My "Pre-Launch Anxiety" Checklist
Hey everyone,
As a first-time founder gearing up for my first launch, I found myself getting overwhelmed by all the moving parts. To keep my sanity, I started building out a super-detailed checklist.
It quickly grew from a simple to-do list into a full-blown playbook covering everything from T-minus 4 weeks out to 48 hours post-launch. It includes things like:
Asset Prep: A checklist for every image, GIF and video format.
Community Outreach: Templates for reaching out to friends, users and supporters (without being spammy).
Launch Day Timeline: An hour-by-hour schedule for the 24-hour launch period.
Post-Launch Engagement: A plan for thanking the community and sharing results.
I figured if it’s useful for me, it might be useful for other first-timers. So, I cleaned it up and made it a public Google Doc.
Here's the link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12jiPxKC1mKwytHWHV5xrr5ueDVilrmHCSu232mx4nsM/edit?usp=sharing
My question for the veterans here is: What crucial step is missing from my checklist? What's the one item that you'd add that made a huge difference for your launch?
I'm hoping to make this a living document that benefits everyone. Thanks for the help!
Replies
Definitely a relatable feeling. Just a heads up that the guide still mentions "Coming Soon" pages, but those have been nixed. Good luck and don't get too stressed out!
@mahmoud_hashemi Thanks for pointing that out. I wrote that part when they were still a thing. I'll go back and fix that.
@tmtabor well, we're live! and still a bit anxious, but i think the list helped! https://www.producthunt.com/products/finfam
@mahmoud_hashemi Glad to hear it helped! We launch in one week, and am using it as well!
minimalist phone: creating folders
I think you prepared a genial template, thank you for sharing! :)
@busmark_w_nika Much appreciated! Let me know if you come up with anything to add.
Thanks a lot for sharing the tips, Thorin, so generous! I'm also preparing to launch our product, and the "post-Launch" phase skipped my mind completely, but it really seems like a high time to build stronger relationships with the community. Appreciate your efforts!
Launch
Excellent points! "Build Your Support Squad" is particularly crucial for launch success.
I'd like to add two key strategies for The First Hour (The Golden Hour):
1. Don't hesitate to mobilize your inner circle—reach out to friends and family directly, and be specific about asking for upvotes and engagement.
2. Have all product makers share personal comments about their experience and motivation for building the product. This authentic storytelling creates deeper connection with your audience.
DeepTagger
Great checklist 👏 I’d also include a step to prepare answers for the most likely questions (pricing, roadmap, and integrations). Being ready makes you look polished and keeps the conversation flowing 😊
I understand how stressful it feels but that seems like a good idea.
Thanks for this, it's really helpful for me just getting started out on PH. I joined a little over a week ago ago to launch an app, not realising all that goes into a PH launch – this is exactly the kind of thing I need to build the confidence to finally schedule in my launch.
@isleeponcouch Yeah, I figured that out myself a month or so ago.
Target Pattern
This is great, thanks very much for sharing with everyone
@anders_haig Appreciated. Let me know if you come up with anything to add!
This is super valuable — thanks for sharing it publicly! One thing I’d suggest adding is a post-launch feedback loop. Beyond thanking the community, actively collecting structured feedback (through a short form, quick calls, or even monitoring social mentions) can reveal insights that you can use for your next iteration. For me, that step made a big difference because it turned the launch into an ongoing conversation instead of a one-time event.
Guitar Wiz
Awesome! thanks for sharing this.
@bijoythangaraj Hope people find it helpful!