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Soft launch

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380:, developers creating English mobile applications may choose to launch unofficially in less populous English-speaking countries in order to refine it before launch by analyzing usage and spending habits, which are thought to be similar to those in the United States. This may also reduce the chances of the American press noticing the app. While predominantly English-speaking countries like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are common choices, games are also tested in countries like the Phillipines, which has connections to Asia; Sweden, which can provide an on-ramp into the European market; and many other countries including Brazil, South Africa, and Indonesia. Canada, in particular, also has the advantage of having similar 238: 73: 136: 311:, is a preview release of a product or service to a limited audience prior to the general public. Soft-launching a product is sometimes used to gather data or customer feedback, prior to making it widely available during an official release or grand opening. A company may also choose a soft launch to test the functionality of a product, allowing adjustments to be made before a wider release and marketing efforts are implemented. 32: 485:, to refer to events held in a newly constructed sports venue before its official opening. For example, a newly built venue in the UK is required to host two events at reduced capacity, with the second event using a larger capacity than the first, before being granted a safety certificate that allows it to hold events at full capacity. 319:
When implementing a soft launch strategy, a company releases a product with little or no marketing. A soft launch permits a company to react to customer demands quickly and effectively, introducing new features which will ultimately make the product successful. For companies with a limited budget, a
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are typically low-key and often fly under the radar, while hard launches are high-profile events seeking attention. Soft launches offer high flexibility, allowing for changes based on feedback, whereas hard launches present the product or service as final with little room for major adjustments.
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In the instance of hardware products, a limited release soft launch can be used to test the market prior to a wide scale release. It also means companies are allowed to make last minute changes to the product after the soft launch. In many instances, soft launches of hardware are done in major
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Resource investment often differs between the two approaches. Soft launches generally require lower initial investment, while hard launches often demand significant upfront resources. This correlates with the level of risk: soft launches carry lower risk as issues can be addressed before full
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Soft launches can be used with websites to help roll out new features, test or tweak a design (or possible redesign) allowing a design which users dislike to be quietly retired. Changes can also be made to increase the functionality of the website and respond to user requests.
354:. Software can be extensively tested by the releasing company, but ultimately it needs to be used to determine how effective it is. Major flaws in the design may emerge during beta testing and can be corrected before the product is released into a major market. 361:. Early beta testers can grow attached to the program and will continue to download new versions as they are released. Thus, companies often build up a loyal customer base, which spreads the word to other potential customers. 446:
allow for more flexibility and risk mitigation, hard launches can create more immediate impact and awareness. The choice between the two approaches often depends on the specific goals and circumstances of the release.
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to hint at the existence of a significant other without making a formal announcement, as a subtler alternative to a "boyfriend reveal". Examples can include posting pictures of food or drink for two or a
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Businesses may choose to use a soft launch, hard launch, or a combination of both strategies depending on factors such as product readiness, market conditions, available resources,
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is to gather feedback, test functionality, and make adjustments. In contrast, a hard launch focuses on official release and maximizing impact and awareness.
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targets a limited, select audience, a hard launch aims for the general public with a wide release. Soft launches typically involve minimal or no
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and refinement, while hard launches are often centered around a single event or short-term push. The primary purpose of a
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Soft launches are also used for software, with a small release being made to a limited group of individuals for
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The duration of these launch strategies also varies. Soft launches extend over a period, allowing for
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When a business wishes to close but still allow customers to shop, this is referred to as a
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metropolitan areas where the company has access to a wide variety of demographic groups.
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soft launch can allow them to focus on product development rather than marketing.
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Some software is soft launched on the Internet, which allows for easy
523:"Ever softer: Trends in the soft launch strategy of F2P mobile games" 401: 381: 135: 442:, brand strategy, and the nature of the product or service. While 412: 499: 82:
deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a
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due to less room for major adjustments post-launch.
160:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. 450: 623: 387: 422:Visibility is another distinguishing factor. 80:The examples and perspective in this article 575:"Spurs announce Test Events for new stadium" 481:is often used in sports, especially in the 392:A soft launch differs significantly from a 369:Soft launches are popular for free-to-play 60:Learn how and when to remove these messages 431:release, but hard launches involve higher 376:Before committing to a hard launch in the 551:"Soft Launch: What it is? [2024]" 291:Learn how and when to remove this message 273:Learn how and when to remove this message 220:Learn how and when to remove this message 118:Learn how and when to remove this message 602:"The Art of the Boyfriend 'Soft Launch'" 493:The term "soft launch" has been used by 599: 624: 548: 520: 459:business wishes to open prior to its 600:Tiffany, Kaitlyn (29 October 2021). 516: 514: 231: 158:adding citations to reliable sources 129: 66: 25: 314: 19:For the missile launch system, see 13: 488: 14: 663: 511: 41:This article has multiple issues. 236: 134: 71: 30: 521:Jordan, Jon (August 10, 2016). 451:Brick and mortar establishments 145:needs additional citations for 49:or discuss these issues on the 593: 567: 549:Szulim, Dominik (2024-09-02). 542: 364: 1: 505: 16:Preview release of a product 7: 502:in an unfamiliar location. 388:Soft Launch vs. Hard Launch 345: 336: 94:, discuss the issue on the 10: 668: 323: 18: 495:social media influencers 245:Some of this article's 384:to the United States. 21:Soft launch (missile) 154:improve this article 100:create a new article 92:improve this article 642:Product development 406:marketing campaigns 647:Product management 307:, also known as a 301: 300: 293: 283: 282: 275: 230: 229: 222: 204: 128: 127: 120: 102:, as appropriate. 64: 659: 617: 616: 614: 612: 597: 591: 590: 588: 586: 571: 565: 564: 562: 561: 546: 540: 539: 537: 536: 518: 457:brick and mortar 359:software updates 315:Computer related 296: 289: 278: 271: 267: 264: 258: 240: 232: 225: 218: 214: 211: 205: 203: 162: 138: 130: 123: 116: 112: 109: 103: 75: 74: 67: 56: 34: 33: 26: 667: 666: 662: 661: 660: 658: 657: 656: 652:Product testing 622: 621: 620: 610: 608: 598: 594: 584: 582: 573: 572: 568: 559: 557: 547: 543: 534: 532: 519: 512: 508: 491: 489:On social media 453: 390: 367: 348: 339: 326: 317: 297: 286: 285: 284: 279: 268: 262: 259: 256: 241: 226: 215: 209: 206: 163: 161: 151: 139: 124: 113: 107: 104: 89: 76: 72: 35: 31: 24: 17: 12: 11: 5: 665: 655: 654: 649: 644: 639: 634: 619: 618: 592: 581:. 24 June 2018 566: 541: 509: 507: 504: 490: 487: 452: 449: 440:risk tolerance 389: 386: 366: 363: 347: 344: 338: 335: 325: 322: 316: 313: 299: 298: 281: 280: 247:listed sources 244: 242: 235: 228: 227: 142: 140: 133: 126: 125: 86:of the subject 84:worldwide view 79: 77: 70: 65: 39: 38: 36: 29: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 664: 653: 650: 648: 645: 643: 640: 638: 635: 633: 630: 629: 627: 607: 603: 596: 580: 576: 570: 556: 552: 545: 531: 529: 524: 517: 515: 510: 503: 501: 496: 486: 484: 480: 475: 473: 468: 466: 462: 461:grand opening 458: 448: 445: 444:soft launches 441: 436: 434: 428: 425: 424:Soft launches 420: 418: 414: 409: 407: 403: 399: 395: 385: 383: 379: 378:United States 374: 372: 362: 360: 355: 353: 343: 334: 332: 321: 312: 310: 306: 295: 292: 277: 274: 266: 254: 253: 248: 243: 239: 234: 233: 224: 221: 213: 210:November 2012 202: 199: 195: 192: 188: 185: 181: 178: 174: 171: –  170: 169:"Soft launch" 166: 165:Find sources: 159: 155: 149: 148: 143:This article 141: 137: 132: 131: 122: 119: 111: 108:November 2012 101: 97: 93: 87: 85: 78: 69: 68: 63: 61: 54: 53: 48: 47: 42: 37: 28: 27: 22: 609:. Retrieved 606:The Atlantic 605: 595: 583:. Retrieved 569: 558:. Retrieved 554: 544: 533:. Retrieved 526: 492: 478: 476: 471: 469: 465:soft opening 464: 454: 443: 437: 429: 423: 421: 416: 410: 397: 391: 375: 371:mobile games 368: 356: 352:beta testing 349: 340: 327: 318: 309:soft opening 308: 304: 302: 287: 269: 260: 249: 216: 207: 197: 190: 183: 176: 164: 152:Please help 147:verification 144: 114: 105: 81: 57: 50: 44: 43:Please help 40: 528:Pocketgamer 417:soft launch 398:soft launch 394:hard launch 365:Mobile apps 305:soft launch 250:may not be 637:Innovation 626:Categories 611:30 October 579:Sky Sports 560:2024-09-02 555:Codelivery 535:2023-03-11 506:References 479:test event 472:soft close 382:time zones 180:newspapers 46:improve it 585:13 August 477:The term 402:marketing 263:June 2024 96:talk page 52:talk page 346:Software 337:Hardware 252:reliable 90:You may 455:When a 413:testing 324:Website 194:scholar 632:Design 500:selfie 196:  189:  182:  175:  167:  331:Gmail 201:JSTOR 187:books 98:, or 613:2021 587:2018 530:.biz 433:risk 173:news 156:by 628:: 604:. 577:. 553:. 525:. 513:^ 483:UK 474:. 467:. 408:. 373:. 303:A 55:. 615:. 589:. 563:. 538:. 294:) 288:( 276:) 270:( 265:) 261:( 255:. 223:) 217:( 212:) 208:( 198:· 191:· 184:· 177:· 150:. 121:) 115:( 110:) 106:( 88:. 62:) 58:( 23:.

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Soft launch (missile)
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