Triggers
- landing page
- pre-launch
- validate idea
- validate demand
- pre-order page
- coming soon page
- waitlist page
- email capture
- launch page
- validate startup
- test demand
- mvp validation
- idea validation
- build in public
Instructions
The Core Idea
Launch before you build. The fastest way to validate demand is to describe what you want to build, put up a landing page, and see if people will pay for it.
Levelsio announced his MAKE book with nothing but a tweet and a Typeform. People pre-ordered at $22.49. He collected $50,000+ in pre-orders before writing a single chapter.
Step 1: Build the Landing Page
Use deploy_website to create a simple landing page with these elements:
Above the fold (visible without scrolling):
- Headline: What does it do? One sentence. "We pick up and deliver your bags at any address worldwide, within hours."
- Subheadline: One more sentence of context. Keep it human.
- CTA button: Big, colored, centered. "Get Started", "Pre-Order", "Join Waitlist"
Below the fold: 4. How it works: 3 steps with icons 5. Social proof: Testimonials, logos, numbers (add these after launch) 6. FAQ: Address top objections
Design rules:
- Use the
ui-ux-pro-maxskill for design system - Mobile-first. More than 50% of traffic will be mobile.
- Fast loading. No heavy frameworks for a landing page. Static HTML + Tailwind or similar.
- Clear value proposition in 5 seconds or the visitor bounces
Step 2: Email Capture
Every landing page MUST capture emails. But "subscribe to our newsletter" doesn't work. Instead, offer specific value:
GOOD: "Get a daily email of all new PHP jobs" (contextual, useful) GOOD: "Send me a message when you have a special food discount in my area" BAD: "Subscribe to our newsletter"
Implementation:
- Simple form with name + email
- Store in database or Google Sheets via API
- Send immediate confirmation email via
email_send - Segment by interest if possible (e.g., which feature they clicked on)
Step 3: Accept Pre-Orders (Optional but Powerful)
If you want to validate willingness to pay (not just interest):
- Add Stripe Checkout to the landing page
- Set a pre-order price ($10-$50 depending on the product)
- Be transparent: "This product doesn't exist yet. Your pre-order funds its development. We'll deliver by [date] or refund."
- Pre-orders prove demand better than any survey or "interested" click
Step 4: Announce
- Tweet about it from your personal account. Be genuine: "I want to build [thing]. Here's a landing page to see if anyone wants it."
- Post in relevant communities (not as marketing, but as "I'm exploring this idea, would you use it?")
- Share with friends, colleagues, potential users directly
Step 5: Measure and Decide
| Signal | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 0 signups | Either bad idea, bad landing page, or nobody saw it. Try a different angle. |
| 10-50 signups | Mild interest. Could be worth building if you're passionate. |
| 50-200 signups | Real interest. Worth building an MVP. |
| 200+ signups | Strong demand. Build it. |
| Pre-order payments | Validated demand. Definitely build it. |
Build in Public
Levelsio's approach: build with your users, not for them.
- Share drafts/progress on Twitter as you build
- Let pre-order customers vote on features (Workflowy shared list, Google Doc)
- Send chapter/milestone updates to your email list
- Livestream development (optional but builds accountability)
This builds an audience BEFORE launch. When you launch for real, you already have fans.
The MVP is NOT a Landing Page
Critical distinction: an email signup box is NOT a product. Don't "launch" a coming-soon page on Product Hunt. That's not a launch. A functional MVP that does one thing well — THAT is launch-ready.
The landing page validates demand. The MVP validates the solution. They're different steps:
- Landing page → "Do people want this?" (pre-launch)
- MVP → "Does this solution work?" (launch)
Tools to Use
deploy_website— Deploy the landing page to Vercel/Railwayemail_send— Confirmation emails, pre-order receiptsemail_monitor— Track signup notificationstwitter_post— Announce and build in publicweb_search— Research competitors, validate nichereplicate_generate— Create hero images/graphicsbrowser_navigate— Set up Stripe, Typeform, analytics
Philosophy
"Before even writing a single line on it I announced this book and opened it up for pre-orders. The only thing people received after paying $22.49 immediately was an empty Workflowy list where they could write what the book should be about specifically. That gave me immediate feedback from customers. Just like a startup."
"Make sure your MVP actually works and is not just a landing page that doesn't do anything. It should do something. It should have the core functionality working well to be useful for users."
"Don't build on an MVP too long, a good rule of thumb is to spend max one month on it and launch."
Verify
- The actual channel was reached (post URL, message ID, or platform-side confirmation captured), not just a draft saved locally
- Targeting parameters (subreddit, hashtag, audience, time zone) match what the landing-page-launch guide prescribes for the chosen platform
- Copy was checked against the platform's character/format limits before posting; the final character count is recorded
- Engagement plan for the first 1-2 hours after posting is written down with specific actions, not 'monitor and reply'
- At least one platform-specific anti-pattern from the skill (e.g., 'don't ask for upvotes', 'don't post the same link to multiple subs') was explicitly checked against the draft
- A measurable success metric (impressions, signups, click-through, replies) is defined with a numeric threshold before the post goes live