The Complete Launch Checklist for Your New Brand

Why You Need a Launch Checklist

Most brand launches are chaotic. Founders rush to get the website live and forget critical steps — unsecured social handles, missing legal registrations, broken email addresses. A checklist turns chaos into confidence.

Pre-Launch: 4-6 Weeks Before

Brand Foundation

[ ] Brand name finalized and validated
[ ] Domain name purchased (primary + key alternatives)
[ ] Social media handles secured on all relevant platforms
[ ] Trademark search completed (consider filing application)
[ ] Brand positioning statement documented
[ ] Brand voice and tone guide written

Visual Identity

[ ] Logo designed in multiple formats (full color, black/white, icon-only)
[ ] Color palette defined with exact hex codes, RGB, and CMYK values
[ ] Typography selected (primary and secondary fonts)
[ ] Brand guidelines document created
[ ] Business card design completed
[ ] Email signature template created

Legal and Business

[ ] Business entity registered (LLC, Corp, etc.)
[ ] EIN obtained (in the US)
[ ] Business bank account opened
[ ] Business insurance arranged
[ ] Terms of service and privacy policy drafted
[ ] Any required licenses or permits obtained

Pre-Launch: 2-4 Weeks Before

Digital Presence

[ ] Website built and tested across devices and browsers
[ ] SSL certificate installed (HTTPS)
[ ] Email addresses set up (hello@, support@, info@)
[ ] Google Analytics or preferred analytics installed
[ ] Google Search Console set up and verified
[ ] Favicon uploaded
[ ] 404 page created
[ ] Meta titles and descriptions written for all pages

Content

[ ] Homepage copy finalized
[ ] About page written with brand story
[ ] Product/service pages completed
[ ] FAQ section created
[ ] Blog launched with 3-5 initial posts
[ ] Lead magnet or signup incentive created
[ ] Email welcome sequence written

Social Media

[ ] Profile photos and cover images uploaded
[ ] Bio and descriptions written consistently across platforms
[ ] Link in bio set up (Linktree or direct)
[ ] First 5-10 posts scheduled
[ ] Content calendar created for first month

Pre-Launch: 1 Week Before

Technical Testing

[ ] All website links tested (no 404s)
[ ] Forms tested (contact, signup, checkout)
[ ] Email deliverability tested
[ ] Mobile experience reviewed
[ ] Page load speed checked (aim for under 3 seconds)
[ ] Payment processing tested (if applicable)

Launch Preparation

[ ] Launch announcement written (email, social, PR)
[ ] Press kit assembled (logo files, founder photos, brand story, key facts)
[ ] Friends, family, and network notified of launch date
[ ] Launch day social media posts scheduled
[ ] Google Business Profile created (if local business)

Launch Day

Execute

[ ] Publish website (remove any "coming soon" pages)
[ ] Send launch announcement email
[ ] Publish social media launch posts
[ ] Send press release (if applicable)
[ ] Share in relevant communities (Reddit, Product Hunt, industry forums)
[ ] Monitor all channels for comments and questions
[ ] Respond to every piece of engagement within the first 24 hours

Monitor

[ ] Watch analytics for any issues
[ ] Test the full customer journey one more time
[ ] Check for broken elements or errors
[ ] Monitor brand mentions using Google Alerts

Post-Launch: First Week

[ ] Follow up with press contacts
[ ] Gather and respond to initial feedback
[ ] Fix any issues discovered by real users
[ ] Publish follow-up content (behind-the-scenes, thank you posts)
[ ] Begin outreach for reviews and testimonials
[ ] Set up ongoing analytics reporting

Post-Launch: First Month

[ ] Review analytics and identify top-performing content
[ ] Adjust social media strategy based on engagement data
[ ] Start SEO optimization based on initial search data
[ ] Develop second month content calendar
[ ] Begin building email list actively
[ ] Evaluate which marketing channels deserve more investment

The Foundation of Everything

This entire checklist assumes you have the right brand name. A name that's available as a domain, claimable across social platforms, and clear of trademark conflicts. If you're not sure about your name yet, that's step zero.

Validate your brand name across every platform with BrandScout before working through this checklist.