Section 3
Launch
Plan a launch that brings real signups, orders or meetings, not just one busy day.
9 of 9 guides written. The rest are marked coming soon and become links when they are published.
Get ready
- How to build a waitlist before you launchBuild a waitlist before you launch: set a launch date no more than 4 weeks away, put up one page with an email field and one question about the problem, fill it with 100 personal invites, 20 answers and 2 posts a day, write back to everyone who joins within 24 hours, and email the list first on launch day.
- How to announce a new business on social mediaAnnounce a new business on social media so it brings customers, not just likes: set up your profile and page on the 2 channels where your buyers are, post one announcement with a clear ask, send 100 personal messages and 2 posts a channel a day for 14 days, and count conversations and customers by source every Sunday.
Launch software
- How to launch on Product HuntSaaSLaunch your SaaS on Product Hunt so the day brings users: check you have about 20 users and a no-signup demo, build a launch list with 100 messages, 20 answers and 2 posts a day for 3 weeks, reply to every comment within an hour on launch day, and message every commenter the next day.
- How to post a Show HN on Hacker NewsSaaSPost a Show HN that developers try: check your SaaS works in a minute with no signup, build your Hacker News account with 20 comments a day for 2 weeks, post by hand between 6 am and noon Pacific, reply to every comment within an hour, and email every new signup.
- How to submit your SaaS to directoriesSaaSSubmit your SaaS to directories in one week: write one listing kit, pick the 50 directories your buyers see on Google (starting with G2, Capterra, AlternativeTo and SaaSHub), submit 10 a day with a tracked link on each, ask every active user for a review, and count signups from each directory every Sunday.
- Should you do an AppSumo lifetime deal?SaaSDecide whether to do an AppSumo lifetime deal: work out how many months of one buyer's costs one code pays for after AppSumo's share and refunds, apply only when 10 people pay your monthly price and the sum passes 36 months, offer a founding price in 100 personal messages a day instead, and judge any deal after its refund window by money kept per active buyer.
Launch a store or a B2B product
- How to launch a D2C brandD2CLaunch your D2C brand with no audience and little money: check a stranger can buy, pick a launch day 4 weeks away, send 100 personal messages a day to build a launch list and get free product to small creators, post 2 short videos a day, message every yes on launch day, and count orders from strangers every Sunday for 4 weeks.
- How to launch a product on AmazonD2CLaunch a product on Amazon as a small brand: check shoppers search for it and a quarter of the price is left after Amazon's fees, set up Brand Registry, Vine and Request a Review, send 100 personal messages a day with Amazon Attribution links, post 2 videos and answer 20 questions a day, and start $10-a-day ads only after 5 reviews.
- How to launch a B2B productB2BLaunch your B2B product when you do all the selling: write a founding offer for your first 10 customers, invite 100 named buyers a day to a 30-minute live demo 3 weeks away, post twice and answer 20 questions a day, write to everyone the day after, and count conversations by source every Sunday.