Lesson 5 of 7
Launch platforms and launch weeks
How to launch so people actually notice
The idea
A new café that does well doesn't just unlock the door one morning. It tells the street weeks ahead, invites the neighbours to a tasting, and opens with a queue. A product launch works the same way.
Launch sites
Daily boards like Product Hunt, where people look for new products
Directories
Lists of tools or services by type, where people compare
Communities
Groups of your customers, with their own rules on promotion
Your own list
The people who asked to hear when it's ready
Step 1
Weeks before
Listings, a few answers, a waiting list
Step 2
The day
The launch post, your list, your communities
Step 3
The week
Reply to everyone, share what you learn
Step 4
After
Thank people, keep the listings fresh
A launch that fizzles
- Announced on the day
- Nothing to show but a homepage
- Silence after day one
A launch that lands
- Prepared for weeks
- A demo, a free way in, real proof
- A week of replies and updates
Today, with AI
Launching got easier, so launch boards fill up every day. Preparation, a free way in and real replies decide which products people try.
Directory and launch pages now feed AI answers, so a good listing keeps working after launch week.
What AI does well
Planning the days, drafting each channel's post, and listing the directories for your kind of product.
Where it goes wrong
It can't make people care on the day. Real answers in the comments do that.
What stays yours
Something worth trying, the date, and a week of replying yourself.
Check yourself
Do it in the studio
Checklist
0 of 6
Before launch day
- 01
Open Get customers → Launches. Under What are you launching? write one line, and pick the channels.
15 credits - 02
No launch in mind? Ask for launch ideas brings three to five, each with why now.
15 credits - 03
Pick the day and press Put every draft on its day: the drafts go to To approve, with their dates.
free, or 40 with the article - 04
Or tick the checklist above and write the launch post yourself.
free
Done when Your launch has a date, the listings and answers are ready before it, and the week is blocked for replies.
Go deeper
University courses on the same topic, if you want to go further.
Stanford GSB
Go To Market (MKTG 325)Taking a new product to market: who it's for, pricing, promotion and channels
HEC Paris
Startup launch courses with HEC Startup Launchpad (MSc Marketing)An optional route for launching a start-up while you study