My take on this is to Announce the launch date beforehand. It builds anticipation and allows for strategic marketing and engagement with the audience. However, I would love to know otherwise.
Announcing your launch date beforehand can build anticipation and allow for strategic marketing, but keeping it a surprise can create a buzz and drive immediate engagement. It depends on your brand's approach and audience preferences.
Personally I think it depends on your audience and marketing strategy. If you have a highly engaged audience that is excited for your launch, announcing the date can help build anticipation. It also allows you to do pre-launch marketing. On the other hand, a surprise launch can create more of a 'wow' factor and spark immediate interest. It really comes down to what approach best fits your product and audience in my opinion. Would love to hear others' thoughts on this!