# Launch Playbook > Structured launch management system for solopreneurs. Manage multi-stage launch pipelines (product, newsletter, course, campaign, service) with checklists, asset tracking, countdown timers, and post-launch retrospectives. Integrates with content-calendar, writing-assistant, social-media-manager, financial-tracker, and project-tracker skills. Prevents launch-day chaos with repeatable, agent-native workflows. - Skill: `theagentledger/launch-playbook` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add theagentledger/launch-playbook` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/theagentledger/launch-playbook/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Marketing & Growth - License: CC-BY-NC-4.0 - Author: theagentledger (https://skillmd.com/u/theagentledger) - Updated: 2026-09-10 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/theagentledger/launch-playbook --- # Launch Playbook Skill **by [The Agent Ledger](https://theagentledger.com)** > A repeatable launch management system for solopreneurs. Plan, execute, and learn from every launch — product, newsletter, course, campaign, or service offering. --- ## What This Skill Does This skill turns your agent into a launch manager. It gives you: - A standardized launch record format for any launch type - Stage-gated checklists that prevent skipping critical steps - Asset tracking (copy, graphics, links, sequences) - Countdown integration via heartbeat or cron - A post-launch retrospective system for compounding improvement - A launch library so every future launch gets smarter --- ## Setup ### Step 1: Create the launch state file Create `launches/launch-state.md` in your workspace: ```markdown # Launch State ## Active Launches | ID | Name | Type | Stage | Target Date | Status | |----|------|------|-------|-------------|--------| | — | — | — | — | — | — | ## Completed Launches | ID | Name | Type | Launch Date | Result | Retrospective | |----|------|------|-------------|--------|---------------| | — | — | — | — | — | — | ## Launch Library Total launches: 0 Average pre-launch prep time: — Most common failure mode: — ``` ### Step 2: Create your first launch record When starting a new launch, create `launches/[YYYY-MM-DD]-[launch-name].md` using the template below. ### Step 3: Add to AGENTS.md (optional, recommended) ```markdown ## Launch Management Launch records live in `launches/`. Use the launch-playbook skill for all launches. Active launch state: `launches/launch-state.md` Check for active launches in daily briefings. ``` --- ## Launch Record Template ```markdown # Launch: [Name] **ID:** L-[YYYY-MM]-[###] **Type:** [product | newsletter | course | campaign | service | event | other] **Status:** [planning | pre-launch | live | complete | cancelled] **Target Date:** YYYY-MM-DD **Actual Date:** — **Owner:** [your name or "me"] --- ## What We're Launching [1-3 sentence description. What is it, who is it for, what problem does it solve?] **Offer:** **Price:** $[price] (or free) **Target audience:** **Primary CTA:** **Landing page URL:** — --- ## Success Metrics | Metric | Target | Actual | |--------|--------|--------| | Revenue / sign-ups | | | | Email list growth | | | | Social reach | | | | Conversion rate | | | | [Custom metric] | | | --- ## Launch Assets | Asset | Status | Owner | Link/Path | |-------|--------|-------|-----------| | Landing page | [ ] | | | | Email sequence (pre-launch) | [ ] | | | | Email sequence (launch day) | [ ] | | | | Email sequence (last chance) | [ ] | | | | Social announcement post | [ ] | | | | Social follow-up posts (3-5) | [ ] | | | | Product/offer itself | [ ] | | | | Thank-you page / onboarding | [ ] | | | | FAQ document | [ ] | | | --- ## Stage Checklists ### 🔵 PLANNING (4+ weeks out) - [ ] Offer defined (what it is, price, who it's for) - [ ] Success metrics set (be specific: numbers) - [ ] Target launch date confirmed - [ ] Launch type categorized (see Launch Types reference) - [ ] Key assets listed - [ ] Dependencies identified (other launches, external events) - [ ] Competitive landscape reviewed - [ ] Positioning statement written ### 🟡 PRE-LAUNCH (1-3 weeks out) - [ ] Landing page live (draft or full) - [ ] Email sequences drafted - [ ] Social content calendar blocked out - [ ] All assets assigned and in progress - [ ] Waitlist / early-access mechanism live (if using) - [ ] Pricing finalized - [ ] Payment processor tested (if applicable) - [ ] Analytics / tracking set up - [ ] Launch announcement drafted - [ ] FAQ drafted - [ ] Edge cases reviewed (refunds, overages, sold-out state) ### 🟠 LAUNCH WEEK (-7 to 0 days) - [ ] All assets finalized and reviewed - [ ] Launch email queued / scheduled - [ ] Social posts queued / scheduled - [ ] Thank-you page tested - [ ] Payment flow tested end-to-end - [ ] Team / collaborators briefed - [ ] Contingency plan noted (what if page goes down, payment fails, etc.) - [ ] "Launch day" calendar block set ### 🔴 LAUNCH DAY - [ ] Launch email sent (time: ___) - [ ] Social posts published (time: ___) - [ ] Announcement confirmed live and working - [ ] Initial response monitored - [ ] First sales / sign-ups confirmed - [ ] Issues log started (any bugs, confusion, feedback) ### ✅ POST-LAUNCH (1-14 days after) - [ ] Final metrics collected - [ ] Revenue / results tallied - [ ] Customer feedback gathered - [ ] Retrospective completed (use retrospective section below) - [ ] Launch state file updated - [ ] Learnings filed to launch library --- ## Issues Log | Date | Issue | Impact | Resolution | |------|-------|--------|------------| | | | | | --- ## Post-Launch Retrospective **Launch Date:** **Duration active:** **Final results vs targets:** ### What Worked 1. 2. 3. ### What Didn't Work 1. 2. 3. ### Surprises (Anything you didn't expect — good or bad) ### What I'd Do Differently 1. 2. 3. ### Reusable Assets (List anything that can be templated or reused for future launches) ### Key Learnings for Launch Library (1-3 bullets that future-you should know) **Overall rating:** [1-5] — [one-line summary] ``` --- ## Launch Types Reference | Type | Typical Timeline | Key Assets | Primary Success Metric | |------|-----------------|------------|----------------------| | **Digital product** | 4-8 weeks | Sales page, email sequence, checkout | Revenue | | **Newsletter launch** | 2-4 weeks | Landing page, announcement posts, welcome email | Subscribers | | **Course / cohort** | 6-12 weeks | Sales page, curriculum outline, waitlist, Zoom/platform | Enrollments | | **Service offering** | 2-4 weeks | Service page, intake form, proposal template | Booked clients | | **Free lead magnet** | 1-2 weeks | Download page, delivery email, thank-you sequence | Email opt-ins | | **Campaign / promo** | 1-2 weeks | Promo email, social posts, coupon/landing page | Conversions | | **Event / webinar** | 3-6 weeks | Registration page, reminder emails, slide deck | Registrations + attendance rate | | **Community launch** | 4-8 weeks | Community platform, onboarding, invitation emails | Active members | --- ## Usage Patterns ### 1. Start a New Launch ``` I'm planning a [product/course/newsletter/campaign] launch. Target date: [DATE]. Brief description: [what it is]. Create a launch record and populate the planning checklist. ``` The agent will create `launches/YYYY-MM-DD-[name].md` and update launch-state.md. --- ### 2. Launch Status Check ``` Give me a status update on the [launch name] launch. What stage are we in, what's checked off, and what's next? ``` Useful for weekly check-ins or before working on launch assets. --- ### 3. Complete a Checklist Item ``` Mark "[checklist item]" as complete for the [launch name] launch. [Optional: add any notes, links, or context.] ``` --- ### 4. Countdown Briefing ``` How many days until the [launch name] launch? What items are still incomplete? What's most urgent? ``` Use in your daily briefing or as a heartbeat trigger. --- ### 5. Launch Day Brief ``` Today is launch day for [launch name]. Walk me through the launch day checklist and confirm everything is ready. ``` --- ### 6. Log an Issue ``` Log an issue for the [launch name] launch: Issue: [what happened] Impact: [who was affected, how severely] ``` --- ### 7. Post-Launch Retrospective ``` The [launch name] launch is complete. Final results: - [metric 1]: [actual vs target] - [metric 2]: [actual vs target] Run a post-launch retrospective and update the launch library. ``` --- ### 8. Review Launch Library ``` Review my launch library. What patterns do I see? What's working across launches? What should I prioritize improving for my next launch? ``` Works best after 3+ completed launches. --- ### 9. Build a Launch Calendar ``` I have these upcoming launches planned: - [launch 1]: [target date] - [launch 2]: [target date] Build a launch calendar and flag any conflicts or overlap risks. ``` --- ### 10. Asset Generation Request ``` I need to draft the launch announcement email for [launch name]. Key offer: [offer]. Price: [price]. Audience: [who]. Draft this using my writing voice. [Optional: reference existing brand voice file.] ``` Pairs with the writing-assistant skill. --- ## Heartbeat Integration Add to `HEARTBEAT.md` to get launch countdown reminders: ```markdown ## Launch Monitoring Check `launches/launch-state.md` for active launches. If any active launch has a target date within 14 days: - Show days remaining - List top 3 incomplete checklist items - Flag any overdue items (items that should have been done by now based on stage) If no active launches, skip this section. ``` --- ## Cron Setup (Alternative to Heartbeat) For a daily 8 AM launch brief: ``` openclaw cron add \ --name "launch-brief" \ --cron "0 8 * * *" \ --model "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6" \ --session isolated \ --message "Check launches/launch-state.md for active launches. For each active launch within 14 days of its target date: show days remaining, list 3 most urgent incomplete checklist items, flag any overdue items. Keep it brief." \ --announce \ --to "[your-channel-id]" \ --tz "America/Chicago" ``` --- ## Integration Map | Skill | How They Connect | |-------|----------------| | **content-calendar** | Block out launch content in the calendar; sync launch dates to content pipeline | | **writing-assistant** | Draft all launch copy: emails, landing page, social posts, announcements | | **social-media-manager** | Queue and track social launch content across platforms | | **financial-tracker** | Log launch revenue; compare actual vs projected; track ROI | | **project-tracker** | Track launch as a project with milestones and task breakdown | | **goal-tracker** | Tie launch to quarterly goals; update KR progress when launch completes | | **research-assistant** | Competitive research, audience research, pricing validation pre-launch | | **decision-log** | Log major launch decisions (pricing, timing, scope) for future reference | | **habit-tracker** | Track daily launch prep activities during runway | | **solopreneur-assistant** | Include launch status in weekly business review | --- ## Customization ### Multiple Launch Tracks If you're running multiple concurrent launches, maintain separate records and use the launch-state.md dashboard to track all at once. Add a "track" field to each record (e.g., Track A: products, Track B: services). ### Launch Templates After 2-3 launches of the same type, create a reusable template: ```markdown ## Template: [Type] Launch Based on L-[ID] and L-[ID]. Average prep time: X weeks. Standard asset list: [...] Watch out for: [common failure mode] ``` Store in `launches/templates/`. ### Minimal Launch Mode For small promos or quick campaigns (under 1 week), use a simplified checklist: ```markdown ## Quick Launch Checklist - [ ] Offer clear and compelling - [ ] CTA / link confirmed working - [ ] Email drafted and reviewed - [ ] 1-2 social posts ready - [ ] Results will be measured by: [metric] ``` ### Team / Collaborator Use Add an "Owner" column to each checklist item. Route completion updates through a shared channel or use sessions to coordinate. --- ## Troubleshooting **"I don't know what stage I'm in."** Read the Stage Checklists section. Count completed items — the stage with the most completions but incomplete items is your current stage. **"The launch is in 3 days and nothing is done."** Use the Launch Day Brief pattern and triage: mark all non-critical items as deferred. Focus only on: landing page, payment flow, launch email, and one social post. **"I keep launching the same way and getting mediocre results."** Run a launch library review (Pattern 8). Look for systemic issues: Are you launching too fast? Is your email list warm? Are you tracking the right metrics? **"My launch files are getting messy."** Archive completed launches to `launches/archive/YYYY/` after retrospective. Keep active launches in `launches/` root. --- ## Privacy Note All launch records are stored locally in your workspace. No data is sent anywhere automatically. The agent will never publish, email, or post on your behalf — you confirm every external action. --- *Launch Playbook Skill v1.0.0 — by [The Agent Ledger](https://theagentledger.com)* *Free for personal use under CC-BY-NC-4.0. For commercial redistribution, contact us.* *Subscribe at theagentledger.com for new skills, guides, and automation playbooks.*