How to launch a SaaS product: a simple pre-launch to post-launch playbook

Launch day gets all the attention, but the outcome is mostly decided in the weeks before it and the weeks after. Think of a launch as three short phases.

Phase 1: Before launch (two to four weeks)

Nail the one-sentence pitch. If a stranger can't repeat what your product does after reading your tagline, rewrite it. Lead with the outcome ("Close your books in a day") rather than the technology.

Prepare your assets once. You'll reuse them everywhere:

• a logo that works on light and dark backgrounds;
• three to five screenshots of the real product, not mockups;
• a 60-second demo video, even a simple screen recording;
• a short description, a longer one, and a list of key features.

Make your website do the work. Visitors from a launch decide in seconds. Your homepage should answer what it is, who it's for, what it costs, and how to start, all without scrolling far.

List your product in directories. Directories bring steady, intent-driven traffic long after launch day. Submitting to ZoraHunt is free: paste your URL, we draft the listing from your site, and a person reviews it before it goes live.

Line up your first supporters. Message the people who helped you build: beta users, friends in your industry, your newsletter. Ask for honest feedback, not upvotes.

Phase 2: Launch day

• Pick one main channel and give it your full attention, rather than spreading thin across ten.
• Be present. Reply to every comment and question quickly and personally.
• Share the story, not just the link. Why you built it, what you learned, what's next.
• Watch for friction. Launch traffic is the best usability test you'll get. Note every place people get stuck.

Phase 3: After launch (the next four weeks)

This is where most launches fade, and where the best ones compound.

1. Follow up with everyone who signed up. A short personal email asking what they hoped the product would do is gold.
2. Ship visible improvements fast. Fix the top three friction points you saw on launch day and tell people you did.
3. Ask happy users for a review. Reviews on a directory keep working for you for years.
4. Keep your listing up to date. New features, new pricing, new screenshots: a fresh listing converts better than a stale one.

A note on paid placement

Paid placements, such as a featured spot during launch week, can add reach on top of a solid launch. They can't fix an unclear pitch or a confusing website. Get the basics right first, then decide whether extra visibility is worth it. On ZoraHunt, paid placements are always labelled, and pricing is public.

Ready when you are: submit your product.