Product Hunt Launch

Optimize your Product Hunt launch with research and visuals.

Listing Specifications

Element Spec Notes

Product name — Keep it short, memorable

Tagline 60 character limit No period at end

Description First 260 chars show in preview Full description can be longer

Gallery images Up to 8 images 1270 x 760 px recommended

Topics Max 3 Pick the most specific ones

Makers Tag all team members They can engage in comments

Link Product URL Where upvoters go

Gallery Images

The First Image Is Everything

The first gallery image shows in the feed, email digest, and social shares. It IS your first impression.

Position Content Goal

1 (Hero) Product in action, core value visible Stop the scroll, communicate what it does

2 Key feature demonstration Show the "aha moment"

3 Before/after or problem/solution Show the transformation

4 Social proof or metrics Build credibility

5 Technical differentiator or integrations For evaluators

Dimensions

• Recommended: 1270 x 760 px (16:9 ish)

• Minimum: 600px wide

• Supports GIF for animated demos

Generating Gallery Images

Use your preferred image generation tool to create gallery images matching these specs:

Image 1: Hero product shot

• Prompt: "modern SaaS product showcase, clean dashboard interface floating above gradient background, UI showing analytics charts and metrics, professional product marketing style, soft shadows, blue and white color scheme, wide format"

• Dimensions: 1248 x 832 px

Image 2: Feature demo

• Prompt: "product feature showcase, split screen showing drag-and-drop interface on left and generated output on right, clean UI design, modern SaaS aesthetic, subtle grid background, professional marketing"

• Dimensions: 1248 x 832 px

Image 3: Before/after

• Create a side-by-side comparison showing the problem state and solution state

• Use design tools like Figma or image editing software

Image 4: Social proof / metrics

• Prompt: "clean infographic style image showing upward growth metrics, large numbers and charts on dark background, professional data visualization, startup metrics dashboard style, modern minimal design"

• Dimensions: 1248 x 832 px

Recommended tools: Midjourney, DALL-E, Figma, Adobe Express, or your preferred design/image generation platform.

Tagline

60 characters. No period. Must communicate what the product does AND why someone should care.

Formulas That Work

Formula Example

[Action] for [audience] "AI writing assistant for developers"

[Result] without [pain] "Beautiful docs without the design skills"

[Tool] that [benefit] "Analytics that explain themselves"

[Adjective] [category] "Instant customer feedback surveys"

The [category] for [niche] "The Figma for data visualization"

Examples

❌ "The best project management tool ever created" (superlative, 52 chars) ❌ "We help you manage projects better." (vague, has period, 37 chars) ❌ "AI-powered machine learning project management SaaS" (buzzword soup)

✅ "Ship docs in minutes, not days" (31 chars) ✅ "AI turns your data into stories" (32 chars) ✅ "The open-source Calendly alternative" (37 chars)

Timing

When to Launch

Factor Recommendation

Day Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday (highest traffic)

Time 12:01 AM PT (Pacific Time) — start of the PH day

Avoid Weekends, holidays, major Apple/Google events

Duration PH day = midnight PT to midnight PT

Why 12:01 AM PT

• Maximum time in the running for daily top spot

• Accumulate upvotes throughout the full day

• Morning email digest (US time) includes your product

• Allows engagement across all US time zones

Maker Comment

Post within 5 minutes of going live. This is your pitch.

Structure

Hey Product Hunt! 👋

[1 sentence: what it is]

[2-3 sentences: why you built it / the problem you noticed]

[1-2 sentences: how it works / key differentiator]

[1 sentence: what's next / what you're looking for]

Would love to hear your thoughts — happy to answer any questions!

Example

Hey Product Hunt!

DataFlow turns raw SQL queries into visual dashboards in seconds.

As a data engineer, I was frustrated spending more time formatting reports than actually analyzing data. Every BI tool I tried required a PhD in their configuration. So I built DataFlow — paste your SQL, get a dashboard.

It auto-detects chart types, handles large datasets, and exports to PDF/PNG with one click.

We're offering 50% off the first year for PH users. Would love your feedback — what reporting pain points do you have?

Launch Day Playbook

Before Launch (1-2 weeks)

• Gallery images finalized (5 recommended)

• Tagline tested with 5+ people (do they understand what it does?)

• Maker comment drafted and proofread

• Landing page with PH badge ready

• Early supporter list ready (people who want to check it out)

• Social media announcement posts drafted

Launch Day Timeline

Time (PT) Action

12:01 AM Product goes live, post maker comment immediately

12:15 AM Share on personal social media

6:00 AM First engagement check — reply to all comments

9:00 AM Share in relevant communities (naturally, not spammy)

12:00 PM Mid-day check — reply to all new comments

3:00 PM Share any early traction or interesting feedback

6:00 PM Evening engagement — reply to remaining comments

11:59 PM Day ends — results are final

Engagement Rules

• Reply to every comment — makers who engage get more visibility

• Ask questions back — creates conversation threads

• Be genuine — don't use canned responses

• Never ask for upvotes — against PH terms of service

• Share the link naturally — "Check it out at [url]" not "Please upvote"

Research for Preparation

Research competitor launches and community sentiment using web search tools:

• Study similar product launches on Product Hunt

• Analyze the competitive landscape for your category

• Review community sentiment and maker advice from recent launches

• Look for patterns in what works and what doesn't

Post-Launch

When Action

Day 1-3 Reply to all remaining comments, thank supporters

Week 1 Publish a "lessons learned" blog post / Twitter thread

Week 2 Follow up with interested users from comments

Month 1 Check if you're eligible for "Product of the Week/Month"

Common Mistakes

Mistake Problem Fix

Launching on Friday/weekend Low traffic, wasted launch Tue-Thu only

Launching at noon Half the day already gone 12:01 AM PT

No maker comment Looks abandoned Post within 5 minutes

Asking for upvotes Against TOS, can get flagged Share naturally, let product speak

Generic gallery images Doesn't show the product Show real UI, real features

Not replying to comments Low engagement signal Reply to every single comment

Too many topics Dilutes discoverability Max 3, pick the most specific

Tagline with buzzwords Nobody knows what you do Clear, specific, benefit-focused