Lessons learned from my very first Product Hunt launch

Hi PH Community,

I recently had my very first launch on Product Hunt. Because it was my first time, I was completely inexperienced and honestly didn't do any pre-launch preparation. I actually thought the work was done once the product was finished, and I only started looking for communities to share it with after I hit the launch button.

The biggest lesson I learned from this experience is the absolute importance of pre-launch momentum and community building.

I realized that relying solely on organic discovery right after launching isn't the best strategy. Having a small community, a group of early supporters, or just some built-up interest beforehand seems crucial for creating that initial spark on launch day.

Going forward, I know I need to focus much more on the "preparation" phase rather than just the "building" phase.

Since I want to be better prepared next time, I wanted to ask the experienced makers here:

How do you go about building that initial community or finding early supporters as a solo developer before a launch?

What does your typical "pre-launch prep" look like?

I would love to hear your thoughts, strategies, and any advice you have for a beginner.

Also, if you have some time, I would really appreciate it if you checked out my launch:
https://www.producthunt.com/products/translate-workspace

Thanks!