Creating an Evergreen Course might NOT be for you if…

by Welly Mulia - December 17, 2024

If what you care most is selling more courses.

Because course-based launches usually bring in more sales (and hence earnings) than evergreen courses.

Check this out:

	Evergreen Course	Launch-Based Course
Availability	Always open for enrollment	Limited time (e.g. twice a year)
Revenue model	Consistent (but smaller) income year-round	Big revenue spikes during launches (usually higher revenue overall)
Marketing strategy	Continuous (e.g. email funnels)	Intense campaigns before each launch
Student experience	Flexible, self-paced learning	Cohort-based with fixed schedules
Workload	Minimal after setup	High effort before every launch

We’ll talk more about Evergreen Course vs Launch-Based Course in just a bit…

But do you know the online education space is growing, and growing, and growing…

If you’re an infopreneur, coach, consultant or content creator, you’ve probably heard of the term “evergreen course”.

But what does it mean? And why are so many folks talking about it?

Whether you’re new to online courses or looking to scale your current offerings, in this blog post we’ll cover everything you need to know about evergreen courses.

What is an Evergreen Course?

An evergreen course is an online course that’s open for enrollment always.

Unlike traditional courses that have fixed start and end dates or require live participation, evergreen courses are on autopilot. Students / clients can enroll at any time and work through the material at their own pace.

Here’s what an evergreen course looks like:

Self study: Students work through the material at their own pace.
Automated systems: From enrollment to delivery, everything is hands off.
Timeless content: The course focuses on topics that stay relevant over time, not trends or seasonal topics.

Think of an evergreen course as a “set-it-and-forget-it” model for online education.

are evergreen online courses really set and forget

Once you’ve created the course and set up the systems, it can make money for years with little to no effort from you.

Why are Evergreen Courses Popular?

Evergreen courses are a favorite among many online entrepreneurs — and for good reason. They offer benefits that other models can’t match:

Consistent Income — steady flow of income all-year-round
Flexibility for Students / clients — they can enroll whenever they’re ready
Time Efficiency — the work happens once, once that’s done, almost everything can be automated

Evergreen vs Launch-Based Courses

Let’s revisit this table again:

	Evergreen Course	Launch-Based Course
Availability	Always open for enrollment	Limited time (e.g. twice a year)
Revenue model	Consistent (but smaller) income year-round	Big revenue spikes during launches (usually higher revenue overall)
Marketing strategy	Continuous (e.g. email funnels)	Intense campaigns before each launch
Student experience	Flexible, self-paced learning	Cohort-based with fixed schedules
Workload	Minimal after setup	High effort before every launch

Both have their pros:

Launch-Based Courses

Launch-based courses create excitement and urgency but require a lot of work for each launch.

launch strategy evergreen or launch based

They often involve big marketing campaigns, countdown timers and exclusive bonuses to get people to enroll during a short window.

This can create a lot of buzz and high sales in a short period but can also lead to burnout from the work required to prepare and execute each launch.

Evergreen Courses

Evergreen courses give you steady income without the stress of multiple launches.

They use a consistent marketing strategy, like an evergreen funnel or automated email sequences, to attract and convert students over time.

This gives you more flexibility in your schedule and can be a more sustainable business in the long run. Plus evergreen courses can attract new students continuously so you have a constant flow of income and no pressure to hit specific sales targets during a launch.

If you want a business model that saves time and scales easily evergreen courses are hard to beat.

You can focus on creating great content and refining your marketing over time rather than preparing for the next big launch.

This will give you a more balanced work life schedule so you can invest time in other areas of your business or personal life. Evergreen courses also give you ongoing feedback from students so you can make incremental improvements to the course content and delivery and ultimately student success and satisfaction.

How to Create an Evergreen Course

Creating an evergreen course sounds scary at first but don’t worry — we’ll break it down into simple steps:

Step 1: Choose a Timeless Topic

The success of your evergreen course depends on the course idea a.k.a. the topic. Here’s what makes a good topic:

Timelessness

Avoid topics tied to trends or specific dates (e.g., “Instagram Marketing in 2024”). Timeless topics means your course will be relevant and valuable to students year after year without needing to be updated or overhauled.

Problem-Solving

Focus on solving a specific problem your audience is having. Courses that address common challenges or pain points tend to get more interest because they offer practical solutions that students can apply to their personal or professional lives right away.

Demand

Use tools like Google Trends or keyword planners to make sure there’s enough interest in your topic. A well researched topic will not only attract more students but also position your course as the go-to resource in your niche and make it more credible and appealing.

For example:

Bad topic: “How to Use TikTok Trends in January 2025” (too short-lived). This topic is time-bound and platform-specific and will become obsolete as new trends come out.
Good topic: “How to Build Your Personal Brand on Social Media” (relevant year after year). This topic is relevant year after year as personal branding is an ongoing process that evolves with social media platforms so it’s a valuable topic for clients who want to establish and grow their online presence over time.

Choosing a timeless topic not only sets you up for a successful evergreen course but also means your work in creating and marketing the course will pay off in the long run.

By focusing on enduring topics you create a sustainable product that attracts new students and generates a steady income stream.

Step 2: Plan Your Course Structure

A successful evergreen course means organizing your content in a way that’s easy for students to follow and learn from.

Think of it like building a house — you need a solid foundation and a blueprint so everything fits together perfectly. Break your content into modules and lessons that flow logically so students can absorb new concepts and build on what they’ve learned.

Here’s an example structure:

Module 1: Introduction & Overview

Start with the basics. Introduce your students to the course, explain what they’ll learn and set clear expectations. This module is like the welcome mat for your course, so students feel comfortable and excited for what’s to come.

Module 2: Core Concepts

Get into the meat of your topic. This is where you’ll cover the foundation information students need to know before moving on to more advanced ideas. Think of this as the main living area of your course — where most of the action happens.

Module 3: Advanced Strategies

Once students have a good understanding of the core concepts it’s time to introduce more advanced strategies. This module is like the bonus room, extra value and insights to help students take their knowledge to the next level.

Module 4: Implementation & Next Steps

Finally, guide your clients / students on how to apply what they’ve learned in real life. Give them actionable steps and encourage them to put their new skills into practice. This module is the launchpad, to help students move from learning to doing.

Within each module include bite-sized lessons that are easy to consume. Think of these lessons as the individual rooms in your house — each one serving a purpose and part of the overall structure.

By breaking up your content into smaller pieces you make it easier for students to absorb and stay engaged throughout the course.

Step 3: Create Good Content

Good content is what makes your course stand out and gets students to come back for more. Here’s how:

Use Videos

People love videos because learning is fun and easy. Think of your videos as the main way to teach your students. You can explain concepts, show examples and even demonstrate steps on screen.

Provide Downloadable Resources

Give your students extra tools like worksheets or templates to download. These resources help them practice what they’ve learned and apply it in real life. It’s like giving them a toolbox to succeed!

Include Quizzes and Fun Elements

Add quizzes or fun elements like badges to keep students motivated. Quizzes help them check what they’ve learned and earning badges makes them feel like they’re achieving something.

Tip: Good audio and video equipment makes a big difference. Clear sound and sharp visuals makes your course look professional and keeps students engaged. Invest in a decent microphone and camera and you’ll see the results!

Step 4: Automate Enrollment & Delivery

To make your evergreen course truly hands off you’ll want to use platforms like CartMango, Kajabi, Teachable or Thinkific.

Disclaimer: CartMango is our tool, if you haven’t noticed. It’s a sales-boosting checkout tool for solo course creators (1-10 teammates), and it can automate enrollment and delivery of your digital product too.

These platforms are like having a personal assistant who does everything for you, so you can focus on creating great content.

Here’s what they can do:

Enrollment

Students sign up for your course without you having to lift a finger. They handle all the sign-ups for you so you don’t have to add students manually.

Payment Processing

Think of this as your course’s cash register. It handles all the payments smoothly and securely so you get paid hassle free.

Content Delivery

Once a client enrolls the platform delivers the course content to them instantly. It’s like a digital library they can access anytime, anywhere.

By automating these processes you turn your course into a seamless learning experience that’s available 24/7. So students can start learning when they’re ready and you can earn income while you sleep.

With everything set up your course is truly evergreen and requires minimal effort from you while attracting new students.

Marketing Your Evergreen Course

Creating a great course is only the first step. To get people to enroll you need to promote it with a solid marketing strategy to get traffic to your website. Here are some easy and effective ways to get your course noticed:

Email Marketing

Email marketing is a great way to let people know about your evergreen course. Here’s how:

Attract Subscribers with a Freebie

Offer something of value for free like a mini-course or an eBook and people will sign up for your email list. This freebie is called a “lead magnet” and it’s a great way to start building a relationship with potential students. You can use an email marketing tool to execute this.

Automate Your Emails

Set up a sequence of emails that go out to your subscribers over time. These emails should provide value, share success stories and remind them about your course.

Build Trust with Testimonials

Include stories from past students or case studies in your emails to show how your course has helped others. This builds trust and makes people more likely to sign up.

Paid Ads

While search engines are free… paid ads are like digital billboards that get you in front of people who don’t know about your course yet. Here’s how:

Target the Right Audience: Use Facebook or Instagram to run ads that target people interested in your course topic. You can choose specific demographics so your ads get in front of the right people.
Highlight Benefits: Make sure your ads show the benefits of your course and include a strong call-to-action like “Sign up today!” so people click and learn more.

Social Media

Social media is a great place to share content about your course and connect with potential students. Here’s how:

Share Valuable Content: Post tips, insights or short videos about your course topic on LinkedIn, Instagram or YouTube. This positions you as an expert and drives people to your sales page.
Engage with Your Audience: Respond to comments, ask questions and create polls to engage with your followers. This builds a community around your course.

Affiliate Partnerships

Collaborating with others can get you in front of a much bigger audience. Here’s how:

Partner with Influencers: Work with influencers or other creators in your niche who can promote your course to their audience. In return offer them a commission for every sale they make.
Leverage Their Audience: By partnering with someone who already has an audience, you get in front of a new audience that trusts their recommendations and are more likely to sign up for your course.

These strategies will get you in front of more people and turn your evergreen course into a success! Just be consistent and authentic and you’ll see your enrollments grow.

Upkeep of Your Evergreen Course

An evergreen course isn’t completely hands free — you’ll need to keep it updated:

1/ Update Content

Keep your content current as trends change. Update old examples or stats. Publish new content.

2/ Track Metrics

Monitor conversion rates, student progress and feedback. Use this data to find areas to improve.

when selling courses ensure to track stats

3/ Engage with Students

Set up forums or Q&A sessions where students can ask questions. This adds value without having to teach live.

Mistakes to Avoid (and their solutions)

Here’s what to watch out for when creating evergreen courses — and their solutions:

1/ Wrong Topic

Solution: Focus on problems that are timeless and in demand.

2. No Updates

Solution: Review your content every few months.

3/ No Student Support

Solution: Offer support channels like discussion boards or email support.

By avoiding these you’ll be set for long term success!

TL;DR

Evergreen courses are one of the best ways to share knowledge and build a sustainable business model. They offer flexibility for students, passive income for creators and scalability that few other models can match.

So what are you waiting for? Start brainstorming topics today — and soon you’ll have an evergreen course generating income while helping others achieve their goals.

FAQs

1/ What is an evergreen course and how is it different from traditional courses?

An evergreen course is an online course that is always open for enrollment, students can sign up and learn at their own pace. Unlike traditional courses with fixed start and end dates, evergreen courses are on autopilot, providing continuous access and flexibility for the learner.

2/ How do I keep my evergreen course current?

To keep your evergreen course current, choose a topic that is timeless and addresses ongoing problems or needs. Update your content as new information or trends emerge and refresh examples and stats as needed to keep it current and relevant.

3/ How do I market my evergreen course?

Marketing strategies for evergreen courses include email marketing, paid ads, social media marketing and affiliate partnerships. Build an email list, target the right audience with ads, share valuable content on social media and collaborate with influencers to get more visibility.

4/ Why choose an evergreen model over a launch model

Evergreen courses give you consistent income, scalability and flexibility for both creators and students. They require less work after the initial setup compared to launch based courses which require intense marketing and can lead to burnout. Evergreen courses offer a sustainable business model with ongoing student engagement and feedback.

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