Product Hunt Launch Checklist
Ensure you have the right assets, copy, and momentum strategy before you hit publish on Product Hunt.
What Product Hunt is Good For
A quick 24-48 hour spike in traffic, acquiring early adopters, getting a strong SEO backlink, and testing your core messaging with tech enthusiasts.
What Product Hunt is NOT Good For
Consistent, long-term user acquisition. It is an event, not a sustainable channel.
1. Before Launch (Preparation)
- Product Name: Just the name. No emojis or descriptions in the name field.
- Tagline: Under 60 characters. Clear, punchy, benefit-driven. Don't use periods at the end.
- Thumbnail: 240x240 GIF. Make it eye-catching to stand out in the feed.
- Gallery: At least 3-4 high-quality screenshots (1270x760). Include a short UI walkthrough video (YouTube link).
- Pricing: Have a clear promo code for the PH community (e.g., "PH20").
- Maker's Comment: Drafted and ready to post immediately.
- Hunter (Optional): Find someone to hunt it, or just hunt it yourself (it doesn't matter as much anymore).
2. Maker's Comment Template
The Maker's comment should be the first comment on your post. It sets the tone.
Hey Product Hunt! 👋 I'm [Name], the maker of [Product].
The Problem: I built [Product] because I was constantly frustrated by [Specific Pain Point]. Existing tools were either too [Negative Trait 1] or too [Negative Trait 2].
The Solution: [Product] is designed to [Core Value Proposition]. We focused heavily on [Specific Feature/Benefit] so you can [Outcome].
Key Features: ✨ [Feature 1] - [Benefit] ✨ [Feature 2] - [Benefit] ✨ [Feature 3] - [Benefit]
Special Offer: We're offering the PH community [Discount/Offer] using code PHLAUNCH.
I'll be here all day answering questions. I'd love to hear your feedback, especially regarding [Specific aspect you want feedback on]. Let me know what you think!
3. Launch Day (Execution)
- Launch Time: Launch at 12:01 AM Pacific Time to maximize your 24-hour window.
- Post Maker Comment: Immediately after the product goes live.
- Email Newsletter/Waitlist: Send an announcement email. (Do NOT ask for upvotes. Ask for "support" or "feedback").
- Social Media: Announce on X/Twitter and LinkedIn.
- Reply Promptly: Reply to every single comment on the Product Hunt page thoughtfully.
Common Mistakes
- Explicitly asking for upvotes (Product Hunt's algorithm penalizes this).
- Using jargon or buzzwords in the tagline ("A decentralized Web3 paradigm shift for AI synergies").
- Not including a video demo.
- Disappearing after launching and not engaging with the commenters.
How LaunchSprint Helps
LaunchSprint can automatically format your product profile into the exact constraints Product Hunt requires (60 character tagline, structured Maker's Comment). More importantly, it helps you plan your secondary launch destinations so your momentum doesn't die the day after Product Hunt.
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