# Launch Checklist > A day-by-day checklist for the 21 days before a course or offer launch, covering audience, offer, waitlist, tech setup, sales page, email sequence, warm-up content, and launch day. Source: https://buildpdfs.com/templates/launch-checklist Category: Marketing A day-by-day checklist for the 21 days before a course or offer launch, covering audience, offer, waitlist, tech setup, sales page, email sequence, warm-up content, and launch day. ## What's included - How-to-use page with a cart-open date field - Launch-at-a-glance timeline across four phases - Audience, offer, and waitlist task sections - Sales page and ten-email launch sequence checklist - 7-day warm-up content plan - Launch day and numbers tracking page ## Sample content FREE CHECKLIST For the course waitlist · 9 pages 21 DAYS T-21 → T-0 OPEN CART ### The Launch Checklist Everything to do in the 21 days before you open the cart — and on the day you do. Countdown tick one a day 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 GO **by Maya Lind** Content coach for small business owners THE SUNDAY DRAFT MAYALIND.CO 00 · How to use Start here #### How to use this checklist A launch is not one big day. It is 21 small days in a row. This checklist splits them into three phases, so you only ever look at this week. 1. _01_ **Pick your cart-open date first.** Write it on the timeline below and count back 21 days. That is T-21. 2. _02_ **Work one phase at a time.** Do not read ahead. Each phase page fits on your desk next to the keyboard. 3. _03_ **Tick the blue KEY tasks no matter what.** If a week goes badly, do only those and your launch still works. 4. _04_ **Fill in the numbers every evening.** Page 8 tells you what is working while you can still change it. To do Done KEYDo this even in a bad week ##### The launch at a glance My cart opens on: \_\_\_\_ / \_\_\_\_ / \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \-21 \-14 \-7 0 +5 01 AUDIENCE & OFFER 02 SALES PAGE & EMAILS 03 WARM-UP GO CART OPEN T-21 ###### Audience & offer Talk to real people, lock the promise and the price, start the waitlist. PAGE 03 T-14 ###### Sales page & emails Write the page and all ten launch emails while you are calm. PAGES 04–05 T-7 ###### Warm-up content Seven days of posts that make the problem feel urgent and you feel trusted. PAGE 06 T-0 ###### Launch day Open the cart at 9:00\. Follow the run-sheet hour by hour. Stay visible. PAGE 07 T+5 ###### Cart close Last call at 21:00\. Then count, thank, and write down what you learned. PAGE 08 You need · 01 **An email tool**Any tool that can tag a waitlist and schedule emails. You need · 02 **A checkout**One product, one price, one payment plan. Test it twice. You need · 03 **One sales page**A simple page is enough. Clear beats clever. You need · 04 **About 1 hour a day**More in Phase 2, less in Phase 3\. Block it now. Phase 01 · T-21 → T-15 PHASE01 #### Audience & offer Before you write a word of sales copy, make sure the right people want this exact thing, at this price, now. **T-21 → T-15**7 days about 6 hours of work 15 tasks · 5 key ##### Know who it is for A **Book five 20-minute calls with past clientsKEY** _Ask: “What made posting hard last month?” Write down their exact words._ **Collect 10 phrases people use for the problem** _“I freeze when I open Instagram” beats “content paralysis”. Use these in your copy._ **Write a one-line “this is for you if…”** _Example: you run a small business and post in bursts, then go quiet for weeks._ **Write who it is NOT for** _Saying no to agencies and full-time creators makes the yes louder._ ##### Shape the offer B **Write the promise in one sentenceKEY** _“In 4 weeks, post 3 times a week in under 2 hours, without dreading it.”_ **Outline the 4 weeks — one outcome per week** _Plan, batch, repurpose, keep going. No week without a clear result._ **Set the founding price and the end dateKEY** _A real reason to buy now: $149 founding price, $199 after the cart closes._ **Pick one bonus that removes an excuse** _“No time” → a 30-day caption bank. Not a random extra._ ##### Build the waitlist C **Make a waitlist page with one field: emailKEY** _Headline = the promise. Below it: dates, price range, one line about you._ **Put the waitlist link in every bio** _Instagram, LinkedIn, email signature, the top of your site._ **Tell The Sunday Draft readers first** _Your newsletter is your warmest audience. Give them early-bird access._ **Set a waitlist goal you can see** _Plan on 2–5% of the waitlist buying. 15 sales needs about 400 sign-ups._ ##### Set up the tech D **Connect checkout and run a real $1 testKEY** _Buy it yourself. Check the receipt, the welcome email and the login._ **Tag waitlist sign-ups in your email tool** _You will email them more often than your main list. Keep them separate._ **Block your calendar for launch week** _No client calls on T-0 and T+5\. Protect the two biggest days._ ###### Write it here By T-15 My promise Price · end date Phase 02 · T-14 → T-8 PHASE02 #### Sales page & emails Write everything that sells while you are still calm. Launch week is for showing up, not for writing. **T-14 → T-8**7 days about 9 hours of work 12 tasks · 4 key ##### Write the sales page A **Draft the page top to bottom in one sittingKEY** _Ugly and complete beats pretty and half-done. Edit tomorrow._ **Open with their words, not yours** _Use the phrases from your Phase 1 calls in the headline and first lines._ **Ask three past clients for a short quote** _Send them a question: “What changed after we worked together?”_ **Read the page out loud on your phone** _Most buyers will see it on a phone. Cut every line that makes you stop._ ##### Write the emails B **Plan all ten emails on page 5KEY** _Subject, send day and one goal for each. Then write them in two sessions._ **Schedule them all before T-8KEY** _Anything scheduled is a decision you do not have to make while tired._ **Send each test email to yourself** _Check links, the name field and how it looks on mobile and in dark mode._ **Write a 5-question FAQ from real objections** _“What if I miss a week?” “Is it live?” “Can I get a refund?”_ ###### Sales page must-haves Tick before T-8 1. **A headline with the promise** and the time frame: 4 weeks. 2. **Who it is for** — and who it is not for. 3. **What changes**: before and after, in their words. 4. **The 4 weeks**, one line and one outcome each. 5. **Three testimonials** with a first name and a business. 6. **Price, founding deadline** and payment plan. 7. **A clear refund policy**: 14 days, no hoops. 8. **One button text**, repeated three times down the page. **Plain words**If a 12-year-old would not say it, rewrite it. **One action**Each section ends at the same button. **Show a face**One photo of you near the top builds trust fast. **Proof early**Put one testimonial before the price. ###### Proof bank Name · business · one line in their words 01 02 03 Phase 02 · Email planner Phase 02 · Planner #### Email sequence planner Ten emails carry most launches. Three warm up, one opens the cart, six close it. Write your own subject lines next to the examples. | # | Send | Subject line idea | Goal | ✓ | | -- | ----------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------- | - | | 01 | T-7 · 08:00 | I’m building something, and I need your helpAsk one question. Every reply is a future buyer. | Warm up | | | 02 | T-4 · 08:00 | The 3 posts I would delete if I started againPure value. Name the problem the course fixes. | Teach | | | 03 | T-1 · 18:00 | Doors open tomorrow at 9am (you are first)Date, time, price, founding deadline. | Heads-up | | | 04 | T-0 · 09:00 | Post Without Burning Out is openShort. The promise, the 4 weeks, the button. | Open cart | | | 05 | T+1 · 08:00 | A look inside week 1Show a real lesson and the plan template. | Show it | | | 06 | T+2 · 08:00 | “What if I fall behind?” and 4 other questionsYour FAQ, answered like a friend would. | Objections | | | 07 | T+3 · 08:00 | How Priya went from 0 to 3 posts a weekOne client story with a before and an after. | Proof | | | 08 | T+4 · 08:00 | The founding price ends tomorrowClear deadline. No fake countdown timers. | Urgency | | | 09 | T+5 · 08:00 | Closing tonight at 9pmRecap who it is for and what they get. | Last call | | | 10 | T+5 · 18:00 | 3 hours leftTwo lines and the button. Send to non-buyers only. | Close | | | 11 | | | | | | 12 | | | | | | 13 | | | | | **≤ 45 characters**Short subject lines survive the phone inbox. **One link**Every email points to the same sales page. **Exclude buyers**Remove buyers from the list after each sale. **Resend once**Send email 04 again at 19:00 to non-openers. Phase 03 · T-7 → T-1 PHASE03 #### Warm-up content For seven days, talk about the problem, not the product. People should feel the itch before you sell the scratch. **T-7 → T-1**7 days about 45 minutes a day 9 tasks · 3 key ##### Batch the week A **Write all seven posts on T-7KEY** _One 3-hour session. Then each day is only posting and replying._ **Film two short videos in one go** _Same outfit, same light, same spot. Ten minutes each, at most._ **Turn one post into three formats** _Carousel → newsletter section → 30-second talking video._ ##### Show up every day B **Reply to every comment within the dayKEY** _Replies in launch week sell more than new posts do._ **Post one behind-the-scenes story a day** _Recording a lesson, a client message, your messy desk._ ##### Invite, do not pitch C **Mention the waitlist in every post** _One soft line at the end: “Waitlist gets first access — link in bio.”_ **DM ten warm people one by oneKEY** _Past clients and engaged readers. Personal note, no copy-paste._ **Host one free live session on T-2** _30 minutes: “Plan a month of posts in an hour.” Open Q&A at the end._ **Check the sales page one last time on T-1** _Every link, the price, the deadline, the mobile view._ ##### 7-day content plan Post at the same time each day T-7 Carousel “Why you post for 2 weeks, then vanish for 2 months.” REPLIES \_\_\_\_ T-6 Story poll “What stops you posting — time, ideas or nerves?” REPLIES \_\_\_\_ T-5 Video · 30s My 2-hour Sunday batching routine, start to end. REPLIES \_\_\_\_ T-4 Client story How Priya stopped dreading Mondays (and posted 12 times). REPLIES \_\_\_\_ T-3 Text post The one rule: plan the week before you open the app. REPLIES \_\_\_\_ T-2 Live · 30 min Plan a month of posts in an hour. Open Q&A. REPLIES \_\_\_\_ T-1 Announcement “Tomorrow at 9am. Here is everything you need to know.” REPLIES \_\_\_\_ Launch day · T-0 T-0 · Launch day #### Launch day run-sheet The cart opens at 9:00\. Every task below is already written and scheduled. Today you only press go, reply and stay visible. | Time | Task | Where | ✓ | | ----- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------- | - | | 08:00 | **Final check.** Buy the course with a 100% test code. Check the receipt and login. | Checkout | | | 08:30 | **Switch the waitlist page** to the live sales page. Update every bio link. | Site · bios | | | 09:00 | **Cart open.** Email 04 goes out to the waitlist. | Email | | | 09:15 | **Post the launch announcement** with a photo of you, not a graphic. | Instagram | | | 10:00 | **Send personal DMs** to the ten people who replied to email 01. | DM | | | 11:00 | **Share the launch on LinkedIn** with the story of why you made it. | LinkedIn | | | 12:30 | **Lunch away from the screen.** Do not check sales. | Offline | | | 13:30 | **Reply to every comment, email and DM** so far. | All | | | 15:00 | **Story: first sales,** a thank-you and a peek at week 1. | Stories | | | 17:00 | **Record the numbers** on page 8: visits, sales, open rate. | Tracker | | | 19:00 | **Resend email 04** to everyone who did not open it. | Email | | | 20:00 | **Go live for 20 minutes:** answer questions about the course. | Live | | | 21:00 | **Close the laptop.** Write one line about how today felt. | You | | ###### Have open all day * **Sales page** — the live link * **Checkout dashboard** — sales and failed payments * **Email tool** — opens and replies * **This sheet** — and a pen ###### If something breaks * **Checkout fails:** share a payment link by email and reply by hand. * **Wrong link in an email:** send a one-line “Oops, here is the right link.” It often gets more clicks. * **No sales by noon:** normal. Most buyers come on the first and the last day. ###### Do not Change the price, add a bonus in a panic, or refresh the dashboard every five minutes. T-0 → T+5 · Numbers T-0 → T+5 · Tracker #### Numbers to track Fill one column every evening at 17:00\. Numbers tell you what to fix while the cart is still open — not after. | Metric | Goal | T-0 | T+1 | T+2 | T+3 | T+4 | T+5 | Total | | ------------------------------------- | ------ | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ----- | | **Waitlist size** people on the list | 400 | | | | | | | | | **Email open rate** opens ÷ sent | 45% | | | | | | | | | **Click rate** clicks ÷ sent | 6% | | | | | | | | | **Sales page visits** unique visitors | 300 | | | | | | | | | **Sales** new students | 15 | | | | | | | | | **Refunds** requests | ≤ 1 | | | | | | | | | **Revenue** sales × $149 | $2,235 | | | | | | | | ###### Conversion rate sales waitlist × 100 = % Mine: ÷ × 100 = % Example: 18 sales from a waitlist of 600 → 18 ÷ 600 × 100 = **3%**. For a first launch to a warm list, 2–5% is healthy. ###### What the numbers tell you * **Opens < 30%** Subject lines are weak. Rewrite the next two. * **Clicks < 3%** The email does not make them curious. Shorter, one link. * **Visits, no sales** The page is the problem. Move proof and price higher. * **Refunds > 5%** The promise and the course do not match. Fix the copy. ###### After the cart closes Write it on T+6, while you remember What worked best What I will skip next time THE LAUNCH CHECKLIST · END T+5 · 21:00 You’ve got this. MAYA LIND · CONTENT COACH Your first launch does not need to be big. It needs to be finished. I made this checklist after my own first launch, which I planned in three panicked days. You have 21\. Use them, tick the boxes, and be proud of whatever number ends up on page 8. Next: the course ##### Post Without Burning Out A 4-week course for small business owners who want to post 3 times a week in under 2 hours. Waitlist members get the $149 founding price. mayalind.co/waitlist → Newsletter **The Sunday Draft** Site **mayalind.co** Instagram **@maya.creates** ## Frequently asked questions ### What is a launch checklist? A launch checklist is a day-by-day task list for the weeks before you open a course or offer for sale. It covers getting the audience ready, building a waitlist, writing the sales page and emails, and what to do on launch day itself. ### What should a launch checklist include? Include audience and offer prep, waitlist building, tech setup, the sales page, the full email sequence, a warm-up content plan for the days before cart open, and a launch day section. This template covers the 21 days before you open the cart. ### How long before launch should you start preparing? Most course creators start preparing 3 to 4 weeks before cart open: building the waitlist and warm-up content first, then writing the sales page and emails, then running a focused launch week. This template is built around a 21-day window. ### Is this launch checklist template free? Yes. You can customize the launch checklist template for free and download it as a print-ready PDF. Give the AI your cart-open date and offer and it fills in the day-by-day tasks. ## Related reading - [Lead magnet checklist before you publish](https://buildpdfs.com/guides/lead-magnet-checklist-before-publish) - [How a great workbook makes your course worth more](https://buildpdfs.com/guides/charge-more-course-workbook) - [How to make a lead magnet PDF](https://buildpdfs.com/guides/how-to-make-a-lead-magnet-pdf) [Use this template](https://buildpdfs.com/signup?templateId=launch-checklist) — free, no credit card required.