A lot of online course creators absolutely hate launches. I understand this completely because I have done it for quite some time, and it truly requires a huge amount of your energy.

However, let us not forget that live launches bring in a large influx of money.

It is up to you if you are going to trade your energy for cash or make the mistake that many online course creators make: automating their online course system prematurely.

If you have already launched your course once or twice and are trying to figure out the most sustainable, non-hype way to grow, you are in the right place. In this post, we are breaking down the Rainmaker archetype and the three specific requirements you need to meet before you ever touch an automation button.

If you would rather watch the full breakdown of this archetype and hear the story behind my 9-webinar experiment, you can check out the video here:  

The E-Creator Archetypes: Where Do You Fit?

A few months ago, I created a personality test for online course creators called the E-Creator Archetypes. This framework helps you identify what stage you are at in your journey and diagnose the specific problems you face.

We have discussed the Ember (Stage 1) and the Igniter (Stage 2). Today, we are focusing on The Rainmaker.

You might be a Rainmaker if:

•  You have already launched your course to the world.

•  You are currently stuck in a "feast and famine" cycle regarding revenue.

•  You are tired of launching and just want to automate everything immediately.

If you are a Rainmaker, you are in the growth and system-building stage. Your course is validated. You have sold it before. Congratulations! You are not stuck; you just need systems to scale this to the moon.

The 3 Goals of the Rainmaker

As a Rainmaker, your focus shifts from "will this sell?" to creating consistency. You have three primary goals:

• Create a repeatable, sustainable launch schedule.
• Grow and nurture your audience between launches (this is something many people skip).
• Build automated marketing assets that keep sales coming in.

Why You Shouldn't Automate Yet

I have seen so many creators launch once or twice, make money, and then immediately stop because they are tired. They think, "I am going to automate this now." I am going to stop you right there.

Why would you stop something that is currently working? If you had a huge cash influx on your first two launches, why stop? There was a period of two years where I launched every other month. It got easier the more I did it because I built systems I could just whip out and use.

The final archetype is The Oracle. This is the "end-all-be-all" stage where leads come in and sales happen every single day on autopilot. That is the goal. However, moving from a fresh launch directly to full automation is incredibly difficult.

Automation amplifies what is already working. If you do not know exactly what makes your audience tick, automation will only amplify your silence.

The 3 Prerequisites Before You Can Become an "Oracle"

I advise my students not to automate until they have mastered these three things.

1. A Successful, Tested Lead-In

A "lead-in" is the public activity or opening salvo you put out into the world before you open doors to your course. This could be a webinar, a challenge, a giveaway, a boot camp, or a live workshop.

You need to test this extensively. In my experience, I did the same webinar nine times.

Why nine times? I needed to tweak headlines, swap out boring slides where people dropped off, and refine my pitch until it felt natural.

• Energy Matters: I found that when my energy was high, people stayed and bought. When I was tired or low-energy, people left early.
• Length Matters: I discovered my 1 hour and 45 minute presentation was too long. Cutting it down to 90 minutes improved retention.

You cannot learn these nuances if you automate too early. You need the live feedback loop.

2. A Solid Lead Generation System

One of the biggest problems Rainmakers face is audience fatigue.

If you launch to the same list over and over again without adding new people, your sales will tank. You need a system that brings new leads into your world constantly.

If you do not have a lead generation system in place every time you launch, automation will be impossible. You will just be automating a funnel to an empty room.

3. An Alternate Lead-In 

Your audience will eventually get sick of seeing the same "Make Money Through Funnels" workshop. Word spreads fast.

You need variety. I recommend having a secondary lead-in format for when you sense boredom or have less time to prepare.

• My Primary Lead-In: Live Webinar (requires 30 days prep).
• My Alternate Lead-In: A pre-recorded video training series premiered live on YouTube (requires 15 days prep).

Having an alternate option keeps your marketing fresh and combats fatigue.

A Note for the Introverts

I know what you are thinking. "Demi, I am an introvert. This sounds like too much work."

Believe it or not, I am a huge introvert too. I may look extroverted on video, but launches drain me. There are times 30 minutes before showtime where I think, "I don't want to do this anymore."

But here is the reality: You get compensated fairly.

Launches are high energy, but they pay well. If you are testing what works, learning your audience, and making money simultaneously, that is a better position than automating a broken system and making zero dollars.

The Verdict

If you have launched 15 times, know exactly what works, have a solid lead gen system, and have your alternate lead-ins ready? Great. You are ready to be an Oracle. Go ahead and automate. 

But if you are still figuring those things out, do not skip the Rainmaker phase if you want successful, long-term course automation.