid also helps recoup your ad spend.
And here's something most educators skip: don't stop marketing once they sign up. Your show-up sequence matters just as much as your promo sequence. What do they have to lose by staying stuck? Speak to that.
What's the Difference Between Challenges and Webinars for Course Launches?
Challenges are 3-5 day structured experiences where participants work through specific steps with you. They're great for habit change, skill activation, and getting people to interact with you quickly.
The most successful challenge I ever ran was the Instagram Visibility Challenge. Each day had one specific thing participants could implement in 20 minutes or less. No overwhelm, just action.
One of my favorite Einstein quotes: an object in motion stays in motion. When people participate actively, they associate your work with real progress. That makes it easier to invite them to go further afterwards.
Challenges work best when: Your offer involves coaching or interactive experience and you want to showcase what it's like to work with you.
Webinars work best when: You need to walk people through a concept or belief shift before they're ready to decide.
What Are Mini Offers and Why Are They Growing?
Mini offers are short paid experiences someone can implement in an afternoon. Think: a one-off paid workshop, a short course with a specific outcome, a private podcast feed, or the first section of your bigger program as a standalone.
Customers who've made a small purchase are about 60-70% more likely to buy again later. So a mini offer does two things: it qualifies people for intent (people who pay are telling you they want more), and it shortens the trust gap before a larger investment.
This is especially powerful if your work requires demonstration. Once someone has experienced your teaching, they're way more confident buying the next level.
When Should Course Creators Skip the Launch Event?
Direct to offer means going straight to open cart without a scheduled event. This works when you have warm audiences, your offer is familiar, and you've built serious brand equity.
Returning buyers convert at 3-5x the rate of first-time buyers. So when trust already exists, you can streamline the path.
But direct to offer can also totally flop. It really depends on your touchpoints, brand equity, and audience size.
How Do I Choose the Right Launch Event for My Online Course?
Here's the trap I see educators fall into: thinking they need to find the right launch vehicle and then jam content into it.
Look at it backwards instead.
Start with: What do people need to understand or experience before they're ready to decide?
Then pick the simplest way to deliver that.
Actions need to be taken? Challenge might be the fit.
Walkthrough or belief shift? Webinar could work.
Need to demonstrate your teaching? Mini offer.
Warm, trusting audience? Direct to offer might be all you need.
Key Takeaways for Hair and Beauty Educators
Paid launch events are on the rise for good reason. Higher show-up rates, better conversions, pre-qualified buyers. My recommendation for 2026: a lead generation strategy paired with a low-ticket launch event.
Don't over-teach. People don't need more information. They need a clean perspective and a clear pathway.
All of these methods work. I'm telling you as someone who works behind the scenes with a lot of educators. People are still selling out offers, selling out retreats, having massive success. It's possible for you too.
This is not passive income. But it's income and impact that matters.
For the full breakdown on each launch event type, including more data and examples, tune into this episode of the Sought After Educator Podcast.
If you want help figuring out exactly which launch event fits your offer and where you are in business, that's what we work on inside Sought After Educator, the accelerator.
Planning a launch and unsure which direction to go? Send me a DM on Instagram and tell me what you're thinking.
If this post gave you an idea or a new perspective, send me a DM on Instagram @itsJodiebrown. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
And if you’d like to listen in on the exact podcast episode that accompanies this blog post, you can do that here, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Xo Jodie
Ps. Don't forget to subscribe to the Sought After Educator Podcast to get more insights like this delivered to your phone every week.
