Product Hunt launches – Overrated or Underrated?

The PH launch can help in many ways: 🥇 When you win the game, you have more credibility. 💰 You can have more exposure, awareness and first-paid customers. 🔗 You can build backlinks over there. On the other hand, many of us were disappointed because: 🙁 You prepared so hard but weren't featured. ⬇️ Overwhelmed by competition that didn't have to use honest methods. In general, how do you perceive the PH launch? Does the preparation overweigh the outcome or vice versa? Is it worth it?

Replies

Amit Arora
The Action Tracker - Life Planner
@busmark_w_nika Nika, how has been your experience about launches on PH? what do you see as the pros and cons?
Share
CY Zhou
Product Hunt launches can be a game-changer if executed well, offering significant visibility and user feedback. However, without a solid strategy, they can easily be overrated and fail to deliver long-term value.
Share
Sarah Mooney
I feel like launching has become so much more stressful.
Share
Tymek Zapała
I'm looking forward to my first launch and what it brings to my product. I try to not be overly optimistic about it. I like the platform in general - I like the daily dose of inspiration when browsing launching products, I like the brainstorming on discussions. So even if it won't affect my product greatly the launch will be worth it for me :)
Share
Kostya Bolshukhin
It doesn't work for everyone, but worth trying! Folks from Midday had an awesome numbers with their launch https://x.com/pontusab/status/18... "We're happy to announce the success of our first @middayai ProductHunt launch! The results: ◆ #2 Product of the Day 🚀 ◆ 699 upvotes ⬆️ ◆ 253 comments 💬 ◆ 237 new customers"
Share
mjkabir
Comment Deleted
Share
mjkabir
Comment Deleted
Share
Eric_Jin
BrainyAI
BrainyAI
Launching soon!
It’s hard to find a truly free and vibrant platform like Product Hunt, where you can promote your products and meet many innovative people. I believe it’s very important to learn to manage expectations and we shouldn’t expect too much from the results. At the very least, Product Hunt can bring a significant amount of traffic and introduce our new product to many people. Remember our first product launched 2 years ago. We didn’t make many preparations but still got more traffic than other platforms. Our new product will be launched next week. This time, we’ve made more preparations than last time, hoping to gain more support and feedback.
Share
Hakim Zerhouni
I think a PH launch is underrated. For me, the exposure and credibility gained are invaluable, even if the launch doesn't go perfectly. The preparation effort is definitely worth the potential outcomes.
Share
Christoph Dyllick-Brenzinger
The popularity of Product Hunt is well-deserved. Product Hunt helps promote your new and unknown product to an enthusiastic community. That’s the positive perspective! From a neutral standpoint, Product Hunt needs to generate revenue. Running such a platform isn’t free, and currently, I haven't noticed any advertisements on the website itself (beside from their own promotion ads) However, from a negative viewpoint, Product Hunt must be cautious not to become a platform where products that pay the most money, either to well-established hunters or through special promotion ads provided by Product Hunt, are the ones that get rewarded with "Product of the Day." I will launch in a few days, and I’ve decided not to buy any "help" from either side. I am quite active on LinkedIn and Product Hunt, and I have also informed all my current customers to support me on launch day, July 15th. Let's see how far I can get... Wish me luck!
Share
Toni
I think that people tend to have a biased vision of the benefits of PH launches nowadays. And often expect to have a huge boost in sign ups and new paid customers upon launch. But like you say it's more about visibility, credibility I have seen makers deceived by the results because they didn't get a significant bump in revenue and customers. But didn't leverage all the exposure they had upon launch, the feedback they had to improve their product, or the credibility to reach out to other media and keep the momentum going. PH launch shouldn't be seen as an end goal, but as a milestone to grow your product
Share
Tymek Zapała
@toni_pm @busmark_w_nika Totally agree! Are you active on other places like ProductHunt that serves similiar purpose - build visibility and credibility?
Share
Toni
@busmark_w_nika i know right ?! 😅 Like I tell everyone who comes to me for advisory : launch is actually where it begins !!! (even though you're exhausted from all the preparation ihihhihi)
Share
Toni
@busmark_w_nika @tymzap to keep momentum going, you can submit your tool to app directories to get visibility et credibility longer. And of course social media
Share
Andreas Sohns
It really depends. Successful PH launch can boost credibility and exposure but it takes a lot of effort and isn't always guaranteed.
Share
Charlotte Allen
From my experience, the effort you put into a PH launch can definitely pay off, but only if you have a solid post-launch plan.
Share
Sahil🎧⚛️
Although I am still trying to find my way around the app but i think it's more about the feedback than the actual launch and that's definitely worth it for the growth. I am going to be launching soon but before that I hope I get constructive feedback so that I can improve :)
Share
Sahil🎧⚛️
@busmark_w_nika so currently i am planning for 14th , but i want to get some users before my launch and clean my app as much as possible
Share
Daniel Zaitzow
Overrated if you're looking for them to translate into sales but underrated if you're just looking for increased visibility / another marketing avenue.
Share
Kelly Nguyen
I think the Product Hunt platform itself is underrated but the whole launch and medal system is overrated. If you are a 10/10 product and does nothing in marketing you're likely to be beaten by the top three 5/10 products that use tons of money on ads and publication.
Share
Sequoia One
It is obviously urgent to improve the visibility of your app in the app store. My suggestion is not to use sequone.com, because the service of this website is completely free.
Share
Sequoia One
@busmark_w_nika Trust me, you will try, aso determines whether you can reach the height you want, I am an expert in this field
Share
Sequoia One
@busmark_w_nika This is my work email: lebron@jiqiwuyu.ntesmail.com. You are welcome to discuss ASO at any time.
Share
Michael Pell
Real Mock Interviews
It takes time to understand the platform and to invest in it It's not once and done - I believe, you'll only really get anything from PH once you spend some time here and invest in it For instance, I launched 4 days ago yet I still keep getting some traffic
Share
Michael Pell
Real Mock Interviews
@busmark_w_nika early stage - have a few users/customers but just at the very beginning of the customer acquisition journey
Share
Salar Davari
Could say both. Some are overrated and others are underrated. I wish there was some sort of limit in how many products one can upvote in one day. That way I guess, we would see a fairer standing of the products at the end of the day.
Share
Luca
I’ve been reading through this discussion and for me, yet to launch my first product it’s mixed feelings. I hope to launch soon (end July) What would be the best things I can do to “prepare” as people have been mentioning above. I of course would like to get the most visibility possible. My product is a productivity system to help people become more productive, organised and achieve goals without the burnout and stress. So for me my biggest goal is to help as many people do exactly that. Any tips or help would be so appreciated. Thank you 🙏
Share
Luca
@busmark_w_nika thanks very much. Any tips on what productivity groups I should target?
Share