$ cat prompt.txt — Online Courses

Course Launch Email Sequence — Open-Cart to Close-Cart That Sells Out

A full launch email sequence: pre-launch, open-cart, value, objection-handling, and close-cart urgency.

45–90 min intermediate Claude Opus, GPT-5#online-courses#email#launch

intro.md

Most course revenue lands in the first 48 hours and last 24 hours of a launch — if you have the right email sequence. This prompt writes the full launch sequence (pre-launch warm-up → open-cart → value + objection emails → close-cart urgency) that turns a course and a list into a sold-out launch.

$ cat prompt.txt | pbcopy

The prompt — copy & paste

prompt.txt

You are a launch strategist who's run dozens of 6-figure course launches. Write the complete launch email sequence.

INPUTS:
- Course: {{course_name}}
- Transformation: {{transformation}}
- Audience (list relationship + awareness): {{audience}}
- Cart-open window: {{cart_window}} (e.g. "5 days")
- Price: {{price}}

WRITE THE SEQUENCE. For each email: timing, subject (+1 alt), preview, body, goal.

PHASE 1 — PRE-LAUNCH WARM-UP (3 emails, before cart opens)
- Tease the transformation + provide genuine value (prime the problem)
- Share a story/case study that surfaces the problem the course solves
- Announce "doors open [date]" + what's coming (build anticipation)

PHASE 2 — OPEN CART (cart-open day)
- The "doors are open" email: clear offer, the transformation, the CTA, what's included, the price + any early-bird/fast-action bonus

PHASE 3 — MID-CART (across {{cart_window}})
- VALUE email: teach something that proves the course's value + soft CTA
- OBJECTION email: address the #1 hesitation ("I don't have time" / "will this work for me") + a testimonial
- SOCIAL PROOF email: results/testimonials + who's already enrolled
- FAQ email: answer the real pre-purchase questions + CTA

PHASE 4 — CLOSE CART (final 24-36 hours — where most sales happen)
- "24 hours left" — recap transformation + urgency (real: doors close / bonus expires)
- "Closing tonight" — final call, short, direct, the cost of NOT enrolling
- "Last chance / few hours" — the final urgency email (this one email often drives 20-30% of total sales)

RULES:
- Match {{audience}} relationship — warm list moves faster; cold needs more value first.
- Real urgency only (genuine cart close / bonus expiry) — fake countdowns destroy trust.
- One CTA per email, scannable, conversational.
- The close-cart emails are where the launch is won — make them count.
- Avoid "Don't miss out!!!", fake scarcity, manipulative pressure.

Also: a note on send timing/frequency + how to handle the inevitable "is this still open?" replies.

$ variables_to_fill_in

$ man playbook

Step-by-step playbook

How to actually use this prompt for the best results.

01
Warm the list BEFORE cart opens
The 3 pre-launch emails prime the problem and build anticipation so that when the cart opens, the list is ready to buy. Launching cold (cart opens with no warm-up) leaves most of the launch's potential on the table.
02
Send more during close-cart than you think you should
Most course sales happen in the final 24-36 hours. The instinct to 'not annoy people' costs you the launch. Send the full close-cart sequence — the last email alone often drives 20-30% of total sales.
03
Use ONLY real urgency
Genuine cart-close dates or expiring bonuses create urgency that converts. Fake countdown timers that reset destroy trust and damage your list long-term. The sequence uses real deadlines — keep them real.
04
Segment out buyers immediately
The moment someone enrolls, remove them from the remaining launch emails (especially the close-cart urgency). Nothing erodes trust like a 'last chance to buy!' email after someone already bought.

$ man tips

Pro tips for better output

›The final close-cart email (sent the last few hours) is consistently the single highest-revenue email of any launch — never skip it out of politeness.
›Segment by behavior: people who clicked but didn't buy get extra objection-focused emails; they're your hottest non-buyers.
›A fast-action bonus (expires in the first 48 hours) front-loads sales and creates two urgency spikes instead of one.

$ echo $YIELD

What you'll get

output.md

A complete launch email sequence across 4 phases (pre-launch, open-cart, mid-cart value/objection/proof/FAQ, close-cart urgency) with timing, subjects + alternates, previews, bodies, and goals — plus send-timing guidance.

$ man faq

FAQ

How many emails should a course launch have?

Typically 9-12 across the full launch: ~3 pre-launch, 1 open-cart, ~4 mid-cart (value, objection, proof, FAQ), and ~3 close-cart. The close-cart emails feel like 'too many' but drive the majority of sales — launches are won in the final 24-36 hours.

Won't sending this many emails make people unsubscribe?

A few will, and that's fine — they weren't going to buy. The revenue from the buyers who needed the extra nudges vastly outweighs the unsubscribes from people who'd never purchase. Segment out buyers so you only pressure non-buyers, and use real urgency only.

$ ls /prompts/online-courses