What is my Product Hunt launch plan for the tool I prepared? [And how do you approach launching?]
I’m getting closer to launching my tool on Product Hunt, hopefully sometime in the second half of this year.
I currently have a 3-phase launch strategy in mind.
Phase 1 – Free version
This is the launch I’m preparing for now.
I mainly want to introduce SafeLimit to the Product Hunt community, get more traction, collect feedback, and learn what I should improve before moving to the next stage.
Phase 2 – Relaunch with the Pro paid features
The second launch would be a relaunch with Pro features.
This is where I’d introduce paid functionality, so I expect this launch to be more significant.
By then, I should also have more users, feedback, and hopefully some social proof from the first version.
Phase 3 – The bigger vision
And somewhere further down the road, I have a third phase in mind.
A more advanced paid version with significantly more distinctive features designed to help LinkedIn users avoid restrictions.
———
But for now, I’m focusing entirely on Phase 1.
Before launching, I want to do this for Phase 1:
– build a proper landing website
– create a video explainer + carousel onboarding
– get the Chrome Web Store badge (nominate myself)
– reach my first 100 users
– grow social media a little bit
– grow followers on the Product Hunt page
– prepare the launch page and assets
– invite people to support the launch on launch day
– actively use the SafeLimit discussion thread once it is launch done
The goal of this launch isn’t necessarily to make money in this phase. I want to have awareness.
Possibly, I will launch in other directories after PH as well.
Do you have any questions regarding my PH launch plan? Feel free to ask. (It can be a mini AMA session.)
Do you have any special preparation before launching on this platform?
Replies
Tadata
Hi Nika,
sounds like a great plan. We actually had ton of preparation before we launched (and reached #2 this past Sunday).
For us it wasn't just about the assets or the landing page but rallying up our existing users to support and provide helpful feedback and comments so other potential supporters can see how people are using our product. Inviting people to support on launch day can be a double edged sword, because you might spend a lot of time dming people and asking people to come and support but their accounts are newly created and their vote/comment might get flagged.
We wrote a whole blog about it here: https://www.tadata.com/blog/how-to-win-on-product-hunt
@nadav_kaftzan "Congrats on #2 — that's a serious achievement. The point about new accounts getting flagged is one of the most overlooked risks in PH launches.
When you rallied your existing users, did you find that long-time users or recent users were more willing to engage on launch day? And did you give them specific prompts to comment, or leave it open-ended?"
Tadata
@sumonmatrix Thanks !!
It really depends and varies. Some wrote from their authentic experience, some asked us for a blurb - you just need to have a relationship with the users.. in an early stage startup it is actually essential to have a relationship - you can have a slack channel with them, whatsapp, whatever works.
@nadav_kaftzan Congrats on taking #2! 🏆
Good call out on avoiding new account flags, that warning alone saves a lot of first-time makers from getting penalized by the algorithm.
Mind sharing a bit more about the engagement playbook that worked for you?
Specifically:
Where & Which Groups: Were specific communities (like Indie Hackers, Reddit, Slack/Discord groups, or X build-in-public circles) more effective for gathering authentic feedback?
Engagement Timeline: How many weeks before launch did you start warming up these groups to build genuine relationships?
Sustained Push: How far past launch day did you keep the momentum going to secure that top spot?
Tadata
@aruna_polosofttech mostly the PH community right here - kitty points leaders, other launches and slack communities around GTM and sales that we are member of.
we started a month in advance.
We optimized for #1 of the day and it was the last day of the week so what's important for us was the daily ranking and the community building and engagement afterwards (like we do here).
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@nadav_kaftzan Congratulations on the launch day! :) and very good ranking. Have you had users before who came here to support you?
Tadata
@busmark_w_nika Yes, it's part of the playbook. Get your existing users with genuine feedback to warm up their PH accounts and publish their comments before - it was a lesson for us.
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@nadav_kaftzan and did you see any significant growth for your tool usage?
Nika sounds like a good plan. I do think that paid features should be part of initial launch as well. Figuring out how to make people pay for added features when they get hooked up on free version becomes very time consuming.
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@faysal_fateh Well, to be honest, I want to make people first test the product and as soon as they are used to it, I will be presenting in-app purchases within the tool.
Is this phased approach mainly to validate demand first, or do you already have specific milestones that will trigger the Pro relaunch?
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@shivam_kushwaha16 Only get as many testers as possible.
@busmark_w_nika I’d focus on demand validation first, then use clear milestones to trigger the Pro relaunch What milestones are you targeting before moving to Phase 2?
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@shivam_kushwaha16 I want to have stable daily active users: 100 – ideally more, but it will be enough for me to shift the rest :)
RunEvr
@busmark_w_nika I guess you have a very structured plan! =)
But as I told you once, for me almost everything happens in a pretty spontaneous way. So from my experience, I can say it’s great to have a plan, BUT:
After the first launch, the directions can mix up quite chaotically =) So you may have to change some tactics along the way.
I guess growing social media, reaching 100 users, or even growing your followers on the PH page might not have such a big impact on the launch itself.
But the other points you mentioned are definitely necessary.
So, waiting for your first phase! <3
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@adana Thank you! You are right, I should do more things unpolished but I believe it is not my very first time I am launching SafeLimit here :)
I'm interested in the point "grow followers on the Product Hunt page"... What are you doing to do this? And are you growing followers from within Product Hunt or inviting external people to join and engage?
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@you_x_you_i I will probably ask people on LinkedIn who are also on PH and most active people on this platform :)
This is a genuinely well-though structure: phasing free → paid → advanced, with each launch backed by real proof from the one before.
The checklist before Phase 1 is solid too, especially the Chrome Web Store badge and getting to 100 users first, that's real social proof, not manufactured.
Thanks for the post, Nika, it actually made my job easier since I'm prepping my own VAPT product launch for next month.
Everything on your list is doable, but finding a hunter is the one piece I'm stuck on. Any tips on how you're approaching that part?
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@aruna_polosofttech To be honest, I will be hunting myself, but there are many other hunters here.
Have you already build your Phase 2 and 3 features? How defined are those phases for you now?