The Online Course Launch Checklist (Step by Step, Nothing Missed)

A course launch fails not because the course is bad, but because something in the launch got missed — the page wasn't ready, the emails didn't send, the cart had no deadline.

Use this checklist to run a launch where nothing slips. It's organized into four phases: prepare, warm up, open, close.

Phase 1: Prepare (2–4 Weeks Before)

• Nail the promise. One clear sentence: who it's for and the result they get.
• Set the price and any tiers. Decide bonuses and whether there's a payment plan.
• Build the sales page. Headline, outcome, what's inside, proof, FAQs, guarantee, clear buy button.
• Set up the checkout and test it end to end with a real (or test) payment.
• Decide your launch mechanism — a webinar, a free challenge, or an email-only launch.
• Write your email sequences (warm-up, open-cart, close-cart) in advance. Never write these live under pressure.
• Gather proof — testimonials, results, screenshots — ready to drop in.

Phase 2: Warm Up (1–2 Weeks Before)

• Tell your audience it's coming. Build anticipation; open a waitlist.
• Deliver value that previews the topic — posts, emails, or a free training that makes the paid offer the obvious next step.
• Seed objections early — quietly address "I don't have time" / "will this work for me?" before the cart even opens.
• Confirm the tech — email automation, links, payment, access delivery all working.

Phase 3: Open the Cart

• Send the "doors are open" email with a clear link and deadline.
• Run your main event (webinar / challenge finale) and make the offer clearly at the end.
• Email consistently during the window — don't fear "too many." Most sales come from the messages you're scared to send.
• Share proof daily — a new testimonial or result each day keeps belief high.
• Make the deadline and any bonuses crystal clear. Urgency must be real.

Phase 4: Close the Cart

• Send the "last chance" emails — the final day drives a huge share of total sales.
• Send 2–3 emails on the closing day (morning, afternoon, final hours). This isn't spammy — it's serving the people who decide at the deadline.
• Actually close the cart / expire the bonus. If "later" is always available, nobody acts now.
• Welcome new students warmly and set them up to get a fast first win (this fuels your next launch's testimonials).

After the Launch

• Debrief. What converted? Where did people drop off? What questions kept coming up?
• Save your assets. Your emails and page are now reusable — your next launch starts at 80% done.
• Consider going evergreen. Once a live launch works, you can turn it into an automated funnel that sells year-round.

The One Rule That Matters Most

A launch lives or dies on the emails during the cart window and a real deadline. Beautiful course, gorgeous page — none of it matters if you go quiet after opening the cart or never actually close it.

Follow the checklist, send more than feels comfortable, and honor your deadline. That's the difference between a launch that flops and one you'll want to run again.