Growth
How to Launch on Product Hunt and Attract Early Users to Your Startup
Written by
Lineke Kruisinga
Published on
April 1, 2025
Written by
Published on
If you're building a startup, you’ve probably heard of Product Hunt. It’s the place where new tech products get discovered by developers, founders, investors, and curious early adopters. Think of it as the front page for the latest tools, apps, and startups.
In this article, we’ll break down what Product Hunt is, how to get ready for your launch, what to do on launch day, and how to keep growing after the attention.
Product Hunt is a website where people go to discover new tech products—think apps, software tools, AI projects, and startups just getting started. Every day, new products are launched, and the community votes for their favorites. The most popular ones end up at the top of the homepage, kind of like a leaderboard.
The people who use Product Hunt are mostly into tech. You’ll find developers, startup founders, investors, and early users who love trying out new things before anyone else. They’re curious, open to giving feedback, and often quick to share what they like.
For startups, Product Hunt can be a powerful launchpad. A good launch can drive a lot of traffic to your website, get your first users in the door, and even catch the attention of journalists or investors. It’s one of the few places where a small product, built by a small team, can suddenly get a lot of attention.
Launching on Product Hunt is a smart move if you want to get your product in front of a lot of people, fast. On launch day, thousands of users scroll through the homepage looking for cool new tools to try. If your product stands out, you could have hundreds or even thousands of people checking it out within hours.
It’s also a great way to build trust. If people see your startup getting attention and positive comments, it makes you look more legit. That can help when talking to investors or potential partners.
Another big plus: the feedback. The Product Hunt community is known for giving honest, helpful comments. You’ll quickly learn what users like, what confuses them, and what to improve.
And if your launch goes really well? You might get featured in Product Hunt’s newsletter or picked up by tech blogs. That kind of attention can give your growth a serious boost.
A strong launch starts with good prep. Here’s how to get ready:
Step 1: Pick the right day
Most traffic happens midweek, so aim to launch on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Launch early in the day (12:01 AM PST) to get the full 24 hours of visibility.
Step 2: Build hype before launch
Start teasing your product on X (Twitter), LinkedIn, or in your own community. Share behind-the-scenes posts, a countdown, or small previews to get people excited.
Step 3: Get your visuals ready
Make sure your product looks great. You’ll need:
Step 4: Write a strong tagline and description
Keep it simple and clear. Tell people:
Step 5: Set up your maker profile
Create or update your profile on Product Hunt so people can see who’s behind the launch. It helps build trust.
Step 6: Engage with the community
Support other makers, leave comments, and be part of the conversation before your own launch. It makes a difference when your name is already familiar on the platform.
You’ve done the prep—now it’s time to go live. A good launch is all about timing, engagement, and making the most of your first 24 hours. Here’s how to do it step by step:
Step 1: Create your Product Hunt post
Upload your visuals, write your tagline and description, and fill in all the details about your product. Keep it clear and friendly—talk like a human, not a robot.
Step 2 (optional): Ask a hunter to post it
A “hunter” is someone in the Product Hunt community who can submit your product for you. If they have a big following, it can help you get more visibility. But you can also launch it yourself—both ways work.
Step 3: Launch at the right time
As said before, timing matters. Launch at 12:01 AM Pacific Time to give your product a full day on the homepage. You can use timezone tools to plan it right.
Step 4: Engage with comments
Once you're live, stick around. Answer questions, thank people for their feedback, and stay active in the comments. The more genuine the interaction, the better.
Step 5: Share your launch
Post the link on LinkedIn, X, and in your community. Let people know you're live—but don’t beg for upvotes. Just ask them to check it out and share their thoughts. Product Hunt doesn’t like vote gaming, and neither does the community.
Step 6: Use the first 24 hours wisely
Your product only has one launch window, and it’s ranked based on engagement in the first 24 hours. So stay online, keep replying, and keep the energy going.
Bonus tip:
Use tools like Ship by Product Hunt to collect emails before your launch and get early supporters lined up. That way, you’re not starting from zero on launch day.
Launching on Product Hunt is a bit like hosting a party—you want to invite the right people, show up, and keep the conversation going.
Image from: Swipe Files
There’s no magic formula, but most successful Product Hunt launches have a few things in common.
Start with a good story.
People love hearing why you built your product. Was it out of frustration? A personal need? A cool idea you couldn’t let go of? Share that story—it helps people connect with your product and see the human behind it.
Make it look good.
Your visuals should be clean, clear, and easy to understand. Think simple screenshots, a short video, or even a GIF that shows how it works. If people can “get it” in a few seconds, you’re on the right track.
Be real in the comments.
Don’t drop your launch and disappear. Stick around to answer questions, respond to feedback, and chat with people. It shows you care and helps build trust with potential users.
Get your community involved early.
If you’ve built a small group of followers, users, or friends who believe in what you’re doing, ask them to support your launch. That early push can help get you noticed—and once you start climbing the leaderboard, more people will naturally check you out.
Have your press kit ready.
If your launch takes off, journalists or bloggers might want to write about you. A simple folder with your logo, screenshots, and a short product description makes it easy for them to cover your story without emailing you for details.
Your Product Hunt launch might be over, but the real work starts now. This is your chance to turn attention into growth.
Look at the feedback.
Go through the comments and messages you got during the launch. What did people like? What confused them? Use this input to improve your product—it’s super valuable.
Follow up with interested users.
Some people might have left comments, signed up, or showed interest in trying your product. Don’t leave them hanging. Reach out, offer help, and show them you’re listening.
Share what you learned.
Post about your launch experience on LinkedIn, X, or in a blog. Talk about what went well, what didn’t, and what’s next. It keeps your audience involved and shows progress.
Stay in touch with your supporters.
Send a thank-you message to the people who supported your launch. Let them know what’s coming up—new features, updates, or ways to stay involved.
Plan your next steps.
Use the momentum to move forward. Maybe you’re ready to raise funding, start onboarding users, or launch your next update. Keep the energy going while people still remember you.
The most successful launches are the ones that are well-prepared and fully engaged. You need more than just a good idea—you need to show up, tell your story, and be part of the conversation.
In the end, your Product Hunt launch is just the beginning. What matters most is what you do after.
Start your launch www.producthunt.com
Good to read:
⏩️Pitch Deck Template for Startups: A Launchpad for Successful Fundraising
⏩️17 Amazing Tools That Help Launch Your Lean Startup
⏩️How to Craft a Winning Product Pricing Strategy for Your Go-To-Market Plan
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