The $100 MBA Show – Episode MBA2671: “Three Low Priced Products I Recommend Selling”
Host: Omar Zenhom
Date: September 1, 2025
Overview
In this pragmatic episode, Omar Zenhom breaks his usual stance on low-priced products and shares the three exception categories he actually recommends every entrepreneur consider offering. While most “cheap” products bring headaches and slim profits, these specific types—short challenges/bootcamps, books, and live coaching sessions—are potent, scalable, high-margin tools that not only bring in revenue but also prime your audience for higher-ticket sales. Omar details why these products work, how to structure them, and how they fit into a business growth pipeline.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Why Low-Priced Products Usually Don’t Work—And Three That Do
[02:02 – 02:46]
- Omar sets the stage, explaining his historic skepticism:
“Generally, low priced products means low margins, more customer support headaches and a tough road of real revenue ahead.”
- However, he introduces three exceptions that are under $100 and still “scale beautifully, have high margins and convert better than most free opt ins.”
2. Low-Priced Product #1: Short Challenges or Bootcamps
[02:46 – 07:00]
- Product Type: 3-day or week-long challenge with a clear, specific result.
- Typical Pricing: $19–$49.
- Examples:
- Social Media Content Challenge for service providers.
- Automated Webinar Challenge (from his own SaaS company Webinar Ninja).
- Why It Works:
- High leverage: Build once, run repeatedly.
- No additional cost per customer.
- Builds trust quickly—customers get a quick win.
- Converts better for later high-ticket offers (“A paying customer is the best customer you know.”—Omar, [05:18]).
- Outcome:
- Even a $49 challenge with 1,000 participants brings in $49,000 and seeds a warm audience for upsells.
- “You’ve created this great pipeline of buyers…” ([06:03])
- Scalable: Can be bundled, licensed, or driven with ads.
3. Low-Priced Product #2: Books
[07:01 – 11:04]
- Product Type: Nonfiction book, $10–$30.
- Core Benefits:
- Credibility and authority—makes you the go-to expert.
- Opens doors to press, podcasts, partnerships, and speaking gigs.
- “A book is still one of the most underrated marketing and business tools out there.” ([07:12])
- Attracts consulting, courses, and other high-ticket offers (“Go to their websites…you’ll see that they're selling high ticket offers off the back of that book.” [08:03])
- Evergreen: Keeps generating sales and trust for years.
- Conversion Power:
- Buyers “actually pay attention” to things they purchased—even if it’s just $10.
- A strong book primes readers for premium offers:
“If this is what I got for just $15, imagine what they would give me if I paid $500.” ([10:09])
- Practical Margins:
- Not astronomical, but strong when self-published or bundled, and far offset by authority/trust benefits.
4. Low-Priced Product #3: Live Group Coaching Sessions
[11:05 – 14:40]
- Product: 2-3 hour live group coaching, usually via Zoom.
- Price: $49–$99.
- Why It Wins:
- Low-risk for buyer, high leverage for coach/tutor.
- “It’s a no-brainer way to get your customers to pay you big bucks for your bigger programs.” ([11:36])
- Example: $99 session on boosting Airbnb host income—with a real, easily achieved ROI, people are eager to buy higher-priced packages after.
- Scalable: 150 attendees @ $99 = $14,850 for 3 hours, no fulfillment beyond perhaps a replay.
- Trust Machine:
- Quick “win” builds rapport; many participants ready for the next step.
- “You just proved you know your stuff.” ([12:25])
- Run sessions quarterly/monthly—hundreds or thousands can attend virtually, even with a small following.
5. What Makes These Low-Priced Products Work? The Three Critical Criteria
[14:42 – 16:45] Omar lays out the must-check boxes for any low-priced product:
- Scalability:
“Can you sell more and more... without it costing you more and more money every time?”
- High Margin:
“What’s the difference between how much it costs you to fulfill... versus how much you’re actually earning?”
- Conversion Tool:
- Must align with your “value ladder”—acts as a stepping stone to higher-priced products.
“Make sure there's something for them to graduate to and it's aligned.” ([16:13])
6. Practical Advice and Actionable Takeaways
[16:46 – 17:55]
- If paralyzed by a big idea, use one of these low-priced offerings as a “launch pad” and a way to validate your market.
- “A customer who pays even $29 is 100 times more valuable than a free subscriber who never engages.” ([17:33])
- Build something small, deliver a fast win, and momentum and trust will follow for both you and your customer.
Notable Quotes
-
On Challenges/Bootcamps:
“They build trust fast. You are able to help someone get a quick win for a low cost in a short amount of time. That’s the best sales pitch for anything you have to sell next.” — Omar Zenhom, [04:31]
-
On Books:
“A book is still one of the most underrated marketing and business tools out there. It’s a low cost for the buyer, about $20, and yet it can position you as a thought leader.” — Omar Zenhom, [07:12]
-
On Group Coaching:
“It’s a low risk for the buyer and it’s high leverage for you... If you deliver on that promise, your attendees will beg you for your higher price package because they just got an ROI.” — Omar Zenhom, [11:47]
-
On Low-Priced Product Criteria:
“Scalable, high margin, great conversion tool, right? …choose one of the things that I just mentioned today… these are a great way to one, sell your product. But two to validate your product.” — Omar Zenhom, [16:42]
-
On the Value of a Paying Customer:
“A customer who pays even $29 is 100 times more valuable than a free subscriber who never engages.” — Omar Zenhom, [17:33]
Timestamps by Segment
- [02:02] – Introduction to the episode’s core topic
- [02:46] – Why short challenges or bootcamps are the first recommended low-priced product
- [07:01] – Books as an authority-building front-end product
- [11:05] – Running live group coaching for trust and upsells
- [14:42] – Three criteria for low-priced product success
- [16:46] – Actionable wrap-up and motivating takeaways
Episode Summary: Key Takeaway
Omar’s central message: While standard low-ticket products are often a slog, these three—short challenges/bootcamps, books, and live group coaching—can deliver massive returns, both for your business (scalability and margins) and your customers (fast wins and true value). They build trust, warm up your audience for your value ladder, and—crucially—validate your bigger offers. Start small, be strategic, and you might just find your next big breakthrough within one of these “small” products.