The Final Sprint: Lessons from Pre-Launch Week

Phew, what a week it’s been in the BigMoves universe.

We’re in the final countdown to launching the AI Automation Marketplace, and I wanted to give you the unfiltered behind-the-scenes look at what’s been going down.

Because let’s be real – launches are messy, and anyone who tells you otherwise is probably selling something. 😅

TL;DR

• BigMoves.io now has a waitlist page open! Sign up to stay ahead on all updates and be among the first to access our new AI Automation Marketplace.
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• 🔄 Had to ditch our old hosting provider (Nexcess) for WP Engine after some major tech headaches.
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• 🔧 Been fixing all those “fun” little things you forget about – email servers, plugins, post-purchase flows. Pretty sure we’ll still find more after launch (because that’s just how it goes).
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• 🏗️ Building differently this time around. No more MVP and pray approach – setting up proper systems from day one and hired 2 VAs early because marketplaces are complex beasts that need solid foundations.

The Great Server Migration Saga

Ever notice how when a big company buys a smaller tech business, things often start… deteriorating?

Yeah, that hit us hard this week.

Our host, Nexcess (who I’ve used for 5+ years), recently underwent some changes by LiquidWeb (their parent company) in an effort to consolidate.

Suddenly, ever since then, I’ve noticed a significant change in the quality of product and customer service they provide.

We were dealing with:

• Random API timeouts
• Integration failures left and right
• Support responses that felt like they were coming from a magic 8-ball
• Pages loading slower than dial-up days (a tad dramatic but you get the point)

After banging our heads against the wall for a bit, we made the call to migrate to WP Engine.

Not gonna lie – migrations are always scary, but this one? Game-changer.

Everything’s running smooth as butter now. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and make the switch.

The “Nobody Tells You About This Stuff” List

Here’s something funny about running a business for a while – you completely forget about all the tiny moving parts that make everything work.

This week has been like a constant game of “oh right, we need that!”

Some gems from our growing list:

• Transaction email servers (because apparently, emails don’t just magically appear in inboxes)
• Those random plugins you installed years ago and forgot about until they break
• Post-purchase email sequences that need updating
• Payment gateway configurations
• Analytics tracking setups
• Customer support ticket routing
• Backup systems (because Murphy’s Law is real, folks)
• Integration webhooks that need updating
• Custom field mappings that somehow got lost in translation

And I’m pretty sure we’ll find ten more things we missed after we launch. But hey, that’s part of the fun, right? 🎢

Building Different: The Marketplace Challenge

This is probably the biggest mindset shift I’ve had to make with BigMoves.

Earlier this year, I launched my personal brand and Content Automation OS with my usual playbook: get it out there fast and scale it up.

Fix things as they appear. Classic MVP style.

But a marketplace? That’s a whole different ball game. We’re essentially building for two completely different types of customers simultaneously:

1. The automation builders who want to sell their products
2. The business owners looking to buy these solutions

And let me tell you – the complexity is no joke.

You can’t just wing it with a spreadsheet and some good intentions anymore.

Here’s what we’re doing differently this time:

Systems First Approach

We’re building some seriously sophisticated flows in Airtable that would have made past-me weep with joy:

• Automated vendor onboarding sequences
• Product creation workflows (largely automated)
• Project & Team Hubs (also largely automated)
• Performance analytics dashboards (yep! automated)

I know this sounds like hyperbole, but the way businesses get built has fundamentally changed. The automations we’re building will make this business at least 3x more product than any of my previous brands.

More on that next week.

Plus, we’ve got some custom WordPress modifications that are absolute game-changers.

Things that would have saved me hundreds (maybe thousands) of hours over the years if I’d had them before.

Early Team Building

One of the biggest shifts in my approach: I’m not waiting to hire help.

This week, we onboarded two new VAs, even though we haven’t launched yet.

Why? Because I’ve learned the hard way that it takes a good 6 months before team members become truly self-reliant in a complex business like this.

They’re getting trained on:

• Product creation and review processes
• Vendor communication protocols
• Customer support workflows
• Content management systems
• Quality control procedures

Is it an investment? Absolutely.

But should pay off!

The Reality Check

Look, I know there will still be fires to put out when we launch. That’s just the nature of the beast.

But this time around, we’re building with scale in mind from day one. We’re creating systems that can handle growth without everything falling apart the moment we hit a certain size.

Is it more work upfront? Hell yes.

Is it taking longer than just throwing something together? You bet.

Will it be worth it? Absolutely.

(well I hope so)

Looking Ahead

Next week’s going to be intense as we move into the final stages of launch prep.

But I’m actually excited about the problems we’ll face – because this time, we’re built to handle them.

For the first time in years I’ve got my mojo back. Twice this week I’ve been up past midnight sending myself email reminders from bed because I can’t sleep.

Plus I’ve still managed to fit in a friends book launch party, hosted a BBQ at my new house with a few friends, and attended a Halloween party last night.

And I got my new office and YouTube background setup.

If you’re building something of your own, I hope these behind-the-scenes glimpses help you avoid some of the pitfalls I’ve stumbled into.

And a reminder that friendships are important — so prioritize them too!

Until next week,
– Mitch

P.S. I’m still looking to speak with AI Automation Builders.

If you’re a builder ready to begin creating automations to add to the marketplace then let’s chat…

I’ve handed off a couple of project but still have a list of proven products that will easily sell like hotcakes in the next 12 months. These are vetted concepts guaranteed to make an impact.

If you’re ready to dive in, hit reply and let’s connect!