·4 min read
MVP Pre-Launch Marketing Tactics
The worst launch is launching to silence. Build an audience before you ship.
Start 4-8 Weeks Before Launch
- •Create a landing page with waitlist
- •Start sharing your building journey
- •Identify communities where your users hang out
- •Begin engaging genuinely in those communities
Build in Public
- •Share progress updates on Twitter/X
- •Post screenshots and demos
- •Be honest about challenges
- •Ask for feedback on features
- •Show revenue goals and progress
Community Engagement
- •Find relevant subreddits and participate genuinely
- •Join Slack and Discord communities in your niche
- •Answer questions on forums without pitching
- •Build relationships, not just followers
Pre-Launch Email Sequence
- •Email 1: Welcome and what to expect
- •Email 2: Behind the scenes progress
- •Email 3: Early access offer or discount
- •Email 4: Launch day announcement
Free Marketing Channels
| Channel | Effort | Potential |
|---|---|---|
| Twitter/X | High (consistent posting) | High if you build following |
| Medium (genuine participation) | Medium-high for right niche | |
| Medium | Good for B2B products | |
| Product Hunt | Low (one-time) | High for launch day |
| Hacker News | Low | High if it resonates |
100 engaged waitlist subscribers beat 10,000 passive followers. Focus on quality over quantity.