# How to launch a SaaS product: 7-day checklist > A day-by-day checklist for launching a SaaS, app or side project: what to prepare, where to launch, and how to get your first users. Canonical: https://indielaunch.dev/guides/how-to-launch-a-product Last updated: 2026-09-28 Spend a day getting your launch assets ready, then launch in waves over a week: one [launch platform](https://indielaunch.dev/glossary/launch-platform) and a handful of directories first, a community post next, then a second platform. Answer everyone, and write down what people ask — it's your next week of content and your SEO plan. ## Before you start A launch isn't one day; it's the first week of people seeing your product. Most first launches fail for boring reasons: no clear one-line pitch, a signup flow that breaks, or nobody there to reply to comments. This checklist is built to avoid those. ## Day 1 — Get your assets ready - A [tagline](https://indielaunch.dev/glossary/tagline) under 60 characters that says what it does and for whom. - A 160-character description, and a longer one of three short paragraphs. - A square logo (512px), three to five screenshots, and a 30-second demo if you can. - Your pricing, written down plainly. - A test of your signup and [onboarding](https://indielaunch.dev/glossary/onboarding) on a phone, logged out. ## Day 2 — Make your site findable - Add your site to [Google Search Console](https://indielaunch.dev/glossary/google-search-console) and Bing Webmaster Tools, and submit your [sitemap](https://indielaunch.dev/glossary/sitemap) to both. ChatGPT's search draws on Bing's index, so don't skip Bing. - Give every page a specific title and [meta description](https://indielaunch.dev/glossary/meta-description). - Add an [llms.txt](https://indielaunch.dev/glossary/llms-txt) file that tells AI assistants what your product is, in plain Markdown. - Install analytics so you can tell which launch sent which visitors. ## Day 3 — First launch and directories Launch on one platform where you'll get noticed, and submit to five or six directories that fit your category. Spend the day answering every comment. ## Day 4 — Tell your story in a community Post on Indie Hackers or a subreddit that fits ([how to post on Reddit without getting banned](https://indielaunch.dev/guides/how-to-promote-your-app-for-free)): why you built it, what you got wrong, and an early number. Communities reward stories and punish ads. ## Day 5 — Reach out one by one Message 20 people who have the problem you solve. Not a blast, just a short personal note asking for feedback. Your first ten users almost always come from here; more in [how to get your first users](https://indielaunch.dev/guides/how-to-get-first-users). ## Day 6 — Second launch Launch on a second platform with everything you learned: a sharper tagline, the screenshot people responded to, and fixes for what confused them. ## Day 7 — Turn questions into content Go through every comment and message and list the questions people asked. Each one is a page worth writing: comparisons, how-tos, pricing explanations. That is where search traffic comes from after the launch spike fades. **Make IndieLaunch your first launch** It's free, it goes live the day it's approved, and you get a permanent product page that search engines and AI assistants can find. [Launch your product](https://indielaunch.dev/submit) ## FAQ ### How long does it take to launch a product? Plan for a week of active launching after the product itself is ready: a day of preparation, then launches and outreach spread over the following days. ### Where should I launch my SaaS first? Somewhere small enough that you'll be seen: a smaller launch platform plus a few relevant directories. Save Product Hunt for when you have an audience to bring. ### How do I get my first 100 users? Mostly by hand: personal messages to people with the problem, honest community posts, and a few launches. Search and word of mouth take over later. ## Related - [How to get your first users for a SaaS or app](https://indielaunch.dev/guides/how-to-get-first-users) - [How to promote your app or website for free (2026)](https://indielaunch.dev/guides/how-to-promote-your-app-for-free) - [How to launch on Product Hunt: cost, best day, time](https://indielaunch.dev/guides/how-to-launch-on-product-hunt) - [Submit your AI tool free: AI tool directories 2026](https://indielaunch.dev/guides/submit-ai-tool) - [Show HN: rules, title format and best time to post](https://indielaunch.dev/guides/show-hn) - [Where to post your startup on Reddit (without a ban)](https://indielaunch.dev/guides/promote-startup-on-reddit)