Academy11 Sept 2025• 15 min read

SaaS Launch Checklist: 90-Day Plan That Generated 2,400 Signups

Complete SaaS pre-launch checklist covering 90 days before launch. Product readiness, marketing preparation, and launch execution that generated 2,400 signups on day one.

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Max Beech
Head of Content

TL;DR

  • 90-day pre-launch plan across 3 phases: Foundation (days 1-30), Momentum (days 31-60), Launch Prep (days 61-90)
  • Generated 2,400 waitlist signups before launch, converted 840 to paid in first week (35% conversion)
  • Critical success factors: Build in public (started day 1), beta with 50 users (day 45), Product Hunt prep (day 60)
  • Total pre-launch effort: ~120 hours over 90 days (focused sprints, not full-time)

SaaS Launch Checklist: 90-Day Plan That Generated 2,400 Signups

Most SaaS launches fail. You build in secret for 12 months, launch to silence, and get 40 signups.

The alternative: Build an audience while building the product. By launch day, you have 2,000-5,000 people waiting.

We used this 90-day pre-launch plan to generate 2,400 waitlist signups. On launch day, 840 converted to paid customers (35% conversion rate).

This is the complete checklist -every task, every timeline, exact tactics that worked.

Phase 1: Foundation (Days 1-30)

Goal: Establish presence, start building audience

Week 1 (Days 1-7): Public Commitment

Day 1:

  • Write "I'm building" post on X/LinkedIn
    • What problem you're solving
    • Why you're the right person
    • Invitation to follow the journey

Template:

I'm building [Product] to solve [Problem].

Why this matters: [2-3 sentence explanation]

I'll be sharing progress, failures, and lessons here. Follow along if you're interested in [Topic].

Launch target: [Date, 90 days away]

Day 2-7:

  • Post daily updates (building in public)
  • Engage with 10 people per day in your space
  • Join 3-5 relevant communities (Slack, Discord, Reddit)

Results Week 1:

  • Target: 50-100 followers
  • 5-10 people engaging regularly

Week 2-4 (Days 8-30): Build Waitlist

Day 8:

  • Create landing page (Carrd, Webflow)
    • Clear value prop
    • Problem/solution
    • Waitlist signup form (email only)
    • Expected launch date
    • Social proof (if any beta users)

Day 10:

  • Set up email tool (Loops, ConvertKit)
  • Create welcome sequence for waitlist signups
  • Add "Thanks for joining" email

Day 12-30:

  • Share landing page on social (not spam - contextually)
  • Post updates 3-5x/week
  • Share behind-the-scenes (design mockups, tech decisions)
  • Interview 10-15 potential customers (validate problem)

Results Week 2-4:

  • Target: 100-300 waitlist signups
  • 200-500 social followers
  • 10-15 customer interviews completed

Phase 2: Momentum (Days 31-60)

Goal: Build anticipation, launch beta, gather feedback

Week 5-6 (Days 31-45): Beta Launch

Day 31:

  • Select 20-50 beta users from waitlist
    • Prioritize: Engaged followers, relevant companies, active communicators

Day 33:

  • Send beta invites

Template:

Subject: You're in - [Product] Beta Access

Hi Sarah,

You signed up for [Product] waitlist 3 weeks ago.

We're ready for our first 50 beta users. You're in.

What we need:
- Use the product for 2 weeks
- Share honest feedback (especially what's broken)
- Report bugs as you find them

What you get:
- Early access
- Lifetime discount (50% off when we launch)
- Shape the product direction

Access: [link]
Password: [password]

Let me know how it goes!

Cheers,
Max

Day 35-45:

  • Support beta users (respond within 2 hours)
  • Fix critical bugs daily
  • Weekly check-in with beta users
  • Document feedback and feature requests

Results Week 5-6:

  • Target: 30-40 active beta users
  • 50-100 pieces of feedback
  • 20-30 bugs identified and fixed

Week 7-8 (Days 46-60): Testimonials & Social Proof

Day 46:

  • Request testimonials from happy beta users

Template:

Hi Sarah,

How's your experience with [Product] been so far?

If it's been helpful, would you be willing to share a quick testimonial? (2-3 sentences on what you've accomplished with it)

I'd love to feature it on our launch page.

Thanks!

Day 50:

  • Create case studies from 2-3 best beta users
    • Metrics (time saved, ROI, specific outcomes)
    • Quotes
    • Screenshots

Day 55:

  • Update landing page with:
    • Beta user testimonials
    • Case study highlights
    • "400 people on waitlist" social proof

Results Week 7-8:

  • Testimonials collected: 12-15
  • Case studies created: 2-3
  • Waitlist grows: 300 → 800 (+167%)

Phase 3: Launch Prep (Days 61-90)

Goal: Prepare for launch day, build maximum momentum

Week 9-10 (Days 61-75): Content & Assets

Day 61:

  • Write launch blog post
    • Why we built this
    • What it does
    • Who it's for
    • How to get started

Day 63:

  • Create launch assets:
    • Product demo video (3-5 minutes)
    • Screenshots of key features
    • Comparison table (you vs alternatives)
    • Pricing page finalized

Day 65:

  • Prepare Product Hunt launch
    • Write tagline (60 characters)
    • Upload screenshots (5-8 images)
    • Write description (250 words)
    • Line up "hunters" to upvote
    • Schedule for Tuesday or Wednesday (best days)

Day 70:

  • Prepare social launch content
    • 5-10 pre-written tweets
    • LinkedIn launch post
    • Reddit launch posts (adapted per subreddit)

Day 75:

  • Email waitlist with launch date

Template:

Subject: [Product] launches [Date]

Hi Sarah,

You signed up for [Product] waitlist [X] weeks ago.

We launch on [Date] (mark your calendar!)

As a waitlist member, you get:
- Early access (12 hours before public)
- 50% lifetime discount
- VIP support for first 30 days

I'll email you [Date] at 6 AM GMT with access details.

See you at launch!

Max

Week 11-12 (Days 76-90): Pre-Launch Buzz

Day 76-89:

  • Daily countdown posts (last 14 days)
  • Share sneak peeks (screenshots, features)
  • Tease launch day plans
  • Run final beta tests (last chance for bugs)

Day 85:

  • Prepare launch day logistics
    • Support coverage (who's answering questions all day)
    • Server capacity (can it handle traffic spike?)
    • Payment processing (tested and working?)
    • Backup plan if something breaks

Day 89:

  • Send final reminder to waitlist

Day 90: LAUNCH DAY

Launch Day Checklist (Hour by Hour)

6:00 AM GMT:

  • Email waitlist (2,400 people) with early access

8:00 AM GMT:

  • Launch on Product Hunt
  • Post on X, LinkedIn, Reddit
  • Update homepage (remove "coming soon", add "launch today")

10:00 AM GMT:

  • Monitor signups, respond to support questions
  • Engage on Product Hunt comments
  • Share early signup numbers ("200 signups in first 2 hours!")

12:00 PM GMT:

  • Second wave: Email personal network, post in communities

3:00 PM GMT:

  • Monitor Product Hunt ranking, rally supporters if needed

6:00 PM GMT:

  • Post end-of-day update
    • Signup numbers
    • Feedback highlights
    • Thank supporters

9:00 PM GMT:

  • Final Product Hunt push (late US timezone)

Results:

  • Waitlist emails sent: 2,400
  • Early access signups: 840 (35% conversion)
  • Product Hunt position: #3 Product of the Day
  • Additional PH signups: 480
  • Total day 1: 1,320 signups

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