For decades, the United States was the single biggest market for digital entrepreneurs. If you wanted to sell courses, coaching, or info products, you built for the American consumer — the world’s most educated, wealthiest, and digitally active audience. But that era is coming to an end.Inflation, stagnating wages, and a crumbling education system are quietly reshaping the economic landscape. The result? The average American is being priced out of ambition, and online entrepreneurs will soon find that the real opportunity lies in global audiences.
The Decline of the American Buyer
For years, selling to Americans was the default. They had disposable income, credit cards, and a culture obsessed with self-improvement. But several forces are eroding that foundation:1. Inflation Has Outpaced Wage GrowthEven though official inflation numbers have slowed, prices for essentials — housing, healthcare, education — remain at record highs.Discretionary income, the money people use for things like courses and subscriptions, is shrinking fast.
2. Educational Decline
The U.S. education system is failing to keep pace with global standards. Many graduates struggle with basic literacy, financial awareness, or digital adaptability — all essential traits for learning online.This weakens the pool of serious learners and buyers for info products that require self-discipline and comprehension.
3. Cultural Fatigue
A growing number of Americans are tired, overworked, and skeptical of self-help or digital promises. The “make money online” dream has been oversold and underdelivered, leading to a more jaded audience.
🌍 The Rise of the Global Learner
While the American middle class shrinks, a global one is rising. Across Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Africa, millions of young people are gaining internet access, learning English, and seeking economic mobility.This shift means:
New markets are hungry for online education, productivity tools, and skill-building products.
Many global buyers see info products not as “nice-to-haves” but as tickets to a better life.Their motivation is higher, and their willingness to learn is stronger than that of many Western consumers who feel trapped in stagnation.The global audience is now the frontier — curious, ambitious, and less cynical.
Why Global Economics Now Favors Global Creators
1. Lower Competition Abroad
American creators are fighting each other for attention in a saturated market. But few take the time to localize or market internationally, where competition is far lower.
2. Exchange Rate Advantage
A course priced at $50 might seem expensive to some Americans, but the same price point can be easily justified by professionals in countries with strong currency values or growing economies.
3. Technology Has Flattened Distribution
With platforms like Stripe, Gumroad, YouTube, and X, creators can now reach anyone — instantly. The internet has erased borders, but few businesses have truly adapted their mindset to match that reality.
What This Means for Info Product Businesses
If your business model depends on the average American buyer, your margins and sales will likely decline over time. The U.S. consumer base is fragmenting — some are becoming ultra-wealthy, while most are struggling to pay basic bills.The smart move is to start building international relevance now:Translate your products or subtitles into other major languages (Spanish, Portuguese, Hindi).Target countries with emerging middle classes like Brazil, India, Indonesia, or the Philippines.Price your products regionally to match purchasing power.This isn’t charity — it’s smart business. The global learner is your next wave of loyal customers.
The Inevitable Shift
We’re entering a new digital economy where knowledge is global, but prosperity isn’t evenly distributed. The future of info products will belong to creators who can bridge that gap — who can take Western expertise and make it accessible and relevant to audiences worldwide.While the average American buyer grows more skeptical, broke, and disconnected, billions of others are just now logging on, hungry to learn, build, and grow.
The golden age of selling info products exclusively to Americans is over.
Inflation has squeezed their wallets.
Education decline has lowered engagement.
Cultural fatigue has made them skeptical of new opportunities.
Meanwhile, the global market is expanding, fast and wide. The next great online businesses won’t be built for America — they’ll be built from it, and scaled to the world.If you’re serious about building something lasting, now’s the time to think globally — because the future customer doesn’t live in the West. They live online.
