Essentials for launching a product
There are a lot of products being hunted, launched, and competing for attention here.
But I still see some makers missing the very basics.
It got me thinking about putting together an "essentials package" of things that, in my opinion, every maker should have in place before deciding to launch their product on this platform.
My Product Hunt launch essentials would include the following (these should be done before launch, btw):
a properly filled-out profile
a finished landing page for the product (the one beyond PH)
a hunter
gathering relevant people who will be stated under the launch (e.g. as makers + products/stack used for building)
a first comment prepared in advance
choosing the right launch day
appealing visuals and compelling copy
Is there anything you'd add to this essentials package that I'm missing?
Replies
You mention a hunter - curious, do you think it brings value Vs self-hunting. I see both self-hunted and hunted by a popular hunter products reach "Product of the Day"
A demo video that shows the core feature in under 60 seconds. Everything else can be rough — if people don't get what the product does in the first minute, the rest doesn't matter.
Launching Fluxerv in about two weeks and this list is basically my checklist. The first comment is the one I keep rewriting — it sets the tone for the whole launch day.
FuseBase
Sorry, my dear hunters, but half of the launches that make it to the top don’t have a hunter at all. So I wouldn’t say having a hunter is compulsory, but it’s definitely a great addition if they’re actively helping with preparation and promotion - not just hunting, taking the money, and disappearing.
I'd add one more thing: go through your product as if you're seeing it for the first time.
Many founders prepare the Product Hunt assets perfectly, but forget to check whether a new visitor can actually understand the product once they land on the website.
Can a first-time user explain what the product does, who it's for, and what to do next within a minute or two?
A launch can bring attention, but clarity is what turns that attention into signups. what happens after users click through your product determines if your product win or lose.