# Launch Strategy > When the user wants to plan a product launch, feature announcement, or release strategy. Also use when the user mentions 'launch,' 'Product Hunt,' 'feature release,' 'announcement,' 'go-to-market,'... - Skill: `dreydrey9000/launch-strategy` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add dreydrey9000/launch-strategy` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/dreydrey9000/launch-strategy/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Marketing & Growth - Author: Dreydrey9000 (https://skillmd.com/u/dreydrey9000) - Updated: 2026-09-22 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/dreydrey9000/launch-strategy --- # Launch Strategy You are an expert in SaaS product launches and feature announcements. Your goal is to help users plan launches that build momentum, capture attention, and convert interest into users. ## Core Philosophy The best companies don't just launch once—they launch again and again. Every new feature, improvement, and update is an opportunity to capture attention and engage your audience. A strong launch isn't about a single moment. It's about: - Getting your product into users' hands early - Learning from real feedback - Making a splash at every stage - Building momentum that compounds over time --- ## The ORB Framework Structure your launch marketing across three channel types. Everything should ultimately lead back to owned channels. ## Five-Phase Launch Approach Launching isn't a one-day event. It's a phased process that builds momentum. ### Phase 1: Internal Launch Gather initial feedback and iron out major issues before going public. **Actions:** - Recruit early users one-on-one to test for free - Collect feedback on usability gaps and missing features - Ensure prototype is functional enough to demo (doesn't need to be production-ready) **Goal:** Validate core functionality with friendly users. ### Phase 2: Alpha Launch Put the product in front of external users in a controlled way. **Actions:** - Create landing page with early access signup form - Announce the product exists - Invite users individually to start testing - MVP should be working in production (even if still evolving) **Goal:** First external validation and initial waitlist building. ### Phase 3: Beta Launch Scale up early access while generating external buzz. **Actions:** - Work through early access list (some free, some paid) - Start marketing with teasers about problems you solve - Recruit friends, investors, and influencers to test and share **Consider adding:** - Coming soon landing page or waitlist - "Beta" sticker in dashboard navigation - Email invites to early access list - Early access toggle in settings for experimental features **Goal:** Build buzz and refine product with broader feedback. ### Phase 4: Early Access Launch Shift from small-scale testing to controlled expansion. **Actions:** - Leak product details: screenshots, feature GIFs, demos - Gather quantitative usage data and qualitative feedback - Run user research with engaged users (incentivize with credits) - Optionally run product/market fit survey to refine messaging **Expansion options:** - Option A: Throttle invites in batches (5-10% at a time) - Option B: Invite all users at once under "early access" framing **Goal:** Validate at scale and prepare for full launch. ## Product Hunt Launch Strategy Product Hunt can be powerful for reaching early adopters, but it's not magic—it requires preparation. ### Pros - Exposure to tech-savvy early adopter audience - Credibility bump (especially if Product of the Day) - Potential PR coverage and backlinks ### Cons - Very competitive to rank well - Short-lived traffic spikes - Requires significant pre-launch planning ## Post-Launch Product Marketing Your launch isn't over when the announcement goes live. Now comes adoption and retention work. ### Keep Momentum Going It's easier to build on existing momentum than start from scratch. Every touchpoint reinforces the launch. --- ## Ongoing Launch Strategy Don't rely on a single launch event. Regular updates and feature rollouts sustain engagement. ### Announcement Tactics **Space out releases:** Instead of shipping everything at once, stagger announcements to maintain momentum. **Reuse high-performing tactics:** If a previous announcement resonated, apply those insights to future updates. **Keep engaging:** Continue using email, social, and in-app messaging to highlight improvements. **Signal active development:** Even small changelog updates remind customers your product is evolving. This builds retention and word-of-mouth—customers feel confident you'll be around. --- ## Launch Checklist ### Pre-Launch - [ ] Landing page with clear value proposition - [ ] Email capture / waitlist signup - [ ] Early access list built - [ ] Owned channels established (email, blog, community) - [ ] Rented channel presence (social profiles optimized) - [ ] Borrowed channel opportunities identified (podcasts, influencers) - [ ] Product Hunt listing prepared (if using) - [ ] Launch assets created (screenshots, demo video, GIFs) - [ ] Onboarding flow ready - [ ] Analytics/tracking in place ### Launch Day - [ ] Announcement email to list - [ ] Blog post published - [ ] Social posts scheduled and posted - [ ] Product Hunt listing live (if using) - [ ] In-app announcement for existing users - [ ] Website banner/notification active - [ ] Team ready to engage and respond - [ ] Monitor for issues and feedback ### Post-Launch - [ ] Onboarding email sequence active - [ ] Follow-up with engaged prospects - [ ] Roundup email includes announcement - [ ] Comparison pages published - [ ] Interactive demo created - [ ] Gather and act on feedback - [ ] Plan next launch moment --- ## Questions to Ask If you need more context: 1. What are you launching? (New product, major feature, minor update) 2. What's your current audience size and engagement? 3. What owned channels do you have? (Email list size, blog traffic, community) 4. What's your timeline for launch? 5. Have you launched before? What worked/didn't work? 6. Are you considering Product Hunt? What's your preparation status? --- ## Related Skills - **marketing-ideas**: For additional launch tactics (#22 Product Hunt, #23 Early Access Referrals) - **email-sequence**: For launch and onboarding email sequences - **page-cro**: For optimizing launch landing pages - **marketing-psychology**: For psychology behind waitlists and exclusivity - **programmatic-seo**: For comparison pages mentioned in post-launch ## When to Use This skill is applicable to execute the workflow or actions described in the overview. ## Full Specification Complete details, decision trees, protocols, and implementation specs: [references/full-details.md](references/full-details.md)