Going #1 on Product Hunt

Getting to #1 on Product Hunt

Insight from Marketing Ideas

When I launched a product called Firstbase Agent at my last startup, we hit 4th place on Product Hunt, sparking the question:

How do we clinch the #1 spot?

Tom Orbach's, Head of Growth at Wiz, success story offers valuable tips on what to do.

If you’re unaware, Product Hunt is where digital products battle it out over 24 hours. The community upvotes products to get to the top listing.

Success can catapult a product into the limelight like Loom and Notion.

Some people do resort to buying votes and comments. Here are the first two companies that appeared when I googled “Buy Product Hunt votes.”

You can easily see when a person buys Product Hunt upvotes though. Check out this graph as an example.

The neon green line booms upward during the day to first place.

Seems sketch, right?

Sure, you get to the top. Unfortunately, this won’t drive conversions on their website.

So then what would I recommend?

Try leveraging direct messages on Linkedin and Product Hunt.

Unlike broad, impersonal channels like social media or paid advertising, the real impact is one-on-one interactions.

Here's the strategy:

1. Target the Right Audience: Focus on Product Hunt regulars. Random messages won't cut it; a tailored approach is essential.

2. Build a Support Network: This involves engaging with the community well in advance. Tom suggests dedicating about 15 minutes daily for 4 to 8 weeks before your launch.

3. Engage and Offer Support: Participate in Product Hunt, supporting other makers by voting and commenting on their products. Connect with them on LinkedIn to offer your support and gently request their backing for your upcoming launch.

This works because you support others during their launch, creating a sense of indebtedness and making them more likely to support you in return.

Is this tedious? Yes

Does this work? Yes

Also, I bet that fellow-maker votes carry more weight in the Product Hunt algorithm.