[FAQ]

Hi everyone,

I’m mapping out my first big promo for a $497 course. I know I need a runway of “open-cart” emails, but opinions are all over the place.

How many days should a launch sequence run before I shut the cart?

• Too short and I worry people miss the window.
• Too long and I’ll annoy the list (15 k subs).

Would love to hear what’s actually working for you—especially any sweet spots for digital courses. Thanks!

— Lena

[Jeff Bullas]

Hey Lena—great question. Here’s what consistently delivers the best balance of urgency and inbox-friendliness.

1. Five to seven days is the “Goldilocks” zone

Under five days and late-openers feel rushed; sales spike on day one and day five but dip in between.
Beyond seven days fatigue sets in—open rates slide, spam complaints creep up, and urgency blurs.
Most Vault members settle on six days: Mon–Sat or Tues–Sun. That gives two “prime” weekdays, one weekend, and a final-hours push.

2. Price influences length

Products ≤ $99: three-day flash works; decision is fast and refunds are low.
$100 – $999 (your tier): five-to-seven-day window converts best; enough time for FAQs and payment-plan reminders.
$1 k+ high-ticket: stretch to eight-to-ten days, but layer in live Q&As or case-study emails so it doesn’t feel like the same pitch on repeat.

3. Warm-up matters more than window

A two-week pre-launch nurture (value emails, social proof, teaser content) will boost your open-cart numbers more than extending the cart itself. Think “prime the list, then strike quickly.”

4. Final-day cadence

No matter the window, send two emails on cart-close day—one in the morning (“12 hours left”) and one in the last two hours (“Doors close at midnight”). That single tactic can add 20-30 % to total revenue.

5. Test, but start here

If this is launch #1, go with six days. Track opens, clicks, and refund requests. On the next round you can nudge shorter or longer based on those metrics.

Bottom line: A six-day cart is long enough to answer objections, short enough to keep urgency sizzling. Nail the warm-up, stay visible on close day, and you’ll hit the sweet spot without burning out your subscribers.

Hope that helps—go crush your launch!

— Jeff

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