product-hunt-launch-plan
Creates a comprehensive, personalized Product Hunt launch plan to rank
By ognjengt · 664 installs
npx skills add ognjengt/founder-skills --skill product-hunt-launch-plan
Source repository · Upstream listing
Product Hunt Launch Plan
Purpose
Generate a comprehensive, personalized Product Hunt launch plan with actionable steps from A Z to help the user rank 1 Product of the Day.
Execution Logic
Check $ARGUMENTS first to determine execution mode:
If $ARGUMENTS is empty or not provided:
Respond with:
"product hunt launch plan loaded. I'll create a personalized Product Hunt launch strategy to help you rank 1. Let me gather some information about your product first."
Then proceed to the Discovery Questions phase.
If $ARGUMENTS contains content:
Use the provided content as initial context, but still proceed through Discovery Questions to fill any gaps.
Task Execution
When user engages with this skill:
1. MANDATORY: Read Reference Files FIRST
BLOCKING REQUIREMENT — DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP
Before doing ANYTHING else, you MUST use the Read tool to read the reference file:
What you will find:
Complete 3 phase launch strategy (Before, During, After)
Timing and day selection guidance
Asset requirements and examples
Support list building strategies
Launch day timeline hour by hour
Hidden gems and pro tips from makers who ranked 1
20+ alternative launch platforms
DO NOT PROCEED to Step 2 until you have read this file and have the complete guide in context.
2. Check for Business Context
Check if FOUNDER CONTEXT.md exists in the project root.
If it exists: Read it and extract all relevant product information (product name, description, target audience, unique value proposition, current traction, audience size).
If it doesn't exist: You will gather this information through Discovery Questions.
3. Discovery Questions (MANDATORY)
Ask up to 10 targeted questions to personalize the launch plan.
Present questions using the AskUserQuestion tool or conversationally. Gather:
1. Product Basics
What is your product name and one line description?
What problem does it solve and for whom?
2. Current State
What's your current launch date (or target timeframe)?
Do you have a Product Hunt account? Is it active/warmed?
3. Audience & Reach
How large is your email list?
What's your Twitter/X following size?
Are you active in any communities (Indie Hackers, Discord, Slack)?
4. Assets Readiness
Do you have product screenshots/demo video ready?
Do you have a landing page live?
5. Support Network
Do you have founder friends who could support the launch?
Have you supported other Product Hunt launches before?
6. Goals & Constraints
What's your primary goal? (users, awareness, investors, validation)
Any constraints? (budget, time, team size)
Adapt questions based on FOUNDER CONTEXT.md if available. Skip questions already answered there.
4. Analyze & Personalize
Based on gathered information, assess:
Support Strength: Weak (<100 supporters), Moderate (100 300), Strong (300 500+)
Asset Readiness: Not ready, Partially ready, Fully ready
Timeline: Rushed (<2 weeks), Tight (2 4 weeks), Ideal (4+ weeks)
Audience Reach: Limited, Moderate, Strong
Use this assessment to customize recommendations.
5. Generate Personalized Launch Plan
Create a comprehensive plan with:
Section 1: Executive Summary
Product overview (from their input)
Launch date recommendation
Predicted ranking potential based on their current assets
Key success factors for THEIR specific situation
Section 2: Pre Launch Phase (customize timeline based on their date)
Week by week action items
Specific community recommendations based on their niche
Asset creation checklist tailored to what they're missing
Support list building strategy based on their current reach
Section 3: Launch Week Preparation
Day by day countdown
Specific outreach templates personalized for their product
Social media post drafts
Email copy suggestions
Section 4: Launch Day Battle Plan
Hour by hour timeline in their timezone
Specific platforms to post on based on their product type
Engagement scripts for comments
Monitoring setup
Section 5: Post Launch Strategy
Follow up actions
How to leverage results (even if not 1)
Badge/social proof implementation
Section 6: Hidden Gems & Pro Tips
Include 5 10 advanced tactics from the reference guide, selected based on relevance to their situation.
Section 7: Alternative Launch Platforms
List the 20+ platforms from the reference guide, prioritized based on their product type (dev tool, SaaS, AI product, etc.).
6. Format and Verify
Structure output according to Output Format section
Complete Quality Checklist self verification before presenting
Writing Rules
Hard constraints. No interpretation.
Core Rules
Be specific and actionable — no vague advice like "build community"
Include exact timelines, numbers, and examples
Personalize every recommendation to THEIR product
Reference their product name throughout the plan
Include templates they can copy/paste
Prioritize actions by impact
Personalization Rules
If small audience (<500): Focus on community building and reciprocity tactics
If large audience (5000+): Focus on coordinated launch and momentum strategies
If dev tool: Emphasize Hacker News, DevHunt, GitHub community
If AI product: Include AI specific directories
If B2B SaaS: Focus on LinkedIn, professional communities
If consumer app: Focus on Twitter/X, visual assets
Honesty Rules
Be realistic about their chances based on their current situation
If timeline is too tight, say so and suggest rescheduling
If assets are weak, prioritize fixing that first
Don't promise 1 if their support base is too small
Output Format
References
This file MUST be read using the Read tool before creating any launch plan (see Step 1):
File Purpose
./references/ultimate product hunt launch guide.md Complete Product Hunt strategy from Tibo (Maker of the Year 2022), including 3 phase launch process, hidden gems, pro tips, and 20+ alternative platforms
Why this matters: This guide contains battle tested strategies from someone who has ranked 1 multiple times. The tactics, timing, and templates are proven to work — not theoretical advice.
Quality Checklist (Self Verification)
Before finalizing output, verify ALL of the following:
Pre Execution Check
[ ] I read ./references/ultimate product hunt launch guide.md before creating the plan
[ ] I checked for and read FOUNDER CONTEXT.md if it exists
[ ] I have the complete guide content in context
Discovery Check
[ ] I asked targeted questions to understand their specific situation
[ ] I know their product, audience size, timeline, and assets status
[ ] I adapted my questions based on available context
Personalization Check
[ ] Every section references THEIR product by name
[ ] Recommendations match their audience size and reach
[ ] Timeline is realistic for their launch date
[ ] Platform recommendations match their product type
[ ] Templates include their specific product details
Completeness Check
[ ] All 3 phases covered (Before, During, After)
[ ] Hour by hour launch day timeline included
[ ] Hidden gems/pro tips section included
[ ] Alternative platforms listed and prioritized
[ ] Ready to use templates provided
[ ] Checklist with current status included
Honesty Check
[ ] Ranking assessment is realistic
[ ] Weak areas are called out with solutions
[ ] Timeline concerns are addressed
[ ] No false promises of guaranteed 1
If ANY check fails → revise before presenting.
Defaults & Assumptions
Use these unless the user overrides:
Launch day: Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday (higher traffic)
Launch time: 12:01 AM PST (Product Hunt reset time)
Target ranking: Top 5 (requires ~500 engaged supporters)
Preparation time: 4 weeks ideal minimum
Primary goal: User acquisition and validation
Hunter strategy: Self hunt (60% of 1 products are self hunted)
Asset format: Static images prioritized over video (higher engagement)
Document any assumptions made in the Executive Summary.