Hard launch or soft launch?

[Al]

When starting a new site do you opt for a fireworks and fanfare opening with a major marketing campaign to build up hype for its release or go slow and steady? I've considered working towards a major launch event for a new forum but I'm concerned that the investment in building hype would be for very little unless it was targeted effectively. I've considered Facebook ads to drive traffic towards a Facebook page prior to launch and then an announcement on the page when it goes live. What other methods could I use?

I've also considered a slow and steady approach, soft launching and then using Twitter X to promote threads of note and to engage with other's in the niche.

What approach did you use on launch and what lessons did you learn from this?

 

[Kane]

I do not have a budget to make it big. I launch my site silently and try to promote it through my social media pages, my friends and family are the early visitors to my site. I then start building backlinks through webmaster forums and other online communities. Instead of spending money on a launch event, I prefer to use advertising for content that has thew ability to go viral.

 

[Good-Person]

I would opt for a hard launch, but I think that it would entirely depend on my budget. If I have a limited budget, then I may launch my site after considering my budget. I have seen many people spending a lots of money when it comes to promoting their website.

 

[Reverie]

When I first began my last forum I did a soft launch where only some people had access to the forum to post content around, during this time I built up the excitement for those who were not yet in the forum... Then did a hard launch. It gave access to topics and conversations already started and also allowed for some build up. Definitely would recommend it if you advertise appropriately on similar type forums or advertising forums.

 

[Shortie]

I tend to opt for a soft launch when it comes to opening a new site or forum unless, of course, I have the budget to be able to do something a little more to launch.

I have always found that soft launches do take longer to get the word out but it also gives you the chance to fix any issues that arise rather than doing a hard launch and things being a little crazy and you finding out about issues.