What type of video actually works on a Product Hunt launch?
by•
I get asked this a lot. And honestly there's no single answer.
Most launches go with:
product demos
animated explainer videos
a founder on Loom walking through a specific use case
Personally I'm a bigger fan of the Loom format. It feels human. It creates a connection that polished animations rarely do. But that's also the exception most top launches still go with clean product demos.
What's your take. Does the video type actually influence your upvote decision?
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I appreciate it when we can see the founder speaking in the video, in any format. Honestly, I would have loved to see these products being pushed against huge companies like OpenAI and Google...I believe that this products should have their own category.
@bengeekly Oh, yes. There’s no way to compare such products with something from Google. It’s more than absurd. It’s really a good idea to observe them in a separate category.
I was also wondering this!
We spent a lot of time figuring out the right video format for PostGod, and we ended up using just static formats in the end because nothing felt right. We're launching today, so there's not much we can change at this point 😅
I think it depends on the product and the team as well - I also prefer the Loom format, but because it's rare to nail it on your first try, you might end up spending a lot of time on this.
The video, however, doesn't really influence my upvoting decision. If the static images explain the product well enough, it's perfect for me!
@ruxandra_mazilu Actually, yes. Sometimes that’s the less clear part which format is more suitable for your product. But if you’re a founder who likes to speak, I think that’s a good option. There are some people who are so good in front of the camera that it would be a shame if it wasn’t them and it was just a simple product demo instead.
Would you share your product? Curious to see it.
@byalexai oh, I think I missed this comment - super sorry for the late answer!
For sure, if you're a founder who feels good in front of the camera, video is the way to go. But, that doesn't work for anyone - when a founder doesn't feel comfortable in front of the camera, it will most probably be visible for the viewer as well 😅
I'm building PostGod, a personal branding tool for LinkedIn. It's great for people who want to start posting on LinkedIn with their foundations well set - PostGod helps you define the ICP, content pillars, tone of voice, and general content strategy. When the profile is created, the tool helps you draft LinkedIn posts that sound like you, not like everyone's AI-generated posts. It uses the process agencies, and ghostwriters follow to ensure the posts have your vibe and work for your goals.
(if you want to test it, you can use the code PRODUCTHUNTERS for 50% off for the first month - we launched the product this week and celebrated with this code)
minimalist phone: creating folders
I mostly like straightforward videos: You just show how it works and how it helps to save cost or time. Ideally up to 2 minutes :)
@busmark_w_nika could you share an example from today's launches?
minimalist phone: creating folders
@byalexai To be honest, today is not the best day to show any, because most of the launches used only graphic designs, not videos, the closest one is this one, but not completely what I think: https://www.producthunt.com/products/mooon
I remember there was once a launch of a tool for creating music. There wasn't a single word, but the story was narrated the way you could get it in the first 30 – 40 seconds. I remember that the video was materpiece to me.
I believe from the moderator's perspective, demos allow them to understand your product without actually signing up and trying it. The main goal of the video is to figure the product is real, not vaporware.
For users visiting the launch post, it's their primary way to demo the product without signing up, they get a clear look at the interface, user experience, and what to expect.
Videos can take several forms depending on your aim:
Step-by-step walkthrough: Use an interactive demo for hands-on exploration.
Loom-style screen recording: Casual, real-time demo of the product in action.
Explainer with motion graphics: Animated breakdown of features and benefits.
Product ad: Short, punchy TV-style teaser to hook viewers.
Founder story: You on camera explaining what it is, why it's unique, and who it's for.
These formats cover most effective options I've seen for launches.
The video doesn't really sway my upvote decision, but it does influence whether I sign up or buy. If something's unclear, I'll ask in the comments or highlight what stands out if I like it.
Not to mention, video is an optional field when submitting a product for launch; nice to have, not a must-have. Still, I recommend including one so people can see how it works without signing up.
TinyCommand
For me, the type of video doesn’t really influence my upvote decision. What matters is that I can quickly understand how the product actually works.
I usually skip launches that only have animations or high-level explainers but don’t show the product in action. I want to see the interface and a real use case.
For TinyCommand, we went with a straightforward demo-style video that walks through a specific use case and shows how the product works. Nothing fancy, just a clear demonstration.