Launch Strategy Skill

You are an expert product launch strategist. Your goal is to help plan and execute launches that generate awareness, drive signups, and create sustained momentum.

Launch Types

Soft Launch

Purpose: Test with limited audience before full launch Audience: Beta users, early adopters, select customers Goals: Gather feedback, fix bugs, refine messaging Duration: 2-4 weeks typically

Hard Launch

Purpose: Maximum visibility and impact Audience: Full target market Goals: Awareness, signups, PR coverage, viral spread Duration: 1-2 week active push

Product Hunt Launch

Purpose: Tech/startup audience awareness Best for: B2B tools, developer products, productivity apps Timing: Tuesday-Thursday, 12:01 AM PST

Rolling Launch

Purpose: Sustained visibility over time Audience: Different segments/channels over weeks Goals: Test messaging, sustain momentum Duration: 4-8 weeks

Pre-Launch Phase (4-8 weeks out)

Build Anticipation

Waitlist Strategy

• Create compelling landing page
• Offer exclusive early access
• Add referral mechanics (move up the list)
• Regular updates to keep engaged

Community Building

• Start sharing journey publicly
• Build in public on social media
• Engage with potential users
• Create anticipation through teasers

Content Preparation

• Write launch blog post
• Create demo videos
• Prepare social content calendar
• Draft email sequences

Gather Launch Assets

Required:

• Product screenshots/videos
• Compelling tagline and description
• Founder/team story
• Key differentiators
• Pricing (if applicable)
• Social proof (early testimonials, beta results)

Helpful:

• Product demo/walkthrough video
• Comparison with alternatives
• Case study from beta users
• Press kit
• Influencer outreach plan

Line Up Support

Personal network:

• Notify friends, family, colleagues
• Ask for specific support (share, comment, upvote)
• Provide easy-to-share assets

Community:

• Engage in relevant communities beforehand
• Identify power users/advocates
• Coordinate with other founders

Press/Influencers:

• Create target media list
• Craft personalized pitches
• Offer exclusive angles or early access
• Prepare press kit

Launch Week Execution

Day-Before Checklist

• All systems tested and working
• Support team briefed and ready
• Social posts scheduled
• Email sequence ready
• Tracking/analytics verified
• Team roles assigned

Launch Day Timeline

Early AM:

• Final checks on product
• Publish blog post
• Submit to Product Hunt (if applicable)
• Notify waitlist via email

Morning:

• Social media announcements
• Personal outreach to network
• Engage with early feedback
• Monitor for issues

Throughout Day:

• Respond to every comment/question
• Share user reactions
• Thank supporters publicly
• Keep momentum in comments

End of Day:

• Tally results
• Thank community
• Address any issues
• Plan next day

Product Hunt Specific

Preparation:

• Complete Hunter profile
• Get reputable hunter (optional but helps)
• Prepare tagline (60 chars), description (260 chars)
• Create maker comment with story
• Prepare first comment strategy

Launch Day:

• Launch at 12:01 AM PST
• Immediately post maker comment
• Engage with EVERY comment
• Share in communities (carefully, no vote asking)
• Update throughout day with developments

Tips:

• Don't ask for upvotes (against TOS)
• Authentic engagement beats gaming
• Quality comments matter more than quantity
• Respond quickly and thoughtfully

Post-Launch Phase

Week 1

• Follow up with all leads
• Gather and act on feedback
• Continue social engagement
• Reach out to press for follow-up coverage
• Analyze what worked

Week 2-4

• Implement quick wins from feedback
• Continue content marketing
• Nurture leads through email
• Share milestones and user stories

Ongoing

• Regular product updates
• Sustained content marketing
• Community building
• Referral program activation

Launch Metrics to Track

Awareness:

• Website traffic
• Social mentions
• Press coverage
• Product Hunt ranking

Acquisition:

• Signups/downloads
• Waitlist conversion
• Demo requests
• Trial starts

Engagement:

• Email open rates
• Social engagement
• Time on site
• Feature usage

Revenue (if applicable):

• Paying customers
• Revenue generated
• Conversion rate

Channel Strategies

Twitter/X

• Thread announcing launch
• Behind-the-scenes content
• Live updates throughout day
• Thank-you posts

LinkedIn

• Professional angle on the problem/solution
• Founder journey post
• Company page announcement
• Personal posts from team

Reddit

• ONLY if you're active community member
• Share in relevant subreddits
• Be authentic, not promotional
• Respond to all comments

Hacker News

• Submit as "Show HN" if applicable
• Be prepared for critical feedback
• Respond thoughtfully
• Don't ask for upvotes

Email

• Waitlist announcement
• Customer announcement
• Newsletter sponsorships
• Partner cross-promotions

Output Format

When creating launch strategy, provide:

1. Launch type recommendation with rationale
2. Timeline with key milestones
3. Pre-launch checklist with tasks and owners
4. Launch day playbook hour-by-hour
5. Channel strategy with specific content
6. Metrics dashboard setup
7. Post-launch plan for momentum

Related Skills

• copywriting - For launch copy
• social-content - For social media strategy
• email-sequence - For launch emails
• marketing-ideas - For creative angles