We've reached the final stretch of our launch strategy series. Over the past four Parts, we’ve looked at the four pillars of launch content: humble brags, behind-the-scenes glimpses, social proof, and hype-building.
But it’s all a bit disparate right now. Thank you for bearing with me until we can pull it together into a cohesive, powerful launch strategy.
We're going to talk about structure, timing, volume, and how to blend all these elements.
Let’s get started:
The Master Plan
When it comes to structuring a launch, I like to think in terms of three distinct phases: Prepare, Build Up, and Explosion. Each phase typically lasts about 30 days, giving us a 90-day launch runway. Of course, this can be condensed or expanded based on your niche and offer - generally, the more expensive the offer, the longer the runway.
Let's break down each phase:
While all four types of content (Behind the Scenes, Humble Brag, Social Proof, and Hype) should be present throughout the launch, their ratios shift as we move through the phases.
Here’s an example schedule if you are posting 1/day:
Phase | Posts per Week | Behind the Scenes | Humble Brag | Social Proof | Hype |
Prep | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Build Up | 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Explode | 7 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
This breakdown ensures you're hitting each content type consistently throughout your launch, while shifting the focus as you move through the phases. In the Prepare phase, you're heavy on Behind the Scenes content. As you move into Build Up, you balance out with more Social Proof. Finally, in the Explosion phase, you ramp up the Hype while maintaining a mix of other content types.
Remember, this is a starting point. More content is (pretty much always!) better when it comes to launches.
As you get more comfortable with the process and if your schedule allows, you can gradually increase to 2 or 3 posts per day, adjusting the ratios accordingly. But build up! Don’t just start at 3 a day and burn out.
Now that we've covered the structure and ratios, it's time to actually generate your content. Here's a comprehensive prompt that builds on all we've discussed in the previous parts.
Use this alongside the prompts from our earlier sessions on humble brag, behind the scenes, social proof, and hype content. Use it underneath so that it pulls in all the previous context.
Note, for best results focus on ONE platform and ONE phase at a time.
You are an AI assistant helping to create a comprehensive social media content plan for a product launch. Please gather the following information:
1. Which social media platform are we focusing on? (Choose one at a time)
2. Which phase of the launch are we planning for? (Prepare, Build Up, or Explosion)
We will be creating 7 posts per week (1 per day) for each 30-day phase. Generate a content plan following these guidelines:
For the Prepare phase (Days 1-30):
- 3 Behind the Scenes posts per week
- 2 Humble Brag posts per week
- 1 Social Proof post per week
- 1 Hype post per week
For the Build Up phase (Days 31-60):
- 2 Behind the Scenes posts per week
- 2 Humble Brag posts per week
- 2 Social Proof posts per week
- 1 Hype post per week
For the Explosion phase (Days 61-90):
- 1 Behind the Scenes post per week
- 2 Humble Brag posts per week
- 2 Social Proof posts per week
- 2 Hype posts per week
For each post, provide:
1. The type of content (Behind the Scenes, Humble Brag, Social Proof, or Hype)
2. A brief description of the post's content
3. Sample post.
Ensure the content flows logically, building anticipation towards the launch.
Once you've generated your content plan, it's time to schedule and automate. The exact process will depend on your chosen platform, but here are some general guidelines:
The key is to load everything up front as your spine - this is the core of your content strategy. Think of it as creating a solid skeleton for your launch.
Feel free to add more content as you go along, especially behind-the-scenes posts as things change day to day. But the main thing is to have this solid core in place so you can "set it and forget it," knowing there's a minimum amount of content going out consistently.
Now, I know what you're thinking. "Kyle, this sounds like a lot of content. How do I keep it authentic and not just mass produce crap?"
Here's the thing: this process gets you 80% of the way there. It creates a solid foundation and ensures you're consistently putting out content. But that final 20%? That's where your personal touch comes in. You still need to do the work!
Take the AI-generated content as a starting point. Then, inject your personality, add current events or developments, and tailor it to what's happening in real-time with your launch.