A brand launch plan covers the sequence and timing of all activities required to bring a new or rebranded identity into the world — internal communication, team briefing, asset rollout, supplier updates, website launch, PR and social announcement, and any supporting events or activations.
For a significant rebrand, planning should begin six to twelve weeks before the intended launch date. This allows time to update all critical assets, brief all stakeholders and coordinate the various workstreams involved in a coherent launch.
Your team should understand the new brand, why it has changed, what it means for the business and what’s expected of them before any external announcement is made. An internal launch that engages the team is as important as the external one.
A phased approach is usually most practical. High-visibility digital touchpoints are updated on launch day. Printed materials are updated at the next natural reprint point. A transition period of three to six months is typically agreed for lower-priority items.
Supplier briefing should happen well in advance of the launch date. A brand briefing document and asset pack, shared with all active suppliers several weeks before launch, gives them time to prepare.
It depends on the scale of the change and the commercial context. A significant rebrand — particularly one driven by a strategic repositioning — may warrant a press release and PR outreach. A logo refresh or visual update may not require public announcement.
A practical audit of all active brand touchpoints, conducted before launch, identifies everything that needs to change. Priority is then given to the highest-visibility items, with a clear plan for transitioning everything else.
Yes, and this is often strategically advantageous. Linking a rebrand to a new product launch, a significant partnership or a business milestone gives it a narrative hook and amplifies both stories.
Post-launch momentum is maintained through planned content, case studies and updates that continue to tell the story of the brand in the weeks and months after launch. A launch is a beginning, not an end.
A single accountable owner — typically a senior marketing leader — should be responsible for coordinating all workstreams. For larger or more complex launches, an external project manager can take on this role.