Product development is a labor of love. After dedicating countless hours to design, development, and testing, you must ensure your product generates the attention it deserves.

One strategic tool that can help keep all product-launch-related activities on track and on time is a product launch checklist.

Why does using a product launch checklist matter? And what should be included on it?

This article highlights everything you need to know about using a product launch checklist to strengthen your product strategy. It also provides the building blocks for creating your own checklist.

Why Use a B2B Product Launch Checklist?

A product launch checklist can be more useful than you might think. You may wonder, How can that help me solve my product launch challenges?

Here are some of the benefits of a checklist for launching a new product or service:

• It outlines all processes, steps, and assets that are associated with the new product or service.
• It ensures everyone has a clear understanding of project responsibilities and helps with accountability.
• It fosters better collaboration and teamwork.
• It helps better prepare for challenges or unknown circumstances by keeping everything in one place, accessible to all.

Eight Elements to Include in a Product Launch Checklist

All organizations are different, but some checklist components are a necessity no matter the industry or the organization. Here are must-have checklist elements to ensure product launch success.

1. Product Testing

This might seem like a no-brainer, but product testing is critical. When you understand how customers will interact with your product, you can troubleshoot before launching.

2. Goals and Launch Date

The next priority is to set up your timeline and identify key goals.

Before solidifying a launch date, start with goal-setting to gauge how much needs to be done to accurately inform your timeline. Get as granular as needed, but start by setting goals that relate to the overall business. Then, move into goals for each team supporting the launch.

For example, Marketing should set measurable KPIs for revenue generation, and Customer Success should set goals related to customer satisfaction and response time.

3. Audience Alignment

New product and service offerings are created with a target audience in mind, and aligning everyone on the characteristics of that target audience is important. Understanding whom the product is for influences the activities of Marketing, Sales and other teams.

Know the product, know the audience.

4. Messaging and Branding

It is important to identify the branding of marketing and sales collateral that will be created—from colors to icons and more. You'll need guidelines for all asset branding.