Running Presales and Token Launches with cred.diy

Presales are a powerful way to validate demand, generate early revenue, and build a community before your product launches. With cred.diy, you can run presale campaigns that sell credits at a discount, giving early adopters a stake in your platform.

Why Run a Presale?

Benefits

• Validate demand: Real purchases prove market interest
• Early revenue: Fund development before launch
• Community building: Early buyers become advocates
• Price anchoring: Establish value before general availability
• Reduced risk: Launch with paying customers already onboard

Who Should Run Presales?

• AI startups: Sell compute credits before your model is ready
• Gaming studios: Pre-sell in-game currency
• SaaS builders: Offer discounted API credits to beta users
• Creator platforms: Let creators buy tokens at founder pricing

Setting Up a Presale

Step 1: Create Your Credit Type

Define the credits you'll be selling:

const presaleCredits = {
  name: "Platform Tokens",
  symbol: "PTK",
  description: "Pre-launch platform credits at founder pricing",
  exchange_rate: 0.02  // Will be $0.05 at launch
};

Step 2: Create Pricing Tiers

Offer multiple presale packages:

const presaleTiers = [
  {
    name: "Early Bird",
    credits: 500,
    price: 9.99,       // $0.02/credit
    description: "60% off launch price"
  },
  {
    name: "Founder Pack",
    credits: 2000,
    price: 29.99,      // $0.015/credit
    description: "70% off launch price",
    is_popular: true
  },
  {
    name: "Whale Pack",
    credits: 10000,
    price: 99.99,      // $0.01/credit
    description: "80% off launch price"
  }
];

Step 3: Configure the Presale

Create the presale in Dashboard → Presales: give it a name and description, choose the credit type and the pricing tier buyers pay with, and set the launch date. Credits are issued to buyers' balances when each payment completes.

Step 4: Share the Presale Link

Each presale gets a hosted checkout page:

https://cred.diy/presale/your-presale-id

Share this link on social media, email lists, and your landing page.

Presale Strategy

Pricing Strategy

Create urgency with tiered discounts:

Phase	Discount	Duration	Goal
Super Early Bird	80% off	First 48 hours	Create buzz
Early Bird	60% off	Week 1-2	Build momentum
Founder	40% off	Week 3-4	Sustain interest
Last Chance	20% off	Final week	FOMO

Marketing Your Presale

Pre-Launch (1-2 weeks before)

• Tease the presale on social media
• Build an email waitlist
• Create a countdown landing page
• Reach out to early community members

During Presale

• Share real-time progress (X% sold)
• Highlight social proof (# of buyers)
• Engage buyers in Discord/community
• Run limited-time flash bonuses

Post-Presale

• Thank all participants
• Share the roadmap
• Provide early access to features
• Keep the community engaged

Tracking Presale Performance

Key Metrics

Monitor these during your presale:

1. Total orders: Number of purchases
2. Revenue: Total dollars collected
3. Average order value: Revenue / orders
4. Conversion rate: Visitors → buyers
5. Time to sell out: How fast tiers sell

Using the Dashboard

Presale payments are recorded as credit purchases, so they appear alongside your other purchases in Dashboard → Payments.

Post-Launch: Honoring Presale Credits

When your product launches:

1. Credits are already issued – presale buyers' balances are ready
2. Update exchange rates – set the new, higher public price
3. Remove presale tiers – replace with standard pricing
4. Communicate the change – notify the community

Legal Considerations

• Terms of service: Clearly state what credits can be used for
• Refund policy: Define your policy before launching
• No investment promises: Credits are utility tokens, not securities
• Geographic restrictions: Comply with local regulations
• Tax obligations: Consult with a tax professional

Best Practices

1. Set clear expectations about when credits will be usable
2. Limit supply to create genuine scarcity
3. Offer exclusive perks beyond just the discount
4. Communicate regularly with presale participants
5. Deliver on promises – nothing kills trust faster than broken commitments

Conclusion

Presales bridge the gap between idea and launch, giving you revenue and validation while building a community of invested early adopters. With cred.diy's presale tools, you can run professional token launches without building custom infrastructure.

Create your presale and start selling today.