10 Steps to Launching Your Product

Product launches are generally task-heavy and time-consuming. It can make you feel like you have no clue where to start. Besides creating the product, there’s pre-marketing work to be done to create excitement and buzz about the product. There’re tasks to be completed and monitored during the launch and there’s work to be done post-launch to keep up the momentum.  Here are 10 steps to launching your product.

My Background with Product Launches

Generally speaking, the expert content creators recommend that the best product launches are planned 3-4 months in advance and make use of a team of people who handle the various aspects they are best at. From the graphic designer to the copywriter and even the customer support team, everyone has their specialty and their talents should be used accordingly.  That is the best case scenario.

Then there is the rest of us.  Take myself, I do 100% of the product creation, lead generating freebies, email newsletters, customer service, blog posts, and some social media.  The experts say plan a product launch 3-4 months in advance… well I consider myself an expert and I plan about 1-3 weeks in advance.  Three weeks is unusual for me.

I treat the product planning, creation and launch somewhat like following a recipe.  Since I have done it so many times before, I have become quite efficient and fast at the process.  We create and or launch new products about one to two per week and I follow the same steps week after week just in an abbreviated, fast format.

10 Steps to Launching Your Product

Remember, before you get to the launch planning process, you have to do some groundwork. This includes drafting a list of product ideas, conducting your market research and determining who your ideal customers are.

If you’ve completed the Customer Avatar Workbook, you’re almost ready to start planning your launch.  If you are a few steps behind, check out the 7 Steps to Planning Your Digital Product workbook to catch up.

With the information you gathered in the market research and avatar planner, you should have a good understanding of your ideal customer; their wants and needs. In addition, you know your competitors and the products already on the market.

Step 1: Create a list of any product ideas that come to mind.

Step 2: Determine if they are feasible by returning to your market research and possibly conducting a little more to:

• ensure the product fills a gap in the market.
• is it unique/better than what’s already on the market?
• does it address concerns buyers of similar products have?
• does it provide an incentive for people to switch to your product?

Step 3:  Choose the best product idea.

Step 4:  Create your digital product.

Step 5: Pre-launch preparation – list out tasks, who is responsible to complete the tasks (that’s easy – me, me and me) and the due dates.

Step 6:  Plan pre-launch content to generate buzz.

Step 7:  Plan launch content – again list out tasks, who is responsible (again me, me and me) and due dates.

Step 8:  LAUNCH!  Create product page, email copy and upsells.

Step 9:  Post-launch tasks i.e. customer service, get testimonials, feedback, etc.

Step 10:  Reflection and plan for the future!

Need step by step guidance and workbook pages to accomplish the 10 Steps to Launching Your Product?

Product launches can be so task-heavy and time-consuming. They can make you feel like you have no clue where to start.  This Product Launch Workbook walks you step by step through the process to complete an efficient product launch.  By completing the workbook pages, you will learn as you go how to launch your product.