Pre-Launch Meeting

Overview

Review training items, check for any areas for refreshing, finalize promotion & communication plan readiness, required plugins are enabled, confirm there are no open / gating technical items with SSL, SSO, or Theme customization work. Confirm launch date / time and ensure support coverage.

Pre-Launch Checklist Topics

Check spaces & permissions – test
Finalize seeding of content & enroll early adopters
Finalize promotion & communication plan
Ensure analytics enabled
Confirm no open issues
Enable Advance Analytics & shield

By this point, the client should have the site configured, groups and spaces created, have guidelines and seed content posted. The Pre-Launch call should be an opportunity to review a readiness checklist and to discuss some best practices and near-term goals.

Client should verbally sign off that there are no blockers, and that they are confident in moving forward with the launch.

Pre-Launch Checklist Items to Review

SSL in place
Outgoing email tested
If public site, shield enabled & configured; consider recaptcha
SSO tested and functioning (if launching with SSO)
Custom theme enabled (if applicable)
Additional groups created and populated (to aid tracking)
Community Help and Guidelines / Rules posted
Seed content - all spaces should have some starting content
Idea workflow configured (if Ideas are to be used)
Topics populated and decision about how these will be managed if users are allowed to create their own
Promotion plan in place, navigation links throughout main website
Editorial calendar in place to create at minimum, one new article or conversation per week, ideally one per day.
Moderation / SME team in place to greet new members, provide answers & encouragement
Involvement of super users from existing company sponsored communities & social channels in the launch
Discussion of soft launch vs major announcement / reveal
Crisis response plan or discussion for putting one together
Confirm launch date
Confirm access / confidence with JIRA & Success site