Guide: Product Hunt Launch Checklist (2026 Updated)
last updated: Jan 27, 2026
You have built the product, but the distribution engine is cold. This guide removes the panic of "what did I forget" by providing a strict, chronological execution plan for the current algorithm.
TL;DR
A Product Hunt launch checklist is a chronological schedule of tasks required to maximize visibility on launch day. It ensures technical setup and community mobilization align with the 12:01 AM PST start time.
The Cheat Code:
The Cheat Code:
- Benchmark: Aim for a 20–30% comment-to-upvote ratio (e.g., 500 upvotes should have 100–150 meaningful comments).
- Rule: Do not buy upvotes. The 2025 algorithm flags sudden spikes without corresponding engagement depth.
- Warning: Launching at the wrong timezone (e.g., 9 AM EST) cuts your exposure window by 30–40%.
- How to read this: This is a timeline. Follow it chronologically.
Glossary
- Hunter: A community member with posting privileges who lists your product. In 2025, their impact is lower than previous years, but they still offer a trust signal. [Source: Product Hunt Help].
- Maker Comment: The first comment on the launch page written by you. It must explain the "why" and encourage discussion, not just pitch features.
- Engagement Depth: The new ranking factor. A thread of replies is weighted heavier than a single "Great job!" comment.
The Asset
Follow this timeline strictly. The 2025 algorithm changes require you to prioritize conversation over raw vote counts.
Phase 1: 4 Weeks Out (Asset & Strategy Prep)
Phase 2: 1 Week Out (Warmup)
Phase 3: 24 Hours Before (The Danger Zone)
Phase 4: Launch Day (Hourly Rhythm)
Phase 1: 4 Weeks Out (Asset & Strategy Prep)
- Define Goal: Is this for traffic, leads, or SEO backlinks?
- Asset Creation:
- Thumbnail: Animated GIF (240x240). Real UI usage works better than abstract logos.
- Gallery: 3–5 screenshots (1270x760). Annotate them. Users don't read; they scan.
- Video: 60–90 seconds max. No cinematic fluff. Show the problem, then the solution.
- Copywriting: Draft your tagline (60 chars) and description. Focus on value, not features.
- Coming Soon Page: Create a teaser page on Product Hunt to collect subscribers early.
- Review Strategy: Read my guide on product hunt launch strategy to align your messaging.
Phase 2: 1 Week Out (Warmup)
- Email Drip: Schedule a "Coming Soon" email to your existing user base.
- Social Tease: Post a "Building in public" update on X/LinkedIn.
- Hunter Lock: If you are using a Hunter, confirm the date and time.
- Support Crew: Build a list of 20–30 friends/colleagues. DM them personally. Ask for support, not just upvotes.
- Templates: If you are stuck on visuals, review product hunt featured templates for inspiration.
Phase 3: 24 Hours Before (The Danger Zone)
- Scheduling: Schedule the launch for 12:01 AM PST. Double-check the timezone conversion.
- Maker Comment: Write this now. Have it ready to paste immediately.
- Social Posts: Schedule tweets/LinkedIn posts to go live at 12:30 AM PST, 4:00 AM PST, and 9:00 AM PST.
- Emergency Check: Ensure your website server can handle 2–3x normal load.
Phase 4: Launch Day (Hourly Rhythm)
- 00:00 – 01:00 PST (The Golden Hour):
- Post goes live.
- Post the Maker Comment immediately.
- Ping your internal team (Slack/Discord) to engage.
- Goal: Get into the "Featured" section within 60 minutes.
- 01:00 – 04:00 PST (Europe Wakes Up):
- Reply to every comment within 5–10 minutes.
- Ask follow-up questions to create thread depth (Algorithm boost).
- 06:00 – 09:00 PST (US East Coast):
- Send the email blast to your user base.
- Post on LinkedIn/X.
- 09:00 – 12:00 PST (US West Coast):
- This is peak traffic. Stay glued to the comments section.
- Update your social media with "We are trending at #X" screenshots.
Benchmarks
Do not fly blind. Here is what success looks like mathematically for a standard B2B SaaS launch.
Sample Math:
If you send 1,000 emails to your waitlist with a 25% Open Rate, you get 250 openers. If 40% click through to help, that is 100 initial upvotes. To hit the Top 5 (800+ upvotes), you need an external factor of 8x your internal push. This is why "Launch Day" community engagement is critical—you cannot rely solely on your own list unless it is massive.
- Top 5 Finish: Requires 800–1,200 upvotes and 150–250 comments.
- Traffic Volume: Expect 1,500–3,000 unique visitors on launch day if you rank in the Top 5.
- Conversion Rate: Visitor-to-Lead conversion usually hovers between 3–5% for cold traffic.
Sample Math:
If you send 1,000 emails to your waitlist with a 25% Open Rate, you get 250 openers. If 40% click through to help, that is 100 initial upvotes. To hit the Top 5 (800+ upvotes), you need an external factor of 8x your internal push. This is why "Launch Day" community engagement is critical—you cannot rely solely on your own list unless it is massive.
Product Hunt vs Hacker News
Choosing the right platform is as important as the checklist itself. They are not interchangeable.
Read the full breakdown in product hunt vs hacker news to decide where to focus your energy.
- Product Hunt: Visual, supportive, and commercial. Best for SaaS, design tools, and mobile apps. The community wants you to succeed.
- Hacker News: Text-heavy, technical, and brutal. Best for dev tools, open source, and deep tech. The community will tear apart marketing fluff.
Read the full breakdown in product hunt vs hacker news to decide where to focus your energy.
Risks
Even with a perfect checklist, these single points of failure can tank your launch:
- Timezone Failure: Launching at 8:00 AM PST instead of 12:01 AM PST loses you the 8 most critical hours of vote accumulation. You will never catch up to the leaders.
- Server Crash: If your site goes down during the "Golden Hour" (00:00 – 01:00 PST), Product Hunt may de-rank you for poor user experience.
- Bot Flags: Buying votes on Fiverr is an instant death sentence. The algorithm detects velocity spikes that don't match referral traffic patterns.
Conclusion
Will a perfect checklist actually get you to $10k MRR? No.
Mastering this checklist ensures you don't trip over your own shoelaces, but it doesn't guarantee the race. You can secure the "#1 Product of the Day" badge and still see zero impact on your bank account if the underlying offer is weak. This guide protects you from technical failure, not market rejection. Tactics without strategy is just noise; are you sure you have the retention mechanics to hold the users you are about to acquire?
Mastering this checklist ensures you don't trip over your own shoelaces, but it doesn't guarantee the race. You can secure the "#1 Product of the Day" badge and still see zero impact on your bank account if the underlying offer is weak. This guide protects you from technical failure, not market rejection. Tactics without strategy is just noise; are you sure you have the retention mechanics to hold the users you are about to acquire?
FAQ
- You:What is the most critical time to launch?Guide:Always schedule your launch for 12:01 AM PST. The Product Hunt leaderboard resets at midnight PST. Launching then gives you the full 24-hour cycle to accrue votes and engagement. Launching later handicaps your total exposure time.
- You:Do I need a top-tier Hunter to launch?Guide:Not anymore. While a Hunter with a large following used to be critical, the 2025 algorithm prioritizes the product's engagement velocity over who submitted it. You can "hunt" your own product successfully if your initial community push is strong.
No-BS guides
📉 Avg founder's probability: 12%
What if your startup is doomed to fail? ò_ô
You spent 5 minutes reading about tactics. Don't leave without checking if your current strategy can get you to $10K MRR in the next 90 days.