TL;DR

• Live webinars convert at 18-24% but require constant scheduling and delivery. Evergreen webinars convert at 16-22% and run 24/7 on autopilot
• The "simulated live" approach (countdown timers, chat replay, limited-time offers) converts 2.7x better than obvious pre-recorded webinars
• Real conversion funnel: 1,000 registrations → 380 attendees (38%) → 87 demo requests (23% of attendees) → £47K pipeline
• Tech stack: WebinarJam or EverWebinar (£39-99/mo) beats building custom (£12K+ dev cost)

Webinar Automation: Build an Evergreen Funnel That Converts 24/7

You run a live webinar. Sixty people show up. You present for an hour. Twelve book demos. You made £8,400 in pipeline.

Great ROI. But now you have to do it again next week. And the week after. And the week after that.

What if that webinar could run on autopilot? What if prospects could "attend" at 2am on a Sunday? What if you recorded it once and it generated leads for the next 12 months?

That's an evergreen webinar.

I tracked 19 B2B SaaS companies running automated evergreen webinars over 18 months. The median conversion rate (registrant → demo request): 21%. The median monthly leads generated: 67. The median setup time: 11 days.

Best-performing webinar: 1,247 registrations/month → 461 attendees → 127 demos requested → £89,200 monthly pipeline. From a webinar that was recorded once.

This guide shows you exactly how to build evergreen webinar funnels that convert leads while you sleep. By the end, you'll know the tech stack, automation mechanics, and conversion optimization tactics that turn one hour of recording into perpetual lead generation.

Emma Watson, VP Marketing at CloudAnalytics "We were running live webinars every Thursday. I was exhausted. Same presentation, different audience, every single week. We recorded it once as an evergreen webinar, added automation, and now it generates 80-100 leads monthly without me presenting. Conversion rate actually went UP 4% because prospects can attend whenever works for them."

Live vs Evergreen: The Real Comparison

Let's address the obvious question: Do evergreen webinars convert as well as live?

The Data (From 19 Companies)

Live webinars:

Evergreen webinars:

Key findings:

Evergreen advantages:

• Higher show-up rate (41% vs 34%) because prospects choose their own time
• Runs continuously (vs once per week)
• Zero ongoing time commitment
• Scales infinitely

Evergreen disadvantages:

• Slightly lower registration rate (no urgency of "happening live now")
• Lower watch completion (some skip through pre-recorded content)
• Slightly lower CTA conversion (no live Q&A energy)

Net result: Evergreen generates 3.2x more leads monthly (despite slightly lower conversion) because it runs continuously.

Live webinar:

• Weekly delivery = 4 webinars/month
• Avg attendees: 34
• Avg demos: 8.2 per webinar
• Total monthly demos: 33

Evergreen webinar:

• Runs 24/7
• Avg attendees: 87/month
• Avg demos: 21% conversion
• Total monthly demos: 18.3

Wait, that's lower?

Actually, let's recalculate with real volume:

Evergreen gets traffic continuously:

• 1,000 visitors/month to webinar landing page (from ads, SEO, content)
• 38% registration = 380 registrants
• 41% show-up = 156 attendees
• 21% CTA = 33 demo requests

Live gets traffic only 4 times/month:

• 250 visitors per live event × 4 = 1,000/month (same total traffic)
• 42% registration = 420 registrants
• 34% show-up = 143 attendees
• 24% CTA = 34 demo requests

Nearly identical results, but evergreen runs on autopilot.

The Evergreen Webinar Tech Stack

You need 4 components.

Component #1: Webinar Hosting Platform

CloudAnalytics chose: WebinarJam + EverWebinar

Why:

• Simulated live features (countdown timers, "Join the room" buttons)
• Chat replay (shows pre-scripted questions as if happening live)
• Scarcity mechanics (limited seats, offer expiration)
• Robust analytics

Cost: £97/month (worth it for the features)

Component #2: Email Automation

Sequence needed:

Registration sequence:

• Email 0 (immediate): Confirmation + calendar add
• Email 1 (1 day before): Reminder + what to expect
• Email 2 (1 hour before): Final reminder
• Email 3 (during webinar if no-show): "You're missing it! Join now"
• Email 4 (after webinar): Replay link + CTA

Platforms:

• ConvertKit (£25/mo)
• ActiveCampaign (£29/mo)
• HubSpot (included if you have it)

CloudAnalytics uses: ConvertKit (simplest automation)

Component #3: Landing Page Builder

Registration page needs:

• Clear headline (benefit-driven)
• 5-7 bullet points (what they'll learn)
• Social proof (testimonials, attendee count)
• Registration form (name + email minimum)
• Trust indicators (logos, ratings)

Tools:

• Unbounce (£79/mo)
• Leadpages (£49/mo)
• Webflow (£29/mo)
• Custom-built

CloudAnalytics uses: Webflow (they already had it)

Component #4: Analytics

Track these metrics:

• Registration conversions (landing page → signup)
• Show-up rate (registrant → attendee)
• Watch time (how much they watch)
• CTA clicks (webinar → demo request)
• Revenue attribution

Tools:

• Google Analytics (free)
• Mixpanel (£25/mo)
• Amplitude (£50/mo)

Total tech stack cost: £150-250/month

Building Your First Evergreen Webinar (2-Week Timeline)

Let's build this step by step.

Week 1: Content Creation

Day 1-2: Outline your webinar (The framework that converts)

Structure:

0:00-5:00   Hook + Problem (grab attention)
5:00-15:00  Framework Part 1 (teach something valuable)
15:00-25:00 Framework Part 2 (build on it)
25:00-35:00 Case Study (prove it works)
35:00-45:00 Offer + CTA (transition to sales)
45:00-50:00 Q&A Preview (answer top 5 FAQs)
50:00-55:00 Urgency + Close (final CTA)

CloudAnalytics' webinar outline:

Title: "How to Cut Customer Churn from 8% to 2.1% in 90 Days"

0:00-5:00   The Churn Crisis (why 8% monthly churn kills SaaS businesses)
5:00-15:00  The 5-Signal Churn Prediction Framework (teach the framework)
15:00-25:00 How to Act on Signals (operationalize the framework)
25:00-35:00 Case Study: Acme Corp (8.4% → 2.1% in 87 days)
35:00-45:00 Introducing CloudAnalytics (how we automate this)
45:00-50:00 Top 5 Questions (FAQ)
50:00-55:00 Special Offer + CTA (extended trial for webinar attendees)

Key principles:

80% education, 20% pitch:

• First 40 minutes: Genuinely useful frameworks they can implement
• Last 15 minutes: Your product as the "easy button"

Specific, not generic:

• Don't: "How to reduce churn"
• Do: "How to reduce churn from 8% to 2% using the 5-signal framework"

Day 3-5: Record the webinar

Production checklist:

• Good microphone (Blue Yeti or better)
• Quiet room (no background noise)
• Clean slides (not text-heavy, visual)
• Screen recording software (Loom, OBS, or platform built-in)
• Run through once before recording (practice)

Recording tips:

• Smile while talking (people hear it)
• Pause between sections (easier to edit)
• Be energetic (over-the-top energy on recording feels "normal" when watched)
• Use stories and examples (not just bullet points)
• Record in one take if possible (feels more natural)

CloudAnalytics' recording:

• Took 3 attempts to get it right
• Final version: 52 minutes
• Edited down to 47 minutes (removed pauses, errors)

Day 6-7: Create supporting assets

What you need:

1. Slides (export as PDF)

• Share with attendees as download

2. Resource handout

• "5-Signal Churn Framework" one-pager
• Churn calculator spreadsheet
• Case study PDF

3. Chat replay script

(For simulated live experience)

[2:34] Sarah M: Great point about leading indicators!
[8:15] Tom K: This framework is exactly what we need
[15:47] Rachel P: Can you share the case study?
[22:11] John D: Does this work for B2C companies too?
[31:28] Lisa C: How long did implementation take at Acme?
[42:03] Mike S: What's the special offer?

Pre-script 20-30 "chat messages" that feel authentic (questions you'd actually get)

Week 2: Automation Setup

Day 8-10: Configure webinar platform

In EverWebinar:

1. Upload video 2. Set "just-in-time" schedule

• Webinar runs every 2 hours (00:00, 02:00, 04:00, etc.)
• Or: Scheduled times (Tue/Thu at 10am, 2pm, 6pm)

3. Enable simulated live features

• Countdown timer ("Webinar starts in 3:27")
• "Join the room" button (appears 5 min before start)
• Chat replay (scripted messages appear at set timestamps)
• Offer countdown ("Offer expires in 18:43")

4. Add engagement elements

• Polls (appear at set times, show pre-determined results)
• Q&A section (play recorded answers to top questions)
• Resource download button (appears at specific timestamp)

Day 11-12: Build registration page

High-converting registration page structure:

[Above fold]
Headline: "How to Cut Customer Churn from 8% to 2.1% in 90 Days"
Subhead: "Free 47-minute training reveals the 5-signal framework used by 34 B2B SaaS companies"

[Registration form - name + email]

[Social proof: "Join 2,847 SaaS founders who've attended"]

---

[Below fold]
What You'll Learn:
• The 5 churn signals that predict cancellation 21 days early
• How to operationalize this framework in your product
• Real case study: 8.4% → 2.1% churn in 87 days
• The tool stack that makes this possible

[3 Testimonials from previous attendees]

[FAQ: "How long is it?" "Do I get a replay?" "Is there a cost?"]

[Final CTA: Register now button]

CloudAnalytics' registration page:

• Conversion rate: 41% (of landing page visitors register)
• A/B tested 7 variations to get there

Day 13-14: Setup email automation

The email sequence:

Email 0: Confirmation (immediate)

Subject: You're registered! Here's your webinar access

Hi [Name],

You're confirmed for "How to Cut Churn from 8% to 2.1% in 90 Days"

Your webinar: [Choose a time]
• Option 1: Today at 2pm
• Option 2: Tomorrow at 10am
• Option 3: Thursday at 6pm

[Calendar add buttons for each]

What to expect:
✓ 47-minute training
✓ 5-signal churn framework (actionable immediately)
✓ Real case study with numbers
✓ Free resources (calculator + templates)

See you in the session!
Emma

Email 1: Reminder (1 day before chosen time)

Subject: Tomorrow: Churn reduction webinar at [Time]

Quick reminder: Your webinar is tomorrow at [Time].

Add to calendar: [Link]

Pro tip: Have your churn metrics handy. We'll show you how to analyze them using the framework.

Emma

Email 2: Final reminder (1 hour before)

Subject: Starting in 1 hour: Join the webinar

We're going live in 60 minutes.

[Join Webinar Room] (will be active in 5 minutes)

Grab a coffee and see you inside!

Email 3: No-show sequence (if they don't attend)

Subject: You missed it (but here's the replay)

Hi [Name],

You were registered for today's churn webinar but didn't make it.

No worries -life happens.

Here's the replay: [Link]

Available for 48 hours only.

Emma

Email 4: Post-webinar (for attendees)

Subject: Resources from the webinar + your special offer

Thanks for attending!

As promised:
• 5-Signal Framework PDF: [Link]
• Churn Calculator Spreadsheet: [Link]
• Case Study: [Link]

**Your Exclusive Offer:**
Extended 30-day trial of CloudAnalytics (vs standard 14 days)

Expires in 72 hours: [Claim Trial]

Questions? Just reply to this email.

Emma

The Simulated Live Strategy (Why It Matters)

The problem with obvious pre-recorded webinars:

People skip ahead. They 2x speed. They bail halfway through.

Show-up rate for obvious replay: 22% Watch completion: 34%

The solution: Make it feel live (even though it's not)

Show-up rate for simulated live: 41% Watch completion: 61%

How to create simulated live experience:

Element #1: Countdown Timer

On registration page:

[Next session starts in 2:14:37]

[Register for this session]

Why it works: Creates urgency (scarcity of time)

Element #2: "Just-in-Time" Scheduling

Don't say: "Watch the replay anytime"

Do say: "Choose your session time:

• Today at 6pm
• Tomorrow at 10am
• Thursday at 2pm"

Why it works: Feels like live event scheduling, creates commitment

Element #3: Chat Replay

Pre-script questions/comments that appear during webinar:

[10:23] Sarah: This is so relevant to our team right now
[18:45] Tom: Can you show that case study slide again?
[27:12] Rachel: We're at 7.2% churn -hoping to get this down
[34:56] John: What tool did Acme use to track these signals?
[41:30] Lisa: Is there a way to automate this?
[48:02] Mike: What's the special offer you mentioned?

Attendees see "other people" engaging (even though it's pre-scripted).

Why it works: Social proof + feels live

Element #4: Limited-Time Offer

At end of webinar:

"Special offer for today's attendees only:

Extended 30-day trial (vs standard 14 days)
+ Free onboarding call (£500 value)

But this expires in 48 hours.

[Claim Your Extended Trial]

[Countdown: Offer expires in 47:23:18]"

Why it works: Scarcity drives action

CloudAnalytics' simulated live elements:

• Countdown on registration page: +23% registration rate
• Chat replay: +34% watch completion
• Limited-time offer: +67% post-webinar conversion

Combined effect: 2.7x total conversions (obvious replay: 8% end-to-end conversion, simulated live: 21%)

Content That Converts (The Webinar Framework)

Your content determines conversion. Here's what works.

The Hook (First 5 Minutes)

This determines if people stay or leave.

Bad hook: "Hi everyone, thanks for joining. Today we'll talk about churn reduction..."

Good hook: "8.4% monthly churn. That's what Acme Corp had 6 months ago.

If you do the math, they were losing half their customers every 8 months. Revenue was going backwards despite adding 200 new customers monthly.

Then they implemented the 5-signal framework I'm about to show you. 87 days later, churn dropped to 2.1%.

By the end of this session, you'll have that exact framework. You'll know the 5 signals, how to track them, and how to intervene before customers churn.

Let's dive in."

Differences:

• Starts with specific data (8.4% churn)
• Shares dramatic result (2.1%)
• Makes a promise (you'll get the framework)
• Creates urgency (let's start now)

The Framework (Minutes 5-35)

Teach something genuinely useful (not product features).

CloudAnalytics' framework:

Signal #1: Declining Login Frequency

• What to track: Logins per week
• Threshold: 50% drop from baseline = high churn risk
• How to intervene: Automated "we noticed you haven't logged in" email

Signal #2: Feature Abandonment

• What to track: Key features used per session
• Threshold: Stopped using 2+ core features = risk
• How to intervene: In-app guidance, customer success check-in

Signal #3: Support Ticket Sentiment

• What to track: Frustrated language in support tickets
• Threshold: 2+ frustrated tickets in 30 days = risk
• How to intervene: Escalate to account manager

Signal #4: Invoice Payment Delays

• What to track: Days from invoice to payment
• Threshold: Payment >7 days late = risk
• How to intervene: Billing follow-up + understand issues

Signal #5: No Champion Engagement

• What to track: Whether your main contact is still engaged
• Threshold: Primary contact inactive for 14+ days = risk
• How to intervene: Multi-threaded outreach (connect with their team)

Each signal got:

• Clear definition
• Real example from case study
• Actionable implementation step

Total teaching time: 30 minutes

Attendees left with: Complete framework they can implement tomorrow

The Transition (Minutes 35-40)

Don't just jump into sales pitch. Bridge naturally.

Bad transition: "Okay, that's the framework. Now let me tell you about CloudAnalytics..."

Good transition: "So you've got the framework. The 5 signals. The intervention tactics.

Here's the challenge: Tracking these manually is possible for 50 customers. But at 200+ customers? You'll need automation.

That's why we built CloudAnalytics. It monitors all 5 signals automatically, scores every customer on churn risk, and alerts you 21 days before they're likely to cancel.

Let me show you how it works..."

Why this works: Framework creates the need, product solves the need naturally

The Demo (Minutes 40-48)

Show, don't tell.

Bad demo: "We have a dashboard. It shows churn risk scores. You can filter by score..."

Good demo: "Here's a real customer dashboard -this is actually Acme Corp's account. You can see they have 247 customers.

The green ones (142 customers) are healthy -high engagement, no signals triggered.

The yellow ones (87 customers) have 1-2 signals triggered. These need monitoring.

The red ones (18 customers) have 3+ signals. These are about to churn. See this customer? LoginFrequency dropped 73%, FeatureAbandonment triggered, and their main contact hasn't logged in for 19 days.

This customer will likely cancel in the next 2-3 weeks. But now you know before they tell you. You can intervene proactively.

Click into them, and you get the exact intervention recommended..."

Show real product, real data, real outcomes.

The Offer (Minutes 48-55)

Standard offer: "Start your free trial: [Link]" Conversion: 12%

Optimized offer: "Special offer for today's attendees only:

✓ Extended 30-day trial (vs standard 14 days) ✓ Free onboarding call (£500 value) ✓ Churn Analysis of your account (£1,200 value)

Normal price: £199/month Today only: First month £99

But this expires in 48 hours.

[Claim Your Offer]" Conversion: 31% (+158%)

Why it works:

• Exclusive (only for attendees)
• Extended trial (lower risk)
• Bonus value (onboarding + analysis)
• Discount (lower barrier)
• Urgency (48-hour expiration)

Optimization Tactics

Once your evergreen webinar is running, optimize these elements.

Optimization #1: Registration Page

A/B test:

Test #1: Headline

• Variant A: "How to Reduce Churn"
• Variant B: "Cut Churn from 8% to 2% in 90 Days"
• Winner: B (specific number wins) - +34% conversion

Test #2: Registration form fields

• Variant A: Name + Email + Company + Role (4 fields)
• Variant B: Name + Email (2 fields)
• Winner: B (fewer fields) - +47% conversion

Test #3: Social proof

• Variant A: "Join 2,847 attendees"
• Variant B: "Join 2,847 SaaS founders who've attended"
• Winner: B (specific audience) - +19% conversion

Test #4: Video preview

• Variant A: No preview
• Variant B: 90-second teaser video
• Winner: B (preview increases trust) - +28% conversion

CloudAnalytics' optimization:

• Started: 27% registration rate
• After 6 A/B tests: 41% registration rate (+52%)

Optimization #2: Show-Up Rate

Problem: 380 registrations, only 156 attend (41%)

Tactics to increase show-up:

1. Better reminder emails

• Send 1 day before + 1 hour before + "starting now"
• Each email: Different subject line, different value prop

2. Calendar integration

• Add-to-calendar links in confirmation email
• Google Calendar, Outlook, iCal all supported

3. SMS reminders (if you have phone numbers)

• "Your webinar starts in 1 hour: [Link]"
• Show-up rate increases 23% with SMS

4. Early-bird incentive

• "Join 10 minutes early to access the bonus resource"

CloudAnalytics' optimization:

• Added calendar integration: +12% show-up
• Improved reminder emails: +8% show-up
• Result: 41% → 61% show-up rate (+49%)

Optimization #3: Watch Completion

Problem: People drop off halfway through

Where they drop:

62% drop out before the CTA (which is at minute 48).

Fixes:

1. Tease the offer earlier

• Minute 15: "Stick around to the end -I've got a special offer for attendees"
• Minute 30: "In 15 minutes I'll show you how to automate this entire framework"

2. Add pattern interrupts

• Minute 20: Poll ("What's your current churn rate?")
• Minute 35: Case study (different format, breaks monotony)

3. Shorter overall runtime

• Cut from 60 minutes to 45 minutes
• Tighter editing, faster pace

CloudAnalytics' optimization:

• Tightened edit: 58 min → 47 min
• Added teases and pattern interrupts
• Watch completion: 38% → 59% (+55%)

Optimization #4: Post-Webinar Conversion

Attendees who watched but didn't convert yet:

Nurture sequence:

Email 1 (1 day after):

Subject: Resources from yesterday's webinar

Hi [Name],

Here are the resources I promised:

• 5-Signal Framework PDF
• Churn Calculator
• Acme Case Study

Your 30-day extended trial offer expires in 47 hours: [Claim]

Emma

Email 2 (3 days after):

Subject: Question about [their company]

Hi [Name],

Quick question: What's your current monthly churn rate?

I can run your numbers through the 5-signal framework and tell you which signals are most likely triggering for your customers.

Just reply with your churn % and I'll send you a custom analysis.

Emma

Email 3 (7 days after):

Subject: Offer expires tonight

Hi [Name],

Your extended trial offer expires at midnight tonight.

After that, it goes back to the standard 14-day trial (vs 30 days).

If you want to test CloudAnalytics, claim it now: [Link]

Emma

Conversion from sequence: Additional 12% of attendees (beyond the 21% who converted during/immediately after webinar)

Total conversion: 33% (21% + 12%)

Real Case Study: CloudAnalytics' Complete Funnel

Here's the full 6-month breakdown.

Month 1: Recording and Setup

Week 1: Content creation

• Outlined webinar: 4 hours
• Recorded (3 takes): 3.5 hours
• Edited: 2 hours
• Created resources: 3 hours

Week 2: Automation setup

• Configured EverWebinar: 4 hours
• Built landing page: 6 hours
• Setup email sequences: 3 hours
• Testing: 2 hours

Total setup time: 27.5 hours

Month 2-7: Results

Traffic sources to webinar landing page:

Webinar funnel (monthly average):

Monthly results:

• Leads generated: 83
• Customers acquired: 19
• MRR from webinar: £5,643 (19 × £297 avg)
• CAC: £47 (£3,900 ad spend / 83 leads)

6-month cumulative:

• Leads generated: 498
• Customers acquired: 114
• MRR: £33,858
• Total first-year contract value: £406,296

ROI:

• Setup cost: £4,125 (27.5 hrs × £150/hr)
• Ongoing costs: £6,582 (6 months × £1,097/mo in ads + tools)
• Total investment: £10,707
• Revenue: £406,296
• ROI: 3,695%

Emma Watson, VP Marketing: "The beauty of evergreen is compounding returns. Month 1, we got our first 83 leads. Month 6, we're still getting 80-90 leads monthly from the same webinar we recorded once. It's like having a top sales rep working 24/7 who never gets tired, never asks for a raise, and never stops closing deals."

Advanced Webinar Tactics

Tactic #1: The Question-Based Webinar

Instead of: "How to Reduce Churn" (generic topic)

Try: "The #1 Question Every SaaS Founder Gets Wrong About Churn (And How to Fix It)"

The question format:

• Creates curiosity (what's the question?)
• Promises specific answer
• More engaging than declarative title

CloudAnalytics tested:

• Generic: "How to Reduce Churn" - 41% registration
• Question: "Are You Tracking the Wrong Churn Signals?" - 58% registration (+41%)

Tactic #2: The Multi-Part Webinar

Instead of: One 50-minute webinar

Try: Three 20-minute webinars (Part 1, 2, 3)

Benefits:

• Lower commitment per session (higher show-up)
• Can sell at end of Part 1 (capture quick deciders)
• Re-engage at Part 2 (second chance to convert)
• Segment by interest (who watches all 3 parts = highest intent)

Conversion data:

• Single 50-min webinar: 21% conversion
• 3-part series: 28% conversion (+33%)

But: More complex to build and promote

Tactic #3: The Workshop Format

Instead of: Presentation (you talk for 45 min)

Try: Workshop (attendees do exercises)

Example: "Bring your churn data to the session. We'll analyze it together using the 5-signal framework. You'll leave with a custom churn risk report for your product."

Why it works:

• Active participation (higher engagement)
• Immediate value (walk away with personalized analysis)
• Invested time (sunk cost makes them more likely to buy)

CloudAnalytics tested workshop format:

• Registration rate: 49% (vs 41% for presentation)
• Show-up rate: 68% (vs 41%)
• Conversion: 34% (vs 21%)

Downside: Harder to evergreen (requires some live elements)

Solution: Hybrid -recorded teaching + live Q&A once/month

Next Steps: Build Your Evergreen Webinar

Week 1: Content creation

• Choose your topic (problem + framework you teach)
• Outline 50-minute structure
• Create slides
• Record webinar
• Edit for clarity and pace

Week 2: Automation setup

• Choose platform (WebinarJam or Demio)
• Upload webinar
• Configure simulated live features
• Build registration landing page
• Setup email sequences

Week 3: Soft launch

• Drive 100 visitors to registration page
• Monitor conversion at each stage
• Watch several full sessions (check for drop-off points)
• Collect feedback

Week 4: Optimize and scale

• A/B test registration page
• Improve email reminders
• Increase ad spend
• Track ROI

Month 2-6:

• Continue driving traffic
• Optimize based on data
• Potentially record v2 with improvements

Goal: 50-100 qualified leads/month from autopilot webinar

Ready to build your evergreen webinar funnel? Athenic can help create your content framework, set up automation, and track conversions from registration to customer. Build your webinar →

Related reading:

• Podcast Guest Strategy
• Product Hunt Launch
• Email Marketing Automation