Pre-Launch Strategy
Here's what most people do wrong: they create a product, launch it with one social media post, and wonder why nobody buys.
The problem? Nobody knew it was coming.
You can't expect people to buy something they didn't know existed until 5 minutes ago.
The solution? Pre-launch.
Pre-launch is the art of building anticipation, excitement, and demand BEFORE your product goes live.
Done right, pre-launch ensures you make sales on Day 1 instead of sitting there refreshing your dashboard hoping for notifications.
Today, you're learning the exact pre-launch strategy that generates buzz, builds a waitlist, and creates momentum before your official launch.
WHY PRE-LAUNCH MATTERS
Think about big product launches:
When Apple launches a new iPhone, do they just drop it with zero warning?
No. They tease it for weeks. They build hype. They create anticipation. By launch day, people are lined up ready to buy.
You're doing the same thing (just smaller scale).
BENEFITS OF A PRE-LAUNCH:
✅ Builds anticipation: People are excited and waiting
✅ Creates social proof: "500 people on the waitlist" sounds impressive
✅ Tests demand: If nobody joins your waitlist, you can refine before launch
✅ Generates Day 1 sales: Waitlist converts to buyers immediately
✅ Builds momentum: Launch day feels like an event, not a whisper
Pre-launch can be the difference between $0 in sales and $1,000+ on Day 1.
THE 14-DAY PRE-LAUNCH TIMELINE
You don't need months to pre-launch. Two weeks is perfect.
Here's exactly what to do each day:
DAYS 1-3: THE TEASE
GOAL: Let people know something is coming without revealing everything.
WHAT TO DO:
Post on social media:
"I've been working on something I'm really excited about. Can't share details yet, but it's specifically for [YOUR AUDIENCE] who want to [OUTCOME].
Dropping soon. Should I give you a sneak peek? Comment YES if you're curious 👀"
Email your list (if you have one):
Subject: Something exciting is coming...
Body:
"Hey [First Name],
I've been working on something behind the scenes that I can't wait to share with you.
It's specifically designed to help [YOUR AUDIENCE] finally [ACHIEVE OUTCOME] without [COMMON OBSTACLE].
I'll be sharing more details soon, but I wanted to give you a heads up first since you're on my list.
Stay tuned...
[Your Name]
P.S. Reply and tell me: What's your biggest struggle with [TOPIC]? Your answer will help me make this even better."
TEASE PHASE TIPS:
✅ Build curiosity without revealing everything
✅ Make it clear WHO it's for
✅ Hint at the transformation
✅ Create engagement (ask questions, request comments)
✅ Start conversations in DMs
DON'T reveal the name, price, or full details yet. That comes later.
DAYS 4-7: THE REVEAL
GOAL: Announce what you're launching and open the waitlist.
WHAT TO DO:
Create a waitlist landing page:
This is a simple page where people can join to be notified when your product launches.
WAITLIST PAGE ELEMENTS:
Headline: "Join the Waitlist for [Product Name]"
Subheadline: "[Product Tagline/Benefit]"
Body:
"[PRODUCT NAME] is a [WHAT IT IS] that helps [WHO] achieve [TRANSFORMATION].
Inside, you'll get:
- [Benefit 1]
- [Benefit 2]
- [Benefit 3]
Launching [DATE]. Join the waitlist to: ✨ Get early access 24 hours before everyone else ✨ Receive an exclusive launch discount (20% off) ✨ Get [BONUS] free when you purchase during launch week
[EMAIL SIGNUP FORM]
No spam. Just one email when it launches."
How to create this:
OPTION 1: ConvertKit Landing Page (built-in tool)
OPTION 2: Carrd.co ($9/year)
OPTION 3: Google Forms (free, but less pretty)
Pick one. Keep it simple. 15-20 minutes max.
Announce on social media:
"🎉 IT'S TIME TO REVEAL! 🎉
I'm launching [PRODUCT NAME]—a [WHAT IT IS] for [WHO] who want to [OUTCOME].
[Share a bit about why you created it and what makes it special.]
Launching [DATE].
Join the waitlist here: [LINK]
Waitlist members get: ✨ Early access (24 hours before everyone else) ✨ Launch discount (20% off regular price) ✨ Exclusive bonus worth $[VALUE]
Only [NUMBER] spots available! Link in bio 👆"
Email your list:
Subject: [PRODUCT NAME] is Almost Here!
Body:
"Hey [First Name],
Remember when I said I was working on something exciting?
Today I'm revealing what it is: [PRODUCT NAME]
[Brief description—what it is, who it's for, what transformation it delivers.]
It's launching on [DATE], but I wanted to give you first access.
Join the waitlist here: [LINK]
Waitlist members get:
- Early access (24 hours before public launch)
- 20% launch discount
- [EXCLUSIVE BONUS] (only for waitlist members)
I can't wait to share this with you!
[Your Name]
P.S. Only [NUMBER] spots available on the waitlist. Don't miss out!"
REVEAL PHASE TIPS:
✅ Make joining the waitlist feel exclusive
✅ Offer real incentives (early access, discount, bonus)
✅ Create urgency (limited spots, deadline)
✅ Share WHY you created this product
✅ Show excitement (your energy is contagious)
DAYS 8-11: BUILD MOMENTUM
GOAL: Keep the buzz going and grow your waitlist.
WHAT TO DO:
Day 8: Share Behind-the-Scenes
Post photos or screenshots of your product creation process.
Instagram/Facebook post:
"Behind the scenes of creating [PRODUCT NAME] 📸
[Share a screenshot of your Canva design, your workspace, or a sample page]
This took me [TIME] to create, but it's finally ready and I'm so proud of it.
Launching [DATE]. Join the waitlist: [LINK]
P.S. [CURRENT NUMBER] people already on the list 🔥"
Day 9: Share a Testimonial or Beta Tester Feedback
If you had beta testers, share their feedback.
If not, share YOUR results using the system.
Social media post:
"I shared [PRODUCT NAME] with 5 beta testers before launch.
Here's what [NAME] said:
'[TESTIMONIAL QUOTE]'
This is exactly why I created it. To help [AUDIENCE] finally [ACHIEVE RESULT].
Launching [DATE]. Waitlist: [LINK]"
Day 10: Answer a Common Question
Address an objection or question your audience has.
Social media post:
"Someone asked: 'Is [PRODUCT NAME] right for me if I [COMMON OBJECTION]?'
YES! Here's why:
[Address the objection specifically]
[Product] is specifically designed for [WHO], even if you [SITUATION].
Launching [DATE]. Join the waitlist: [LINK]"
Day 11: Countdown Begins
Start building urgency.
Social media post:
"⏰ 3 DAYS until [PRODUCT NAME] launches!
[CURRENT NUMBER] people on the waitlist.
Last chance to join for:
- Early access
- 20% launch discount
- [BONUS]
Link in bio 👆"
Email your waitlist:
Subject: 3 Days Until Launch!
Body:
"Hey [First Name],
Quick update: [PRODUCT NAME] launches in 3 days!
I'm putting the finishing touches on everything and I'm so excited to share it with you.
You're on the waitlist, which means: ✅ You'll get access 24 hours before everyone else ✅ You'll get 20% off the regular price ✅ You'll get [BONUS] free
Keep an eye on your inbox. You'll get your exclusive early access link on [DATE].
Can't wait!
[Your Name]"
DAYS 12-13: FINAL PUSH
GOAL: Last chance to join the waitlist.
Day 12: Create FOMO
Social media post:
"48 HOURS until [PRODUCT NAME] launches 🚀
[CURRENT NUMBER] people on the waitlist already.
If you want early access + the launch discount, join now: [LINK]
After launch, the price goes up and the bonus disappears."
Day 13: Last Call
Social media post:
"⚠️ LAST CALL ⚠️
[PRODUCT NAME] launches TOMORROW.
This is your last chance to join the waitlist for:
- Early access (24 hours before everyone)
- 20% off regular price ($[SAVINGS] saved)
- [BONUS] free (won't be available after launch)
Join now: [LINK]
Tomorrow, this closes and we launch!"
Email your waitlist:
Subject: Tomorrow is the Day!
Body:
"Hey [First Name],
Tomorrow's the big day! [PRODUCT NAME] officially launches.
But YOU get access first.
Tomorrow morning at [TIME], you'll receive an email with your exclusive early access link.
You'll have 24 hours to purchase at the discounted price before it goes public.
Get ready. This is going to be good.
[Your Name]
P.S. Make sure you add me to your contacts so my email doesn't land in spam!"
DAY 14: LAUNCH DAY (We'll cover this fully tomorrow on Day 21)
GOAL: Send access to waitlist first, then open to public.
We'll dive deep into launch day strategy tomorrow.
WAITLIST GROWTH STRATEGIES
HOW TO GROW YOUR WAITLIST FAST:
1. POST CONSISTENTLY
Post about your waitlist 1-2x daily during the pre-launch period.
Don't be annoying. Be excited.
People buy from people who are enthusiastic about their offers.
2. ENGAGE IN YOUR DMS
When people comment or engage with your posts, slide into their DMs:
"Hey! Thanks for commenting on my post about [PRODUCT]. Are you on the waitlist? I'd love to make sure you get early access and the launch discount. Here's the link: [LINK]"
Personal DMs convert way higher than public posts.
3. GO LIVE (INSTAGRAM/FACEBOOK)
Do a live video talking about your product, why you created it, and how it helps.
At the end, share your waitlist link.
Live videos get prioritized by algorithms and feel more personal.
4. SHARE YOUR JOURNEY
People love behind-the-scenes content.
Share:
- Screenshots of your product creation
- Your workspace
- Your "aha" moments while creating
- Your struggles and wins
Vulnerability builds connection. Connection drives sales.
5. OFFER A REFERRAL INCENTIVE
"Join the waitlist + refer 3 friends who join = get [EXTRA BONUS]"
People love incentives for sharing.
6. COLLABORATE
Partner with someone in your niche to cross-promote waitlists.
"I'm promoting your waitlist to my audience, you promote mine to yours."
Win-win.
7. POST IN RELEVANT GROUPS (With permission)
Share your waitlist in Facebook groups, Reddit communities, or forums where your ideal customers hang out.
Example post:
"Hey everyone! I just finished creating [PRODUCT NAME] for [WHO] who want to [OUTCOME]. It launches next week, but I'm opening a waitlist with early access and a discount. If this sounds like something you'd benefit from, here's the link: [LINK]"
Provide value. Don't spam.
CREATING A SENSE OF URGENCY
ETHICAL URGENCY TACTICS:
1. LIMITED WAITLIST SPOTS
"Only 100 spots available on the waitlist."
Once you hit 100, close it. This creates FOMO.
2. LIMITED-TIME LAUNCH DISCOUNT
"20% off only during launch week (March 1-7). After that, price increases to full price."
Be honest. Follow through.
3. LIMITED BONUSES
"First 50 buyers get [BONUS]. After that, it's gone."
4. COUNTDOWN TIMERS
Add a countdown timer to your waitlist page showing when the waitlist closes.
Tools: Deadline Funnel, Carrd countdown blocks
UNETHICAL URGENCY (NEVER DO THIS):
❌ Fake scarcity ("Only 3 left!" when there's unlimited)
❌ Fake countdown timers (that reset when you refresh)
❌ Lying about price increases (saying price goes up, then never raising it)
Be honest. Build trust. Long-term reputation > short-term sales.
PRE-LAUNCH CONTENT IDEAS
Not sure what to post during pre-launch? Here are 20 post ideas:
- "Here's why I created [PRODUCT]..."
- Behind-the-scenes photo of your workspace
- Screenshot of a sample page
- Your story: "3 years ago, I was [STRUGGLE]. Today, I'm [RESULT]."
- Testimonial from a beta tester
- "The #1 mistake people make with [TOPIC]..."
- Quick tip related to your product
- Poll: "What's your biggest struggle with [TOPIC]?"
- "3 days until launch! Here's what you'll get..."
- "How [PRODUCT] is different from other solutions..."
- FAQ: Answer a common question
- Countdown post: "X days left!"
- "Sneak peek inside [PRODUCT]..." (show a page)
- Your results: "Using this system, I [ACHIEVED RESULT]"
- Case study: How someone else got results
- "Join the waitlist to get [BENEFIT]"
- "What people are saying about [PRODUCT]..."
- Quick video explaining what your product includes
- "Last chance to join the waitlist!"
- Launch day announcement
Mix value, excitement, and urgency throughout your pre-launch.
PRE-LAUNCH EMAIL SEQUENCE
Here's the email timeline for your waitlist:
EMAIL 1: WELCOME TO THE WAITLIST (Immediately after signup)
Subject: You're on the list! 🎉
Body:
"Hey [First Name]!
You're officially on the waitlist for [PRODUCT NAME]!
Here's what happens next:
[LAUNCH DATE]: You'll get early access 24 hours before the public
Your discount: 20% off (saving you $[AMOUNT])
Your bonus: [BONUS NAME] (value: $[VALUE])
Keep an eye on your inbox. I'll send you updates leading up to launch.
And if you have any questions, just hit reply!
Excited to share this with you soon, [Your Name]
P.S. Know someone who'd benefit from this? Forward this email!"
EMAIL 2: THE WHY BEHIND IT (3 days after signup)
Subject: Why I Created [Product Name]
Body:
"Hey [First Name],
I wanted to share the story behind [PRODUCT NAME]...
[Share your personal story—what problem you faced, how you solved it, why you created this product]
That's why I created this. To help [WHO] finally [ACHIEVE RESULT] without [OBSTACLE].
Launching in [X] days. You'll be the first to know!
[Your Name]"
EMAIL 3: SNEAK PEEK (7 days before launch)
Subject: Sneak Peek Inside [Product Name]
Body:
"Hey [First Name],
Want a preview of what's inside [PRODUCT NAME]?
Here's what you'll get:
[List 5-7 key benefits/modules/sections]
Plus these bonuses:
- [Bonus 1]
- [Bonus 2]
Launching in 7 days. You'll get your early access link on [DATE].
[Your Name]"
EMAIL 4: 3-DAY COUNTDOWN (3 days before launch)
Subject: 3 Days Until Launch!
[Body already written in Days 8-11 section above]
EMAIL 5: TOMORROW (1 day before launch)
Subject: Tomorrow is the Day!
[Body already written in Day 13 section above]
EMAIL 6: LAUNCH DAY (Launch morning)
We'll cover this tomorrow on Day 21!
TRACKING YOUR PRE-LAUNCH SUCCESS
METRICS TO TRACK:
✅ Waitlist signups: How many people joined?
✅ Email open rates: Are people reading your emails?
✅ Social media engagement: Likes, comments, shares, DMs
✅ Landing page traffic: How many visitors?
✅ Conversion rate: Visitors → Waitlist signups
REALISTIC BENCHMARKS:
Waitlist signups:
- 10-50 signups: Great start!
- 50-100 signups: Excellent!
- 100+ signups: Amazing!
Conversion rate (visitors to waitlist):
- 20-30% is good
- 30-50% is excellent
- 50%+ is outstanding
If your numbers are low, don't panic.
Even 10 waitlist members can turn into $500+ in sales if they're the right people.
Quality > quantity.
WHAT IF NOBODY JOINS YOUR WAITLIST?
First: Don't panic.
Second: Diagnose the problem:
PROBLEM 1: Nobody knows about it
Solution: Post more. DM more. Go live. Show up consistently.
PROBLEM 2: Your messaging isn't clear
Solution: Make it super specific. WHO is it for? WHAT transformation will they get?
PROBLEM 3: Your audience isn't interested
Solution: This is tough, but valuable feedback. Either refine your product or pivot to a different niche.
The pre-launch tells you if you have demand BEFORE you launch.
That's valuable information.
YOUR ASSIGNMENT
Create your 14-day pre-launch plan:
STEP 1: Create your waitlist landing page (30 minutes)
- Use ConvertKit, Carrd, or Google Forms
- Include headline, benefits, email signup
- Add incentives (early access, discount, bonus)
STEP 2: Write your waitlist email sequence (1 hour)
- Email 1: Welcome
- Email 2: Story
- Email 3: Sneak peek
- Email 4: 3-day countdown
- Email 5: Tomorrow
STEP 3: Plan your pre-launch content (30 minutes)
- Write 14 social media post ideas (one per day)
- Schedule or plan when you'll post
- Prepare behind-the-scenes content
STEP 4: Set your launch date (5 minutes)
- Choose a date 14 days from now
- Mark it on your calendar
- Commit to the timeline
STEP 5: Start your pre-launch TODAY (15 minutes)
- Post your first tease on social media
- Email your list (if you have one)
- Share your waitlist link in bio
TOTAL TIME: 2-3 hours
By the end of today: ✅ Waitlist landing page live
✅ Pre-launch content planned
✅ Launch date set
✅ First tease posted
TOMORROW
Tomorrow is the big day: LAUNCH DAY EXECUTION
You've built anticipation. You've grown your waitlist. Tomorrow, you're learning exactly how to execute a successful launch that generates sales from Day 1.
This is where everything comes together.
See you for Day 21: Launch Day Execution.
Lesson Summary
The text outlines a comprehensive system for weekly marketing activities, including daily tasks such as outreach and community engagement, as well as automation tools to save time. It also includes guidance on setting up tracking systems, creating message templates, and organizing marketing time. The importance of system maintenance and the impact of implementing these systems on client acquisition and revenue growth are highlighted.
- The guide covers five core systems: Outreach, Follow-Up, Pipeline Tracking, Community Engagement, and Content Creation.
The text provides detailed instructions on setting up these systems and emphasizes the importance of consistent effort for successful outcomes. It provides a comprehensive guide on setting up client acquisition systems for consistent revenue generation without relying solely on motivation. It emphasizes the need for systematic approaches that automate task execution and remove the burden of decision-making.
- System 1 focuses on sending 50-100 outreach messages weekly, utilizing templates for different scenarios like cold LinkedIn connection requests and warm network check-ins, along with tracking progress in spreadsheets.
- System 2 emphasizes the importance of follow-up, providing frameworks for gentle bumps, adding value, and final outreach messages along with automation options using tools like Boomerang and CRMs.
- System 3 introduces the pipeline tracking system, suggesting visual representations like Trello or Notion boards to track leads through different stages and monitor pipeline health indicators.
- System 4 encourages daily community engagement for networking and building relationships using templates for answering questions, commenting on posts, and initiating conversations.
- System 5 emphasizes the need for a content system to ensure a consistent flow of content ideas, including brainstorming monthly, batch creating posts weekly, and maintaining a content idea bank with templates for listicles, stories, questions, and contrarian takes.
Overall, the guide provides practical strategies and tools to establish efficient client acquisition systems to sustain and grow businesses effectively.
0 comments