Product Hunt Launch Playbook
A Product Hunt launch can bring thousands of visitors, hundreds of signups, and valuable press coverage - but only with preparation. This playbook covers every step from 4 weeks before to 1 week after.
4 weeks before: Foundation & Hunter
Set up your PH presence and find a hunter. Create your Product Hunt maker profile and complete it fully Study 10 recent top launches in your category - note their pages, taglines, and visuals Find a hunter with 1,000+ followers (reach out via X or email) If no hunter available, self-hunt but build your PH follower base first Draft your one-line tagline (keep it clear, not clever) Start engaging on Product Hunt: upvote, comment on other launches
2 weeks before: Assets & Audience
Prepare all launch assets and warm your audience. Create your PH gallery: 5-6 images showing key features and value Record a 1-2 minute demo video with clear narration Write your product description: problem, solution, key features, pricing Prepare your 'first comment' as maker (genuine story, not sales pitch) Build a list of 50+ people to notify on launch day Announce your upcoming launch on social media and email list
Day before: Final Prep
Lock everything down. Submit your listing (schedule for 12:01 AM PT) Prepare launch day messages: email, tweets, LinkedIn post, community posts Test your website under load - make sure it won't crash Set up a special offer for Product Hunt visitors (e.g., extended trial) Brief anyone who'll help with launch day support
Launch Day: Execute & Engage
Full-day launch execution. Post your maker's first comment within minutes of going live Send your launch email to your full list at 8am their time Post launch announcement on X, LinkedIn, and relevant communities DM your 50-person notification list with a personal message Reply to EVERY comment on Product Hunt within 30 minutes Share upvote milestones on social media throughout the day Post an evening update thanking supporters with current stats
Days 2-7: Post-Launch Momentum
Convert launch traffic into lasting growth. Send a thank-you email to everyone who supported the launch Reply to any remaining PH comments and questions Publish a 'lessons from our Product Hunt launch' blog post with real numbers Collect testimonials from new users who found you via PH Follow up with journalists and bloggers who covered the launch Analyze traffic data: which channels drove the most signups? Add 'Featured on Product Hunt' badge to your website
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