When I teach one of my Online Success Blueprint Workshops, the section that gets my attendees most excited is when I walk them through an actual product launch.

What's a launch?

It's when you release a new product, program, or service for the first time to your mailing list. A launch is a super opportunity to rack up a TON of sales in a short amount of time.

I basically have seven steps to a launch. In my workshops, I walk through them in great detail and include actual examples and results. But to get you started, here's a brief description of each step and how it works. You can do a launch for any service, product, or program, but for the sake of this article, let's assume we're talking about a product.

1. Drop hints in your ezine beforehand.

Before your product is even ready, start getting your readers curious and excited! Drop hints that something big is on the way and what the benefits are. For example, "I'm working on a brand new product that could help you easily double your sales this year. I can't say anything about it just yet, but you'll know the full story on October 1."

2. Create your sales letter and thank-you pages.

Again, you can do these steps even before your product is ready. In fact, many experts recommend you write your sales letter BEFORE you even create the product. (For my own step-by-step formula to writing a web page that SELLS, see my quick-start guide.) After your sales page, you will need a page to send people to once they purchase -- the "thank you" page -- where they can also download your product if it is digital.

3. Set up the product in your shopping cart.

Log-in to your shopping cart program and set up your new product name, price, and the thank-you page URL. Don't forget to add on shipping or sales tax if applicable. I hope you use a shopping cart with all these capabilities! (I use, love, and recommend QueenCart.com.) Then stick the product link on your sales page.

4. Send out a solo mailing to your customer list.

When everything is ready, it's time to start your promotions! The first people I alert about any new product are those who have already bought from me. It's my most responsive list, and this will be your most responsive list, too. Keep this email short and sweet. Your only objective is to drive them to your sales page, where they can get the full story. (For my own step-by-step formula to writing an email that SELLS, see my quick-start guide.) To make your customers feel special, give them a special discount or bonus that's just for them. And give them a deadline to respond by.

5. Send out a solo mailing to your ezine list.

I do this a few days after I promote to my customer list. Same idea, different list. Got it? Good. : )

6. Let your affiliates know how to promote this new product.

After I launch my product to my own lists, I let my affiliates know that I have a new product they can promote! Send them an email with the details, their individual affiliate link that gives them credit on any referred sales, and even ad copy they can paste into their ezines or websites. Don't forget to mention how much commission they get per sale. (I do this all through QueenCart.com.)

7. Promote in your ezine on an ongoing basis.

Once your launch is over, don't let your product wither away and die! Keep the momentum going. Make sure you highlight it on a regular basis in your ezine via ads or articles, and that it's also easy for visitors to find on your website.

BONUS TIP: Give them a reason to buy today!

People are so busy these days that they will put off ANY decision possible. So, you will ALWAYS get more sales when you give people a reason to buy NOW and not later. For example: Put a time limit on your offer or have a limited quantity available.

2005 Alexandria K. Brown