Most founders treat their Product Hunt 'Ship' page like a "Field of Dreams"—they build it and assume users will come. They won't. You need to drag them there with copy that converts your existing network into a waiting list of buyers. This guide provides the exact scripts to fix that.

Product Hunt 'Ship' pre-launch scripts are template-based messages designed to convert social traffic, cold DMs, and email lists into waitlist subscribers. You are validating intent, not just collecting emails.

Key Bullets:

• Benchmark: Aim for a 6-12% conversion rate on warm traffic.
• Rule: Never drop a naked link. Always wrap it in a problem-aware hook.
• Warning: Generic "check us out" messages have a <1% response rate.

Use these three scripts to populate your funnel. Do not use them verbatim without replacing the [Placeholders].

1. Social Teaser
Use this for LinkedIn or X (Twitter). The goal is to drive clicks to your Ship page by creating a "gap" in knowledge.

Subject: I’m building something to fix [Specific Pain Point]

I’ve spent the last [Time Period] frustrated with how hard it is to [Action User Wants to Take].

Most tools out there focus on [Competitor Feature], but they completely ignore [Core Problem].

So I decided to build the solution I needed.

It’s called [Product Name]. It helps [Target Audience] achieve [Specific Outcome] without [Common Annoyance].

I’m opening up a private waitlist on Product Hunt today.

If you want early access (and a discount on launch day), grab your spot here:

[Link to Ship Page]

Building this in public, so roast me in the comments if you think I'm crazy.

2. Cold DM Invite
Use this for high-value targets. This is not a sales pitch. It is an ask for "feedback" that sneakily converts them into a user. Note: Cold outreach typically yields a 5–8% reply rate, so personalization is non-negotiable.

Hey [First Name],

I saw your recent post about [Topic Relevant to Your Product] and loved your take on [Specific Point They Made].

I’m currently building a tool called [Product Name] that tackles that exact issue, specifically for [Job Title/Role].

I’m not trying to sell you anything. I’d genuinely love your brutal feedback on our pre-launch page. I trust your taste more than the average user.

Here is the draft: [Link to Ship Page]

No pressure at all, but if you do sign up, I’ll make sure you get a free [Premium Feature] when we go live.

Best,

[Your Name]

3. Newsletter Blurb
Insert this into your existing company newsletter or personal weekly update.

** One small thing I'm working on... **

You know I usually write about [Newsletter Topic], but I’ve been quietly working on a side project to solve [Problem].

It’s called [Product Name].

We are launching on Product Hunt in [Number] weeks. The goal isn't just to launch, but to actually fix [Problem] for [Target Audience] once and for all.

I set up a "Ship" page where I'm sharing exclusive previews and early access codes.

If you want to skip the line:

[Link to Ship Page]

See you on the inside.

Metric: Visitor-to-Subscriber Conversion Rate.

• Warm Traffic (Social/Email): 15–20%. These people know you; they should convert high.
• Cold Traffic (Ads/Cold DM): 2–5%. Expect drop-off here.

Sample Math:
If you want 100 subscribers on your waitlist to ensure a decent launch velocity:

• Using Warm Traffic (15% conv), you need to drive ~660 profile clicks.
• Using Cold Traffic (3% conv), you need to drive ~3,300 visitors.

Focus your energy on your Product Hunt launch strategy 2–4 weeks out to maximize warm leads.