The Ultimate Launch Day Checklist for 2024

•Launch Nicely Team

Launch day is a mix of adrenaline, anxiety, and fast-paced execution. We've seen hundreds of launches, and the difference between a flop and a hit often comes down to one thing: Preparation.

You don't want to be fixing server errors or writing tweets when you should be replying to potential customers. Use this comprehensive checklist to lock in your strategy before the big day.

1 Week Before: The Asset Prep

  • [ ] Finalize Your Tagline: Ensure it's clear, beneficial, and under 60 characters.
  • [ ] Create Media Assets:
    • 3-5 High-res screenshots (1280x720 minimum).
    • 1 GIF showing the main workflow.
    • 1 Video Demo (YouTube embed).
  • [ ] Write the "First Comment": This is your maker's comment. It should explain the "Why" behind the product. Draft it now so you aren't scrambling later.
  • [ ] Warm Up Your Audience: Tease the launch on Twitter/LinkedIn. "Building something new... DM for early access" creates FOMO.

3 Days Before: The Tech Check

  • [ ] Stress Test Servers: Can you handle 1,000 concurrent visitors? If you're on a serverless platform (Vercel/Netlify), you're usually fine, but check your database connection limits.
  • [ ] Test Analytics: Verify GA4, Plausible, or PostHog is receiving data. Launching blind is a disaster.
  • [ ] Check Mobile Responsiveness: 50% of your traffic will be on a phone. Don't lose them because a button is unclickable.
  • [ ] Verify Social Metadata: Use metatags.io to ensure your OG Image and Title look perfect when shared.

The Night Before

  • [ ] Schedule the Launch: If efficient, schedule your Product Hunt/Directory posts to go live at 12:01 AM PST to maximize the 24-hour cycle.
  • [ ] Clear Your Calendar: Block off the entire day. No meetings. You need to be present.
  • [ ] Sleep: Seriously. You're going to be glued to your screen for 16 hours.

Launch Day: The Execution

  • [ ] 12:01 AM PST - Go Live: Hit publish on Product Hunt and your core directories.
  • [ ] 07:00 AM PST - The Social Blitz: Post on Twitter, LinkedIn, Indie Hackers, and Reddit. This is peak time for US East Coast and Europe.
  • [ ] Send the Email: Blast your waiting list. Ask them specifically to "Join the discussion" (don't explicitly ask for upvotes, it's often against TOS).
  • [ ] Reply to Every Comment: Speed matters. Engaging with comments boosts the algorithm's "velocity" metric.
  • [ ] Monitor Support: Watch your support email/chat like a hawk. Fix bugs instantly.

The Morning After

  • [ ] Thank Everyone: Post a "Thank you" thread highlighting the wins.
  • [ ] Analyze the Data: Where did the best users come from? (Hint: It's often niche directories, not just the big viral spikes).
  • [ ] Plan the Follow-up: A launch isn't a single day event. It's a momentum builder.

Print this out. Check the boxes. Good luck.