Run the three-week Product Hunt prep
The prep is the launch. The day itself is just the part other people can see.
Inside this
- Day −21: warm up your account7h
Three thoughtful comments a day for two weeks. A cold account reads as a throwaway.
- Day −21: follow 100+ active makers30m
They are the notification surface on launch day.
- Day −14: create the Upcoming page45m
Every subscriber is a guaranteed notification the moment you go live.
- Day −14 to −1: drive traffic to the Upcoming page2h
This is the only pre-launch asset that converts directly into first-hour momentum.
- Day −10: line up a hunter, optional1h
Product Hunt’s own FAQ says who posts a product does not affect its ranking; one practitioner sample of 30 launches puts a hunter’s share of upvotes at 15–25% with no method. If you want one, it is for their audience. Trade a feature or an intro, never cash.
- Day −7: build the gallery images at 1270×7602h
First image carries the whole pitch — most visitors never swipe to the second.
- Day −7: write the tagline and 260-character description45m
Reuse the kit from 2.2.1 — this is why you wrote three variants.
- Day −7: write your own first comment45m
Why you built it, what is different, what to try first. Posted the second you go live.
- Day −7: line up a customer to comment20m
Product Hunt says position depends on comments as well as points, and that upvotes from established, active members count for more. A real user’s early comment helps on both.
- Day −3: warm up your email list30m
“We launch Tuesday, here is what to expect, reply for a heads-up.” No ask yet.
- Day −1: run the whole flow in incognito45m
Signup, checkout, video autoplay, CTA destination. On a phone, on mobile data.