The 5 Biggest Launch Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
Launching your online course, program, or membership can feel overwhelming, especially when it’s hard to know what’s working and what’s not.
The good news? Many of the problems that lead to failed launches can be avoided with the right strategies and preparation.
In this post, I’ll walk you through the 5 biggest launch mistakes entrepreneurs make – and how to avoid them – so you can save time, reduce stress, and set yourself up for success.
Let’s dive in!
Mistake #1: Not Building Your Audience Early Enough
The success of your launch doesn’t start the day you open your cart. It starts weeks – sometimes months – before that.
Your pre-launch phase is critical because it’s when you’re:
Growing your email list.
Nurturing your audience with valuable content.
Building trust and relationships so your audience is ready to buy when launch day comes.
If you wait until the last minute to find your audience, you’ll be launching to an empty room – and that’s a recipe for frustration.
How to avoid this mistake:
Start building your audience as early as possible. Use strategies like:
Lead magnets to attract your ideal audience.
Email marketing to nurture your list with valuable content.
Social media content to engage your followers and build excitement for your launch.
When launch day comes, you’ll have an engaged audience that’s ready to take action.
Mistake #2: Overcomplicating Your Offer
A common trap many entrepreneurs fall into is overcomplicating their offers. You might feel tempted to include everything you know in your course, program, or membership because you think “more is better.”
But the truth is, more can feel overwhelming to your audience. And when your offer feels confusing, it’s harder for your audience to say yes.
How to avoid this mistake:
Simplify your offer by asking yourself:
What’s the ONE problem this offer solves?
What’s the ONE result my audience will achieve?
When your offer is clear and focused, your audience will immediately understand its value – and they’ll be much more likely to buy.
Mistake #3: Waiting Too Long to Test Your Tech
Let’s be honest: there’s nothing worse than staying up late the night before your webinar, trying to figure out why your slides won’t upload or why your checkout page isn’t working.
Tech problems can derail your launch and cause unnecessary stress. But the good news? They’re 100% preventable with some advance planning.
How to avoid this mistake:
Start testing your tech well before launch week. Check:
Your webinar platform to make sure it runs smoothly.
Your checkout page to ensure it’s working and accepting payments.
Your email automations to confirm they’re sending correctly.
Give yourself at least a week to troubleshoot any issues so you can launch with confidence (and without tech nightmares).
Mistake #4: Skipping the Follow-Up
Many entrepreneurs make the mistake of assuming their audience will buy the moment they see their offer. But here’s the thing: most people need to see your offer multiple times before they take action.
That’s why follow-up is so important. Without it, you’re leaving money on the table.
How to avoid this mistake:
Plan a follow-up strategy to re-engage your audience throughout your launch. This can include:
Cart-close emails to create urgency and remind people of your deadline.
Reminder emails for live events like webinars or Q&A sessions.
Personal outreach to warm leads who have shown interest but haven’t purchased yet.
Your follow-up emails alone can double – or even triple – your sales, so don’t skip this step!
Mistake #5: Trying to Do It All Yourself
Launching has a lot of moving parts: emails, sales pages, webinars, social posts, tech setup… the list goes on. And when you try to do it all yourself, you risk burning out – or dropping the ball on key tasks.
How to avoid this mistake:
Get support. Here’s how:
Use templates and tools to save time and reduce stress.
Delegate tasks, whether that’s hiring a virtual assistant or asking your team for help.
Rely on resources like my All Access Launch Template Library to fast-track your prep and focus on what matters most.
Ready to avoid these mistakes and launch with confidence?
By avoiding these 5 mistakes, you’ll set yourself up for a smoother, more successful launch.
Build your audience early.
Simplify your offer.
Test your tech ahead of time.
Follow up with your audience.
Get the support you need.
And if you’re ready to make your next launch your easiest one yet, check out my All Access Launch Template Library for done-for-you templates that help you launch faster, with less stress and more results.
