When is the right time to launch on Product Hunt?
Because building products has become much more accessible thanks to AI, the bar has had to rise a bit, or at least the expectations have become stricter.
I built my own tool – SafeLimit, but personally, I wouldn’t launch it on Product Hunt yet because it’s still very basic and doesn’t even have a website. 😀
Personally, I wouldn’t use Product Hunt only to validate an idea or a problem anymore.
I would feel ready to launch once I reached these points:
– the product works with its core features (it doesn't break)
– it has been properly tested by developers, UX/UI testers, and a few potential users (with bugs fixed)
– it has its own landing page explaining the product
– it already has a version with payments integrated
– it follows Product Hunt’s launch and community guidelines (novelty, uniqueness, etc.)
– it has a small but engaged user base that can support the launch with comments or reviews (social proof)
When would you personally feel ready to launch on Product Hunt?
What would be your minimum requirements?
Replies
Interesting...... I've also launched my product yesterday
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@xauhail How did it go?
@busmark_w_nika Yeah, it’s going pretty well so far! 😄 I’m still pretty new to Product Hunt/launching products, so I’d love to hear any marketing tips you have. How did you get your first users and traction? My product is rankbuy.lol
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@xauhail To be honest, I tried first to ask for trying it out and collect feedback + ask for good reviews from target audience (and ideally someone who is well known) – because it is more likely earning the credit :)
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Inventory
I am always confused, people suggest launch with first MVP and then iterate over or just build the first great product ?
I believe in initial MVP and that's the same strategy i followed for my today's first iOS app launch, its difficult category to tap in but i had a cool idea and i tried building and releasing inital version. Let's see how is the response and then iterate over
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@xshahneil Okay, first, define MVP. What does it mean? Because I personally see MVP as something that solves the problem and works. In my case, it is already done. But I still wanna polish something, e.g. add pricing so I can see whether it converts.
Inventory
@busmark_w_nika
Yes exactly,
for my today's launche Multi intial idea was to have an app that solves my expense tracking, habit and reminders, to-do all in one. As i used to have different apps for different things.
So i built that solves that problem.
On top of it, i am now working on some design changes, utlizing apple on-device foundation models and more to make it an outlier product along with working on demo videos, nice app store screenshots
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@xshahneil Do you have any data on which of these 4 things people are using most? (expense, habits, reminders, to-do)
I am gonna support your launch! :)
Inventory
@busmark_w_nika
Yes, to-do is the highest followed by habit tracking, then expense and reminders are the last
Thought we ready after fixing core bug. Reverted code and test still passed). Test never checked that bug at all. Launch when validation actualy breaks if core premise fails, not when green light never tested reality
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@konstantin_tikhaev how many bugs did you have? I think that the most serious are those that put users into the risk (of leaking their data) + when the payment option doesn't work as well of course.
@busmark_w_nika just three at the time. the bug count was not the issue. our automated suite was 'green' while the core funcionality was broken
Softorino 💻📲
I picked a Sunday for this weekend, which most people tell me is a mistake. The logic is that fewer eyeballs also means fewer funded launches soaking up the top spots, so a small free tool actually gets a shot at ranking. Has anyone here run the same product on a weekday and a weekend and compared the finish?
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@yelyzaveta_kibets One tip – try to alert people in advance because some use LinkedIn only during the work week because it requires their work :)
Softorino 💻📲
@busmark_w_nika That is exactly why my LinkedIn heads up goes out Thursday rather than Sunday morning, the weekday crowd needs the warning while they are still at a desk. Good catch.
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@yelyzaveta_kibets I have my fingers crossed, then DM me on the launch day :)
Softorino 💻📲
@busmark_w_nika Deal, you will hear from me Sunday. Your timing point did not change the date but it did change when the warning goes out, so thanks for that.
This is a good point. I’d probably avoid launching just for validation and make sure the product is genuinely ready first. I’m taking a similar approach with my Chrome extension, Hide Shorts, Reels & Stories—I’m preparing the Pro version first, making sure the core experience and payments are solid, then planning a Product Hunt launch once there’s a real user base and some feedback behind it.
For me, Product Hunt would be more about introducing the polished product and getting meaningful feedback than simply testing whether the idea works.
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@ibrahimriaz will the product work only for Instagram? Or what platforms are included?
@busmark_w_nika Yes Hide Shorts, Reels, Stories & Sponsored – YouTube, Facebook & Instagram works properly on facebook, instagram, youtube.
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@ibrahimriaz What did you use for hiding Facebook shorts? I thought that they cannot enable access to this option.
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@ibrahimriaz Did you release it in the Chrome web shop aleady?
I think you already did a great job with this post.
1 month later, 559 comments, 612 upvotes.
And people are still viewing it.
Your tool came in clutch - I was gonna build a similar tool for LinkedIn so thank you!
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@kevintayong Cool, are you also facing restrictions?
@busmark_w_nika no but I wanted a simple way to track my LinkedIn activity. more like a goal tracker.
comment X times per day, send X DMs per day, send X connection requests per day.
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@kevintayong But X has quite huge limits or?
Hello Nika :3
I'm also a marketer of IT company who's gonna plan to launch service on Product Hunt soon, so thoroughly can feel what you're worrying about. 😂
I've got lots of helpful insights here, and maybe I'd upload a post as you do haha.
Anyway, wish success to your product and thank you for uploading post and sharing informations!!
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@marketer_kim You are welcome! :) When do you plan the launch? :)
@busmark_w_nika The developer in my team is planning to launch during next week, but idk .. the contents are not ready yet for PH launching page and etc .. It's just an wishful thinking in my opinion. haha
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@marketer_kim then feel free to DM m on LinkedIn, so I can support your launch :)
@busmark_w_nika Omg you are so sweet!! I'll send you a request rn under Chaeeun Kim. thx a lot!
When the product works to the extent that I like using it. Doesn't need to be perfect, but just good enough to be useful.
Most people are tired of vibe-coded stuff, so there needs to be some "substance" to the product; otherwise, it's hard to get people to care.
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@maxrohowsky I would say that distribution, story and maybe some kind of "exotic" stuff people convince :D
I have recently launched my own idea product on product hunt and found that without paid marketing it will not goes up to users. For that I don't know about what is problem in product hunt algorithms to provide atleast better visibility about great products to traffics or product hunt makers to decide actually which idea needs better attractions.
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@nikunj_kothiya Did you want to pay for ads in terms of promoting your Product Hunt launch?
@busmark_w_nika I do not want any paid promotion because I know my product has capability to attract users. But somehow I am at starting phase where I am expecting some boosting from product hunt at initial level.
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@nikunj_kothiya When will be the launch?
@busmark_w_nika Already Launched. You can see inside my profile product as Monument Patron where you also found live url.
"Tbh @Nika, I think your checklist is solid, but I'd swap 'small engaged user base' for 'clarity on the main pain point.' I've seen super polished products get ignored because the headline was vague. Meanwhile, ugly MVP's that scream 'fixes X problem' do well. People forgive rough edges if the promise is loud and clear. What's your take on that?"
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@Nika @sumonmatrix I think that it is not a matter only of the headline but of the logo too :) And the naming as well :) I, for example, like good copywriting :)
@Nika "Great point, Nika! Logo and naming definitely fly under the radar sometimes. I’ve seen products with average UI but really clever copy totally outshine others with slick design but confusing messaging. Curious — do you have any favorite examples where the name alone made a product stand out? Also, do you write your own copy or work with someone? Asking for a friend who’s gearing up to launch soon 😄"
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@Nika @sumonmatrix I am writing my copy on my own, sometimes having a brainstorming with AI, but the final decision whether I will use it is on me! :D
@Nika @busmark_w_nika "I do the same — AI for drafts, but I always rewrite the first sentence myself. Something about that first line sets the tone. Do you also find yourself tweaking the opening more than the rest?"