Before the Launch with Brenna McGowan

What’s one tool that can instantly improve the user experience of your webinar or launch event? A private podcast feed. In this episode, I’m sharing a small but powerful shift I’ve made in how I deliver launch replays—and why I’ll never go back. If you’ve ever had trouble getting people to listen to your launch event replays – or want to increase how many people are engaging with your launch event...

Ever felt like you're too old, not educated enough, or lacking a social media presence to grow your business? In this episode, I’m getting honest about the insecurities I had when I started—and how those same “flaws” became my biggest assets. If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re qualified enough, this one's for you. Here’s what you’ll hear: Why turning 40 felt like a business roadblock—but was...

I get this question all the time: “How many emails is too many during a launch?” Spoiler: The answer is usually more than you're comfortable with. In this episode, I’m walking you through thoughts and strategy on email frequency during a promo, why unsubscribes aren’t the end of the world, and how to decide who should get your launch emails (segment? whole list? soft opt-out?). If you’ve ever worr...

You may have asked yourself, “Should I put my prices on my website?” And if you’ve ever worried that listing your price might scare people off, you’re not alone.  In this episode, I’m breaking down why being upfront with your pricing doesn’t just filter out the wrong clients—it actually helps convert the right ones. I’m sharing real-life stories (including my own $4K hesitation-turned-yes), h...

Pain Point Marketing Isn’t Dead—You Might Just Be Talking to the Wrong Person Is pain point marketing really “dead”? (Spoiler: it’s not.) In this episode, I’m pushing back on the hot-take that talking about pain is “manipulative” or “over.” I’m walking you through how to use pain ethically, empathetically, and strategically so your best-fit buyers feel seen, not shamed. We cover: Why “pain point m...

What do you do if your pre-launch overlaps with the holidays? In this episode, I’m sharing how to show up strategically (and sanely!) when everyone else is signing off. Just because people are sipping eggnog doesn’t mean they’re not watching. This is a prime time to stay top of mind—and I'm breaking down how to do it even during this busy time of year. Today we’re talking: Why holiday email opens...

What is Anticipation Marketing ® – and why do you need to start using it in your marketing? In this episode, I’m breaking down the four components that make up this approach — and why it matters if you want to create buyer desire before you ever open the cart. I’ll walk you through what I call the 4 A’s of Anticipation Marketing ® and how to use them to warm up your audience, reduce refunds, build...

The one piece of advice I give again and again when editing copy for my clients and students: You need more specificity. And while AI can churn out decent drafts, it often misses the emotional depth that truly connects. In this episode, I’m sharing how to identify “soulless” copy—and how to replace it with words your audience actually uses and feels so they take action.  This is about writing...

What’s your why ?  I ask this in nearly every pre-launch conversation, but today, I’m flipping the script and sharing my story. From feeling stuck at 40 and wanting more out of life to starting my business because I wanted eyelashes, I walk you through the twists and turns that led me to where I am today — and why I care so much about pre-launching. If you’ve ever struggled to articulate why...

It’s that time of year when everyone’s talking Black Friday—but do YOU actually want to run a sale? In this episode, I’m giving you a permission slip to rethink the rush, get honest about your business model, and plan from a place of strategy. Whether you’ve had big success in the past or you’re tempted to wing something last-minute, this episode will help you pause, assess, and decide what actual...

How Price Positioning Impacts Your Sales What if your pricing is silently guiding people away from the offer you actually want them to buy? In this episode, I’m sharing the behind-the-scenes of how I repositioned my VIP offer for the Pre-Launch Plan Program—after realizing my favorite, most successful, and most profitable clients were the ones I worked with most closely. If you've ever felt stuck...

What To Do When You Only Have A Short Window for a Pre-Launch Ever feel like you're way behind on prepping for your launch? You're not alone. I recently got a question from an email subscriber who only had two weeks before her cart opened, and she wasn’t sure what to focus on.  During this episode, I share the real talk on short pre-launch timelines and 6 questions to ask that will help you p...

In this episode, I share what worked (and what didn’t) in my most recent Pre-Launch Plan Program launch. You’ll hear: Why “multiple entry points” are a must in this launch environment How to make buying easier for different personality types The real reason flexibility builds trust in today’s “trust recession” How a simple “product tour” can reduce objections (and refunds!) The tweak I’m adding ne...

I’m keeping it real this week with a behind-the-scenes look at a sales call I completely fumbled during my last launch. Even as someone who's done a ton of these, I made 4 key mistakes that cost me—and I don’t want you to do the same. In this episode, I walk through exactly what went wrong, what I should’ve done differently, and how you can show up more prepared, confident, and in control of your...

In this episode, I sit down with the brilliant Emily Reagan to unpack the three must-know launch trends we’re seeing in today’s shifting market—and spoiler alert: these aren’t your typical “just post more on Instagram” kind of tips. From understanding your buyer’s mindset to ditching tired strategies like waitlists, this conversation is full of insights that’ll help you launch smarter—not harder....

Are you afraid of being too pushy or “salesy” — and possibly missing out on sales? In this episode, I’m talking about the easiest way to increase conversions during your launch—social selling (aka one-on-one conversations). Whether it’s in the DMs or through email, this tactic is the grassroots tactic that can catapult your next launch or promotion.  I’m breaking down what “social selling” ac...

Have you ever wondered if you should drop your price on your course, program, or offer?  This week, I’m diving into why launches don’t always meet our expectations and why “lower your price” isn’t always the best next move. I’m breaking down a real-life launch story and sharing my honest take on what to do instead of creating another lower-ticket offer. Here’s what you’ll hear: Why you might...

I sat down with Steffeny Feld, a therapist and copywriter who supports fellow therapists in designing and marketing VIP-style intensives. She joined the Pre-Launch Plan Program even though she couldn’t make any of the coaching calls, ended up tweaking her offer, and went on to sell out!  In this episode, Steffeny shares how the right structure and strategy gave her clarity, confidence, and be...

Ever wondered if you could sell out a program without a big launch, fancy sales page, or a single ad? In this episode, I chat with my hilarious and brilliant friend Laura Belgray about how she filled 80% of her mastermind with what she calls “the least launchy launch ever.” We break down her ultra-simple (and totally effective) approach to gauging interest, building demand, and filling spots—all b...

What do Taylor Swift, Alex Hormozi, and blockbuster movies have in common? They all master the art of pre-launching—and in today’s episode, I’m breaking down what your next offer launch can learn from the silver screen. I’m sharing how open loops, trailers, and strategic buzz-building can take the stress off launch day while bringing in perfect-fit buyers—before your offer even goes live. In this...

If you’re skipping straight to your sales page or cranking out launch emails, you have to listen to this first!  In this episode, I’m breaking down the single most important piece of copy you need before you write anything else —your Outstanding Offer Overview . This one-to-two sentence statement is the North Star for your entire launch. Here’s what I’m diving into: Why your Outstanding Offer...

Why You Shouldn’t Trust AI with Your Launch Strategy (Even If It Sounds Convincing) In this episode, I get into the real reason why putting your launch strategy in AI’s hands might be the worst move you can make—and what to do instead. Yes, I use AI every day, and yes, I even tested it to see if it could recreate my own strategy… but the results? Let’s just say, it missed the mark. If you’ve ever...

Should you reuse pre-launch content in future launches? This week, I’m answering a great question from a listener who asked if you can reuse your pre-launch content for future launches.  The short answer is yes, but the longer answer is: It depends on HOW you use it.  In this episode, I share how to evaluate what’s working (and what’s not), how to tweak versus toss your content, and why...

Let’s be real—burnout and launching are often synonymous. Which is why in this episode, I’m answering a great question from my Facebook group: How do you deal with burnout during a launch? (Spoiler: It’s not about eliminating stress completely!) Here’s what I cover: Why setting realistic expectations is the first step to launch sanity One thing you have to have in place order for your next launch...

In this episode, I’m answering a listener's question about podcasting during pre-launch: what to talk about, when to pitch, and how to make it all count. Whether you’re launching soon or just planning ahead, this episode will help you turn your podcast into strategic pre-launch content. Here’s what you’ll learn: Why your podcast should become your weekly “pillar content” The one question that help...