Launch on Product Hunt: Everything You Need to Know
Launching on Product Hunt has become a rite of passage for startups, indie makers, and tech enthusiasts looking to showcase their products to the world. A successful launch can drive thousands of visitors to your website, attract early adopters, and even lead to press coverage or investor interest.
But launching on Product Hunt is more than just posting a link—it’s about strategy, timing, and community engagement. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know to make your Product Hunt launch a success.
What is Product Hunt?
Product Hunt is a platform where makers share new products—apps, tools, websites, hardware, and even books—with a community of early adopters and tech enthusiasts. Users can upvote, comment, and engage with products, which determines their visibility on the daily leaderboard.
Getting to the Top 5 of the day can generate massive traffic and long-lasting visibility.
Why Launch on Product Hunt?
- Exposure: Reach thousands of engaged early adopters.
- Feedback: Get honest insights from tech-savvy users.
- Social Proof: A strong PH launch signals credibility to future customers and investors.
- Networking: Connect with fellow makers, potential partners, and media outlets.
Pre-Launch Preparation
A good launch begins weeks before launch day. Here’s how to prepare:
- Build an Audience
- Start growing your email list, Twitter/X following, or LinkedIn connections early. Even 100 engaged supporters can make a difference.
- Craft Your Story
- Define your product’s “why.” Why does it matter? How does it stand out? This should shape your tagline, description, and visuals.
- Design High-Quality Assets
- Logo & screenshots
- Demo video (30–60 seconds)
- Animated GIFs
- Product Hunt is very visual, and good assets boost credibility.
- Choose the Right Launch Day
- Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday tend to have the highest activity. Avoid weekends unless your product is very niche.
Launch Day Checklist
On launch day, timing and momentum are everything.
✅ Post your product at 12:01 AM PST to maximize exposure throughout the day.
✅ Share with your email list, community, and social channels (but avoid spammy behavior).
✅ Engage with comments—be authentic, answer questions, and thank people.
✅ Leverage your network—friends, early users, and partners should help spread the word.
Post-Launch: Keep the Momentum
The launch doesn’t end at midnight. Here’s how to keep the energy going:
- Share a “thank you” update on social media.
- Write a blog post about your experience.
- Reach out to people who supported you and keep them in the loop.
- Analyze traffic and feedback to refine your product.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
🚫 Launching without an audience—upvotes don’t come from nowhere.
🚫 Focusing only on Product Hunt instead of long-term growth.
🚫 Ignoring feedback—users want to see you listen and improve.
🚫 Asking for upvotes directly (PH rules forbid this). Instead, ask people to “check out your launch.”
Alternative Platforms to Launch Your Product
While Product Hunt is powerful, it’s not the only option. Other platforms and communities can give you additional visibility, such as:
- Indie Hackers
- Reddit communities (like r/startups, r/Entrepreneur)
- BetaList
- Twitter/X and LinkedIn maker communities
And here’s where Launch List comes in. 🚀
Launch List is a growing Product Hunt alternative where makers can share their startups and tools with an engaged community, without the noise and heavy competition of PH. If you want an additional channel to showcase your launch—or if you’ve already been on Product Hunt and want to extend your reach—posting on Launch List is a smart move.
Final Thoughts
Launching on Product Hunt can be a game-changing moment for your startup—but it requires planning, storytelling, and community engagement. Treat it as the start of your product’s journey, not the end.
And remember: don’t limit yourself to one platform. Alongside Product Hunt, use communities like Launch List to maximize your visibility and connect with early adopters who are eager to try out new products.
Good luck with your launch 🚀