Product Hunt Launch Guide

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Product Hunt Launch Guide

Product Hunt is a key platform for launching tech products, especially for reaching early adopters in North America.

Here's how to make your Product Hunt launch successful by Abhash Kumar, VP Marketing of Springworks:

Planning Your Launch (30 Days Before)

To succeed on Product Hunt, start your preparations at least 30 days before your launch. Begin by creating a WhatsApp broadcast group with 40-50 tech-savvy contacts. Encourage these contacts to sign up on Product Hunt early. This way, they can support your launch effectively.

Engage with the Product Hunt community by following others and upvoting products. This activity builds your presence on the platform. Additionally, join relevant Slack communities like AJVC, Product School, and others listed here. These communities can provide valuable support and feedback during launch.

By following these steps, you set a strong foundation for a successful launch.

Choosing the Right Launch Day

Peak Days (Tuesday-Thursday):

  • Highest competition

  • Most website traffic

  • Best for established products

  • Aim for top 5 position

Off-Peak Days (Friday-Sunday):

  • Lower competition

  • Ideal for first-time launches

  • Better for simple/no-code products

  • Easier to rank higher

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Last-minute preparation

  • Don't start planning just 2 days before

  • Build relationships with potential supporters early

2. New Account Support

  • Don't get friends/family to create accounts on launch day

  • Product Hunt's algorithm penalizes this behavior

3. Poor Timing of Support

  • Don't exhaust all support in the first few hours

  • Space out support throughout the day so your post keeps getting engagement

  • Consider US time zones (launch starts 12:00 AM PST) as this gives your product a full 24 hours to gain traction

Who Should Launch on Product Hunt?

Good Fit For:

  • B2C apps targeting tech-savvy users

  • Products used by early adopters

  • Self-serve SaaS products

  • Bottom-up adoption products

Not Ideal For:

  • Enterprise-only products

  • Products targeting non-tech decision-makers

  • Region-specific products

  • Traditional B2B solutions

Tips for Success

Build authentic connections within tech communities before launching. This creates a natural support system for your product. During launch day, strategically time supporter engagement rather than using all support at once.

If your first launch doesn't meet expectations, you can relaunch after a 6-month waiting period. Meanwhile, follow and engage with the top 500 Product Hunt hunters on X - their support can significantly boost your launch success due to mere-exposure effect of your avatar and your name.

Success on Product Hunt requires careful planning and genuine community engagement. Unless you are an influencer, prepare for a Product Hunt launch to achieve visibility through it.

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