How to be the "Top 5 Product of the Day" on Product Hunt?
A Product Hunt launch can skyrocket your product’s visibility—if done right. This guide covers the essential tips and tricks to help you plan, engage, and land your spot in the coveted Top 5.
If you’ve created something new and exciting, launching on Product Hunt is one of the best ways to get noticed. It’s a platform where innovators, early adopters, and tech enthusiasts come together to discover the latest and greatest products.
Every day, innovators from around the globe share their creations here. The community—a mix of curious minds and passionate builders—upvotes, comments, and helps the best ideas shine.
A successful launch here validates your idea, builds buzz, and connects you with a global community. But with thousands of products vying for attention, how do you ensure your launch stands out and lands in the coveted Top 5 Products of the Day?
In this article, we’ll explain why Product Hunt should be part of your launch plan and share some simple tips to help you land a spot in the Top 5.
This article is inspired by a session by Yuvraj Dagur, a hunter on Product Hunt and founder of Clevrr AI, who shared valuable insights into navigating the platform and making the most out of your launch.
Why Product Hunt?
Why should you consider Product Hunt for your product launch? Because it’s one of the most powerful platforms to introduce your product to a highly engaged, tech-savvy audience. A good product launch on Product Hunt does a lot more than just announce a new product; it creates buzz, drives early adoption, and gives you the feedback you need to refine and improve.
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Now that we understand why Product Hunt is the place to be, let’s get into the must-follow do's and don'ts for a successful launch.
Dos: What You Should Do
Many founders want to launch their products on Product Hunt, but success is rarely just about posting a product and hoping for the best. To truly stand out, you need to understand the platform's dynamics and align your efforts with its expectations.
While there are no shortcuts to success, there are specific strategies that can dramatically improve your chances. These strategies revolve around three core pillars: preparation, timing, and engagement.
1. Decide Your Goal
This step is often overlooked but is absolutely critical. You need to be clear about what you want to achieve with your launch and the timing of the launch. Timing can make or break!
Traffic Boost? If your primary goal is to drive traffic to your product or website, the best days to launch are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays when Product Hunt sees the most activity.
Badges and Recognition? If you’re aiming to get featured and win badges (like Product of the Day), weekends are your best bet. Launching on Saturdays or Sundays means less competition but also less traffic.
Keep in mind that Product Hunt’s activity is centred around US time zones. Weekdays starting from Tuesday bring massive traffic, but the competition for badges is fierce. Conversely, weekends offer a better shot at recognition due to lower activity.
2. Get a Hunter
Having a reputable hunter can boost your visibility significantly. Here are your options:
Collaborate with an experienced hunter who’s well-known in the community. Their followers will get notified about your launch.
Alternatively, you can become a hunter yourself by building your presence on the platform and hunting products regularly.
3. Be Active on Product Hunt (Before the Launch)
Product Hunt is a community, and like any community, you need to participate to get noticed. Don’t just show up on launch day expecting magic to happen.
Start Early: At least 30 days before your launch, get yourself and your team active on the platform. This also means building an audience through channels like social media, email lists, or communities in your niche.
Engage Daily: Open Product Hunt every day, upvote other products and leave meaningful comments. This builds goodwill and makes others more likely to support your launch.
Ask for Support, Not Upvotes: When you reach out to your network, focus on support rather than explicitly asking for upvotes. People are more likely to help when it feels genuine.
4. Prepare Your Media and Content
Your media and content are the first things people will see when they land on your product page. Make them count.
Pre-Launch Content:
Write a short, crisp, and engaging subtitle that clearly conveys your product’s value.
Create an interactive demo. Use GIFs to showcase your product’s features instead of static images.
Add animated logos or small design touches to grab attention.
Launch Day Content:
The first comment by the maker or hunter is crucial. Share your product’s story, the problem you’re solving, and your goals. Make it personal and relatable.
Include a notify screen as part of your outreach strategy.
Tag Product Hunt in your posts to amplify visibility.
5. Plan Your Outreach
Your outreach strategy can make or break your launch. Go guerrilla if needed, but stay genuine. Reach out to two types of people:
Those who are very active on Product Hunt, regardless of their industry.
Those who actively engage with products in your specific niche.
Engage with them beforehand and build a rapport. A personal touch goes a long way.
Yuvraj’s Tip- Prepare a list of at least 20 frequently asked questions about your product. Then:
Ask close friends or supporters to post these questions on launch day.
Have your team respond promptly. This not only boosts engagement but also addresses organic queries from other users in the community.
Don’ts: What to Avoid at All Costs
Don’t buy upvotes, comments, or collaborations. This can backfire and hurt your credibility.
Don’t contact the Product Hunt team for special favours. They maintain strict neutrality.
Don’t ask people to create accounts on launch day just to upvote your product. It looks spammy and may get flagged.
Don’t explicitly ask for upvotes. Focus on asking for genuine feedback and support instead.
Tips & Tricks to Stand Out
Upvote Organically: Avoid shared links for upvoting. Let people discover your product naturally on Product Hunt.
Join Communities: Participate in Product Hunt communities and announce your launch there.
Use Analytics Tools: Track your launch day performance with tools like Product Wars 2 to see how you’re doing.
Yuvraj’s Tip- Product Hunt loves cat puns! Add a playful touch to your messaging, and voila! You have successfully grabbed their attention.
Your Ultimate Checklist
30 Days Before Launch
✅ Finalise your product and launch goals.
✅ Start getting active on Product Hunt.
✅ Get a hunter.
✅ Begin creating buzz around your launch.
14–7 Days Before Launch
✅ Schedule your launch on Product Hunt.
✅ Begin outreach to your network.
✅ Build a “Notify Me” page to collect interest.
✅ Encourage close friends to create Product Hunt accounts well in advance.
1 Day Before Launch
✅ Confirm that your product is “Featured” or “Posted”. Proceed accordingly.
✅ Prepare all launch creatives and content.
✅ Tag Product Hunt in your outreach posts.
Launch Day
✅ Execute your outreach strategy.
✅ Engage with the community actively.
✅ Ask for support and feedback, not just upvotes.
✅ Celebrate the traffic spike and enjoy the buzz!
Final Thoughts
It’s important to remember that your first launch on Product Hunt might not be perfect, and that’s okay. You might not hit the Top 5 on your first try or receive the overwhelming response you were hoping for. However, don’t be discouraged—each launch is an opportunity to learn and improve.
Pay attention to the feedback, figure out what resonated with users and what didn’t, and tweak your approach accordingly. Keep refining, keep trying, and you’ll see the results over time.
At Razorpay Rize, we get it—building a startup is tough. That’s why we’re more than just a space for connecting with other founders. We’ve got programs, tools, and services designed to take some of the weight off the shoulders and make the journey just a little bit easier.
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