ph-launch-day-checklist

Product Hunt Launch Day Checklist

This skill provides a comprehensive, hour-by-hour checklist to execute your Product Hunt launch flawlessly.

When to Use This Skill

• Final preparation night before launch
• During the 24-hour launch window
• Coordinating team activities on launch day
• Ensuring all critical actions are completed

The Night Before (T-12 Hours)

Final Checks

• Product Hunt listing is complete and scheduled
• All gallery images uploaded and ordered
• Video tested and working
• Maker comment pre-written and saved
• All links tested and working
• Website ready for traffic spike
• Analytics tracking verified
• Email sequences scheduled
• Social posts scheduled
• Supporter network reminded

Personal Preparation

• Alarm set for launch time (if applicable to your timezone)
• Phone charged
• Computer ready
• Food/drinks prepared
• Team communication channel ready
• Get rest!

Launch Hour (12:01 AM PST)

Immediate Actions (First 10 Minutes)

• Verify product is live on Product Hunt
• Confirm listing appears correctly
• Post maker comment immediately
• Share PH link internally with team
• Screenshot for records
• First social media post goes out

First Hour Focus

• Monitor for any issues
• Respond to first comments (< 5 minutes)
• Wave 1 of supporter outreach (close inner circle)
• Check ranking position
• Note early feedback

Target: 30-50 upvotes in first hour

Early Hours (1 AM - 6 AM PST)

Ongoing Tasks

• Continue responding to all comments
• Monitor for technical issues
• Wave 2 supporter activation (if planned)
• Track progress vs benchmarks
• Screenshot milestones

Team Coordination

• Check in with team members
• Handoff if working in shifts
• Document any issues

Target: 100+ upvotes by 6 AM PST

Morning (6 AM - 12 PM PST)

Peak Activity

• Wave 3 supporter activation (US East Coast)
• Monitor social media mentions
• Respond to all new comments
• Share progress updates
• Wave 4 email sends
• LinkedIn/Twitter engagement

Mid-Morning Check

• Current ranking position
• Upvote velocity
• Comment quality
• Any concerning patterns
• Competitor activity

Target: 200+ upvotes by noon PST

Afternoon (12 PM - 6 PM PST)

Sustained Push

• Wave 5 supporter activation
• Progress update post on social media
• Continue comment responses
• Retweet/share supporter posts
• Monitor and adjust strategy

4 PM PST Check

• Ranking trajectory analysis
• Final push needed?
• Activate remaining supporters
• Behind-the-scenes content

Target: 400+ upvotes for top 5

Evening (6 PM - Midnight PST)

Final Push

• Wave 6 outreach to non-responders
• Final social media push
• Last reminder to close supporters
• Continue comment engagement
• Thank early supporters

10 PM PST

• Assess final ranking position
• Begin preparing thank you messages
• Screenshot final stats
• Document learnings

Post-Midnight (Day 2)

Immediate After-Launch

• Final ranking recorded
• Thank you post on social media
• Thank you emails to supporters
• Team celebration/debrief
• Document all metrics

Hour-by-Hour Reference

Time (PST)	Priority Action	Support Wave
12:01 AM	Go live, maker comment	Inner circle
1:00 AM	First responses	Wave 1
3:00 AM	Monitor progress	Wave 2
5:00 AM	EU activation	Wave 3
8:00 AM	US East activation	Wave 4
10:00 AM	Progress check	—
12:00 PM	Midday push	Wave 5
3:00 PM	Afternoon update	—
6:00 PM	Evening push	Wave 6
9:00 PM	Final push	Stragglers
11:00 PM	Wind down	—

Emergency Protocols

If Website Goes Down

1. Don't panic
2. Check hosting/server status
3. Implement backup if available
4. Post update on PH comments
5. Keep engaging while fixing

If Comments Turn Negative

1. Respond professionally
2. Acknowledge concerns
3. Provide solutions/clarifications
4. Don't get defensive
5. Thank for feedback

If Ranking Drops Suddenly

1. Check for algorithm flags
2. Review recent activity patterns
3. Don't panic-activate supporters
4. Focus on quality engagement
5. Accept what you can't control

If You Get Flagged/Unfeatured

1. Don't spam outreach
2. Contact PH support if legitimate
3. Review your practices
4. Learn for next time

Communication Templates

Team Updates

🕐 [Time] UPDATE

Ranking: #[X]
Upvotes: [X]
Comments: [X]
Trend: [Up/Down/Stable]

Next: [Action needed]
Issues: [Any problems]

Social Progress Update

Launch day update! 🚀

[X] hours in and we're:
• #[X] on @ProductHunt
• [X] amazing comments
• [X] new signups

Thanks for the incredible support! 🙏

→ [Link]

Key Metrics to Track

Throughout the Day

• Ranking position (every hour)
• Total upvotes
• Upvote velocity (upvotes per hour)
• Comment count
• Website traffic
• Signups/conversions

Log Template

Time	Rank	Upvotes	Δ Upvotes	Comments
1 AM	#5	45	+45	8
2 AM	#4	78	+33	15
...	...	...	...	...

Team Roles (If Applicable)

Role 1: Comment Captain

• Monitors all comments
• Responds within 5 minutes
• Flags issues to team
• Maintains friendly tone

Role 2: Outreach Coordinator

• Executes supporter waves
• Tracks who's engaged
• Sends reminders
• Thanks supporters

Role 3: Social Media Manager

• Posts updates
• Monitors mentions
• Engages with shares
• Creates content

Role 4: Analytics Tracker

• Logs metrics hourly
• Spots trends
• Alerts on anomalies
• Prepares summary

Final Checklist Summary

Pre-Launch Night

• All assets ready
• Team briefed
• Supporters reminded
• Rest obtained

Launch Hour

• Product live
• Maker comment posted
• First wave activated
• Monitoring begun

Throughout Day

• All comments answered
• Waves executed on schedule
• Progress tracked
• Issues addressed

End of Day

• Final rank recorded
• Thanks sent
• Metrics documented
• Learnings noted

Output Format

LAUNCH DAY STATUS: [Product Name]

CURRENT TIME: [Time PST]
HOURS SINCE LAUNCH: [X]

METRICS:
• Ranking: #[X]
• Upvotes: [X]
• Comments: [X]
• Website visits: [X]
• Signups: [X]

COMPLETED:
✓ [Completed action]
✓ [Completed action]

NEXT UP:
→ [Next priority action]
→ [Following action]

ISSUES:
[Any current issues or none]

TEAM STATUS:
[Who's active, who's next]