5 Things I Wish I Knew Before My First Product Hunt Launch
Product Hunt can be a great way to get early traction, but the platform has its own rules. Here's what I learned about how it actually works.
Product Hunt can be a great way to get early traction, but the platform has its own rules. After launching Racoons AI, here's what I learned about how it actually works.
1. Your existing network probably won't help (unless you prepare them)
Product Hunt discounts upvotes from new or inactive accounts. So sharing your launch on LinkedIn or texting friends to upvote won't move the needle unless they're already active PH users. If you want your network to count, get them engaging on the platform days before launch.
2. Find communities where Product Hunt users already hang out
The key to ranking is reaching people who use the platform regularly. Indie Hackers, founder-focused Discord servers, and X/Twitter startup circles tend to have higher concentrations of active PH users than general professional networks.
3. Ship before you're ready
The feedback you get post-launch is more valuable than months of building in isolation. Don't overbake your idea, real user input beats assumptions every time.
4. Study what works
Look at top-performing launches and structure yours similarly. Taglines, visuals, descriptions, people format their posts a certain way for a reason.
5. Treat it as one step, not the destination
A Product Hunt launch is a visibility moment, not a verdict on your product. The real validation comes from users who stick around and keep coming back.
Looking for analytics to understand what happens after launch day? Check out Racoons AI.