Sports Marketing Examples: 12 Campaigns That Scored Big
Embarking on a successful product launch requires meticulous planning and execution. Your approach can make all the difference between success and failure.
Beyond having a strategy in place, a product launch checklist serves as the backbone of this process. Attempting to launch a product without a checklist is like launching a rocket without safety checks; you can’t be sure if it will be a smooth ride.
Product launch checklists help you consider all the necessary processes, steps and assets needed for a successful launch. With a checklist, you can avoid the risk of overlooking important steps or forgetting essential assets.
In this article, we discuss the importance of a product launch checklist and why it's beneficial for your product launch.
Furthermore, we’ll discuss what goes into a product launch checklist and share a selection of product launch checklist templates to help you get started.
Before you dive in, check out this video where we explore some of the key elements that you may be missing in your product launch and provide you with some tips and tricks to help make your launch a success.
Here’s a short selection of 6 easy-to-edit product pitch templates you can edit, share and download with Visme. View more templates below:
A product launch is the introduction of a new product to the market. It involves a series of strategic activities that include testing, creating awareness, generating interest and driving sales.
The ultimate goal of a product launch is to generate interest, excitement, and demand for the product. Product launches follow a product launch checklist, which helps the team check off every action, process, and step needed for a successful launch. Typically, a product launch has three stages: pre-launch, launch and post-launch.
Using a product launch checklist is an essential part of the product launch strategy. Without it, your product runs the risk of failure due to missed or overlooked tasks.
Finally, product launch checklists can be adjusted as needed, ensuring that the launch stays on track despite any unexpected obstacles.
Here are the three most significant benefits of a product launch checklist.
A product launch checklist, along with a product roadmap, provides a centralized, structured framework to plan, coordinate, track and execute all the tasks needed for a product launch process.
Checklists ensure that no crucial step is missed or overlooked. They also help manage resources by offering an overarching view of what’s needed.
If you’re having trouble condensing your tasks into defined sentences that are clear and straightforward, use the Visme AI Writer to help you. Prompt the AI to craft cohesive and succinct sentences from a short paragraph or explanation.
By outlining tasks and deadlines, a checklist helps manage time effectively, preventing delays and ensuring a timely launch. Some tasks on the list depend on others; make sure these dependencies are explicit so there’s no backtracking.
Creating a product checklist with Visme is even more efficient when you have an enterprise team account. Not only are you able to create a product launch checklist, but you also have a central location for your team’s brand assets to facilitate content creation for both internal and external purposes.
A checklist promotes collaboration between the product manager and the team members, fostering clear communication and coordination throughout the launch process. Share the checklist as a digital document or project where everyone can see an updated version. Conduct regular check-ins with the team so everyone is on the same page.
Use Visme’s business features, like real-time collaboration, to help you stay on track with the creation and update of the product launch checklist. To collaborate on any project with Visme, you can use a dedicated workspace with your team and invite all involved stakeholders.
Start with the whiteboard, where you can brainstorm the list together in real time. Then, build it in the editor while leaving each other feedback. You can also assign sections of the checklist to the people in charge of them.
A product launch checklist includes every step and task necessary to take your product towards a successful launch. But there is one caveat: not every product needs the same checklist.
A digital product that goes through development needs different tasks than a physical product that has to be manufactured.
In this outline, we share the basics for any product launch checklist. You should then add the unique tasks for your product.
The pre-launch phase is typically the longest. It involves all the preparation before the product launch event and the final stages of production. It’s during the pre-launch that the team prepares the product launch checklist as the first task.
From there, the team works together to complete all necessary actions that lead to the launch date.
Here are the basic pre-launch activities you need to take care of:
During the launch phase, you follow a launch plan that covers all the essential aspects of the launch event and activities. At this point, you don’t just introduce the product into the market as outlined in the go-to-market strategy; you also start communicating with new clients, and you have to plan for that, too.
After the product launch, the post-launch stage assesses how the launch performed and if it was successful. You gather feedback and make calculated decisions for a more positive outcome, which in turn helps you launch other products better in the future.
Now, the best part—customizable and reusable product checklist templates to help you launch products effectively. You can easily customize each template with our easy-to-use checklist maker.
Keep things organized and reduce the chances of mistakes that could negatively affect your launch using this product launch checklist template.
This product launch checklist for gear running shoes is separated into four sections: pre-launch, marketing, development and testing and launch day. The steps in each section are brief and easy to grasp.
The header comprises a photo background and a color overlay, giving the design a positive layer of visual messaging. When customizing the checklist for your product, you can change the image by searching Visme’s photo and video gallery in the editor.
Help your team stay on track on the way to launch by separating your B2B product launch checklist into three phases: research, development and launch. Each section is encased in its own rounded-corner box to check off actions individually.
Work together with your team to brainstorm, build and check off the checklist by using the Visme workflows feature. Assign specific tasks to the relevant team members and set deadlines for them. Use this tool to ensure everyone is on the same page during every product launch stage.
Escape the fate of new products that fail every year by staying organized with a simple template like this one. Create a product launch checklist on a single page to ensure all high-level tasks are handled. Use large squares as checkboxes so you can use shapes and icons to check items off.
Make your checklist more engaging by using interactive elements like animated graphics, icons, backgrounds, and hotspots. Use hyperlinks to add further documentation to some item lists needing more explanation or sub lists.
Give your product the best opportunity at success by ensuring that you cover every possible action, activity and task towards the launch date and beyond.
This three-page template has six sections that cover pre-launch planning, marketing and promotion, distribution and logistics, post-launch monitoring, compliance and reporting, and follow-up campaigns.
Each page is complete with a high-resolution image that matches the brand. Upload your own photos and replace them easily within the canvas. Use the AI Edit Tools to finesse photos that need upscaling, unblurring or a pesky object removed.
Having a visually attractive launch checklist helps keep attention on it while it’s in use. It’s also easier to recognize and won’t get lost in between lots of other black and white documents.
Make your product launch list visually engaging with a gradient background and a 3D illustration. Use the checklist feature to create any number of lists within one page or many.
Use the same product launch framework to create any number of product launch checklists for different products at different times. All you need is to set up dynamic fields (default or custom) and change the inputs to tailor them to your particular product launch.
Control every aspect of the launch plan with a checklist that covers the process from start to finish. Help your team stay on track with a template that makes it easy for them.
This product one-pager is separated into the following sections: market research, public relations, regulatory compliance, customer support readiness, target audience profiling, collateral materials, positioning and messaging and post-launch evaluation.
This product launch list example is proof that every checklist is different and has its own unique composition. You can create your own sections or use these as they are. Then, when you’re ready to share your checklist with the team, you can download it as a PDF, send it as a digital document or even as an image file.
Clear any doubts your team may have about the product launch activities with a checklist that makes sense and is easy to understand.
You can optimize your product launch with this product launch template, which has two checklist sections for Pre-Launch and Launch & Post-Launch. Integrate colorful icons to visualize each section’s purpose and use bright colors to make them pop.
Creating checklists with Visme is easy and intuitive, but that’s not all you can do. When you’re working inside the Visme editor, you have access to a wide variety of data visualization tools like charts, graphs, data widgets, maps and more. You can use a map, for example, to visualize where the launch is rolling out.
Conducting a successful product launch relies on a few best practices that your team must follow.
Here are the most important product launch ideas to consider:
Outlining your objectives is a foundational step for a successful product launch.
Specify what you aim to achieve—whether it’s increasing market share, boosting sales, or expanding your customer base.
Establishing concise and measurable goals provides a guiding framework for the entire launch process.
Having clear objectives leads to precise messaging tailored to the right audience and better product positioning. This, in turn, helps you align all marketing, sales and promotional collateral for the pre-launch, launch day event/promotion and beyond.
Use the SMART goal-setting framework to help your team aspire to specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timely goals.
Here’s an example: “Launch the new software product by Q2 2024, achieving a 20% increase in user engagement within the first month, measured through active user interactions and securing positive customer feedback with a satisfaction rating of at least 4.5 out of 5 on relevant platforms.”
Here is a template you can use to set smart goals.
Develop a detailed product roadmap that outlines the milestones leading up to the launch. This visual guide helps your team stay organized, ensuring everyone is on the same page regarding timelines and responsibilities.
A well-structured roadmap also facilitates efficient collaboration and mitigates potential roadblocks.
Using the product roadmap, align the milestones with the product launch checklist so that things are taken care of in the right order and at the right time.
Visme has several product roadmap templates to help you. Visualize the roadmap with an infographic, a presentation slide, a whiteboard or a Gantt chart, whichever makes more sense for your team. Here’s an example of a multiple product roadmap to cover an entire year.
Prior to the official launch, conduct thorough alpha and beta testing phases. Engage with internal users (employees or team members) during the alpha phase to identify and rectify potential issues early on.
Transition to a beta phase involving selected external users (existing clients) to gather diverse feedback. Implementing the valuable insights gained from these tests ensures a polished and user-friendly product upon launch. This extra step helps to ensure that your product actually attracts your ideal product user personas.
Develop a comprehensive go-to-market strategy that encompasses all aspects of introducing your product to the market. Use the strategy to define your target audience, find unique selling points and outline distribution channels. Incorporate elements like pricing, promotion and positioning to create a cohesive plan that maximizes visibility and resonates with your intended customer base.
In your GTM strategy, align all content and messaging guidelines for use across all distribution channels. Ensure that all collateral is branded by using Visme’s Brand Wizard. In just a few minutes you can generate a full set of templates for both the GTM strategy and the rest of the launch process.
Plan and schedule promotional content for every phase of the launch using Visme’s Social Media Scheduler. With this tool, you can post to most social media channels plus a few Work OS platforms like Slack and Monday.com.
Establish a robust system for monitoring the performance of your product post-launch. Utilize analytics tools to track key metrics such as user engagement, conversion rates, and customer feedback. Regularly analyze this data to gain insights into your product’s success and areas for improvement. Tracking performance not only informs strategic decisions but also enables continuous optimization for long-term success in the market.
Aside from post-launch performance tracking, you can also use analytics when working on the product launch checklist with your team. Ensure that everyone has seen it by using Visme’s integrated analytics feature. Track who has opened it and how much time they spent on it. This way, you can make sure everyone involved is on the same page about the product launch.
Once you announce a launch date, it’s not a great idea to postpone the date. But sometimes, you have no choice and a launch delay is necessary.
Industry standards mandate that on the launch date, you must release an MVP (minimal viable product) and there’s no need to wait until a product is perfect. It’s best to launch it when it’s viable and then improve upon it after testing it in the market.
But what if the product isn’t at MVP level by the time the launch date approaches?
There might be any number of reasons for this to occur: essential team members get sick and can’t finish their part or some resources didn’t make it on time due to a manufacturing or delivery issue. If this is the case, then delaying the launch might be a good idea.
When delaying a launch—especially if there is a hype strategy—you must be honest and clear with your audience. Turn the delay into a positive by hyping up the product launch even more.
To avoid changing the launch date or delaying the launch, consider all risks while working on the product roadmap and product launch checklist. Give your team more time than you think you need and keep an eye on progress at all times.
In conclusion, a triumphant product launch lies in the details, and a comprehensive product launch checklist is your compass through the process. From pre-launch to post-launch, each phase plays a pivotal role in ensuring your product’s success in the market.
To elevate your product launch strategy, explore the customizable checklist templates in this guide. Furthermore, Visme offers everything you need to streamline other parts of the product launch process, like goal setting, product roadmaps, marketing plans, launch event promotion material, and much more.
Get started with an enterprise account for your team today and launch all your future products smoothly and effectively.
Design visual brand experiences for your business whether you are a seasoned designer or a total novice.
Try Visme for free
