The Solo Founder's Launch Checklist

Launching solo means you are the product manager, marketer, and support team. Without a checklist, something important gets missed. This is the one I use.

3 weeks before launch

Product readiness

• [ ] Core feature set complete and tested
• [ ] Error states handled gracefully (nothing worse than a broken demo on launch day)
• [ ] Mobile-responsive or mobile-native if relevant
• [ ] Analytics installed (at minimum: Google Analytics or Plausible, plus Stripe if paid)
• [ ] A way to collect emails if your product is not yet live (waitlist form)

Domain and technical

• [ ] Custom domain live with SSL
• [ ] Canonical URL consistent across all pages
• [ ] robots.txt and sitemap.xml live
• [ ] Open Graph tags set (title, description, image) — test with the Twitter Card Validator
• [ ] og:image set and displaying correctly

2 weeks before launch

Content creation

• [ ] Demo video recorded and edited (30–60 seconds)
• [ ] Vertical crop version of demo video (9:16 for TikTok/Reels/Shorts)
• [ ] Product Hunt listing drafted: tagline, description, gallery images, maker first comment
• [ ] X/Twitter launch thread written (all tweets, not just the first)
• [ ] LinkedIn post written
• [ ] Email to list drafted (if applicable)

Distribution prep

• [ ] Product Hunt listing scheduled for 12:01 AM PT on launch day
• [ ] TikTok account set up with bio and link
• [ ] Instagram account set up with bio and link-in-bio
• [ ] YouTube channel set up with description
• [ ] List of communities to post in (Indie Hackers, relevant subreddits, Slack groups)

1 week before launch

• [ ] Share a preview/teaser to warm up your audience
• [ ] Ask 5–10 people in your network to be ready to support on launch day
• [ ] Test the complete user flow: signup → core feature → success state
• [ ] Load test if you expect significant traffic
• [ ] Set up a way to respond to support questions (email, a simple chat widget)
• [ ] Write and schedule the day-after follow-up post

Day before launch

• [ ] Do a final run-through of all launch assets
• [ ] Confirm Product Hunt listing is scheduled correctly
• [ ] Upload TikTok/Reels video as draft, ready to publish
• [ ] Double-check all links in all posts point to the right page
• [ ] Set your alarm for 12:01 AM PT (if doing a Product Hunt launch)
• [ ] Clear your calendar for the next 24 hours

Launch day

12:01 AM PT

• [ ] Confirm Product Hunt listing is live
• [ ] Notify your closest supporters (personal DMs, not a blast)

Morning (7–10 AM ET)

• [ ] Send launch email to list
• [ ] Post X/Twitter launch thread
• [ ] Post LinkedIn launch post (link in first comment)

Midday (11 AM–1 PM)

• [ ] Post TikTok video
• [ ] Post Instagram Reels video
• [ ] Post in communities (Indie Hackers, relevant subreddits)

Afternoon

• [ ] Reply to every comment, reply, and DM — this is the most important thing you will do today
• [ ] Post an update thread on X with early numbers
• [ ] Post YouTube Shorts video

Evening

• [ ] Check Product Hunt ranking
• [ ] Compile first-day numbers: signups, traffic sources, top feedback
• [ ] Draft the "day after" post (or finalize the one you pre-wrote)

Day after launch

• [ ] Post the day-after debrief on X and LinkedIn
• [ ] Email your list with a "what happened" update
• [ ] Respond to any remaining comments or messages
• [ ] Review all feedback and identify the top 3 themes
• [ ] Write a note to yourself: what you would do differently

One week after launch

• [ ] Analyze traffic sources: where did your best users come from?
• [ ] Identify your highest-converting channel
• [ ] Post a "one week later" update to X and LinkedIn
• [ ] Add Product Hunt badge or ranking to your site if you ranked
• [ ] Decide what to build or improve based on feedback

The checklist does not make a launch successful. Preparing everything on it does.