10 things I wish I knew before launching on Product Hunt

When we launched Flexprice, I thought Product Hunt success was about chasing upvotes.

I was wrong.

It’s really about momentum, community, and showing up prepared.

Here are a few lessons we learned the hard way but I hope they save someone a few gray hairs before their launch day:

1️⃣ Don’t rush it.

Launch when people can use something, even a rough beta. A landing page alone won’t create excitement.

2️⃣ Timing matters more than you think.

Product Hunt runs on Pacific Time. Launch at 12:01 AM PT so you get the full 24 hours. Early momentum makes all the difference.

3️⃣ Warm up beforehand.

Spend a few weeks commenting, supporting other makers, and getting familiar with the community. People remember genuine faces.

4️⃣ You don’t need a famous “hunter.”

That myth is outdated. What matters is your story, visuals, and being active in the comments.

5️⃣ Plan your first few hours like a campaign.

Ask your closest circle to show up early as it sets the tone for the day.

6️⃣ Be present.

Reply to every comment, thank people, start conversations. It’s not marketing but it’s connection.

7️⃣ Spread your outreach through the day.

Don’t drop 100 messages at once. A steady stream of activity helps you stay visible longer.

8️⃣ Prepare early.

Write your tagline, maker comment, and collect screenshots ahead of time. You’ll be too excited (or nervous) to do it calmly on launch day.

9️⃣ Don’t try to game it.

Product Hunt’s algorithm is smarter than you think. Authentic support beats fake votes every single time.

🔟 Keep going after launch.

The launch ends in 24 hours, but the visibility doesn’t. Use that badge, share your story, and keep building in public.

We ended up ranking #1 Product of the Day, but more than that the feedback, new users, and friends we made there have stuck around ever since.

💬 I’d love to hear from others who’ve launched.

What’s one thing you wish you knew before hitting that “Launch” button?