Every December, the internet fills up with predictions.

Most of them say the same things:
AI will get better. Tools will change. Creators will need to adapt.

None of that is useful for us.

The real question isn’t what tools are coming next, it’s what changes once those tools become unavoidable.

Heading into 2026, the biggest shift I see isn’t actually about AI.
It’s about how people expect to buy and what they’re no longer willing to tolerate.

Later, I’ll share a small, just-for-fun way to peek at what your business might already be signaling about 2026.

Prediction #1: People Are Done Buying "Just Information"

Courses aren’t dead.
Low-cost digital products aren’t dead.

But buyers are done paying for information that leaves them stuck.

They buy, start strong, hit a question… and stall. Not because the content is bad, but because information alone doesn’t create results anymore.

What people want now is help using what they buy:

• Direction
• Shortcuts
• Something that unsticks them when they hit a wall

That’s why products with templates, tools, AI helpers, or light support are outperforming static video libraries.

People don’t want more lessons.
They want progress.

Prediction #2: The $9 Product Math Is Finally Breaking

Low-ticket products aren’t the problem.
​Relying on them as your entire business model is.

The math says it all. You need huge volume, constant promotion, and endless list growth just to stay afloat.

But when a clear path exists, say a $27 offer leading to $297, then $997, you don’t need thousands of buyers. You need the right ones moving forward.

In 2026, creators who build intentional pricing paths will feel breathing room.
Creators who stay stuck at the bottom will stay busy and frustrated.

Prediction #3: Replies Will Matter More Than Reach

Email is changing quietly.

AI summaries, inbox sorting, and auto-actions mean opens and clicks will matter less over time. But replies won’t.

A reply signals real human attention. It improves deliverability, strengthens relationships, and tells you who actually cares.

In 2026, the creators who win will design emails to earn replies, not just broadcasts (hint: just like I did in this email below).

Prediction #4: Creators Will Stop Doing Things That Don't Make Money

More creators are asking a simple question:
“If this doesn’t make money, or clearly lead to money, why am I doing it?”

That’s why we’re seeing less busywork and fewer “shoulds.”
Less social media chasing. More focus on:

• Better offers
• Stronger email systems
• Simple automations that actually convert

Doing less, but doing the right things, is becoming the real advantage.

A Few Lighter Predictions (Mostly for Fun, But Not Entirely...)

• At least one business owner will make more money after deleting half their offers
• Someone will stop posting on social media for a few months and realize their sales didn't change
• The shortest email of the year will get the most replies
• "Evergreen" will get rebranded again and still mean the same thing
• AI will help people move faster... and still won't replace our human brains

A crystal ball experiment:

I built a tiny year-end experiment called
​🔮 The Creator Crystal Ball (2026 Edition).

This custom GPT asks three simple questions and shows you what your business is quietly signaling about 2026, no planning, no fixing, no spreadsheets.

👉 Try the Crystal Ball here →​

Then do me a favor: come back to this email, hit reply, and tell me one word: accurate or off.

Happy Holidays!

Destini

P.S. Have fun with the Crystal Ball custom GPT, then hit reply and tell me whether it felt accurate or off for you. I read every response..and yes, I do reply to newsletters (see prediction #3). 🙂

​

Dr. Destini Copp Helping creators build predictable revenue with AI-powered business systems. 🎓 University Professor & Creator of The Creator’s MBA Lab & Newsletter Profit Club 📈 20k+ students supported ⚡ Growth Flywheels, AI Systems, Rinse-and-Repeat Revenue