Section 1 of 7
Start Here
The exact system to run a Product Hunt launch that ships #1 of the day — without an agency, without paid ads, and without begging strangers for upvotes.
Welcome to the PH Launch Playbook
Product Hunt is a 24-hour reputation event. The launches that win aren't the ones with the best product — they're the ones with the best preparation. This playbook is the exact 6-week runway used by makers who consistently land in the top 5.
Read this first
Do not treat launch day as day one. Treat it as day 42. Every hour of prep in the 5 weeks before launch is worth 10 hours of scramble on the day of.
The 6-week timeline
- W-6 → W-4
Foundations
Pick the date. Set up your PH account. Choose (or become) the hunter. Build your inner circle.
- W-4 → W-2
Assets & copy
Tagline, description, first comment, gallery, video demo, promo offer.
- W-2 → W-1
Warm-up
Comment daily on other launches. Publish 'coming soon' page. Line up support DMs.
- W-1
Final rehearsal
Freeze the copy. Test the submission. Brief every teammate on their role hour-by-hour.
- Launch day
Ship + rally
Post at 12:01am PT. Reply within minutes. Rally every hour. Sleep is optional.
- +1 week
Post-launch
Thank everyone. Add the badge. Write the retro. Convert momentum into pipeline.
The 4 pillars of a top-5 launch
01
Distinctive product
It doesn't need to be first, but it must be worth screenshotting. If a stranger can't understand it in 6 seconds, fix the demo, not the copy.
02
Warm audience
300+ people who already know you exist and want you to win — before you launch. Build this in public in the 6 weeks prior.
03
Ruthless copy
40-char product name. 60-char tagline. 500-char description. Every word earns its place. No jargon. Verbs over adjectives.
04
Launch day operating system
A minute-by-minute playbook so your team knows exactly what to post, where, and when — while you focus on replying to comments.