4. Soft Launch: FAQs
Who should be invited to participate as a soft launch contributor?
Invite key stakeholders, community leaders, and individuals you have existing relationships with. Examples include:
- Local business owners
- Neighborhood association members
- Community organization leaders
- Key stakeholders you’ve engaged with 1:1
Community members want to see that you are engaging “legitimate” participants, not fake accounts. Avoid inviting coworkers or family members to maintain credibility.
What kinds of feedback should Soft Launch contributors post?
Focus on general, constructive, and positive comments that set a forward-looking tone. Endorsements are not necessary at this stage.
What are common mistakes?
- Sending group emails instead of personal invitations, which often results in zero comments.
- Inviting individuals without a prior relationship or simply Googling community groups.
- Failing to follow up with a reminder within two days.
- Providing generic or lackluster responses to the first commenters.
Can we skip the soft launch process?
Skipping the soft launch is not recommended. Projects that soft launch successfully receive 50 times more comments than those that skip this phase. If necessary, you can continue the soft launch process even while the site is live, but ensure you have a specific goal date for meeting the metrics.
Do you have additional resources for a soft launch?
Yes! Refer to our video overview of the soft launch process. For further support, contact your customer success manager.
When do we connect the custom URL domain?
The custom URL can be connected once the project has met soft launch metrics (15+ comments and 5+ followers).