Mistakes I made after launching GSTMaker (so you don't have to)
Honestly, I thought the hard part was building the product.
It wasn't.
I launched GST Maker — a free GST invoice generator for Indian freelancers — about a month ago. Here's what actually went wrong after launch, because nobody really talks about this part.
1. I focused too much on the product, not enough on distribution
I spent weeks perfecting the UI, adding features, fixing edge cases. Meanwhile zero people knew GST Maker existed. I had a solid product with no users. Classic mistake.
2. I assumed Product Hunt would bring traffic forever
Launch day was great. Then day 2 happened. Crickets. I didn't have a plan for what comes after the launch spike and that hurt.
3. I didn't talk to users early enough
I built what I thought Indian freelancers needed. Turns out some of my assumptions were wrong. The features people actually use are not always the ones you spent the most time on.
4. I underestimated how long SEO takes
I wrote 23 blog posts before launch thinking organic traffic would come fast. It doesn't. Google takes months to trust a new site. I knew this intellectually but didn't really believe it until I lived it.
5. I didn't build in public from day one
If I could go back, I'd document the build process openly from the start. The audience you build while building is the most valuable thing you can have on launch day.
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Still figuring things out honestly. But the product is live, people are using it, and I'm learning faster than I ever did building in isolation.
If you've launched something recently — what's the one thing that surprised you most after launch? Would genuinely love to hear.
Replies
"Distribution as a product surface" is the line I'd underline. Most people treat sharing as a favour the user does you, so it never happens — it has to be a side effect of them getting value. One small push back though: posting weeks early only worked for me when I showed up where people already complained about the problem, not when I posted about my product into a void. Good piece
@saied_alimoradi That pushback is fair and honestly more useful than the agreement.
Posting into a void is exactly what I did. I shared in places where people knew me, not where people were already frustrated with GST invoicing. The engagement felt good but it didn't move the needle.
Showing up where the complaint already exists is a different skill. Harder to do without feeling like you're just dropping links, but when it works it actually converts.
Still figuring out that balance. What did that look like for you in practice were you answering questions in forums, or something else?