Launching a Community

Hi All,

I'm planning on launching my community and I'm contemplating what would be the best strategy for that, and I thought - who better to ask than you guys?

Some Background

I have an website for digital courses in mathematics (University level). My community has closed spaces dedicated only for enrolled students in my courses, a space dedicated for each course.

Other spaces are Open Spaces - a Space for each subject (each course learnt in University).

My idea is that these Open Spaces where just anyone, any student could ask question and interact, would be a nesting ground for my future enrolled students.

40,000 students start studying Computer Science & Engineering in my county each year and I want to attract thousands of them to join the community and get help with their troubles in their courses in the community.

I have already thousands of them as leads in FCRM and I want to launch a smart campaign that first of all high percentage of my leads would join and then they would attract their friends. All these university students have whatsapp groups, so if a buzz starts - there would be massive subscription.

My Idea for the launch

I thought about sending an email campaign for my leads that soon a Social Network would launch on my site and as they are registered as my subscribers get the opportunity to register for the waiting list. And also that afterwards - it will be a closed space that you could get access to only if a friend invites you.

The Question

But I'm not sure if it's the best idea or if it's polished enough. Would love to hear your thoughts.

What do you think would be the best course of action for this?