How to Create a Successful Digital Product Launch -
The last update was September 1, 2022
An event like a launch of a product can be described as an occasion ... as an art show or a huge "open home" that speaks to the world: "Hello world, here I am. Stop by and discover the things I'm about." Launches are an chance to "wow" your customers.
Your audience will be an exploration. Can this product perform a function which pleases me? Does it solve a problem, perform better than a similar product I have already? The debut of your product onto the market is when you are able to check if you are meeting your customers' likes and needs.
Since a digital product doesn't have the characteristics of a physical product - it isn't a part of the physical world, at least What should the launch of your product look as, how can you design one? How can you get people to notice it, and how do you ensure that the hard work you've put in result in a profit?
Make the Goals for Launch
An event like a launch can be an opportunity to evaluate the goals you have set and evaluate the success you have in getting these goals. Do you have a target number in mind for the sales you want to generate over a certain amount of time? Are you more concerned with knowing who your buyers are and what their buying habits are? What kinds of behaviors do they have? What are their locations? What is their relationship to your products?
Make sure you have the tools and procedures in place to capture everything that you choose to quantify. If your objective is to get 10,000 downloads in during the first thirty days after the launch event, will you have the processes put in place to track the number of downloads? Are you able to easily collect data regarding where they originate in terms of geography? Do you have the tools to collect the feedback of your customers?
Use Timing Strategically
The timing for a product's launch into the market is one of the most important aspects in a marketing plan. Find out the time of the year, and also the locations that are going to maximize exposure and leverage:
- Stay away from dates worldwide where people typically go on vacation. They are typically the summer months of July and August. They also include the public holidays like New Year's Day, Christmas New Years, Good Friday Thanksgiving, Easter, Labour Day, Bastille Day, Yom Kipper, Boxing Day and many more.
- Follow the coattails of major trade shows in your industry or some similar event that is major, like a conference or the announcement of a product launch or new technology that dovetails with your product. An example is a huge seminar or workshop that trains people to use technology who are likely to be customers of your product or the release of a new app or operating system which supports your product or enhances some aspects of its use.
- Avoid launches that you might know about that take place after your competitors' launches. You want to be ahead of your competition and not be behind or perhaps you'll find that potential clients have fallen off the radar. Get the first one out of the gate, if possible.
- Do not delay your launch. Your competitors may take that occasion to get in the game early or even start a firestorm of negativity. It is important to prepare and have customers anticipating the availability of your item, and media ready to look over the response and write about it.
Make a checklist for launching
The process of launching a new product requires many planning tasks, pre-announcements, post-announcements and subsequent follow-ups. Be sure that your clients can use the product, know how to use it, and are satisfied with the purchase. There isn't always a strict procedure, but you should be sure to perform these tasks at the time they are logically appropriate. Be on top of the ones that require time, and make use of ones that have a flexible. You don't want to miss the crucial ones. Use a checklist.
Create the big announcement
Create and implement the most activities you can in order to generate excitement and interest in your product prior to when it is made available to consumers. It can be accomplished on a budget that is small or big and any company size. Start by selecting and informing your partners. Involve them as early as possible so that they will be able to inform the customers they serve. Sales managers are your biggest evangelists. Utilize LinkedIn connections as well as all the other contacts and networking groups to get them in touch with you.
Create a press release for journalists and bloggers ahead of the time, to provide them with an opportunity to see a preview (like the screening prior to an upcoming film for a select audience). Make sure they know they've been selected for this privileged screening. This is more than just courtesy. The potential is to bring visitors to your websites similar to a cowboy taking cattle to pasture.
Industry analysts also create buzz. They can be reached on business networks like LinkedIn and your professional networks , and even in the group discussions such as Facebook, Twitter and Google+. Inform them of your plans, ask for their input and inform them of developments.
Sometimes, playing with words or creating an aura of secrecy ahead of a big event can generate curiosity and excitement. A select group of people can be given information about the launch. It can help feed a frenzy, get buyers excited, and build urgency and anticipation among potential clients. Release the date for the launch months ahead of time and let that your customers something exciting is coming.
Alarm to the Press En Masse
Expose your product to appropriate media outlets that might be curious, excited enough to want to blog about it. Invest into a subscription to the news release services. The top three options created for small companies are E-Releases PRWeb as well as PR Newswire are a few best-rated providers. Mid-tier pricing for the three services is $250 and $300. PRWeb, for instance, will help you create your message, distribute it to every major search and news media (30,000 journalists and bloggers , and more than 250,000 PRWeb news members) and track it (detailed analysis will show you how many people were interested in the message, how it was picked up and the number of times it was shared).
Can a press release increase website traffic and SEO? Yes, it will however, a press release's capability to improve SEO has changed in the past few years thanks to the changes to Google's algorithms. Your press release is more likely to show up in results if users would type specific keywords within the press release. However, it's not known how likely.
Build and Leverage Your Emails
The mailing lists of your customers are gold. It's not just about communicating your new product, these are your potential customers and where your dollars are being earned. You want to cultivate your emails as precious gemstones that yield sales on into the future. Those emails will grow because customers will share your emails. They'll build a rapport with the customers. Keep them happy and they will be your advocates. It is your goal to make them regular visitors to your website and buyers of your products and fans that will spread your message to make it grow exponentially via social media.
Are you starting your project starting from scratch? Chances are you do not have a mailing list. Perhaps you possess one that was previously a product that you've promoted. If so you'll want to encourage people to visit your website to join a list of emails sent by you. The sooner you begin the process, the larger your email list. Set up incentives and rewards. Your customers will probably need an incentive to test your product.
If you are starting out with very few emails Utilize social media in build them up. Boost posts on Facebook. Add friends. Follow businesses and individuals on Twitter. You can tweet and retweet things of interest. Increase the number of followers you have on Instagram and Pinterest by sharing your company's photos, blogs, screenshots, pitch decks and how-tos. Request that people fill out a short survey. Here's one that's been appearing in email messages:
Use your website, sales platform, and social media to attract visitors and followers and then encourage them to sign up to join your email lists. This allows you to reach out to your customers at any point later on, using whatever type of message you'd like; plus, it doesn't rely on ranking on search engines or algorithms for social media.
As early as possible start creating names for your mailing list by using your website. Invite visitors to sign up with their email address so that they will be the first to receive notifications. Provide them with a trial download of the initial section (like the Amazon "Look Inside" feature) as well as the PDF that contains helpful tips or other information. Develop and promote incentives, such as incentives, giveaways, or discounts to early purchasers.
Make sure you sign up for an email service provider (ESP) particularly in the case of starting at to. Below are some services that are highly-rated that range from free to $15 per month. Campaign Monitor, iContact, MailChimp, and Constant Contact. A good ESP will provide users with the tools as well as templates and the services required to attract customers, evaluate your campaigns, manage the day-to-day requirements of your emails and also generate data.
Be Ready to Provide Help
Make sure you are able to offer quick and professional support, especially when launching a new feature. User manuals and troubleshooting guides will help you when your support staff are not available to help customers solve glitches or answer questions about usage.
Provide online chat, telephone support and/or email support in the event that you're able to. Sometimes, phone support is more effective when dealing with software-related issues. If the issue is related to a loss of security code, credit card issues or non-receipt of the product such as online chat or email could be sufficient.
Have your Customer Relations Management (CRM) set up. Do not attempt to manage the support yourself. It can consume hours of your time and prevent you from the job of an entrepreneur - developing production and sales as well as new and improved solutions. CRM software can be used the CRM software to handle all of your relationships with customers in all one location.
Look online for virtual assistants, or other people seeking part-time jobs you can work remotely at their homes. Or go the digital route by using a service who acts as your online help desk, or an chat online service.
Missteps Breed Success
After the launch, learn how your products can be marketed to your global audience. Continue testing, tweaking, and making modifications, if needed. If your sales and responses weren't up to your initial goals, remember, it's only chapter one of the story. Don't be afraid of errors or failures. Learn more from your mistakes than your successes. This will allow you to turn a good product into an extremely successful product.