Product Hunt Launch
Put your product on Product Hunt for one 24-hour day, with a ready page, a maker comment and a list of people who already know you.
Stage 6 of 10 · from idea to first customer
Launch to your first users
Launch platforms, directories, your own network and niche press: places where early adopters look for new things.
A launch is a series of small pushes to the places where early adopters hang out. Product Hunt, Hacker News, Reddit, startup directories, local meetups and your own contact list each reach a different crowd.
Plan the launch as a week of activity, keep every post honest, and send everyone who arrives to one clear next step.
What you should have at the end of this stage
Your first wave of users from 3 or more channels, with tracking that shows which channel brought the people who stayed.
The 10 methods in this stage
Show HN on Hacker News
Post a working product to Hacker News under Show HN, then spend the day in the thread answering technical questions.
Reddit Launch Post
Tell the story of what you built in subreddits that welcome it, then stay in the comments to turn readers into users.
BetaList Submission
Get your pre-launch or brand-new tech startup featured on BetaList so early adopters join your waitlist or beta.
Startup Directory Submissions
List your product on a short, chosen set of startup and software directories and track which ones send real users.
Build in Public
Share your progress, numbers and lessons in public every week so the people who follow along become your first users.
Referral Waitlist
Run a waitlist where every sign-up gets a personal link and moves up the line when friends join through it.
Warm Network Launch
Send personal messages to people who already know you, each asking for one specific action: try it, buy it or introduce you.
Meetup Demos and Local Events
Show your product live at local meetups, coworking and university events, then follow up with everyone who asked for more.
Niche Press Pitch
Pitch a short, specific story to the newsletters, trade blogs and local papers your customers already read.