I am a newbie with product launches. So you can guess everything I did was more of an experiment.
I don't have a list, neither do I have a website when I started.
I learned about product launches through Craig K's IPK and thought I try it out.

My first launch was with Traffic Siphon.
I set up a review website (didn't make it to Google first page) and did some article marketing.
I made 3 sales.. not bad as it was my first launch.

My next launch was with Zero Down Traffic - again set up a website which didn't make it to first page. :
But this time, I experimented with Press Releases. At the day of the launch, my news article was #1 on Google Search for "Zero Down Traffic Blueprint". The result? 16 sales. I made $286.13. Sweet!

It gets even better, I made $606.38 with the launch of Traffic Mayhem/Auto Mass Traffic. This time, I didn't set up a review site. ;D

And more, made two sales with Insider's HQ...again, no site, no list. $900+ profit.

With Covert Cash Conspiracy, I set up a review site which made it to #1 on Google for the product name. I didn't do any article marketing or press releases... I made ONE sale.

I had my down moments too:
48Hrs Cash Club - One Sale
The Amazing Widget - One Sale
Guru Siphon - No Sale


Reading the messages here, I am curious about list building : I guess it's time I do a research on how to do it.