✴️ #3 Skool Games Event Recording Q2 2025 ft. Alex Hormozi + The GOAT (Takeaways)

So there was no Skool News Zoom call today. Instead Sam posted a video from the Q2 Skool Games event. I'm posting it here because some of you might not be in the Skoolers community.

Here are my takeaways:

(Sponsored by me 😂 - you can support this community by using this referral link when starting your free 14-day Skool Trial. Thank you!)

⚫ Crushing It in Online Communities: Insights from Skool Games on Doing More with Less

The big takeaway from the event was all about doing more with less—simplifying your approach to get better results. Sam Ovens kicked things off by saying, “Who doesn’t want to achieve more while doing less, right? Simplicity. And that’s what Skool is for.” That’s the vibe: cut the noise and focus on what moves the needle. The online education space is struggling with a trust crisis—people are skeptical because too many “gurus” overpromise and underdeliver. Alex Hormozi put it bluntly: “You start at -10 when you come in because everyone assumes you suck.” So, how do you stand out? By proving your value upfront and building trust through consistent, authentic content.

Let’s unpack the key points from the discussion, with some actionable tips for your Skool community, based on what Sam, Alex, and Nick Shackelford (the GOAT running a $4M-a-year AI automation community) shared. I’ll keep it real, like we’re just tossing ideas around, and throw in some takeaways you can apply to your business today.

⚫ Trust Is Everything: Prove, Don’t Promise

The old-school direct response tactics (like webinars and flashy launches) aren’t converting like they used to. Alex noted, “Soliciting people to do stuff when you’ve never done anything for them doesn’t work as well anymore.” Instead, you need to provide value first—think content that solves real problems for your audience. Nick’s approach is a perfect example: he runs a YouTube channel with long-form, value-packed videos (30-60 minutes, posted every 24-48 hours) and just sticks a link to his Skool community in the description. No hard sell, just “here’s the goods, click if you want more.” His community, focused on helping people land their first AI automation client, pulls in $330k monthly with 95% profit margins—no team, just him being authentic.

Post Free Value Daily: In your Skool group, share quick, actionable tips that align with your niche. For example, if your community is about fitness for busy moms, post a 5-minute workout video or a meal prep hack. This builds trust and shows you’re not just after their wallet.
Be Transparent: Don’t hype up results you can’t deliver. Share real examples of what you’ve done (like Nick’s client-getting strategies) or case studies from your community members. Proof beats promises every time.

⚫ Content Is Your Targeting: Niche Down and Show Up

The algorithm game has changed. Alex said, “Content is the targeting.” Platforms like YouTube and Instagram are so good at serving your content to the right people that you don’t need to overthink broad appeal. If you’re teaching pickleball, make videos of you playing pickleball—talk about the struggles, the wins, and the gear. The algorithm will find pickleball fans for you. Nick’s success comes from hyper-focusing on AI automation, not chasing viral memes. He said, “If you make stuff that’s not about the thing you sell, you’re getting views from people who won’t buy.”

Niche Hard: Make sure every post in your Skool community or social media screams your niche. If it’s dog training, don’t post about crypto. Share tips on stopping your dog from chewing shoes—specific, relatable stuff.
Leverage Trial Reels on Instagram: Alex mentioned these as a game-changer. They go to 100% new people, not your existing followers, so you’re hitting fresh eyes. Test different hooks (first 2-3 seconds) to see what grabs attention. For example, “Struggling to train your puppy? Here’s one trick that works!” can pull in dog owners to your Skool group.

⚫ Avoid Creator Burnout: Do What You Love

Creator burnout is real. Alex admitted, “I haven’t met somebody who’s succeeded at content who really loves making content.” Nick echoed this, saying he sticks to long-form YouTube because it’s where he can be himself, not the hyper-edited short-form stuff that feels like a chore. Sam shared how he quit talking-head videos and podcasts because they drained him, and instead built content around what he loves—working at his desk, talking about Skool. The key? Reverse-engineer your content around what you enjoy doing.

Find Your Sweet Spot: If you hate filming polished videos, don’t. Post text-based Q&As in your Skool group or record quick Loom videos answering member questions, like Nick does. If you love live calls, do those—but only what keeps you energized.
Set Boundaries: Nick responds to community questions every morning for 20-30 minutes, then moves on. Create a routine that doesn’t suck the life out of you. For example, commit to one value post a day in your Skool community and one weekly live call.

⚫ AI as a Tool, Not a Threat

AI’s got everyone freaking out, but Sam and Alex see it as a tool, not a job-killer. Sam uses AI at Skool for spam moderation (one person handles 15M users!) and community categorization. Alex said, “The game of business is not going to change. It’s just going to be more fierce.” Platforms like YouTube are even demonetizing AI-generated content to prioritize human creators, so authenticity still wins.

Use AI for Efficiency: Try AI tools like ChatGPT to draft post ideas or categorize member questions in your Skool group. It saves time without replacing your voice.
Stay Human: Members join for you, not a bot. Share personal stories or insights in your Skool posts to keep that human connection strong. For example, if you’re running a photography community, post about your latest shoot and what you learned, not just AI-generated tips.

⚫ Reduce Churn with Engagement

Nick’s community has a solid 16.8-25% churn rate, and his secret is simple: show up daily. He posts in his Skool group every morning, answering questions and dropping funny GIFs (like the Mandalorian “This is the way”). This keeps members engaged and feeling like he’s their “shepherd.” He also noticed that when he posted daily on YouTube for 40 days, his churn dropped to its lowest (16.8%) because members saw him leading by example.

Be Present: Commit to daily posts in your Skool group, even if it’s just a quick “What’s your biggest challenge today?” or a 2-minute Loom video answering a member’s question. It shows you’re invested.
Encourage Member Interaction: Let members answer each other’s questions, like Nick does. This builds micro-relationships that keep people hooked. For example, create a thread like “Share your best productivity hack!” and jump in with a comment to spark discussion.

⚫ Pricing and Scaling: Match Value to Cost

Nick’s community started at $10/month but scaled to $129-$370/month as he proved more value. Alex warned against mispricing services as community subscriptions. If you’re offering high-value services (like Nick’s AI automation help), charge for it like a service, not a $50/month community. Sam added that free trials or free communities work if you need more sign-ups, but if your conversions are strong, skip them.

Price for Value: If your Skool community offers high-value deliverables (like a course or 1:1 coaching), consider a one-time high-ticket purchase alongside a low-ticket community tier. For example, $50/month for community access, $2,000 for a course.
Test Tiers: With Skool’s upcoming subscription tiers, create levels (e.g., $20/month for basic access, $100/month for exclusive calls). This lets you serve different audiences without diluting value. Nick’s excited about this: “Everything can be contained in one place. It’s sick.”

⚫ Final Thoughts

Look, building a Skool community isn’t about flashy funnels or secret hacks—it’s about showing up, being real, and solving real problems for your people. Nick’s killing it because he’s good at AI automation, shares that expertise daily, and lets the platform do the targeting. Sam and Alex are all about simplifying: focus on your niche, prove your value, and use tools like AI to make your life easier, not to replace you.

So, what’s your next step? Pick one thing from this convo—maybe it’s posting a daily value tip in your Skool group or testing a new Instagram Trial Reel with a killer hook. Start small, but start *now*. Like Nick said, “Just show up every day for a very long time.” That’s the game.

Got a specific question about your Skool community? Let me know what’s tripping you up, and we’ll figure it out together.

(Sponsored by me 😂 - you can support this community by using this referral link when starting your free 14-day Skool Trial. 🙏)

13 comments