Why You Need a Launch Checklist
Most Product Hunt launches fail not because of a bad product, but because of missed details. You forget to set your timezone, your gallery images are the wrong size, your first comment has a typo, or you don't share on social media until noon.
A checklist fixes this. It turns a high-stakes, chaotic day into a systematic process you can follow even when you're nervous. Here's the complete checklist, organized by phase.
Pre-Launch Checklist (7–3 Days Before)
- ☐ Choose your launch date: Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Check for competing launches.
- ☐ Schedule the launch: Go to producthunt.com/posts/new, fill in details, and schedule for 12:01 AM PST.
- ☐ Write 5 tagline variations: Each ≤60 characters. Benefit-driven, specific, simple.
- ☐ Write your description: ≤500 characters. Problem → Solution → CTA format.
- ☐ Write your first comment: 150-300 words. Personal story, not a sales pitch. End with a question.
- ☐ Design gallery images: 4-6 slides at 1270×760px. Hero → Problem → Solution → Features → Proof → CTA.
- ☐ Select 3 topics: Choose the most relevant topics for your product category.
- ☐ Prepare FAQ answers: 3-5 common questions with clear, concise answers.
- ☐ Draft your Twitter/X launch thread: 5-7 tweets following the Hook → Story → CTA structure.
- ☐ Draft your LinkedIn post: 150-250 words, professional but authentic tone.
- ☐ Draft Reddit posts: 2 posts each for 3-5 relevant subreddits. Tailor to each community.
- ☐ Prepare a hunter outreach DM: Short, personal, and specific about why your product matters.
- ☐ Test your product URL: Make sure your landing page loads fast and works on mobile.
Launch Day Checklist (The Day)
- ☐ 12:01 AM PST: Verify your launch went live. Check your Product Hunt page.
- ☐ Post your first comment: Do this immediately. It gets pinned at the top.
- ☐ Share with close network: DM 10-15 friends and supporters with a direct link. Don't ask for upvotes — ask for feedback.
- ☐ 7-8 AM PST: Publish your Twitter/X launch thread.
- ☐ 8-9 AM PST: Publish your LinkedIn announcement post.
- ☐ 9-10 AM PST: Post on Reddit in 2-3 of your chosen subreddits.
- ☐ Every 30 minutes: Check Product Hunt comments and reply to each one. Engagement drives ranking.
- ☐ Midday: Share a progress update on Twitter/X (e.g., "We're #3 on Product Hunt! Thanks for the support!").
- ☐ Afternoon: Post on remaining subreddits and any Slack/Discord communities.
- ☐ Evening: Thank everyone who supported you. Share final ranking.
Post-Launch Checklist (Days 2–7)
- ☐ Follow up with commenters: Anyone who asked a question or left feedback deserves a response.
- ☐ Respond to Reddit comments: Keep the conversation alive for 48-72 hours.
- ☐ Analyze traffic data: Check which channels drove the most signups and conversions.
- ☐ Publish a "launch recap" post: Share learnings on Twitter/X and LinkedIn. These posts often go viral.
- ☐ Collect testimonials: Reach out to early users for quotes you can use in marketing.
- ☐ Send a thank-you to your hunter (if applicable): Build the relationship for future launches.
- ☐ Update your landing page: Add "Featured on Product Hunt" badge and any social proof from launch day.
Skip the Checklist — Generate Everything in 5 Minutes
This checklist has 30+ items, and the most time-consuming ones are the writing tasks: taglines, descriptions, first comments, social posts, Reddit drafts, and gallery images.
OneClickLaunch generates all of the copy and images from this checklist in one click. You paste your URL, and the tool produces everything from the pre-launch section — taglines, description, first comment, gallery images, Twitter thread, LinkedIn post, Reddit drafts, FAQ, and DM templates.
Instead of spending 6 hours on step 3 through step 12, you spend 5 minutes.