The product launch timeline is a plan that outlines the steps that need to be taken in order to successfully launch a new product. The timeline should include all of the stages of the launch process, from researching potential markets and competitors, to designing and testing prototypes, to marketing and selling the product. Product launches are typically broken up into three phases: pre-launch, launch, and post-launch. The pre-launch phase consists of planning for all aspects of the product's introduction into the market. This includes selecting a target audience and determining how best to reach them, designing prototypes or samples for testing purposes, securing funding for production costs and advertising campaigns, developing an effective marketing strategy (including pricing), and creating a budget for production costs.