How we launched on Product Hunt and what truly mattered beyond the badge

This spring, we at Stripo launched on Product Hunt, not just to gain visibility but to validate months of product work and connect with a community that values new ideas. We earned the #2 Product of the Day badge and were featured. But more importantly, we sparked real conversations, gathered actionable feedback, and harnessed launch momentum for continued progress.

This article shares a behind-the-scenes look at our launch strategy — from how we set clear, outcome-driven goals to the steps that helped us gain traction and engagement. You’ll also find two actionable checklists: one for pre-launch preparation and another for launch-day execution.

If you’re preparing your own launch, we hope this gives you a practical framework — and a few useful shortcuts — to help you focus on what really moves the needle.

How we defined our goals before launching on Product Hunt

The first thing we did while preparing for our Product Hunt launch was define our goals. Sure, earning the Product of the Day badge — especially if you’re ranked first, second, or in the top five — offers strong social proof that you can showcase on your website and across social media. Some companies actively chase this badge, and launching on a weekend can sometimes make it easier to earn. Product Hunt typically sees less traffic on weekends, but if you mobilize your supporters to back your product, your chances of winning the badge increase.

In contrast, Tuesdays and Thursdays are the busiest days on Product Hunt, making them much more competitive and harder to win a badge. However, you gain the benefit of maximum visibility. Launching on busy days is an excellent opportunity to not just generate more leads and sign-ups but also collect valuable feedback.

Most active Product Hunt users are eager to test new products and provide insightful suggestions, offering input on functionality, unmet needs, or the specific problems they’re hoping your solution will solve. This kind of feedback is incredibly helpful for refining your roadmap and doubling down on the features users value most.

Beyond the time and effort you’re willing to commit, your Product Hunt launch goals will primarily depend on the core objectives and desired impact of the launch itself. In our case, we had multiple goals: earn a badge, highlight new features and updates, demonstrate Stripo’s growth and innovation, and ultimately, secure new subscriptions.

This wasn’t our first launch, but in the year leading up to it, we completely revamped the Stripo editor. With this launch, we wanted to show the world that Stripo had reached a whole new level. It was time to introduce our audience to the redesigned interface, improved teamwork features, new commenting mode, and our AI Assistant that helps users create complete email campaign sequences.

Preparing for Product Hunt: Everything that happened before launch day

We began preparing about six weeks before the launch. While it wasn’t our first launch, it was the first one managed by our current PR team. With the benefit of hindsight, we realized that for our next launch, we could likely start the process only one month in advance.

Preparing for a launch can feel overwhelming at first, but it really comes down to time and organization. We created a document with multiple tabs, breaking the process down into three main checklists: pre-launch preparation, hour-by-hour tasks on launch day, and post-launch promotion.

Overall, launching on Product Hunt requires a thorough planning phase: designing a style guide, preparing social media content, and coordinating with our hunter. It also involves strategizing how to warm up the audience beforehand.

Strengthening our Product Hunt presence was a crucial step in the launch process. We enlisted support from our internal team, customers, marketing partners, and social media followers. The most valuable support came from those with whom we had agreed on mutual launch promotions.

To avoid triggering Product Hunt’s anti-spam algorithms, we made sure our team members’ accounts were active well before launch day. For 1-2 weeks leading up to the launch, they regularly engaged with the platform — commenting on and upvoting other launches — to demonstrate consistent, authentic activity. These were not freshly created accounts used just for voting, which Product Hunt flags and may penalize. Instead of creating multiple empty profiles or asking friends and family to register and vote en masse, we focused on building real engagement through existing, active accounts.

We prepared all communications, messages, and narratives in advance, including answers to anticipated questions. There’s so much going on on launch day that there’s no time to draft messages on the spot. We had support from Stripo’s CEO, COO, and CMO, who responded promptly to audience feedback. Still, it’s a good idea to have an FAQ guide ready, as the launch requires around-the-clock support, and no single person should be on call for that long.

What launch day looked like behind the scenes

Launch day was all about precise execution. We built our schedule around a structured outreach strategy, broken into five or six waves spaced across the day. Each wave was designed to reach different audiences at the right time, helping us maintain steady engagement. We activated multiple channels:

• reached out to partners who had previously agreed to support our launch;
• shared posts in Slack groups, Facebook groups, and LinkedIn communities focused on email marketing and product launches;
• asked teammates to share the launch and leave genuine comments or upvotes;
• notified our newsletter subscribers about the launch.

The first few hours of the launch were especially critical. If we didn’t gain enough traction early on — typically within the first 3-4 hours — we risked not appearing on the Featured page at all. At the same time, we had to avoid aggressive voting or sudden activity spikes that could be flagged as suspicious by Product Hunt’s algorithms. A steady, organic flow of support was key.

Our CEO, Dmytro Kudrenko, served as our hunter and played an active role in launch-day engagement. With several successful launches and badges for supporting other products and reaching the top 5, he was well-positioned to answer user questions and lend credibility to the launch. While anyone can technically be a hunter, having someone respected within the Product Hunt community helped reinforce trust.

We also made sure that at least 2-3 team members were available and actively involved throughout the day. Their role wasn’t just monitoring performance but responding to feedback, keeping energy levels up, and following the outreach plan hour by hour.

What we gained beyond the badges

We finished in second place, even after holding the top spot for nearly 10 hours. In the final three hours, our competitor ramped up activity and pulled ahead.

Still, we’re genuinely proud of what we achieved. We earned the #2 Product of the Day badge, landed on the Featured list, and — most importantly — received an outpouring of support and insightful feedback from our community. Users were especially excited about the features we’d worked hardest on: real-time collaboration, edit history, and AI tools for building email sequences.

This launch wasn’t just about rankings but about validating our direction and reconnecting with the people we’re building for. That’s what keeps us moving forward.

Why launch on Product Hunt?

Badges like “#1 Product of the Day” can be great for social proof, but the real value of Product Hunt runs deeper. It’s one of the few platforms where early-stage products can get in front of a curated, engaged, and tech-savvy audience — all in one day. For companies, this visibility can unlock:

1. Authentic user feedback: Makers, developers, and early adopters often leave detailed comments that surface UX issues, feature gaps, and fresh ideas.
2. Credible social proof: A well-received launch gives you a real-world validation signal that can be used in fundraising, PR, and sales.
3. Product sales: Product Hunt is a free launch platform that attracts traffic, drives qualified leads, and boosts user registration. The visibility gained during a launch can create momentum that helps accelerate early sales and brand recognition.
4. Network effects: A strong Product Hunt debut can open new doors — your product might get shared on social media, mentioned in newsletters, or noticed by investors and the press.

Think of your Product Hunt launch not as a one-off event but as part of a larger growth strategy. Companies return to the platform to introduce major features, re-engage their user base, or enter new verticals.

The numbers behind the platform

Product Hunt remains one of the most high-impact launch platforms with substantial organic reach:

• user base: ~3.1 million monthly visits (Similarweb, May 2025);
• newsletter reach: ~800,000 subscribers across daily and weekly digests;
• social following: 500,000+ followers on X (formerly Twitter);
• engagement: Top-performing launches regularly earn 100-500 upvotes and 200+ comments in the first 24 hours;
• hunter visibility: Products hunted by prominent community members often benefit from higher initial exposure.

This blend of a highly targeted audience and strong community interaction makes Product Hunt uniquely powerful. Its users are tech-savvy, curious, and eager to test new products. Many are not only willing to share thoughtful feedback but also spread word within their own networks.

Pre-launch checklist: How to set the stage for Product Hunt success

To wrap things up, here’s a step-by-step checklist based on everything we learned — a quick reference for preparing your Product Hunt launch with confidence.

1. Start early

Start preparing 4-6 weeks before launch. The key is to give yourself enough time to align the team, create content, and build momentum without dragging out the process.

2. Build a clear visual and messaging style

Design a style guide early, including tone of voice, visual assets, key product messages, and tagline variation. This will help keep your entire team consistent across all channels: Product Hunt, social media, newsletters, and personal outreach.

3. Prepare social media and content assets

Pre-write your launch-day announcements for X, LinkedIn, Slack groups, and newsletters. Create visuals like teaser posts, countdowns, and behind-the-scenes previews. This ensures your team can hit “publish” quickly and stay present during launch day.

4. Timing matters: Visibility vs. recognition

Weekends offer less competition and a better shot at winning Product of the Day, while weekdays bring more visibility and richer feedback, but with much tougher competition. Choose your launch timing based on what matters most to your goals: traction, user insights, or the chance to earn a top badge.

5. Strengthen your team’s Product Hunt presence

Get your team to actively use Product Hunt in the weeks leading up to your launch, and encourage them to support other launches. This helps build authentic profiles, gain activity points and badges, and become familiar with the platform’s culture. Don’t create brand-new accounts just to vote or comment on launch day — profiles with no prior activity are likely to be flagged by Product Hunt’s anti-spam system.

6. Build relationships ahead of time

Support from your team and users is great, but wider community support is even better. Not everyone will be available to respond quickly on launch day, so the more relationships you’ve built ahead of time, the better your chances of success. 

Focus on the following activities to set yourself up for launch-day momentum:

• join Product Hunt-focused forums, subreddits, and relevant Slack groups. Look for conversations about launches, feedback, and product building;
• grow your LinkedIn network by connecting with makers and marketers who have launched before;
• ask questions, share your perspective, and support other launches to build visibility and trust naturally.

Email outreach templates: Partner support on launch day

To maximize our reach on launch day, we prepared straightforward email templates to engage our partners and rally their support. 

1. Formal outreach for key partners

This version was sent to our strategic and longstanding partners — those with whom we’ve built formal, collaborative relationships. The tone is appreciative and respectful, highlighting the mutual value of our continued partnership.

2. Friendly version for familiar collaborators

For partners we’ve worked with more informally, such as collaborators from co-marketing campaigns, we used a more relaxed, conversational tone. These relationships are no less important, but the communication style reflects a more personal, day-to-day dynamic.

Launch day checklist: The critical steps for a strong start

Your launch day is not the time to multitask. To make the most of those 24 hours, you’ll need full focus, clear planning, and strong teamwork. Here’s what to prepare for and how to handle the day:

1. Clear your calendar and dedicate the day to the launch

Make sure at least 2-3 team members are fully available to support the launch throughout the day. Ideally, this includes people from leadership (like your CEO, CMO, or COO) who can jump in to answer comments and represent the product with authority and authenticity.

2. Monitor and respond in real time

Product Hunt is a 24-hour race, and the pace can change quickly. While no one can (or should) stay awake the entire time, it helps to schedule shifts or check-ins so that someone is always monitoring progress and responding to comments.

3. Segment your outreach into waves

Instead of sending all your messages at once, split your outreach into 5-6 waves throughout the day, especially if you have a large contact base. This helps maintain steady engagement and avoids triggering Product Hunt’s spam filters.

4. Support other makers launching that day

Engaging with other launches shows good etiquette and can help you gain valuable support in return. Genuine interactions with fellow makers can lead to cross-promotion and additional visibility.

Special thanks to Oleksandra Khlystova, PR Lead at Stripo, and Marianna Tymchuk, PR Manager at Stripo, for their invaluable help in preparing this launch story.