You might have noticed that last Thursday, I announced my book launch. The issue is that no one could buy it on Thursday. The online bookstore hadn't yet loaded my eBook. A bit embarrassing, especially since I broke one of the first rules of grand openings/launches…
One should announce a grand opening/launch well after the actual start date.
Yeah, this is a rule I never would have messed with for anyone's launch other than my own. Why? There are a number of reasons.
One is that I've never, in my decades of new business development (okay, less than 2 decades, don't make me older than I am), ever known a project to launch on time (I thought my book would be the first but…).
Another is that the first week or two of "new" brings with it problems, hiccups, issues. For a new store or restaurant opening, the staff is new. Every customer request is a "first." Service is slow. They're trying to find their rhythm.
Do you really want to add vast amounts of traffic during this time? Nope. You want the store/restaurant/product launch to be the "best", not the first, when the eager masses experience it.
I was okay. Other than telling my understanding readers on this site (I HAD to tell someone), I hadn't planned any other media/press events (my first is today). I also had free stories on my site readers could entertain themselves with while they waited for the book (always have a backup – another project lesson).
