You want to get featured on PH. What should you definitely avoid doing?

What is: paying for upvotes for 1200$!

I wish I knew more about this topic. From what I've heard, Product Hunt isn't too transparent about this.

I'll start: Releasing an unfinished product

I heard that spammy self-promotion or trying to game the system is frowned upon and could hurt your chances at getting featured. Better to focus on authentically engaging with the PH community, gathering feedback to improve your product, and having a high-quality offering that people love. Curious what others think too!

Definitely avoid buying upvotes or reviews - it's against PH's guidelines and will get you banned if they catch you. Focus on making an awesome product, building relationships in the community, and promoting through legit channels. Maybe look into some growth hacking techniques or AI tools to help spread the word organically.

Getting featured on **Product Hunt** is a fantastic way to get exposure, but there are some common mistakes that can hurt your chances or undermine your efforts. Here's a list of **things you should definitely avoid doing** if you want to increase your chances of getting featured: ### 1. **Spamming the Community** - **Avoid Over-Promoting Your Product**: Don’t simply bombard the Product Hunt community with repeated self-promotion. Spamming, whether through comments, excessive posts, or unsolicited messages, will only lead to negative reactions. - **Don't Mass Message or DM**: Reaching out to Product Hunt users and asking them to vote for you through direct messages or mass emails can be seen as intrusive and may result in your product being flagged or downvoted. ### 2. **Neglecting to Engage in a Meaningful Way** - **Avoid Passive Participation**: Simply posting your product and then leaving the community won’t get you noticed. Be active in the community, engage in discussions, comment on other launches, and provide valuable feedback. - **Don’t Ignore Comments or Feedback**: After your launch, don’t just ignore comments or feedback from the Product Hunt community. Always reply to feedback, whether it’s positive or negative. Show that you value the input and are actively engaging with your users. ### 3. **Overhyping or Misleading Claims** - **Avoid Unrealistic Promises**: Don’t make exaggerated claims or promises about your product that it can’t live up to. If your product doesn’t meet users' expectations, they’ll quickly lose interest, and it can hurt your credibility. - **Don’t Misrepresent Your Product**: Always be clear and transparent about what your product does. Misleading descriptions, screenshots, or overblown features will cause backlash and can result in your listing being flagged for violating guidelines. ### 4. **Ignoring Product Hunt’s Rules and Guidelines** - **Don’t Violate Community Guidelines**: Familiarize yourself with Product Hunt’s rules and ensure that your listing complies with them. Violating these guidelines can result in your product being removed or not being featured. - **Avoid Using a “Clickbait” Title or Description**: While you want to capture attention, don’t use overly sensational titles or descriptions that could be seen as clickbait. Keep your messaging clear, honest, and focused on your product’s real value. ### 5. **Having a Poor Product Page** - **Avoid Low-Quality Images or Videos**: Your Product Hunt page should feature high-quality images, videos, or demos of your product in action. Poor-quality visuals can give the impression that your product is unfinished or unprofessional. - **Don’t Skip the “What’s the Product” Section**: Be clear about what your product does and how it solves a problem. Avoid leaving sections empty or vague. Product Hunt users appreciate a clear, informative, and concise description. ### 6. **Launching Too Early (Or Too Late)** - **Avoid Premature Launches**: Don’t launch your product on Product Hunt until it’s ready for the public. If your product is not functional or polished, it will likely receive poor reviews, and you’ll lose the trust of potential users. - **Don’t Launch at the Wrong Time**: Timing matters! Avoid launching on weekends or during holidays when engagement might be lower. Launch during a weekday when the community is most active to get the most visibility. ### 7. **Lack of Preparation for Launch Day** - **Avoid Unpreparedness**: Don’t launch without a solid plan in place. Make sure you have a clear strategy for engaging with the community, responding to feedback, and marketing your launch. Being unprepared can cause you to miss opportunities and lead to a less successful launch. - **Don’t Forget to Promote Your Launch**: Simply launching your product on Product Hunt isn’t enough. Be sure to promote your launch across your social media channels, email lists, and other communities to drive traffic and build momentum. ### 8. **Focusing Only on Upvotes** - **Don’t Just Chase Votes**: While upvotes are important, they shouldn’t be your only focus. Product Hunt values meaningful engagement, and the community appreciates genuine interest in the product. Don’t just ask for upvotes—ask for honest feedback and discussion. - **Don’t Buy Upvotes**: Purchasing upvotes or using automated services to inflate your numbers is strictly against Product Hunt’s rules and can lead to your listing being removed. ### 9. **Disregarding User Feedback and Negative Reviews** - **Avoid Being Defensive**: If you receive negative feedback or criticism, don’t react defensively. Instead, thank users for their feedback, acknowledge their concerns, and show that you’re willing to improve the product. - **Don’t Ignore Negative Comments**: Ignoring criticism can make it look like you don’t care about your users’ opinions. Engage with both positive and negative feedback in a respectful and constructive manner. ### 10. **Failing to Follow Up After Launch** - **Don’t Disappear After Launch**: The day of the launch is just the beginning. Keep engaging with users after your launch, update your community on progress, and keep improving based on feedback. A successful Product Hunt launch can be the start of a long-term relationship with users.