Launching CAN feel stressful. There’s so many moving parts, from pre-launch events to content to promotion to sales pages to purchasing to delivery.
And if you don’t have a proper strategy and a simple, yet effective, process in place, I guarantee you’ll feel the weight of the load amplified by the deep overwhelm that is inherent in launching your baby...not to mention the very important things that are inevitably forgotten when you are sending your new ideas out into the world.
How about we make sure you launch with EASE? So that your launch goes off as flawlessly as an airbrushed model on the cover of Vogue.
Planning Is Everything
The first step in making sure your launch runs smoothly, is to map out the details of your launch & create a timeline. Then, you will reverse engineer from your launch date everything that needs to happen from end goal to start date (yes, this feels backwards ;)). This gives you the clarity to ensure you don’t forget any detail.
Make sure you also build in some time for review and revisions for each step of the process. For example, I always plan to be done prepping 1-2 weeks before the actual launch date. This gives me time to recover from the rush, time to do an extra round of proofing & revision as needed, as well as time to make sure everything works (and who knows, sometimes I get a little crazy and throw in a couple extras as well).
Use a PM Tool
Use a project management tool such as Asana to assign all tasks to your team.
Once you have it mapped out you gotta “put pen to paper” and set actionable deadlines according to your timeline. Make sure you’re giving all details inside each task to make it easy for your team to execute. I highly recommend having a spot at the beginning of your project titled “Key Info”. This includes the objective of the launch, the details about what you’re launching, copy direction, what the problem you’re trying to solve is, and any other details in your head that will help your team support you in this launch.
My launch planning template available in Pocket OBM outlines every step for you over an 8-week launch process + a bonus pre-launch event template.
Talk Talk Talk
Make sure your systems talk to each other. There’s nothing more frustrating than launching and then things crash because the software you use isn’t set up to communicate. Depending on the platforms you use, some can talk to each other directly, while others need a third party to facilitate the discussion.
If that’s the case, you need to make sure you have automations set up via Zapier. This software lets you connect almost any programs to each other for near seamless integration without the worrisome interruptions that may occur without it.
TEST and Retest
As you may have noticed, sometimes links get broken. Automation sometimes glitches. Or deliveries don’t go as planned. If you want a flawless launch, plan to do a test and then do a retest closer to launch day to make sure all is well in the land of tech and the backend. I always recommend running through the entire process as if you were a customer/purchaser. This ensures the best user experience and usually finds a kink or two along the way to workout prior to launch day.
Launching doesn’t have to be as painful as most business owners make it. With a little time, patience, organization, and execution, you can pull off even the toughest of launches like a pro!
Not sure you can get all of this done and not have to SWEAT through your next launch? Then grab the Pocket OBM to help you pull off a beautifully supported launch...every time you launch.
Katelyn Hamilton is an Online Business Manager and Get Your Sh!t Together Strategist. She helps busy entrepreneurs organize, strategize and prioritize their business to go from overwhelmed to out-in-front.
After spending 6 years in the corporate world working with multimillion dollar companies, top-rated chefs and celebrities, she launched her own business to find more flexibility and freedom. She matched her corporate salary in just one year of starting her business.
Katelyn is also a wife, stepmom, dog mama of three furry friends, fitness lover, sports fanatic (Go Dawgs) and dreams of living at the beach.
Click here to book a free call to talk more about your business goals and to see if hiring an OBM is the right fit for you.
