Launching on Product Hunt is a responsible starting point for a startup that desires to connect with a global audience. Product Hunt is an independent platform that allows startups to gain attention and feedback from thousands of users, investors, venture capitalists, and possible partners worldwide. The Amploo.io team achieved first place on launch day and shared a step-by-step plan and practical tips that made this possible. Let’s get deeper into aspects of preparation, execution, and getting the best of launching results.
Why is Product Hunt Important for Startups?
A successful Product Hunt launch not only gathers users' attention and generates traffic but also provides further opportunities to connect with investors, media representatives, bloggers, and influencers. Products that reach top positions gain brand visibility and reputation bonuses. But is Product Hunt dead? Not at all — badges like 'Product of the Day,' 'Product of the Week,' and 'Product of the Month' remain on the product page, boosting brand trust. What’s more, Product Hunt offers:
- Rich feedback from users. The platform allows for a quick collection of reviews to help improve the product.
- Expand organic traffic. Enhanced visibility among the target audience.
- Get new backlinks. Getting mentions in Product Hunt positively impacts SEO.
- Connections with new partners. New contacts among other startups and potential collaboration offers.
- Investor interest. Many venture funds and investors keep track of new interesting products on Product Hunt.
Preparation for Launch: What to Do in Advance?
Efficient planning is key to making the entire launching process easier. To achieve maximum results, it is recommended to get started with preparations at least one month before the launch day. Note critical steps to take care of:
1. Familiarize Yourself with the Product Hunt Platform
Start with carefully studying the rules and obligations of Product Hunt:
- Review guides are provided on the official Product Hunt website. Check out information about adding products, interacting with users, and other participation restrictions.
- Then, if any of the team members already have a Product Hunt account, add them as a “Maker” (someone who works on the product team) and create profiles for other participants who take part in the launch.
Important note: Make sure to activate the accounts of all participants for at least seven consecutive days and validate them through LinkedIn. Complete the process by launch day to avoid getting blocked due to suspicious activity.
2. Gather and Prepare Content
Product functionality is critical, but appealing content is what will make your page attractive and informative for potential users. Before the launch day, make sure you prepare the following:
- Laconic product description. A brief and coherent text to explain the key idea of your product and the benefits it brings.
- Catchy tagline. A short memorable phrase that explains your product’s unique advantage.
- High-quality logo. The logo should be recognizable and clear even at a small size. You can also add a GIF for more interactive content.
- Images and screenshots. Present the interface of your platform, key features, and purpose of the product. Include a series of images to show the product in action.
- Video demo. Create a short video explaining the product's functionality, no more than 1 minute in length. This video should be dynamic, catchy, and free from extra details. You can shoot your own video guide. There are various ways to do this, from professional animated videos to simple screen recordings with Loom if your budget is limited.
- Shootouts. This is the newest section on Product Hunt, which asks for a list of tools used during product development. Some prefer to skip it, but it’s recommended to fill it out. Gather information from all team members and add it to the section.
3. Create a Lead Magnet
To get users' attention, prepare a special deal for the launch day. Such offers can be a discount, a free trial, or another benefit exclusive to Product Hunt users. This marketing tip increases the chances of receiving positive feedback from interested users.
4. Prepare the Team for Active Engagement
Getting all team members mobilized for the Product Hunt launch process is critical. This not only means that everyone should participate in discussions on Product Hunt on launch day, but also in the entire setting up process. Let team members dedicate time to daily activities on the Product Hunt like commenting on other products, and engage in discussions to establish good relationships with other users. For this time, each team member can be a personal ambassador of the brand to attract attention to the product.
One small tip: Add a banner with your Product Hunt launch details to your employees' email signatures, and include a hyperlink to the launch page. This simple addition can capture your audience's attention, drive more traffic to your product, and extend your reach with each interaction.
5. Communicate with the Audience
The earlier you start warming up your social media, the better it will work on the launch day. Prepare posts for social media, and participate in themed chats and community groups. The main goal here is to begin a “pre-launch wave” that will heat up interest in the product. It is of high importance to:
- Craft a “pre-launch page” for subscribing to updates or additional information for possible users.
- Publish news across all possible platforms, discussing the product and explaining how it solves real-life problems.
6. Expand Your Community
Build a personal brand and establish connections in professional circles. More people will pay attention to your product on Product Hunt and LinkedIn, leading to new friendly relationships and support in critical moments.
Launch Day: Step-by-Step Strategy
The timing of the launch matters — it’s best to start at 12:01 AM PDT (9:01 AM Kyiv winter time or 10.01 Kyiv summer time). Product Hunt updates its list daily, so products published at this time have a better chance of being featured, significantly enhancing visibility.
Amploo managed to get into this list even before the launch, though no one knows how this happened — there are no clear rules, and Product Hunt uses its algorithms. Perhaps we just carefully filled out the information and described the product well.
Managing Communication on the Platform
Right after the launch, the team should be active: responding to comments, answering questions, and creating open discussions about the product. As Amploo's experience shows, the active participation of the CEO, who personally responded to comments, contributed significantly to success.
Ask for feedback — engaging with the audience through questions about their experiences, needs, and product impressions usually increases user interest and loyalty.
Monitoring Reactions and Sustaining Interest
If the product didn’t make it to the Featured section, don’t waste time and reach out to Product Hunt support to request a review of your application. You can also create a discussion wave on X or LinkedIn, tagging the CEO of Product Hunt. There are examples where this led to being added to the Featured list.
Announcing Results
Post information about your current successes and share it with your audience on social media; discuss progress and user engagement on Product Hunt. This can be done at the start of the launch and every 4–5 hours to remind people about yourself and share achieved results.
To assess whether launching on Product Hunt is still worthwhile in 2024-2025, MySignature.io surveyed dozens of services. The results were promising: most of these products secured a spot in the top 10 of the day, demonstrating the platform’s continued potential for brand visibility and engagement.
Useful Tips and Additional Tricks for Success on Product Hunt
In addition to the main steps, consider additional strategies that can enhance your chances of success:
Using a Hunter Account
Launching a product through a Hunter account is a strategy that can provide an additional edge. If you have the opportunity to launch through an account of a well-known influencer on Product Hunt (whom the platform calls a Hunter), this can increase the product’s visibility.
How does it work? Publishing through a Hunter means the product is announced not from your account but on behalf of an influencer with a large subscriber base on the platform.
What does this provide? On launch day, the Hunter’s subscribers receive notifications about the new product, which may lead to additional upvotes and comments.
Is it worth using? This is just one additional option and is not decisive. Amploo.io managed to secure first place without using a Hunter account, so this step is not mandatory. It’s crucial to avoid dubious offers to buy votes or manipulate bots, as this can lead to blocking or removal of the product from the platform.
Why Avoid Manipulation
Product Hunt strictly monitors the integrity of voting and activity on the platform. Using third-party services for manipulation may seem like an easy way, but it creates risks for your product’s reputation. Manipulation can lead to:
- Account blocking.
- Removal of the product launch.
- Loss of trust among the audience and on the platform as a whole.
These tips will help you adhere to transparent methods to gain support based on genuine audience interest.
After the Launch: How to Maintain the Gained Attention?
Finish the launch with gratitude and share results with your audience. Be sure to post thank-you notes to those who supported you or showed interest in your product. Encourage users to leave reviews, subscribe for product updates, or continue testing the product with additional bonuses. This will strengthen user relationships and boost loyalty.
Launching on Product Hunt is a time-intensive process, but it’s worth the effort and offers the following advantages:
- Opportunity to gain registrations on the platform
- Attracting investor attention
- Receiving feedback and comments from the target audience
- Invitations for interviews and podcasts
- Gaining new backlinks on Product Hunt, which positively impacts your domain rating
Use all these outcomes as a newsworthy advantage: add them to collections, articles, and news updates, include them in your pitch decks, or mention them when reaching out to investors, and more.
Grab this comprehensive checklist to keep track of your progress with the Product Hunt launch:
Conclusion: Is it Worth Launching on Product Hunt?
Launching on Product Hunt is a powerful tool for startups; however, it’s important to approach this process with realistic expectations. Some startups receive significant customer traffic and land in the Featured section, while others may not achieve the desired results despite preparation. This is why it’s crucial to clearly define goals before launching and understand why you chose this platform.
If your primary goal is to popularize the product within the community, seek partners, or gather feedback for further development, Product Hunt can serve as an excellent starting point. It’s essential to recognize that even if the product does not make it to Featured or does not immediately gain the expected number of customers, the launch process and feedback will be beneficial. Every review is a tool for improving your product, an insight into the interests and needs of the audience.
Product Hunt continues to be an independent platform supporting startups. Utilizing it wisely can lead to valuable results. The tips outlined in this guide will help create an effective launch strategy. We wish everyone successful launches!
