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Last Thursday I did something really exciting.
My first Product Hunt launch for http://NewsletterOS.com !
Although I didn't place in Top #5 of the day, I was the #1 Most commented on product of the week.
Wanted to share what I've learned in this thread
My first Product Hunt launch for http://NewsletterOS.com !
Although I didn't place in Top #5 of the day, I was the #1 Most commented on product of the week.
Wanted to share what I've learned in this thread
1/ Success Metrics
Everyone goes into a Product Hunt launch with different goals. You cannot go into it with a focus on upvotes which are just a vanity metric
If you have a product/ service, you should aim for conversions. + A goal of learning from the process!
Everyone goes into a Product Hunt launch with different goals. You cannot go into it with a focus on upvotes which are just a vanity metric
If you have a product/ service, you should aim for conversions. + A goal of learning from the process!
2/ My goals
• Sales (aimed for a modest 50 sales - achieved)
• Conversations & Engagement (aimed to get at least 70 people talking - achieved)
• Upvotes (I didn't have a hard # goal, just wanted enough to stay in the top few, and place in the PH newsletter for visibility)
• Sales (aimed for a modest 50 sales - achieved)
• Conversations & Engagement (aimed to get at least 70 people talking - achieved)
• Upvotes (I didn't have a hard # goal, just wanted enough to stay in the top few, and place in the PH newsletter for visibility)
3/ Why Thursday? Why not a weekend?
I wanted to get my product launched on a heavy traffic day
I could have gotten a Top 3 placing easily on Saturday or Sunday, but people aren't really looking. I wanted more eyeballs on my product than anything since my main metric was SALES
I wanted to get my product launched on a heavy traffic day
I could have gotten a Top 3 placing easily on Saturday or Sunday, but people aren't really looking. I wanted more eyeballs on my product than anything since my main metric was SALES
4/ David vs Goliath
Obviously I didn't expect to go up against some really strong players. The Avengers really came out to play that day
But 1 of my key values is grit. I don't ever go down without a good fight, I just push as hard as I can
Fun tweet: https://twitter.com/LukeCannon727/status/1329424381458649089?s=20
Obviously I didn't expect to go up against some really strong players. The Avengers really came out to play that day
But 1 of my key values is grit. I don't ever go down without a good fight, I just push as hard as I can
Fun tweet: https://twitter.com/LukeCannon727/status/1329424381458649089?s=20
5/ Cool Competitors
There were some great products I was up against (I even upvoted two of them because life is not a zero-sum game), hi @harrydry @GoodMarketingHQ & @gumroad!
For a brief moment I beat Gumroad. That was fun. https://twitter.com/dvassallo/status/1329486965868118016?s=20
There were some great products I was up against (I even upvoted two of them because life is not a zero-sum game), hi @harrydry @GoodMarketingHQ & @gumroad!
For a brief moment I beat Gumroad. That was fun. https://twitter.com/dvassallo/status/1329486965868118016?s=20
6/ The One Thing That Worked
Build a product people love.
The best fuel for a fiery launch is a product that people are raving about. I didn't inceltivize my audience/ customers to comment but they did. In droves.
(Thank you! It means so much)
Build a product people love.
The best fuel for a fiery launch is a product that people are raving about. I didn't inceltivize my audience/ customers to comment but they did. In droves.
(Thank you! It means so much)
7/ Talk to people who have been successful with launches
I talked to people who had launched things before & they graciously shared their playbooks.
Learn from people who have been there before (but make sure you have personal relationships with them before asking)
I talked to people who had launched things before & they graciously shared their playbooks.
Learn from people who have been there before (but make sure you have personal relationships with them before asking)
7a/ Huge thanks to @thisiskp_
@DruRly @FalakDigital @cogentgene @MichaelJNovotny for doing detailed walkthroughs, they helped so much!
& @theandreboso @rosiesherry for sharing tips
@DruRly @FalakDigital @cogentgene @MichaelJNovotny for doing detailed walkthroughs, they helped so much!
& @theandreboso @rosiesherry for sharing tips
8/ Share your flaws & roadblocks
Tweeted this when I was stuck on design and had a whole flood of offers come through (thanks everyone who helped!)
My friend @MrOskarMendez stepped into help. See next tweet for end result. https://twitter.com/JanelSGM/status/1328027352257982464?s=20
Tweeted this when I was stuck on design and had a whole flood of offers come through (thanks everyone who helped!)
My friend @MrOskarMendez stepped into help. See next tweet for end result. https://twitter.com/JanelSGM/status/1328027352257982464?s=20
9/ My logo is better because of Oskar. Thanks for the assist!
(Highly recommend working with him if you're thinking of hiring someone to create a GIF that tells a story for a PH launch) https://twitter.com/MrOskarMendez/status/1329547932215898112?s=20
(Highly recommend working with him if you're thinking of hiring someone to create a GIF that tells a story for a PH launch) https://twitter.com/MrOskarMendez/status/1329547932215898112?s=20
10/ Build a landing page & set up analytics
Most people do this way ahead of launch. I spun something up in less than a week using @carrd.
I originally sold products via Gumroad's landing page but wanted to make my product look premium & have full control of the promo material
Most people do this way ahead of launch. I spun something up in less than a week using @carrd.
I originally sold products via Gumroad's landing page but wanted to make my product look premium & have full control of the promo material
11/ Collaborate with people
No matter how talented you are, there is always opportunity cost.
Why spend hours fussing over design if it's not your forte? Maybe others can do it in half the time. And you can help them out sometime in the future.
Play to your strengths.
No matter how talented you are, there is always opportunity cost.
Why spend hours fussing over design if it's not your forte? Maybe others can do it in half the time. And you can help them out sometime in the future.
Play to your strengths.
11a/ Thanks to @Mike_Andreuzza @jakesing_ @thelindazhang for contributing to Newsletter OS in your own special ways!
In some ways, Newsletter OS feels like a team effort. Although I am a solo maker, I have so many generous people backing me
In some ways, Newsletter OS feels like a team effort. Although I am a solo maker, I have so many generous people backing me
12/ Create a long thread linking to your live Product Hunt page & pin it to your profile on launch day
Ensure that your key message doesn't get lost in a sea of tweets.
I know some say not to point directly at the link but I'm all for removing friction. https://twitter.com/JanelSGM/status/1329339027477159938?s=20
Ensure that your key message doesn't get lost in a sea of tweets.
I know some say not to point directly at the link but I'm all for removing friction. https://twitter.com/JanelSGM/status/1329339027477159938?s=20
13/ Preview your copy & images before scheduling a launch
Use http://PreviewHunt.com to see how your copy is going to look ahead of time, and adjust accordingly.
Get your hunter to schedule a 12:01AM PST launch. Or schedule it yourself! I got my buddy @thisiskp_ to hunt me!
Use http://PreviewHunt.com to see how your copy is going to look ahead of time, and adjust accordingly.
Get your hunter to schedule a 12:01AM PST launch. Or schedule it yourself! I got my buddy @thisiskp_ to hunt me!
14/ Have your own cheer squad
My favorite communities provided me with tons of support
Thank you http://Trends.vc Pro, @LaunchMBA, @ness_labs ( @anthilemoon) ( @rosiesherry), @meetwinc_ ( @LaceyKesler) @GrowthMentorHQ
It is so much easier to build with others!
My favorite communities provided me with tons of support
Thank you http://Trends.vc Pro, @LaunchMBA, @ness_labs ( @anthilemoon) ( @rosiesherry), @meetwinc_ ( @LaceyKesler) @GrowthMentorHQ
It is so much easier to build with others!
14a/ Have good friends you can bounce ideas off. Have an idea? Test it. Review it. They'll find where it's broken
Super thankful to @cogentgene @nocodelife @lesley_pizza @NicWondering @philipptemmel_ @yarobagriy @idavinder @robhope & so many more for helping out
Super thankful to @cogentgene @nocodelife @lesley_pizza @NicWondering @philipptemmel_ @yarobagriy @idavinder @robhope & so many more for helping out
15/ Keep building in public!
I shared updates live here. Helped people feel like they were a part of my story.
My followers, customers & friends loved reading the updates & helped me a lot!
https://twitter.com/JanelSGM/status/1329347172215742464?s=20
I shared updates live here. Helped people feel like they were a part of my story.
My followers, customers & friends loved reading the updates & helped me a lot!
https://twitter.com/JanelSGM/status/1329347172215742464?s=20
16/ Launch day is exhausting
If you did it like me, and you go all out, expect to take a few days to recover.
Teams have the good fortune of having multiple people split out the workload. I had the help of my biggest supporters yelling to support, so I'm thankful!
If you did it like me, and you go all out, expect to take a few days to recover.
Teams have the good fortune of having multiple people split out the workload. I had the help of my biggest supporters yelling to support, so I'm thankful!
17/ @ProductHunt Launch Day has a trickle effect
After you wrap up your first 24 hours, the story gets better. You get pageviews still. You get featured in places. You get more sales.
So even if you don't get the results you want on Day 1, don't be sad.
Everything compounds
After you wrap up your first 24 hours, the story gets better. You get pageviews still. You get featured in places. You get more sales.
So even if you don't get the results you want on Day 1, don't be sad.
Everything compounds
That's all for now. If any of you helped to engage, and support, I'm so thankful for your support.
It really means the world to me that all of you took the time to write something nice and show your love.
Couldn't have done this without you.
It really means the world to me that all of you took the time to write something nice and show your love.
Couldn't have done this without you.
Where am I now?
681 upvotes. 169 comments.
The story can still get better. Click in to see more & continue this conversation ;) https://www.producthunt.com/posts/newsletter-operating-system
681 upvotes. 169 comments.
The story can still get better. Click in to see more & continue this conversation ;) https://www.producthunt.com/posts/newsletter-operating-system
