Token Launch Insights for Protocol Leaders.

After leading 3 different teams responsible for Token Launches in 2 different cycles - This Is What I've Learned.

First, let’s get the elephant out of the room. These are the following tips ChatGpt has for launching a token - don’t worry the juicy stuff comes after, but AI always has something to add.

1. Community is Your Bedrock - Even though its something we all know - in all fairness, yes, it is correctly placed at? number 1.

2. Tokenomics: Balance is Key - Hopefully you have figured this one out before preparing for launch focusing on creating usage and adoption towards whatever solution you are providing.

3. Regulatory Compliance is Non-Negotiable - Is it though? - Yeah it kind of is - But I can hook you up with the right people though. Send me a DM and I can send references your way.

4. Security: Don't Cut Corners

5. Marketing: Craft a Relevant Narrative

6. Partnerships: Leverage Synergies - One of the most powerful marketing actions you can launch is a partnership, but this is less about marketing, or token launch, and more about ecosystem growth.

7. Continuous Improvement: Listen and Adapt

Not bad... here's what hard-earned Experience has taught me.

1. Centralized Exchanges Don’t Have To Be The Starting Point

Centralized Exchanges (CEXs) are here to make BIG BUCKS peeps. Don’t get me wrong, they are necessary and serve an extremely relevant function in our process towards decentralization. However, it is very rare for most protocols to initially be able to access Tier 1 CEXs. And the rest, tend to charge high access fees for their services; those being their investor communities across channels and their trading platform. On top of that, their community, (again, each CEX varies, but we are generalizing and excluding top-level exchanges) typically prioritizes chart performance and launch opportunities over the fundamentals of your project, and trust me, they WILL DUMP. It's crucial to understand that this community is not inherently yours. A CEX listing should not be the linchpin of your token's success. Instead, view it as a marketing action that can bring both liquidity and sell pressure, along with a nice pump for your SM numbers. Plan your launch strategy to build a solid foundation beyond just a CEX listing. I will write another article on alternatives, but to summarize, explore Launchpads and DEXs always as listing solutions, never as financing tools for building products (even though they can serve as such, you cannot rely on that happening)

2. Market Makers - You Can't Live Without Them, But...

Market makers are essential for providing liquidity and stabilizing your token's price. However, remember that their primary goal is to make money for themselves. Choose your market makers wisely and understand their incentives. Ensure that their interests align with your long-term vision and tokenomics to prevent potential conflicts and maximize benefits for your project, and most importantly - MONITOR that shit daily, it’s carnage out there.

3. Marketing - Spend Wisely

Effective marketing in the current crypto market requires precision, strategy, and a touch of good luck/timing. Good marketing agencies tend to specialize in different aspects such as PR, KOLs, Arbitrage, Content Creation, or Community management. GO for these agencies if you have the budget, but understand where your needs are. Focus on data-driven, wallet-specific paid ads, and localized PR campaigns. Tailor your marketing efforts to reach the right audience and track the performance of your campaigns meticulously.? A/B test the living shit out of copies, pictures, audiences, and conversion types. Keep in mind that Twitter ads are not the most reliable advertising platform. Telegram has 900 million daily users, keep that in mind. Your most relevant channels will depend on the nature of your project and your target.

4. KOLs You Trust

KOLs and influencers can be powerful allies if they genuinely believe in your project. However, many KOLs are also traders, and their interests may not always align with yours. Ensure that any KOLs you work with have real, engaged audiences. Verify their credibility and authenticity before entering into partnerships. A KOL who is passionate about your project and understands it can significantly amplify your message. Also many will want OTCs. Careful, OTCs mean cash now for higher selling pressure later. If your token does not do well, expect to end up at a lower price than you started.?

5. Shilling - BIG NO NO

Shilling, or aggressively promoting your token without substance, is going to screw you up the bum bum. Instead, what you want to do is…?

6. Ambassador Program - The Cornerstone of Your Campaigns

An ambassador program can be a powerful tool for community engagement and growth. RIdentify the most active members in your community, target them, and offer them an incentive program to actively support your actions. They can help spread the word about your project, provide feedback, and fuel your announcements. A well-managed ambassador program can create a loyal, active user base that supports your project organically. Look to create different tiers and categories, like dev ambassadors vs content creation ambassadors. Remember that anyone who holds your token is doing marketing for the protocol.?

7. Not One Cycle is the Same - Narratives Are Key

The crypto market is cyclical, and each cycle has its own narratives. As a founder or marketing lead, it's vital to position your protocol to fit into, and benefit from, the prevailing narrative. Stay informed about market trends, and be adaptable in your messaging and strategy. Crafting a compelling narrative that resonates with the current market sentiment can drive adoption and interest in your project.

8. Get Your Coin Trackers On Point?

One of the first places every investor will look at is Coinmarketcap and Coingecko. Make sure your tokenomics are on point. Create APIs to track Circulating Supplies and make sure your community is also active in the comments sections. Don’t overdo it, people will know.

9. You Cannot Control FUD

Fear, uncertainty, and doubt, are not necessarily there because you have failed to deliver, or have fallen short of a promise (try your best not to do that), they are there because it is our human nature, and if you enter the field of investment, remember that only a few win at the game, those who are patient and due-diligent. The rest fall for narratives to which they arrive late and only see their profits decrease. So a lot of people will pay for their previous failures, with fud on your project. Don’t panic, don’t give them more attention than it deserves. The best projects had FUD, starting with Bitcoin, all the way to the latest BLAST, which had massive FUD and now has over 1 Billion TVL. You get out of FUD with transparency and delivery upon promises, and it can happen that even if you do these, and yet underperform or don’t meet the expectation of the hype, so don’t take it personally.

10. Show Up

I left one of the most underrated for last. If you have managed to tell the story of your protocol and token so well that you have gathered resources and a community around it, then the ultimate truth is that YOU are the reason they are there.? It has less to do with the tech stack, and more to do with how you told the story of how that tech stack could change the current landscape. KEEP TELLING YOUR STORY. As the leaders/founders of the protocol, you cannot delegate direct communication with the community of people who bought into your idea in the first place. I doesn’t matter how or where - Direct and Frequent communication will avoid FUD, increase trust and transparency, and set the path for success.?

If you found this helpful, share it with whoever might need it, and send over a DM if you are interested in growing your ecosystem or launching your token.