Waitlist

What a waitlist is for

It tests demand before you build too much: if nobody signs up, the pitch or the market needs work. It gives you people to invite to a soft launch. And it gives you an audience to tell on launch day, which matters because launch platforms reward momentum in the first hours.

Making it work

Say exactly what the product will do and for whom. Ask one question at sign up, such as their role or their biggest problem, so you know who joined. Send updates while you build, so the list does not forget you. A list that hears nothing for six months is a list that has moved on.

Platforms for pre-launch

Some launch platforms accept products before launch. BetaList, for example, features startups that are collecting early users. Listing there can grow a waitlist and test a pitch with people who like trying new things.

Turning a waitlist into launch day users

Email the list a week before launch with the date and what will be new. Email again on the day with a direct link and a reason to come now, such as an early user discount. Invite the most engaged people first, a few days early, so they can try the product and leave honest comments when the launch goes live.

Keep the list after launch. The people who joined early are your best source of feedback, case studies and referrals, and they will want to hear about every major update.

Example

A landing page reads "Invoices that write themselves from your tracked hours. Join 400 freelancers on the waitlist." with one email field.

Questions people ask

How big should a waitlist be before launch?

Size matters less than engagement. A few hundred people who answer your emails are worth more than thousands who signed up for a giveaway.