PivotBuddy

Unlock This Playbook

Create a free account to access execution playbooks

9 Comprehensive Playbooks
Access to Free-Tier AI Tools
Save Progress & Bookmarks
Create Free Account
Chapter 6 of 9

Chapter 6: Launch Operations

Go/No-Go criteria, Beta testing strategies, Friction logging.

Playbook Chapters
What You'll Learn By the end of this chapter, you'll have a Go/No-Go checklist for launch readiness, understand B2B vs. B2C beta strategies, and master Friction Logging to transform your MVP into an MLP.

Launch is a Learning Event, Not a Marketing Event

Most founders treat launch day as a celebration—the culmination of months of hard work. In reality, launch is just the beginning. It's when you finally start learning at scale.

Your beta launch isn't about acquiring thousands of users. It's about finding 50-100 people who can validate your hypotheses and help you improve the product.

The Core Insight

A crashed app yields no data about desirability—only about feasibility. Before launching, you need rigorous Go/No-Go criteria to ensure you're testing the right questions, not fighting fires.

Bug #1: Launching Before You're Ready

The temptation is to ship as soon as the core features work. But if critical infrastructure is broken, you'll spend your entire beta firefighting instead of learning.

The Bug

"It mostly works. Let's ship it and fix issues as they come up."

Launching with broken analytics, missing legal pages, or an unstable core loop means your beta is worthless. Users churn before you can learn anything.

The Fix

Use a rigorous Go/No-Go checklist.

Before inviting a single user, verify that core workflows are stable, analytics are firing, legal is in place, and feedback channels exist.

The Go/No-Go Checklist

Don't launch until you can check every box. A crashed app yields no data about desirability.

Core Loop Stability

Can the user complete the "Red Route" (primary value task) without error?

  • Sign up → Onboarding → Core action → Value delivered
  • Test on 3 different devices/browsers
  • Have 5 people outside the team complete the flow

Analytics Ready

Are analytics firing correctly? Launching without eyes is fatal.

  • Key events tracked: Sign up, Activation, Core action
  • Funnel visibility: Where do users drop off?
  • Verify data appears in dashboard before launch

Crash Rate Acceptable

Is the crash-free session rate above 99%?

  • Error monitoring set up (Sentry, Bugsnag, etc.)
  • No known critical bugs in core workflow
  • Graceful error handling for edge cases

Legal & Compliance

Are Terms of Service and Privacy Policy accessible?

  • ToS and Privacy Policy published and linked
  • Cookie consent if required (GDPR)
  • Data handling practices documented

Feedback Channels

Is there an accessible way for users to report issues?

  • In-app chat, feedback button, or support email
  • Clear process for responding within 24 hours
  • Bug tracking system ready to receive reports

Beta Users Identified

Do you have 20+ people ready to test on Day 1?

  • Email list of beta invitees prepared
  • Welcome email and onboarding sequence ready
  • Calendar slots for feedback calls booked

B2B vs. B2C Beta Strategies

The strategy for recruiting and managing beta testers varies significantly by business model. Get this wrong and you'll optimize for the wrong signals.

B2B vs. B2C Comparison

Dimension B2C Strategy B2B Strategy
Recruitment Broad outreach: Social, Ads, Waitlists, Product Hunt Targeted: Personal networks, LinkedIn, Industry events
Motivation Novelty, Status ("Early Access"), Swag, Free tier Solving critical pain, ROI, Competitive advantage
Volume High (100s-1000s) to test variance and load Low (10-50) to build deep relationships
Engagement Automated emails, In-app surveys, NPS 1:1 Customer Success calls, Founder interviews
Feedback Quantitative (Usage data), App Store ratings Qualitative (Detailed sessions), Feature requests
Timeline Fast iteration cycles (weekly updates) Slower, more deliberate (bi-weekly or monthly)
B2B Beta Pro Tips
  • Sell, don't give away: Charge something, even $1/month. Paying customers give better feedback.
  • Get the decision-maker involved: End-users and buyers often have different needs.
  • Document the implementation: B2B products often fail in setup, not usage.
  • Promise the roadmap: B2B buyers want to know where you're going, not just where you are.

Bug #2: Invisible Friction

Users leave and you don't know why. They hit friction points that seem obvious in retrospect but were invisible to you because you built the product.

The Bug

"Conversion is low but we don't know where users drop off."

Founders are too close to the product. What feels intuitive to you is confusing to new users. You need fresh eyes.

The Fix

Practice Friction Logging.

Have team members and beta testers use the product while documenting every moment of hesitation, confusion, or annoyance.

Friction Logging: Making the Invisible Visible

Friction Logging transforms your MVP into an MLP by systematically identifying and removing every point where users hesitate, get confused, or feel frustrated.

How to Run a Friction Log Session

  1. Give the tester a task: "Sign up and create your first project"
  2. Record everything: Screen recording + audio of their narration
  3. Ask them to narrate: "Say out loud whatever you're thinking"
  4. Document friction: Every hesitation, confusion, or frustration
  5. Categorize and prioritize: See the framework below

Example Friction Log Entry

"I clicked 'Sign Up' but didn't see a confirmation email. I felt anxious. I waited 30 seconds, then checked spam. It was there. But the confirmation link was broken on mobile—had to open on desktop. Finally got in, but by then I was frustrated before even starting."

Friction Categories

Interaction

UI bugs, buttons don't work, elements overlap, broken links, slow loading

Cognitive

Confusing copy, unclear next steps, too many options, jargon, unexpected behavior

Emotional

Frustration, distrust, anxiety, embarrassment, feeling stupid

Friction Priority = Impact × Frequency

Prioritize friction that affects your core flow and happens to many users. A confusing setting in an obscure menu is less important than a broken onboarding step that everyone hits.

Your Beta Launch Checklist

Before Inviting Your First User

Go/No-Go passed: All criteria in the checklist above are met
Analytics verified: Test events are appearing in your dashboard
Feedback tools ready: In-app feedback, session recording, interview calendar
Communications prepared: Welcome email, weekly update template, bug response template
Team aligned: Who responds to bugs? Who runs interviews? Who analyzes data?
First users identified: 20+ people ready to test on Day 1

Key Takeaways

Remember These Truths
  1. Launch is for learning. Your goal is 50-100 users who generate insights, not thousands who churn.
  2. Use Go/No-Go criteria. Don't launch with broken analytics or unstable core workflows.
  3. Match strategy to model. B2B needs depth; B2C needs volume.
  4. Practice Friction Logging. Document every hesitation, confusion, and frustration.
  5. Reduce friction systematically. Removing friction is the fastest path to retention.

Now that your MVP is in users' hands, let's explore how to interpret results and decide whether to persevere, pivot, or perish.

Launch Your MVP with AI-Powered Tools

Plan your beta program, create your launch checklist, and set up feedback channels with our AI-powered launch tools.

Launch Readiness Early Adopter Strategy Usability Testing

Ready to Build Your MVP?

LeanPivot.ai provides 50+ AI-powered tools to help you design, build, and launch your minimum viable product.

Start Free Today
Works Cited & Recommended Reading
RAT vs MVP Philosophy
  • 1. Ries, E. (2011). The Lean Startup. Crown Business.
  • 2. "Why RAT (Riskiest Assumption Test) beats MVP every time." LinkedIn
  • 3. "Pretotyping: The Art of Innovation." Pretotyping.org
  • 6. "Continuous Discovery: Product Trio." Product Talk
  • 7. "MVP Fidelity Spectrum Guide." SVPG
Minimum Lovable Product
  • 8. Olsen, D. (2015). The Lean Product Playbook. Wiley.
  • 9. "From MVP to MLP: Why 'Viable' Is No Longer Enough." First Round Review
  • 10. "Minimum Lovable Product framework." Amplitude Blog
Hypothesis-Driven Development
Assumption Mapping
  • 15. Bland, D. & Osterwalder, A. (2019). Testing Business Ideas. Wiley.
  • 16. "Risk vs. Knowledge Matrix." Miro Templates
  • 17. "Identifying Riskiest Assumptions." Intercom Blog
User Story & Impact Mapping
  • 20. Patton, J. (2014). User Story Mapping. O'Reilly Media.
  • 21. Adzic, G. (2012). Impact Mapping. Provoking Thoughts.
  • 22. "Jobs-to-Be-Done Story Framework." JTBD.info
  • 23. "The INVEST Criteria for User Stories." Agile Alliance
  • 24. "North Star Metric Framework." Amplitude
  • 25. "Opportunity Solution Trees." Product Talk
  • 26. Torres, T. (2021). Continuous Discovery Habits. Product Talk LLC.
Pretotyping Techniques
Prioritization Frameworks
Build vs Buy & No-Code
Metrics & Analytics
Launch Operations & Analysis

This playbook synthesizes methodologies from Lean Startup, Design Thinking, Jobs-to-Be-Done, Pretotyping, and modern product management practices. References are provided for deeper exploration of each topic.