Last Updated: July 22, 2025

Product Hunt Launch Checklist and Latest Tips

This comprehensive guide will help you optimize and launch successfully on Product Hunt, based on insights and experiences from dozens of successful makers and extensive community research.

💡 Hook: Why This Guide Works

Based on analysis of 25+ successful Product Hunt launches, interviews with top makers, and extensive Reddit community research. This isn't just theory, it's battle-tested strategies that actually work.

🌍 Planning a Product Hunt Launch?

Timing is everything.

Here's when the Product Hunt day officially starts (12:01 AM PST) in popular time zones:

🇺🇸 PST: 12:01 AM

🇬🇧 London (BST): 8:01 AM

🇪🇺 CET: 9:01 AM

🇹🇭 Thailand: 2:01 PM

🇵🇭 Philippines: 3:01 PM

Post your launch announcements and DMs right at the start of the PH day to maximize your 24h visibility 🎯 and get more feedback / upvotes

🔥 Best Days to Launch on PH?

✅ Tues / Weds / Thurs

= Most traffic, max signups

❌ Also the most competitive!

You need around 300-400 upvotes to get on the front page on weekdays. This means you should reach out to 900-1,200 people for support and feedback, assuming only about one-third will actually take the time to vote.

Making it into the top 3 or becoming Product of the Day typically requires about 400-500 upvotes

📅 Weekends

= Less competition, but lower traffic

Better chance to earn a Product Hunt badge and gain social proof

You need around 200-300 upvotes to get on the front page on weekends. This means you should reach out to 600-900 people for support and feedback, assuming only about one-third will actually take the time to vote.

Making it into the top 3 or becoming Product of the Day typically requires about 300-400 upvotes

👉

Launching with a strong community? Consider weekends to rank higher.

🧠 Pro Tips:

Aim for 12:01 AM PST (translate to your timezone!) to be online and ask everyone for feedback

Give yourself at least a week to prep assets & build hype

Avoid US holidays 🇺🇸

Be online & active throughout the launch day 🚀

Comments also seem to impact the PH algorithm. It's still important to ask people to leave comments.

📚 Key Product Hunt Terminology:

Hunter 🎯

The person who submits/launches your product on Product Hunt. Can be you or someone else with established credibility.

Maker 👨💻

The creator(s) of the product. Usually the founder, product team member, or key contributor.

Upvotes ⬆️

Community votes that determine daily ranking. Quality matters more than quantity.

Comments 💬

Community engagement that heavily influences ranking algorithm. Critical for success.

Front Page 📰

The main Product Hunt homepage where featured products appear. Your goal destination.

Teaser Page 👀

Pre-launch page to collect "notify me" clicks from interested users before your actual launch.

🔍 Additional Insights from Successful Makers:

🎯

Quality Over Quantity Strategy

80% of people upvoting never even try your product - especially if it's not related to personal productivity tools. Focus on meaningful engagement.

🔄

Launch Frequently

Product Hunt launch isn't gonna make or break your business - launch frequently with updates and use engagement to form an authentic community.

💪

Community Building is Key

Successful resources get upvoted because they've built up that muscle of launching several times and have existing engaged communities.

📈

External Traffic Matters

Lean in on communities beyond PH - Reddit groups, WhatsApp communities, Telegram groups, LinkedIn communities, Slack communities.

🏆

Top 3 is Vanity

Top 3 is a vanity metric for your business. It's a good pat on the back, but focus on finding customers, engaging and retaining them.

🎉

Have Fun!

Importantly, enjoy, drink water and have fun - it's a product launch! It's an exciting milestone for your product.

💡

Pro Insight: Horizontal products do better than vertical - meaning your product shouldn't be too niche. Broader appeal typically performs better on Product Hunt.

Realistic Success Expectations

Front page products

📊 2,000+ visitors

🎯 100-300 signups

Top 3 products

📊 5,000+ visitors

🎯 500-1,000 signups

Product of the Day

📊 10,000+ visitors

🎯 1,000-3,000 signups

Important: Even an unsuccessful launch doesn't mean much. There are many other platforms and strategies for launching products. Product Hunt is just one channel, not make-or-break for your business.

Interactive Launch Checklist

Click each item as you complete it. Hover over 💡 for expert tips and insights.

Your Progress 0%

Complete all items for the best chance of success

0 Pre-Launch (2-4 weeks before)

Build your audience first

CRITICAL

Create a coming soon page and collect emails of interested supporters

💡

According to successful makers, you need at least 400 people before launching. Start 2-4 weeks early to build this audience.

Choose your hunter wisely

Find a reputable hunter with front page privileges and good following

💡

While you can launch yourself, established hunters with followers get automatic front page placement and add social proof. WHERE TO FIND HUNTERS: (1) Browse Product Hunt's leaderboard and check recent successful launches, (2) Search Twitter/LinkedIn for #ProductHunt #PHHunter, (3) Join PH Discord/Slack communities, (4) Check freelance platforms like Upwork/Fiverr. WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Front page privileges (verified hunters), 1000+ followers, proven track record, active PH engagement, positive reviews. AVOID: New accounts with no history, hunters asking upfront payment without guarantees, fake follower profiles. PRO TIPS: Reach out early (good hunters get booked quickly), build relationships before you need them, offer value in return, check their recent launch performance.

Pick the optimal launch day

Tuesday-Thursday for maximum traffic, weekends for less competition

💡

High traffic days: Tue/Wed/Thu = more exposure but fierce competition. Weekends = less traffic but higher chance to rank top 3.

0 Pre-Launch (1-2 weeks before)

Create a compelling teaser page

Set up your Product Hunt teaser to collect "notify me" clicks

💡

Successful makers report getting 300+ notify clicks from teaser pages created 2 months before launch.

Prepare high-quality assets

Logo (240x240), images (1270x760), video, tagline (<60 chars), description (<260 chars)

💡

Animated GIFs perform better than static logos. Focus on clear value demonstration over flashy graphics. Pro tip: Use CrispShare.com (free) to create stunning product screenshots with beautiful backgrounds and shadows that will make your product stand out on Product Hunt!

Engage with startup communities

Be active in IndieHackers, PH discussions, LinkedIn groups, Slack communities

💡

Build social capital by helping others first. Quality upvotes from established community members matter more than quantity.

0 Pre-Launch (1 week before)

Build your supporter spreadsheet

Create a list of friends, family, customers, and community members who will support you

💡

One successful maker had 2000 people on their spreadsheet. Track names, contact methods, and follow-up status. Use your waitlists, email lists.

Prepare email campaigns

Draft launch day emails for different time zones and supporter segments

💡

Ask for feedback, not upvotes in emails. Product Hunt penalizes obvious vote-fishing attempts.

0 Launch Day

Launch at 12:01 AM PST

Start exactly when PH day begins for maximum 24-hour exposure

💡

The first 4 hours are crucial for ranking. Be ready to go all-in during this critical window.

Post engaging maker comment

Share your story, problem you solve, and why you built this product

💡

Make it personal and conversational. Include your mission and format with line breaks and emojis for readability.

Execute social media blitz

CRITICAL

Post on all channels: Twitter, LinkedIn, WhatsApp groups, Telegram, Reddit

💡

One maker reports 80% of upvotes came from LinkedIn outreach. Use every possible channel and community. Make your social posts stand out with professional product screenshots created using CrispShare.com (free) - perfect for Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social platforms!

Contact your supporter list

CRITICAL

Reach out to everyone on your spreadsheet via their preferred channel

💡

Send personal messages like "Hey [name], we just launched after 6 months of work. Would love your support if you want to upvote or comment."

Respond to every comment

Engage actively with all comments and reviews on your PH page

💡

Comments have high ranking weight. Even simple "thank you" responses help boost your position.

Maintain consistent activity

Keep engaging throughout the day, not just the first few hours

💡

Product Hunt algorithm detects and penalizes fake spikes. Spread your activity evenly throughout the 24 hours.

Announce special PH discount

Offer exclusive discount or bonus for Product Hunt community

💡

The PH community loves launch day offers. Mention it in your first comment for maximum visibility.

0 Post-Launch

Thank your supporters

Send thank you messages to everyone who helped

💡

Include your PH link in thank you messages. People can still upvote after launch day for weekly/monthly rankings.

Get added to collections

Find relevant PH collections and ask owners to add your product

💡

Collections help long-term discoverability. Research collections in your category and reach out to curators.

Write launch retrospective

Share your learnings and results with the community

💡

Document what worked and what didn't. This helps others and builds your reputation as a helpful community member.

Critical Mistakes to Avoid

🚫

Don't fake upvotes

Product Hunt actively monitors for fake votes and will demote or remove products that use them.

⚠️

Don't launch without an audience

Product Hunt amplifies momentum, it doesn't create it. Build at least 400 supporters first.

🎣

Don't fish for upvotes publicly

Asking for upvotes on social media can get your product penalized. Ask for feedback instead.

💬

Don't ignore comments

Engagement quality matters more than upvote quantity. Respond to every comment promptly.

📧

Don't spam communities

Only share in communities where you're an active, helpful member. Provide value first.

Other Launch Platforms to Consider

🚀 BetaList

Great for early-stage products and beta launches

📰 Hacker News

Developer-focused community with high-quality traffic

🗨️ IndieHackers

Supportive community of indie makers and entrepreneurs

Remember: Product Hunt is just one channel. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. A multi-platform launch strategy is often more effective.

* Please contact us if you would like to list your launch platform or directory on this page

🔍 Key Insights from Successful Makers

Quality Over Quantity for Votes

Votes from established Product Hunt users matter more than votes from new accounts. Focus on engaging real community members.

LinkedIn Outreach is Highly Effective

One maker reported 80% of their upvotes came from LinkedIn outreach. Build connections weeks before launch.

Product Hunt Won't Make or Break You

Even top makers emphasize: PH is for visibility and social proof, not primary customer acquisition. Don't rely on it as your only go-to-market strategy.

📸 Make Your Product Screenshots Stand Out

Professional visuals can make or break your Product Hunt launch success

🎨 Why Visual Presentation Matters

First impressions matter - users decide in seconds
Professional screenshots build instant credibility
Stand out from competitors with boring visuals
Social media ready - perfect for Twitter & LinkedIn

✨ Create Stunning Screenshots with CrispShare (Free) →

Transform your product screenshots with beautiful backgrounds, shadows, and professional styling in seconds - completely free!

🚀 Perfect for Product Hunt Launch

🖼️

Beautiful Backgrounds

Choose from stunning gradients and professional backgrounds

✨

Professional Shadows

Add depth and dimension to your screenshots

⚡

Instant Results

Generate professional visuals in seconds

📱

Social Media Ready

Perfect dimensions for all platforms

Ready to Launch? 🚀

Use this checklist to plan your Product Hunt launch methodically. Remember: preparation and authentic community engagement are the keys to success.

Don't forget to create stunning product screenshots with CrispShare (free) to make your launch visually impressive!

Visit Product Hunt →