Why I Still Choose Podia for my small business (Even in the Age of AI and Endless Options)

An honest, experience-based look at why simplicity still wins, and how Podia helps creators actually launch, grow, and scale without losing their minds.

Who I Am (and Why I Care So Much About Podia)

Hey, I’m Brittany 👋
I’m a Certified Podia Pro, founder of Empty Desk Solutions, co-founder of MarketingClub.ca, and MortgageMarketingClub.ca (three different businesses all run on Podia's Platform!). Oh and there's also YouAreMagic.ca, but that's a little fun side hustle... also hosted on Podia!

Since 2014, I’ve helped hundreds of small business owners, coaches, course creators, and membership hosts simplify their marketing and get their ideas out into the world... without tech headaches, overcomplicated funnels, or 17 different subscriptions to keep track of.

As a mom of four and wife to a first responder, I’ve learned to make quick, intentional decisions about what actually makes life and business easier.

If a tool doesn’t save me time or simplify my day, it’s out. Period.

And I can say with 100% confidence:
my business would not run as smoothly as it does without Podia.

Honestly, I could end this article right there if that’s not convincing enough, but I want to show you why it works so well.
Because when you see the ins and outs for yourself, you’ll understand why Podia has been such a stress-relieving, game-changing platform for me (and for the clients I build sites for every week).

For years, I’ve tested every “all-in-one” platform out there.

If it promised to make online business easier, I’ve tried it.
And what I discovered is this:
most of them make things harder, not easier.

I care about Podia because it’s the first platform that actually delivered what every busy entrepreneur secretly wants:

• Everything in one place (courses, memberships, email, website, and more)

• Tools that feel intuitive, not intimidating

• Support that actually cares about creators

Podia made it possible for me to run multiple brands, onboard clients easily, and teach others to do the same, all without a tech team or endless plug-ins.

It’s become the backbone of my business, and I’ve watched it do the same for so many of my clients.
So this isn’t just an affiliate review, it’s a love letter to the tool that keeps my business running smoothly and helps my clients launch faster and earn more.

The Paradox of Choice in 2025

We live in an age where you can build a website in a weekend, generate content in seconds with AI, and choose from hundreds of “all-in-one” tools that promise to do everything... courses, coaching, memberships, communities, email, payments, and more.

And yet… most entrepreneurs I meet are more overwhelmed than ever.

It’s not that there’s a lack of tools. It’s that there’s a lack of clarity.

Every new platform advertises a flashy new feature that might sound exciting, but if you’re constantly chasing what’s “next,” you end up stuck. Evaluating, migrating, testing, and never really launching.

Here’s what I’ve learned (and what hasn’t changed despite all the innovation):

✅ The need for simplicity
✅ The need for ease of use, for you and your clients
✅ The need for reliability, not another “tech stack tower” held together by zaps
✅ The need for momentum, not perfection

When you choose your platform based on a feature you might need 10 years from now, you’re holding yourself back from getting the results you could have this week.

That’s why I keep coming back to Podia. Because it makes getting started (and growing) actually doable.

How I Found Podia in the First Place

A few years ago, my colleague and I were searching for a platform to host our MarketingClub.ca membership.

I remember literally typing into Google: “low-cost membership platform.”
I tried a few free trials, but as soon as I landed in Podia, it instantly stole the spotlight.

Before that, I was juggling WordPress websites, landing pages on different tools, and a patchwork of systems that kind of worked… until they didn’t. Each platform had its own quirks and strengths, but none of them offered a truly seamless experience.

Then I found Podia... and you know that moment when something just clicks?
That was it for me.

And yes, it was (and still is) affordable.

Back then, our setup looked like this:
a hidden WordPress page for client forms, Notion to store content, manual Stripe payment buttons that meant we had to manually invite people, and ConvertKit for emails. It was functional but messy, a total Franken-system held together by good intentions and caffeine.

So, when I first tested Podia, I’ll admit I was skeptical. Could one platform really replace all of that?

Turns out, yes.

That doesn’t mean I’ve never had to get creative to make something work the way I wanted, but what I can tell you is this:

After consulting with countless business owners over the years, I’ve seen so many of them ready to jump ship from their platforms for reasons that honestly aren’t deal breakers. They’ll rebuild everything from scratch, chasing a single feature they think they need - only to realize later that it wasn’t essential at all.

In the end, most discover what I did early on: simplicity wins. The more you complicate your tech stack, the more likely you are to burn out before you ever launch.

If you're looking for someone to take a look at your system and give you an honest opinion if you should stay where you are, or try out Podia, you're welcome to book one of my free coffee chats.

My Journey with Podia

So off I went, building our membership on Podia, and somewhere in the middle of that, life threw me another plot twist.

I was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 38. (fun fact, most of my clients are also ADHD entrepreneurs, so that's fun... or is it? LOL)
(How it took me that long to figure out why my brain was like that, I’ll never know. 😂)

But here’s the funny part: the diagnosis made my love for Podia make even more sense.

Podia is ADHD-friendly.

They don’t advertise it that way, of course, but as an ADHD entrepreneur, it was the first system that actually felt intuitive. Everything was exactly where I expected it to be. The design made sense. There weren’t endless menus or “advanced” settings hiding basic features. It was straightforward, visual, and easy to navigate.

The simplicity wasn’t a limitation, it was freedom.

So I started recommending Podia to my web design clients too.
If they were deeply invested in SEO, had hundreds of content-heavy pages, or needed advanced integrations, I’d tell them to stay on WordPress.

But for everyone else... the service providers, coaches, course creators, and small business owners trying to manage 101 tools just to keep their business running... I couldn’t wait to show them what consolidating everything into Podia could look like.

Shortly after we launched MarketingClub.ca, I decided to rebuild my own website entirely on Podia.
I canceled my ConvertKit subscription, moved my email list over, and I haven’t looked back since.

Today, I not only host my memberships and digital products on Podia, but I also sell my services, workshops, and client VIP experiences right there too.

I still get excited every time I find a new creative way to use it, whether it’s setting up a mini-course for clients, a simple sales page for a new offer, or a private content library for members.

Podia keeps evolving, and so does how I use it. But the reason I stay hasn’t changed: it just works.

So What’s the Deal with Podia Pros?

A little while into my Podia journey, I got an email that completely caught me off guard.

It said something along the lines of:
"Hey, we’ve noticed you’ve been building quite a few websites on Podia , is that true?"

(That’s not the exact wording... my ADHD brain doesn’t do verbatim quotes very well. 😂)

Still, I remember feeling a little nervous. I thought, “Oh crap, busted! Maybe I'm not allowed to charge to build sites on their platform!”

So I replied, “Yes… am I in trouble?”

Thankfully, I wasn’t! The response came back almost immediately:
"Not at all! We’ve seen some of your work and think it’s fantastic. We actually have a program called Podia Pros, it’s invite-only, where we refer clients who need custom work beyond what our internal support team can offer. Would you be interested?"

Let’s just say… I didn’t need to think twice.

Fast forward to today, and almost my entire business revolves around designing Podia websites for clients all over the world.

Even clients who come to me on other platforms often end up saying the same thing I did years ago:
"Why wasn’t I using this sooner?"

And honestly, once they see how much easier it is to run their business on Podia, from product creation to checkout to email, they usually don’t need much convincing.

Podia made my business more efficient, and now I get to help others experience that same sense of calm and clarity in theirs.

By the way, if you want to check out the Podia Pros in all their glory, you can learn about each of us here: https://www.podia.com/podia-pros

What Makes Podia Different (and Why It Still Wins)

A lot of platforms claim to be “all-in-one,” but most of them aren’t actually all-in-one.
They do some things well and others kind of okay... or they require integrations that defeat the purpose of simplicity.

Podia brings everything together in one beautiful, intuitive place:

💻 Website Builder

A true drag-and-drop builder that lets you create entire websites, not just sales pages.
No plugins, no code, no tech degree required.

This is what I leverage the most for my clients. The issue with other platforms isn't always that it's too complicated to build on (although some are!), it's what happens AFTER I launch a site for a client.

WordPress sites are fun and all, but do you think my clients can make simple edits after? Most of the time no. And it's not that they aren't capable, it's that it takes forever, is a waste of their time, and if they don't want to do it themselves they end up spending a small fortune in development fees to another designer to make changes that would take them all of 5 minutes if their website was on Podia.

Most of my clients can get their site off to a decent start, and then they hire me when they want to level up the design or make things a bit more simple for their audience. That's when the fun begins ;)

Products

Courses, memberships, digital downloads, coaching, webinars... all under one tab.
Set up pricing, payment plans, bundles, upsells, and affiliates in minutes.

A note on physical products...

If you are an e-commerce brand, you still might maintain a separate "shop" site on shopify etc. But if you are selling products that are affiliate type offers or things that ship from amazon, you can 100% still use podia.

For example, I have a fun website where I like to link cards that are in my personal Tarot collection. I have an amazon affiliate ID so I used podia's easy image grid section and put an image, a short description, and a button that links to the product on amazon (see screenshot below):

💌 Email Marketing

Send beautiful newsletters, automated sequences, and product updates right from Podia.

No need for a separate email tool unless you want REALLY advanced segmentation. I say REALLLLLLY advanced segmentation because I have an email list of more than 10,000 subscribers, and I have yet to find something I can't do using the segmenting and tagging options that Podia gives us out of the box. I have a few random exceptions where I want to delay an email 15 minutes in a funnel instead of 1 day later, and I can still use zapier to hold the subscriber before applying another tag to kick off another automation.

Just like with other marketing activities, sometimes trying to make really fancy automations actually holds us back from progress... literally the opposite of what we are trying to do. If there is an easier, faster way to get the job done, then do it!

Blog

Yes, Podia has a built-in blog. Perfect for SEO, content marketing, and sharing your story without ever leaving your platform.

Will you get every formatting option under the sun? No. But let’s be honest, when was the last time someone hired you because your WordPress blog had a really pretty sidebar? Probably never. 😉

Use your blog for what it’s meant to do: tell stories, engage your audience, educate, and help people discover who you are and how you can help them.

You can also configure your blog index page just like you can on other platforms:

Community

Podia’s built-in community feature lets you create a private, on-platform space that feels like your own social network — no more chasing engagement in Facebook groups or losing members to endless distractions.

Honestly, this feature deserves its own article (and it’ll get one soon), because I think it’s one of the most underrated parts of Podia right now.

I run multiple memberships using Podia’s community, and like everything else in the platform, it just works. Payments process smoothly, the member onboarding flow is simple, sales pages are effortless to set up, and managing content is a breeze.

If your community currently lives somewhere outside your website or sales system and you’re tired of trying to make different tools talk to each other, do yourself a favor and test Podia’s community feature. It’s seamless, stress-free, and 100% worth it.

By the way, did you know Podia has a 30 day free trial so you can test everything for yourself? CLICK HERE if you want to check it out.

“But What About [Other Platforms]?”

Let’s be honest: there are some amazing competitors out there.
I’ve used and tested most of them, and here’s how I see it:

Each has its audience. But for creators, coaches, and small business owners who want to actually launch and sell, not spend weeks setting up automations, Podia remains the sweet spot.

It’s flexible enough for pros, simple enough for beginners, and it grows with you at every stage.

⚡ That’s why Podia is my go-to for all my own brands — Empty Desk Solutions, Marketing Club, and You Are Magic — and every one of my client builds too.

We’ve talked about my journey with Podia and how it compares to other platforms, but I want to shift gears for a moment and talk about something that’s on everyone’s mind right now...

AI in business.

Artificial intelligence is changing how we create, sell, and communicate faster than ever. And if you’re in the middle of choosing a platform to build your business on, it’s fair to wonder how AI might affect that decision.

Should you pick something “AI-powered”?
Will it replace the need for an all-in-one system like Podia?
Or will it actually make platforms like Podia even more valuable?

Let’s talk about that, because the answer might surprise you.

AI in Your Business (and Why Simplicity Still Wins)

It’s impossible to ignore how much AI has changed the way we run our businesses.
We can brainstorm ideas in seconds, write sales pages in minutes, design logos on demand, and generate entire workflows with a few prompts.

It’s exciting... and a little overwhelming.

But here’s the thing: AI is a tool, not a foundation.
It can help you create faster, but it can’t give structure to your business.
That’s where your platform matters.

AI can write (draft) your copy, outline your next course, and even suggest your funnel strategy, but you still need a home for those ideas.
You need a place to publish your products, collect payments, nurture your audience, and connect with your clients.

That’s why I believe tools like Podia are more important than ever.

Podia gives AI a place to land.

When I use ChatGPT to draft content, I can paste it right into my Podia blog or email section.
When I build out a course, I can use AI to help organize the curriculum. But the delivery, the experience, the checkout... that all lives inside Podia.
It keeps the creative process anchored in something stable and practical.

Because the truth is, you can have the smartest AI assistant in the world, but if your platform is a mess of disconnected tools, it’ll still feel like chaos behind the scenes.

Podia simplifies the back end so AI can amplify the front end.
You get the best of both worlds: the speed and creativity of AI paired with a platform that keeps everything organized, easy, and human.

And maybe that’s the real secret. In an era where technology keeps getting smarter, simplicity has become the ultimate advantage.

Final Thoughts: Why I’m Still Choosing Podia (Even in the Age of AI)

Have you seen those ads? The ones claiming you can paste in a simple prompt and it will "just generate your entire site". Ya... me too.

Ever tried it?

Yep, me too.

Did it work?

I didn't think so, and that's why you're here right now ;)

Technology will keep evolving.
AI will keep getting smarter, faster, and more capable.

But every time the online space shifts, I find myself coming back to the same truth. Simplicity wins.

Podia has proven that you don’t need 10 different tools, an automation flowchart, or a team of tech experts to run a beautiful, profitable online business. You just need a system that works with you, not against you.

It’s the reason I’ve stayed loyal to Podia through every new trend, tool, and “revolutionary” update that’s come and gone.

Because here’s what I know:
-The simpler your systems are, the easier it is to take action.
- The easier it is to take action, the faster you gain momentum.
- And momentum (not perfection) is what actually grows your business.

So if you’re looking for a platform that keeps up with innovation without overwhelming you with it, I can confidently say Podia is the one.
It’s the foundation that supports creativity, not chaos.
The place where your AI tools, ideas, and offers all come together in one smooth, easy-to-manage space.

And it’s the reason I’m still here — building, creating, and helping others do the same — all on Podia.

🌟 Ready to see why I (and so many others) trust Podia with our businesses?
Start your free 30-day trial here and see how much simpler running your business can be.

And if you managed to read until the end and you want to stay in touch or connect with me on Zoom, please feel free to visit my work with me page, I'd love to meet you!

-Brittany

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you sign up through my link — at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I truly use and love.