Spent $300 on a 'viral reel' course that taught me nothing new

I saw this ad on Instagram for a course promising to crack the algorithm for trending reels. The guy used all the right buzzwords about engagement loops and watch time. After buying it, I realized it was just a repackaged list of basic tips you can find for free, like using trending audio and posting at 5 PM. Has anyone actually found a paid guide that was worth the money?

4 comments

4 Comments

miasanchez1mo agoMost Upvoted

Honestly, I had the opposite experience. I bought a cheap course focused just on YouTube Shorts editing, and it gave me a real workflow. It wasn't about magic tricks, but a step by step method for scripting and cutting to the beat. That one felt worth it because it taught a specific skill, not vague ideas. The problem is most courses sell a dream instead of a real craft.

tessaperry1mo ago

Yeah, that "sell a dream" part is so true. My buddy bought a course on building a "passive income funnel" that was just a bunch of obvious fluff. He said the only thing he got was a lesson in how to spot empty promises online.

max_cooper216d ago

@tessaperry your friend basically paid to learn how not to get scammed again. That's like buying a "how to spot bad advice" guide from someone who gives bad advice. The passive income funnel thing is always a red flag. If they were making that much money off it, they wouldn't be selling the course.

sean_barnes241mo ago

I used to believe all those courses were scams, but I tried one on basic video editing last year. It was just a clear set of instructions without any get rich quick stuff. Changed my view completely. The difference is whether they're teaching a real task or just selling hype. Your friend's story is exactly why people get turned off. A good course should feel like useful directions, not a pep talk.