February 10, 2026product launch, SaaS launch, startup checklist, directory submission, Growth Engine

The Ultimate Product Launch Checklist: 47 Steps to Launch Day Success (2026 Edition)

The only product launch checklist you'll ever need. 47 actionable steps to launch your SaaS successfully. Plus: the best directories to submit your startup.

I. Introduction: Why Most SaaS Launches Fail (And How to Beat the Odds)

Picture this: It's 3 AM on launch day. You've spent six months building your SaaS product. The code is clean, the design is pixel-perfect, and you've maxed out your credit cards to get here. You hit "publish" on Product Hunt, cross your fingers, and... crickets.

By noon, your post has 12 upvotes. Three are from your mom's alternate accounts.

This isn't a hypothetical horror story. This is the reality for 90% of SaaS launches that fail to gain meaningful traction in their first 30 days. According to CB Insights, 42% of startups fail because there's no market need, but an equally devastating number fail not because the product is bad, but because nobody heard about it.

The difference between a launch that fizzles and one that generates thousands of signups isn't luck. It's not about having the best product (though that helps). It's about execution against a proven framework.

Over the past three years, we've helped 200+ SaaS founders launch through Growth Engine. We've seen launches that generated 10,000+ signups in 48 hours. We've also seen brilliant products get buried because the founder skipped the pre-launch phase entirely.

This article contains the 47-step product launch checklist we use with every Growth Engine customer. It's the same framework that's helped startups land on Product Hunt's front page, get featured in TechCrunch, and build waitlists of 5,000+ users before writing a single line of marketing copy.

What You'll Learn in This Guide

The Pre-Launch Phase (60-30 days out): How to validate demand, build your email list, and prepare your infrastructure
Launch Week Execution: A day-by-day playbook for maximizing impact
Where to Submit Your SaaS: The complete 85-site directory list with traffic data
Post-Launch Strategy: Converting buzz into paying customers
Real Case Studies: Numbers and tactics from successful launches

Whether you're launching your first SaaS or your fifth, this checklist will help you avoid the mistakes that kill 90% of launches and execute like the top 10%.

Let's dive in.

II. The Pre-Launch Phase: Product Launch Checklist (60-30 Days Before Launch)

The biggest mistake founders make? Treating launch day as the starting line. In reality, launch day is the finish line of a 60-day preparation marathon. The work you do in the pre-launch phase determines whether your launch generates 100 signups or 10,000.

Here's your complete product launch checklist for the 60-30 day window:

Product Validation Signals (Days 60-50)

Before you spend a dollar on marketing, validate that people actually want what you're building.

Step 1: Conduct 20+ customer discovery calls

Target: People who match your ideal customer profile
Goal: Understand pain points, not pitch your solution
Red flag: If you can't get 20 people to talk to you, you can't get them to buy

Step 2: Validate willingness to pay

Ask directly: "If this solved your problem, what would you pay?"
Pre-sell if possible: Can you get 3-5 people to pay before you build?
Price anchor: Present 3 pricing tiers and see which they gravitate toward

Step 3: Build a waitlist landing page

Tools: Carrd, Webflow, or Unbounce
Must include: Problem statement, solution preview, email capture
Goal: 500+ emails before launch (100 minimum)

Step 4: Set up analytics infrastructure

Google Analytics 4 (free, essential)
Mixpanel or Amplitude (product analytics)
Hotjar or FullStory (session recordings)
UTM parameter strategy for tracking sources

Landing Page Optimization (Days 50-40)

Your landing page is your 24/7 salesperson. Get it right before launch.

Step 5: Write a compelling headline

Formula: [Outcome] + [Timeframe] + [Without Pain]
Example: "Launch your SaaS in 48 hours without writing a single line of code"
Test: Show 5 people your headline, ask them to explain what you do

Step 6: Create a demo video or interactive demo

60-90 seconds maximum
Show the transformation, not the features
Include captions (85% watch without sound)

Step 7: Build social proof elements

Beta tester testimonials (even 3-5 help)
Logos of companies using your product
Usage stats ("Join 500+ founders")
Press mentions (even small blogs count)

Step 8: Optimize for conversions

Single CTA above the fold
Remove navigation distractions
Mobile-first design (60%+ traffic)
Page load under 2 seconds

Email List Building (Days 40-30)

Your email list is your launch insurance policy. Start building it now.

Step 9: Choose an email platform

ConvertKit (best for creators)
Mailchimp (free tier available)
Beehiiv (great for newsletters)

Step 10: Create a lead magnet

Checklist related to your product
Template or swipe file
Mini-course or video series
Exclusive early access

Step 11: Set up email sequences

Welcome series (5-7 emails introducing your story)
Value series (weekly tips until launch)
Launch announcement sequence

Step 12: Drive traffic to your waitlist

Twitter/X content strategy
LinkedIn posts
Reddit (relevant subreddits)
Indie Hackers
Guest posts on relevant blogs

Beta Testing & Feedback (Days 30-20)

Your beta period is about learning, not perfection.

Step 13: Recruit 50+ beta testers

Your waitlist (first 50-100 emails)
Relevant communities (Reddit, Discord, Slack groups)
Personal network
Paid ads (small budget to test messaging)

Step 14: Set up feedback collection

In-app feedback widget (Canny, Frill, or custom)
Weekly check-in emails
Beta tester Slack/Discord community
1:1 calls with power users

Step 15: Track key metrics

Activation rate (% who complete core action)
Retention (Day 1, Day 7, Day 30)
NPS score
Feature usage heatmap

Step 16: Iterate based on feedback

Weekly sprint cycles
Prioritize bugs over features
Communicate changes to beta users
Build what they ask for (within reason)

Infrastructure & Operations (Days 20-10)

The unsexy work that prevents launch day disasters.

Step 17: Set up monitoring and alerting

Uptime monitoring (UptimeRobot, Pingdom)
Error tracking (Sentry, LogRocket)
Performance monitoring (New Relic, Datadog)
Alert channels (Slack, PagerDuty, email)

Step 18: Prepare customer support

Help desk software (Zendesk, Intercom, Crisp)
Knowledge base articles (10-20 to start)
Canned responses for common questions
Support hours and escalation process

Step 19: Secure your infrastructure

SSL certificates (Let's Encrypt)
Security headers (CSP, HSTS)
DDoS protection (Cloudflare)
Backup strategy (automated, tested)

Step 20: Load testing

Simulate 10x expected traffic
Identify bottlenecks
Set up auto-scaling
Have a "launch day" server configuration

Final Preparations (Days 10-0)

The home stretch.

Step 21: Finalize pricing and payments

Stripe integration tested
Pricing page finalized
Refund policy written
Coupon codes for launch promotion

Step 22: Prepare launch day assets

Product Hunt gallery images (5-8)
Social media graphics (Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram)
Email templates (announcement, follow-up, thank you)
Press release (if doing PR outreach)

Step 23: Coordinate your team

Launch day roles assigned
Communication channels (Slack, Discord)
Backup plans for key people
Celebration plans (you'll need them)

Step 24: Do a soft launch

Launch to your email list only
Watch for critical bugs
Gather initial testimonials
Build social proof for public launch

III. Launch Week Execution: Day-by-Day Startup Launch Checklist

Launch week is where preparation meets opportunity. Execute this playbook day by day.

Day -7: Community Warm-Up

Step 25: Tease the launch on social media

Share behind-the-scenes content
Post "7 days until..." countdown
Hint at the problem you're solving
Use curiosity gaps (don't reveal everything)

Step 26: Warm up your email list

Send "something big is coming" email
Share your origin story
Build emotional investment
Include a "reply and tell me your biggest challenge" CTA

Step 27: Engage in target communities

Reddit (relevant subreddits)
Indie Hackers
LinkedIn groups
Slack/Discord communities
Provide value, don't pitch yet

Step 28: Prepare your Product Hunt page

Write compelling tagline
Craft first comment (the "maker's story")
Prepare answers to common questions
Schedule support coverage for launch day

Day -3: Final Systems Check

Step 29: Technical systems audit

Test signup flow 10+ times
Verify payment processing
Check email deliverability
Test on mobile, tablet, desktop
Verify all integrations

Step 30: Content review

Proofread all landing pages
Check all links work
Verify images load correctly
Review mobile responsiveness

Day -1: Soft Launch

Step 31: Launch to email list only

Send "early access" email to subscribers
Include special "founding member" pricing
Ask for feedback, not just signups
Respond to every reply personally

Step 32: Monitor for critical bugs

Watch error logs closely
Track conversion rates
Monitor support tickets
Fix blockers immediately

Day 0: Public Launch

Step 33: Product Hunt posting (9:01 AM PST)

Post Tuesday-Thursday at optimal time
Include compelling gallery images
Write authentic first comment
Respond to every comment within 15 minutes

Step 34: Hacker News submission

Submit to Show HN
Write technical, honest title
Engage in comments authentically
Don't be defensive about criticism

Step 35: Social media blitz

Twitter/X thread (5-7 tweets)
LinkedIn post (long-form)
Instagram Stories (behind the scenes)
TikTok (if relevant to audience)

Step 36: Email sequence trigger

Send launch announcement to full list
Follow up 4 hours later with social proof
Send "last chance" for launch pricing (evening)

Days +1 to +7: Momentum

Step 37: Thank you and recap (Day +1)

Send thank you email to supporters
Share launch day numbers (be transparent)
Post launch recap on social media

Step 38: Content marketing push (Days +2-3)

Publish launch story on your blog
Submit to relevant subreddits
Reach out to niche newsletters

Step 39: PR and media outreach (Days +4-5)

Send press release to tech journalists
Pitch founder story to podcasts
Submit to startup directories (see Section IV)

Step 40: Iterate and optimize (Days +6-7)

Analyze launch week data
Identify top traffic sources
Double down on what worked

IV. Submit SaaS to Directories: The Complete 85-Site List

Getting your SaaS in front of the right audience means being where your potential customers are looking. Directory submissions are a high-ROI activity that can drive targeted traffic, improve SEO through backlinks, and generate qualified leads for months after launch.

Tier 1: Must-Submit Directories

These are the heavy hitters. Submit here first.

| Directory | Monthly Traffic | Best For | Time Investment | |-----------|----------------|----------|-----------------| | Product Hunt | 4M+ | Consumer SaaS, dev tools | 4-6 hours | | Hacker News (Show HN) | 8M+ | Developer tools, B2B | 2-3 hours | | BetaList | 500K+ | Pre-launch startups | 1-2 hours | | Indie Hackers | 1M+ | Bootstrapped SaaS | 2-3 hours | | AlternativeTo | 3M+ | Products with competitors | 1 hour |

Product Hunt tips: Post Tuesday-Thursday at 9:01 AM PST. Create 5-8 gallery images (GIFs perform best). Write an authentic first comment telling your maker's story. Respond to every comment within 15 minutes.

Hacker News tips: Write a technical, honest title (no marketing speak). Include a demo link. Engage authentically. Don't be defensive about criticism.

Tier 2: High-Traffic Directories

| Directory | Monthly Traffic | Best For | |-----------|----------------|----------| | G2 | 5M+ | B2B SaaS, enterprise | | Capterra | 4M+ | Business software | | GetApp | 2M+ | Small business software | | Software Advice | 1.5M+ | Software buyers | | SaaSHub | 500K+ | All SaaS products |

Tier 3: Niche & SEO Value (55+ sites)

Startup Aggregators: Launching Next, Startuplister, Startup Buffer, Startup Ranking, Startup Tracker, Startup Collections, Startup Inspire, Startup Dope, Startup Base, Startup Focus

Developer Directories: GitHub, GitLab, Stack Share, LibHunt, Slant, Dev Hunt, Awesome Open Source, Tool Finder, AppSumo, PitchWall

Design & Creative: Muzli, Sketch App Sources, Figma Community, UI8, Creative Market, Dribbble, Behance, Design Hunt, Lapa Ninja, One Page Love

Productivity & Business: Lifehacker, Productivity Land, Work Awesome, SaaS Genius, SaaS Warrior, SaaS Trend, Crozdesk, TrustRadius

Marketing & SEO: Growth Hackers, Content Marketing Institute, Social Media Examiner

Startup Media: AngelList, Crunchbase, F6S, EU-Startups, Tech in Asia, e27, Inc42

Communities: Discord servers, Telegram channels, Slack groups, Twitter Spaces

Directory Submission Strategy

Timing:

Tier 1: 1-2 weeks before launch
Tier 2: During launch week
Tier 3: 2 weeks after launch

Tracking: Use UTM parameters for all directory links. Track which directories drive signups. Double down on high-performing channels.

Want to automate this? Growth Engine submits your SaaS to 30+ directories automatically, saving you 40+ hours of manual work. Start at $49.

V. SaaS Launch Marketing Strategy: Beyond the Checklist

Directories and Product Hunt are table stakes. The founders who generate 10,000+ signups on launch day have a comprehensive marketing strategy that starts weeks before the big day.

Building Anticipation Pre-Launch

Step 41: Build in public. Share your journey as you build. Weekly updates on Twitter/X and LinkedIn. Behind-the-scenes content. Let your audience vote on features, names, or pricing. "Just hit 100 waitlist subscribers!" builds social proof organically.

Step 42: Run a waitlist strategy. A waitlist isn't just an email capture. It's a psychological tool that creates scarcity and anticipation. Gamify it: "You're #247 in line. Refer friends to move up!" Offer exclusive perks for founding members. Communicate weekly with progress updates.

Step 43: Publish pre-launch content. Target keywords your audience searches for. Write problem-aware content ("The 5 biggest challenges with X"). Create solution-agnostic guides. Guest post for publications your audience reads.

Leveraging Your Network

Step 44: Activate your inner circle. Send individual messages to 50+ contacts. Ask for specific help: "Can you upvote on Product Hunt at 9 AM PST Tuesday?" Provide pre-written social copy they can share. Thank everyone personally.

PR and Media Outreach

Step 45: Prepare your press kit. Company backgrounder, founder bios, product screenshots, logos in various formats, and pre-written press releases. Make it easy for journalists to cover you.

Step 46: Build your media list. Tech publications (TechCrunch, The Verge), industry newsletters (Morning Brew, The Hustle), podcasts your audience listens to, and YouTube tech reviewers.

Influencer Partnerships

Micro-influencers (1K-50K followers) often outperform mega-influencers for SaaS. Higher engagement, lower cost, niche audiences, more authentic recommendations. Send free access for honest reviews. Set up affiliate programs for ongoing referrals.

VI. Post-Launch: Converting Buzz into Users (The First 30 Days)

Launch day is just the beginning. The real work is converting launch buzz into sustainable growth.

Onboarding Optimization

Map your onboarding journey. Identify the "aha" moment (when users first get value). Remove every friction point between signup and that moment. Create progress indicators. Celebrate user milestones.

Set up onboarding emails: Welcome (immediate), Day 1 (quick win tutorial), Day 3 (feature highlight), Day 7 (power user tips), Day 14 (case study/social proof).

Feedback Collection

Set up multiple feedback channels: in-app widget (Canny, Frill), email surveys (Typeform), user interviews (Calendly), support ticket analysis, social media monitoring.

Ask the right questions: "What made you sign up?" "What's your biggest challenge?" "What feature do you need most?" "How likely are you to recommend us?" "What would make you cancel?"

Data-Driven Iteration

Step 47: Create a weekly review ritual.

Monday: Review last week's metrics
Identify biggest opportunities
Prioritize experiments
Set weekly goals
Run growth experiments: hypothesis, minimum viable test, 1-2 weeks, measure, implement winners

Track these metrics religiously: traffic, signups, cost per acquisition, activation rate, time to first value, Day 1/7/30 retention, MRR, ARPU, conversion rate, NPS, viral coefficient.

VII. Case Study: How a Solo Founder Hit 2,000 Signups in 72 Hours

Meet Sarah (name changed), a solo founder who built an AI writing assistant for technical documentation. She had no audience, no funding, and no marketing team. Here's what she did.

Pre-Launch (60 days):

Built a waitlist on Carrd with a simple problem statement
Posted weekly progress updates on Twitter (grew to 800 followers)
Collected 1,200 waitlist emails through content marketing and Reddit
Recruited 45 beta testers from her waitlist

Launch Week:

Soft-launched to her email list on Monday (gathered 12 testimonials)
Posted on Product Hunt on Tuesday (finished #3 Product of the Day)
Submitted Show HN on Wednesday (got 156 points)
Sent directory submissions to 40 sites via Growth Engine

Results:

2,147 signups in 72 hours
340 converted to paid plan in first month ($6,800 MRR)
4 press mentions from tech newsletters
Product Hunt: 487 upvotes, 62 comments

Key Tactics That Worked:

The "founding member" pricing created urgency (50% off for first 100 users)
Responding to every Product Hunt comment within 10 minutes drove engagement
The waitlist gamification (referral to move up) generated 400 organic signups
Building in public on Twitter created a community before she had a product

Lessons Learned:

Don't underestimate the soft launch. Those 12 testimonials were crucial social proof.
Respond to criticism gracefully on HN. Her most constructive feedback came from harsh comments.
Directory submissions have a long tail. She was still getting 50+ signups/month from directories 6 months later.

VIII. Launch Tools: Manual vs Automated Submission

Let's do the math on manual directory submissions.

The Manual Approach:

85 directories x 30 minutes each = 42.5 hours
Creating custom descriptions for each: 15 hours
Following up and maintaining listings: 10 hours/month
Total: 57.5 hours for initial submissions

At a founder's time value of $100/hour, that's $5,750 in opportunity cost. For a solo founder, that's nearly two weeks of full-time work that isn't building product or talking to customers.

The Automated Approach:

Tools like Growth Engine automate the submission process:

One-time setup: 30 minutes
Auto-submit to 30+ directories
Track submission status and results
Get notified when listings go live
Total: 30 minutes + $49 one-time

When to go manual:

You have time but no budget
You want maximum control over each listing
You're targeting highly specialized directories

When to automate:

You're a solo founder or small team
Speed matters (competitive launch timing)
You want to focus on product and customers
You value your time at more than $1.15/hour

IX. Your Launch Starts Now

Let's recap the 47-step framework:

Pre-Launch (Steps 1-24): Validate demand, build your audience, prepare infrastructure, and soft-launch to friendlies.
Launch Week (Steps 25-40): Execute the day-by-day playbook. Product Hunt, Hacker News, social media blitz, directory submissions.
Post-Launch (Steps 41-47): Build in public, leverage your network, optimize onboarding, and iterate based on data.

The founders who succeed aren't smarter or luckier. They're more prepared. They follow a system. And they execute relentlessly.

Your next steps:

Download the checklist: Get the 47-step PDF checklist to track your progress
Automate submissions: Try Growth Engine to submit to 30+ directories in 30 minutes ($49 one-time)
Join the community: Follow @DigitalAgentAce for daily launch tips and founder stories

Your product deserves to be seen. Now you have the framework to make it happen.

Published by Go Digital | Updated February 2026

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