My Pre-Launch Ritual: 5 Things I Always Do Before a Launch
Before any launch—whether it's a product, service, or freebie—I always carve out time to set the stage with intention. These five steps help me feel grounded, focused, and prepared to show up well. If you're planning a launch soon (or even thinking about it), here’s what I recommend doing first:
(p.s. I’m launching a Strategic Plan Audio Course to help you make sense of your business, clarify your goals, and create a strategic action plan you can implement asap! JOIN THE WAITLIST HERE)
1. Get Clear on Your Goals
Let’s start with your owner’s intent. This isn’t your mission statement or the big, beautiful impact-driven “why” behind your work. This is the practical reason for the launch.
There’s no right or wrong answer here—what matters most is that you are clear on what you want out of it.
Here’s a quick formula to follow:
(Get/earn/make/grow) X so that I can Y.
Examples:
Make $5,000 so I can hire a part-time assistant
Grow my email list by 300 so I can build long-term relationships
Sell 20 copies so I can validate this offer and create more like it
Simple. Clear. Effective.
2. Review (and Refine) Your Core Values
Your core values are the place from which you’ll create content, craft offers, hold conversations, and make decisions. They are the heartbeat of your work.
Even if they haven’t changed, it’s always worth taking a moment to revisit them before a launch. Ask yourself:
Do these still feel true and aligned?
How can these values shape my messaging?
The more grounded you are in your values, the more naturally your launch materials will reflect your mission and connect with the right people.
3. Identify the Problem → Solution → Outcome
Every product, service, book, or freebie should do this:
Solve a problem and offer a more favorable outcome.
Here’s an example using a book about the theology of rest:
PROBLEM: Your reader feels overworked, burnt out, and desperate for relief. They’re stretched too thin. Their schedule is packed. Fun feels like a distant memory. Relationships are strained.
SOLUTION: A deeper understanding of God’s gift and command of rest, plus a step-by-step plan to begin living more restfully.
OUTCOME: A more peaceful, joy-filled life.
Whether you're launching a mini course or a year-long program, this clarity will help your messaging hit home.
4. Create a Rough Launch Timeline
You don’t need to lock in every tiny detail (yet), but it’s helpful to sketch out the big pieces. Map out your:
Key dates (cart open, close, content releases, etc.)
Major milestones
Weekly or theme-based content focuses
This will help you stay focused, reduce decision fatigue mid-launch, and help your audience stay engaged.
5. Schedule a “Reward” Two Days After You Launch
Launching is hard work, even when it’s fun.
Schedule a reward for yourself before the launch begins. Think:
Massage
Hair or nail appointment
Dinner date
Solo coffee & journal sesh
The key? You’re rewarding your effort, not the outcome.
You showed up. You did the thing. That’s worth celebrating.
Bonus: Don’t Skip the Strategy
All of this is going to be so much easier (and more effective!) if you have a solid strategic plan in place.
That’s why I’m so excited to be launching a Strategic Plan Audio Course soon! Eek! It’s designed to help you approach marketing, launching, and selling with more clarity, confidence, and peace. No hype. No burnout. Just a solid, sustainable plan that helps you do the work you're called to do.
Stay tuned—more details are coming soon!
Hey! I’m Dusty Hegge.
Ready to grow your business with less blind hustle and more intentional surrender?
Grab your free Strategic Plan notion dash to help you gain clarity and create a plan that keeps you focused (without the overwhelm!) - so you can grow a business that blesses your family and
