Can a large Product Hunt community help you with a product launch?
This is something I’ll find out in just a short while, one week from now (Jan 28), as I’m about to re-launch a digital detox app. – If you want, follow, maybe you will be on watch of my steps and activities
However, that’s not the main point of this post.
I’ve been building a community for over three years, and I’m active here every day, but not every follower uses this platform actively.
That’s why I also need to prepare and execute PRE-LAUNCH, DURING LAUNCH, & POST-LAUNCH ACTIVITIES.
Relying on follower count alone is not enough.
Some tips:
Make a list of activities and tackle them step by step.
Actively communicate your launch on Product Hunt and beyond.
Warm up your audience and make sure they’re ready to support you.
Reach out to founders of similar products (or those in your industry) and honestly ask for feedback, either through reviews or comments.
P.S. Having an active Hunter also helps.
And what about your preparation?
Do you rely only on your followers and presence, or do you also take multiple tactical steps to maximise success?
(I personally believe that combining both approaches is the best way to achieve optimal results.)
Replies
minimalist phone: creating folders
@lucky_plant First launch was years ago and was managed from @minimalistphone account I created. There was low competition, so everything was easier; the community noticed your product without asking for help. Few people compete. What really helped were good assets and previous analysis of the platform and what worked for others. I recorded a video about that (there is that part included): https://youtu.be/STa63l37qQ0
minimalist phone: creating folders
@lucky_plant I focused more on the visuals, video, captions etc. I think that there could be way more done, but I do not want to bother people in DMs so much :D
This is incredibly valuable, thanks for sharing your whole plan! I'm preparing for my own PH launch (Aitinery, an AI travel planner) and the point about "relying on follower count alone is not enough" really hit home. I've been focused on building genuine connections in the community rather than just chasing numbers — commenting on relevant products, participating in discussions, and actually engaging with other makers' work. Your breakdown of pre-launch vs. during launch vs. post-launch activities is exactly the kind of structured approach I needed. Question: how far in advance did you start your pre-launch community building? I'm trying to figure out the right timeline. Would love to hear how your launch went!
minimalist phone: creating folders
@giammbo Well, I started building community from the day 1, so now, it is around 3+ more years :D Btw, here is more about that launch: :) https://www.producthunt.com/p/minimalist-phone-reduce-your-screentime/what-i-learned-relaunching-my-app-on-product-hunt-after-3-years?ref=spotlight-result
Totally get it. Love the tip on reaching out to similar founders for honest feedback. What's one pre-launch tactic that's worked best for you on past launches? Advice appreciated!
minimalist phone: creating folders
@viktorgems For me, DMs always worked :)
Love this. Trying to build a presence on a few places like LI, PH and possibly reddit. Will be interesting to see where this goes for you.
minimalist phone: creating folders
@tinyorgtech LinkedIn is very strong when it comes to reaching out. But Reddit – this one I will use for a personal story of how the app hit 8M+ downloads.
@busmark_w_nika I'd settle with 10 new users. It feels like a force field is surrounding my product at times.
minimalist phone: creating folders
@tinyorgtech Do you mean that I should re-frame the story "How to get 10 first users?"
Good luck for your re-launch! I'm very curious to know how you will fare with a following of your size! Props to your dedication and hard-work there. I am new here and trying to do the same so I'm still learning the ropes, but this post and some comments here were really helpful to me.
minimalist phone: creating folders
@nxnze Thank you, hopefully, it will not be a flop :D
Hey Nika, I just watched your Youtube video when you explained how you gained 5000 followers, I think it was a long time ago though 😄. You said back then that there are some bots on Product Hunt and it was really annoying to deal with them. I wanted to ask you if bots are still present on this platform or have they found a way against the usage of bots?
Triforce Todos
Pre, during, post… this is the part most people skip and then wonder why PH feels random.
minimalist phone: creating folders
@abod_rehman To be honest, not all activities are included in the list. I could do even better. :D
Keen to hear how your launch when, what worked and what didnt. We are launching our own platform soon called 'seekwhy.ai' and having never done this before looking for as much help as I can get.
minimalist phone: creating folders
@seekwhyai Hopefully this mini-article has helped :)
@busmark_w_nika Its great! thanks!
The PH community can absolutely move the needle, but it works best when you've been genuinely active here before launch day - not just showing up to ask for upvotes. The launches I've seen do well had makers who were already known faces in these forums. Curious how your re-launch goes - digital detox is a space where the product almost has to sell itself since your target users are trying to spend less time on screens.
minimalist phone: creating folders
@sai_tharun_kakirala The same goes for any social media. I can see the same pattern on LinkedIn at the moment. :)
@busmark_w_nika 100% agree — LinkedIn is especially noisy right now. I think the key is just being genuine and actually helping people instead of just posting "launch day!" content. Building in public and sharing real numbers/struggles has worked way better for me than any polished marketing post.
Tomosu
Nika, great timing on this! I'm in almost the same boat — launching Tomosu today on PH (an iOS app that locks apps by default for digital wellbeing). Your point about "reach out to founders of similar products" is exactly why I'm here. The tips in this post are gold. Rooting for your re-launch too! 🙌
minimalist phone: creating folders
@nakajima_ryoma Oh, okay :) I am going to have a look :)