How Important Is a Network Before Launching on Product Hunt?

After reading many of the encouraging founder stories here, I've decided to start preparing for the launch of my app, Iter.

Iter is an AI travel planning app that learns a traveler's interests to build personalized itineraries that can be further customized by the user.

As a first-time founder, I'm excited but also a bit nervous. I'm relatively new to Product Hunt and haven't had much time to build a network within the community yet, which makes me wonder whether the launch will simply go unnoticed.

I've noticed that some founders launch with a Hunter, while others launch independently. For those who have been through the process, what would you recommend for someone launching for the first time? Are there specific things you wish you had done differently before launch?

Any advice on preparing for a successful Product Hunt launch, building awareness beforehand, or engaging with the community would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!