Opening Theory

Centuries of Wisdom, Applied to Launches

Opening theory in chess has been studied for centuries. Launch strategy is similarly well-documented, yet most people improvise and fail. I follow a battle-tested sequence.

The Matthew Jared Smith Launch Protocol

• Pre-Launch (Week -2): Build an email list using a Lovable landing page. Tease the concept on socials
• Soft Launch (Week -1): Invite 50 people to test. Gather feedback ruthlessly
• Hard Launch (Day 0): Coordinate social media blast, email announcement, and community posts simultaneously
• Post-Launch (Week +1): Immediately begin iterating based on feedback
• Sustain (Ongoing): Content marketing, SEO, and community engagement keep momentum alive

Why Most Launches Fail

Most people build in secret, launch to silence, and blame the product. The product is not the problem — the launch is. I never launch into a vacuum. By the time I hit "publish," I already have an audience waiting. This site — the one you are reading right now — was launched with this exact protocol.

"The launch is not the beginning. It is the harvest of preparation." — Matthew Jared Smith