Growing a successful coaching, course, or mentorship business in today’s competitive online landscape requires the right strategy to turn leads into paying customers. Two of the most popular and effective methods for scaling are evergreen funnels and live events. But which one is the best fit for your business goals?

In this blog post, we’ll break down the key differences between these two strategies, their pros and cons, and how to combine them for long-term success. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of which funnel type can help you scale your business more effectively.

What Are Evergreen Funnels and Live Events?

Before diving into the details, let’s define the two strategies:

• Evergreen Funnels: These are automated systems designed to generate leads and sales on a continuous basis. They often include pre-recorded webinars, email sequences, and sales pages, allowing you to sell your products or services passively while focusing on other areas of your business.

• Live Events: On the other hand, live events—such as webinars, challenges, or workshops—are high-touch, time-sensitive engagements. They create urgency and foster a deeper connection with your audience, often leading to higher conversion rates.

Both approaches have their place in the digital marketing world, but selecting the right one depends on your business model and goals.

Key Differences Between Evergreen Funnels and Live Events

While both strategies aim to generate leads and drive sales, they differ significantly in their execution and outcomes:

1. Conversion Rates:
Live events often convert at higher rates because of the real-time interaction and urgency they create. However, this requires more effort and preparation from you as the business owner.

2. Time Investment:
Evergreen funnels are designed to be set up once and run continuously, making them ideal for passive lead generation. Live events, in contrast, demand more hands-on involvement and are often time-limited.

3. Engagement:
Live events allow for personal interaction and relationship-building, something evergreen funnels cannot replicate. However, evergreen funnels excel at providing consistent value without requiring your constant attention.

Understanding these differences is key to choosing the right strategy for your business.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Each Approach

Let’s weigh the pros and cons of each:

Evergreen Funnels

• Advantages:

• Scalable and automated for passive income.

• Allows you to focus on other aspects of your business.

• Consistently delivers leads and sales over time.

• Disadvantages:

• Lower engagement and trust-building compared to live events.

• Requires optimization to maintain high conversion rates.

Live Events

• Advantages:

• Higher conversion rates due to real-time interaction.

• Builds stronger relationships with your audience.

• Provides immediate feedback on your offers and messaging.

• Disadvantages:

• Time-intensive to organize and execute.

• Limited scalability unless recorded and repurposed.

The Hybrid Approach: Combining the Best of Both Worlds

Why choose one when you can use both? A hybrid approach leverages the strengths of evergreen funnels and live events to maximize results.

For example:

• Use an evergreen funnel to attract leads and nurture them with automated email sequences.

• Invite those leads to a live event, such as a webinar or challenge, to engage them and close sales.

This combination allows you to enjoy the scalability of evergreen funnels while benefiting from the high conversion rates of live events. Jeremiah Krakowski has used this approach successfully with his clients, blending automation with human connection to drive steady growth.

Choosing the Right Strategy for Your Business Goals

Still unsure which approach is best for you? Consider these key factors:

• Time and Resources: Do you have the bandwidth to run live events, or would an evergreen funnel free up your schedule?

• Audience Size: Larger audiences may benefit from automation, while smaller, engaged audiences thrive with personal interaction.

• Business Goals: Are you focused on building long-term passive income or driving immediate sales?

Ask yourself these questions to determine where to start. Remember, you can always experiment and pivot as your business grows.

Conclusion

Scaling your coaching, course, or mentorship business doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. By understanding the unique benefits of evergreen funnels and live events, you can choose the strategy that aligns with your goals—or combine both for maximum impact.