product-hunt-launch-plan

# 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: ``` Read: ./references/ultimate_product_hunt_launch_guide.md ``` **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 ```markdown # Product Hunt Launch Plan: [Product Name] ## Executive Summary **Product:** [Name] - [One-liner] **Recommended Launch Date:** [Date] ([Day of week]) **Launch Time:** 12:01 AM PST **Ranking Potential:** [Assessment based on their situation] **Critical Success Factor:** [The ONE thing they must nail] --- ## Phase 1: Pre-Launch ([X] weeks out) ### Week [X]: [Focus Area] - [ ] Action item 1 - [ ] Action item 2 ... ### Week [X-1]: [Focus Area] ... --- ## Phase 2: Launch Week ### Day -7 to -1: Final Preparations ... ### Launch Day: Hour-by-Hour Battle Plan **[Time in their timezone] - [Action]** ... --- ## Phase 3: Post-Launch ### Day 1-3: Immediate Actions ... ### Week 1: Capitalize on Results ... --- ## Your Personalized Tips Based on your situation, focus on these advanced tactics: 1. **[Tip Name]:** [Specific advice for their situation] ... --- ## Alternative Launch Platforms (Prioritized for [Product Type]) ### Launch This Week (Alongside Product Hunt) | Platform | Why It Fits You | |----------|-----------------| ... ### Launch Next Week ... --- ## Ready-to-Use Templates ### Supporter DM Template [Personalized template with their product details] ### Launch Day Tweet Thread [Draft thread they can customize] ### Email to Subscribers [Draft email copy] --- ## Your Launch Checklist ### Assets Needed - [ ] Item (Status: Ready/Needed) ... ### Support List Target - [ ] Category: [X] people (Current: [Y]) ... ``` --- ## 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. ---