Product Hunt success isn't luck. It's preparation combined with strategy. Having launched multiple products on the platform and studied dozens of successful launches, I've noticed that the difference between #1 and #20 often comes down to tactics that the typical "how to launch" guides don't mention.
The 2-3 Month Pre-Launch Phase
Most founders start thinking about Product Hunt a week before launch. That's far too late. Here's what you should be doing months in advance:
- Build relationships with hunters: Top hunters receive dozens of requests daily. Start engaging with their content, providing value, and building genuine relationships 2-3 months before you need them.
- Create a launch list of 200+ supporters: This isn't just email subscribers. You need people who are genuinely invested in your success and will show up on launch day. Quality matters more than quantity.
- Study recent launches: What's working right now? Product Hunt's algorithm evolves. Study the last 30 days of top launches, not launches from a year ago.
- Prepare your maker comments: Write 5 different comment responses for different user types before launch day. You'll be too busy to craft thoughtful responses in real-time.
Timing Your Launch
Conventional wisdom says Tuesday or Wednesday launches perform best. That's partially true, but there's more nuance:
- Avoid weekends and holidays—traffic is lower and competition can be weird.
- Consider timezone: Product Hunt resets at 12:01 AM PST. Being first gives you the full 24 hours.
- Check what else is launching that day. Major company launches can dominate attention.
- Tuesday through Thursday is the sweet spot for most products.
Launch Day Tactics
The first 4 hours after launch are critical. Here's your playbook:
- Never ask for upvotes: Instead, ask people to "check out the launch and share feedback." This subtle difference matters for authenticity and engagement quality.
- Reply to every comment within 30 minutes: Speed matters. Early engagement creates momentum.
- Share behind-the-scenes on Twitter/X throughout the day: The journey is content. Share your emotions, stats, and real-time updates.
- Prepare for the post-launch crash: It's normal to feel empty after the excitement fades. Plan something to look forward to.
What Actually Matters
Here's the uncomfortable truth: Product Hunt is a marketing channel, not a destination. The badge is nice, but it's not the goal. The real metrics that matter are:
- Email signups collected
- Early users acquired
- Feedback gathered
- Relationships built
A launch that gets #1 but zero email signups is a failure. A launch that gets #5 but 500 qualified leads is a massive success. Plan your post-launch sequence before launch day, because that's where the real conversion happens.