Why You Need an Evergreen Funnel vs Launch Funnel

Why exactly do you need an evergreen funnel vs launch funnel? Read this post to find out.
If you’ve ever poured your heart, time, and energy into a live launch, you know the feeling:
That surge of adrenaline when the cart opens… and the crash when the doors close (especially without getting your target customer count). It’s exciting. It’s exhausting. It’s disappointing.
And it can leave you wondering:
- “What happens to my income in between launches?”
- “Should I create an evergreen funnel or stick with launches?
The launch vs. evergreen debate is one of the most common dilemmas I see business owners face once they’ve validated their offer.
Let’s break down what both sales funnel types mean and why you need an evergreen funnel vs. a live launch funnel.
Launch vs Evergreen Funnel: Quick Comparison
Features 4949_4fb118-3b> |
Launch Funnel 4949_b2d085-83> |
Evergreen Funnel 4949_7519c4-3b> |
Sales window 4949_d985bc-31> |
Fixed dates 4949_057bb1-40> |
Ongoing, 24/7 4949_7f77cc-bf> |
Urgency 4949_15ac0b-63> |
High, event-driven 4949_ba159e-97> |
Personalized deadlines 4949_9e640f-5a> |
Revenue flow 4949_33ac91-6f> |
Peaks and valleys 4949_7d5fd4-53> |
Consistent stream 4949_8fc8b5-15> |
Energy required 4949_c1d1d7-56> |
High 4949_bf4461-66> |
Low, once set up 4949_75ab9f-30> |
Best for 4949_2ae558-1f> |
Big buzz moments 4949_46605c-38> |
Predictable growth 4949_e7f92a-77> |
What is a Launch Funnel?
A launch funnel, also known as a live launch funnel, is a time-limited sales system with a clear start and end date.
You open the cart for buyers for a period of days—usually anywhere from 7 to 14 days—and close the doors once that time elapses.
This creates urgency and focuses your marketing efforts in concentrated bursts so that you get maximum exposure and sales within a short period.
What is an Evergreen Funnel?
An evergreen funnel is an automated sales system that runs continuously.
This allows new customers to discover and purchase your offer at any time, regardless of when they enter your world. Instead of having an open-cart window like when live launching, your cart is always open for sale… all year round.
And even though the sense of urgency might not be as intense as a live launch, it’s still there because each person who enters your funnel gets a custom deadline that urges them to take advantage of your offer.
Okay, now that we’ve got our definitions straight, let’s look at the unique strengths and challenges of each of these funnel types.
The Drawbacks of Launch Funnels
While live launches create genuine urgency and excitement, there are several disadvantages that lead many entrepreneurs to look for alternatives to the launch funnel lifestyle.
These drawbacks include:
#1. The dreaded feast-or-famine cycles
Launch revenue comes in waves, which means your cash flow might look like a rollercoaster. This can make finances unpredictable, and this often leads to anxiety during “dry spells” between launch periods.
#2. The physical and emotional burnout
Launches are intense. Even with a team, launching an offer requires significant marketing, energy, time, and focus.
The pressure to constantly show up excited is insane. And if you’re doing it without a team, you’re going to need super-strength. When trying to ramp up your earnings, too many back-to-back launches can lead to burnout.
#3. The constant pressure to “beat last time”
Each launch comes with psychological pressure to outperform your previous one or at least maintain the results. This can be motivating, but it can also create unhealthy stress and lead you to make unwise decisions out of fear.
#4. The opportunity cost of closed periods
When your offer isn’t available, interested people have to wait till you’re ready to sell again in some months or maybe a year’s time—and many won’t. Every day your cart is closed is a day potential customers might find another solution.
Why Evergreen Funnels Win (Most of the Time)
If your goal is stability, freedom, and scalability, an evergreen funnel is hard to beat.
#1. An evergreen funnel creates true business stability
Once optimized, evergreen funnels can generate remarkably consistent revenue. This consistency eliminates the feast-or-famine cycle and allows for more confident business planning.
#2. It captures buyers when they’re ready
With an evergreen system, you never miss out on the prospect who’s ready now. They don’t have to wait for your next launch or go find someone else whose cart is open.
#3. It allows you to focus on optimization
Instead of creating new live launch assets for the same offer several times a year, you can focus on refining and improving your core funnel. This way, you improve the sales system and increase conversions over time.
#4. It scales easily with paid advertising
When your funnel runs continuously, you have more data to work with.
You can use paid traffic more effectively because your campaigns aren’t one-offs. They’re proven assets you’ve found after a series of testing. This improves your ad performance and overall return on investment (ROI).
#5. It gives you freedom from a launch calendar
Evergreen funnels give you—perhaps the greatest benefit—your freedom.
You can take vacations, have offline solo dates, and focus on other projects without your entire business coming to a halt. Your business keeps selling even while you’re out of the office.
Debunking the Myths Around Evergreen Funnels
MYTH 1: “You need to launch live first before going evergreen.”
You don’t. You can build a profitable evergreen funnel from day one with the right strategy. See how.
MYTH 2: “Evergreen funnels don’t convert as well as live launches.”
A well-designed evergreen funnel can outperform your best live launch, with none of the stress or frustration.
MYTH 3: “Creating a sales funnel is complicated and technical.”
Live launch funnels are complicated. Evergreen funnels are easier. Once you set it up, all that is left is maintenance. And with the OLed Funnel Sprint, you’ll have your evergreen sales funnel up and running in days, not months.
In Summary: Evergreen Funnel vs Launch Funnel
I believe that the point of starting a business is to earn and earn consistently. So, I preach following the evergreen funnel model.
The best sales funnel is the one you can sustain. The goal is to build a sales system that serves your clients and makes you money on a regular basis.
Want me to create a profitable evergreen sales funnel for your business? See how I do it.