Why I Don’t Launch on Product Hunt

It’s not the be-all, end-all of product success

Photo by SpaceX on Unsplash

Don’t get me wrong, I like Product Hunt. I scroll sometimes and check out what’s been posted and give an upvote here and there.

But what I don’t like about Product Hunt is this idea that seems to permeate a lot of the startup/indie maker crowd that goes like this:

Build product -> Tweet about it -> Launch on Product Hunt -> If good response, profit -> Else, start again

Sorry, but I just don’t buy into a Product Hunt launch being the main determinant of whether a product is successful or not. And for my business, Product Hunt hasn’t even been something I’ve considered up to this point.

Here’s why.

What’s the best-case scenario?

Let’s start by thinking about the best-case scenario: your product shoots to the top of the Product Hunt rankings for the day and snags the #1 spot. What does that actually do for you and your business?

I would argue it’s a sugar high that doesn’t result in any real, long-term growth. And if you look at some product creators who share their results publicly, you can see that success on Product Hunt doesn’t necessarily translate into big sales.