Glossary
What is a waitlist for a product launch?
A waitlist is a list of people who signed up to be notified or get access when a product launches. It tests demand before building, gathers early adopters, and gives you an audience to email on launch day. Some waitlists add referral rewards so people move up by inviting others.
Building one
- A landing page stating the problem, the product and who it's for.
- One field: email. Optionally one qualifying question (role, use case).
- A prelaunch listing on BetaList and posts in relevant communities.
- Optional referral rewards: earlier access or perks for invites.
Keeping it warm
Send short updates every few weeks: progress, screenshots, a question. Invite the most engaged people to a private beta. Lists that hear nothing for months forget why they signed up.
Launch day
Email the list when you go live with one clear ask: try it and share honest feedback on the launch page. A warm list of a few hundred engaged people can carry a launch on a smaller platform and make a real difference on Product Hunt.
Example
A founder collects 1,200 sign-ups over two months, emails monthly updates and invites 100 into a beta. On launch day, 18% of the list opens the email within an hour and the launch gets most of its first-hour activity from them. See launching a SaaS waitlist.
FAQ
How many waitlist sign-ups is good?
Engagement matters more than size; a few hundred active people beats thousands who don't open emails.
Should a waitlist ask for more than email?
One optional question helps you prioritise access.
Do waitlist referral schemes work?
They can grow lists quickly, though referred sign-ups are often less engaged.