ph-newsletter-pitch

name	ph-newsletter-pitch
description	Get featured in Product Hunt newsletters. Use this skill to understand newsletter criteria, craft effective pitches, and maximize visibility through PH editorial coverage.

Product Hunt Newsletter Pitch

This skill helps you get featured in Product Hunt's newsletters, extending your launch visibility beyond launch day.

When to Use This Skill

• Before launch: Planning for newsletter inclusion
• During launch: Pitching to editorial
• After launch: Follow-up pitches
• Anytime: Understanding newsletter strategy

Product Hunt Newsletters

Newsletter Types

The Leaderboard (Daily)

• Sent Monday-Friday
• Top 10 launches of the day
• Quick snapshot format
• Highest reach

The Roundup (Sunday)

• Week's top products
• Community discussions
• Long-form content
• Curated selection

The Frontier (Tuesday)

• AI-focused insights
• Top AI launches
• Founder features
• Specialized audience

Developer Tools Edition

• Developer-focused products
• Technical audience
• Specific criteria

Newsletter Reach

• Sent to millions of subscribers
• High open rates (tech audience)
• Drives significant traffic
• Extends launch visibility

Getting Featured

Automatic Inclusion

Daily Newsletter (The Leaderboard):

• Top 10 products automatically included
• Based on ranking at end of day
• No pitch needed

Editorial Selection

Weekly & Specialty Newsletters:

• Editorially curated
• Based on interest/uniqueness
• Can be pitched
• Quality over ranking

What Editors Look For

Key Criteria (from PH Editorial)

1. Uniqueness

• Doesn't need to be revolutionary
• Must do something different
• Not "another [category] tool"
• Clear differentiation

2. Visual Quality

• Strong gallery images
• Clear screenshots
• Compelling thumbnail
• Professional presentation

3. Clear Value Proposition

• Easy to understand
• Obvious benefit
• Specific use case
• Not vague/generic

4. Interesting Story

• Why it was built
• Who it's for
• What problem it solves
• Maker passion

Red Flags (Won't Get Featured)

• Generic products
• Poor visual quality
• Unclear purpose
• Low-quality listing
• Obvious cash grabs
• Clones without innovation

Crafting Your Pitch

When to Pitch

Proactive Pitch:

• Day of launch (morning)
• Before newsletter deadline (7 AM PT)

Reactive Pitch:

• After launch, for future editions
• For specialty newsletters

Pitch Email Template

To: [e-mail]
Subject: [Product Name] — [Unique angle] | Live on PH today

Hi PH Editorial Team,

[Product Name] just went live on Product Hunt:
[Link]

WHAT IT IS:
[One sentence description]

WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE:
[Key differentiator — what's new/different]

WHO IT'S FOR:
[Specific target audience]

WHY NOW:
[Timeliness or relevance]

GALLERY HIGHLIGHTS:
• Image 1: [What it shows]
• Video: [Brief description]

Happy to provide any additional info!

Best,
[Your Name]
[Your Title]
[Product URL]

Pitch Best Practices

Do:

• Keep it brief (skimmable)
• Lead with uniqueness
• Include direct PH link
• Highlight visual assets
• Be professional

Don't:

• Write a novel
• Beg for inclusion
• Exaggerate claims
• Send multiple follow-ups
• Be pushy

Optimizing for Newsletter

Before Launch

Gallery Preparation:

• First image must be compelling
• Clear product shots
• Readable at small sizes
• Video if possible

Listing Quality:

• Strong tagline
• Clear description
• Complete profile
• No typos

Day of Launch

Timing:

• Launch at 12:01 AM PT
• Newsletter compiles ~7 AM PT
• Early morning performance matters

Engagement:

• Active comments
• Quality discussions
• Maker presence

Newsletter Categories

Which Newsletter to Target

General Tech Products:

• The Leaderboard (daily)
• The Roundup (weekly)

AI Products:

• The Frontier (Tuesdays)
• AI-specific coverage

Developer Tools:

• Developer Tools edition
• Technical audience focus

Design Tools:

• May have design-focused coverage
• Visual products highlighted

Timing Considerations

Deadline Awareness

Newsletter	Compiles	Sends
Leaderboard	~7 AM PT	Morning
Roundup	Saturday	Sunday
Frontier	Monday	Tuesday

Optimal Pitch Timing

• Same day: Before 7 AM PT
• Weekly: Thursday-Saturday for Sunday
• Specialty: Varies by edition

Beyond Initial Feature

Getting Featured Again

Future opportunities:

• Product updates
• Major milestones
• New features
• Community stories

Stay connected:

• Follow PH editorial on social
• Engage with newsletter content
• Build relationship over time

Roundup Consideration

If not featured on launch day:

• Can still make weekly roundup
• Based on overall week performance
• Editorial discretion

Newsletter Pitch Checklist

Before Launch

• Gallery images optimized
• Unique angle identified
• Pitch drafted
• Contact ready

Launch Day

• Launched at 12:01 AM PT
• Pitch sent early morning
• Monitoring ranking
• Active engagement

Post-Launch

• Track if featured
• Note what was highlighted
• Save for future reference
• Plan for specialty editions

Measuring Newsletter Impact

Traffic Indicators

Signs of Newsletter Traffic:

• Spike morning after launch
• Traffic source: email
• PH referrer in analytics

Tracking

• Set up UTM tracking where possible
• Monitor traffic patterns
• Compare featured vs non-featured

Output Format

NEWSLETTER PITCH PLAN: [Product Name]

TARGET NEWSLETTERS:
Primary: [Newsletter name]
Secondary: [Newsletter name]

UNIQUE ANGLE:
[What makes this pitch-worthy]

PITCH:
---
[Complete pitch email]
---

TIMING:
Launch: [Time PT]
Pitch send: [Time PT]
Newsletter deadline: [Time PT]

GALLERY HIGHLIGHTS:
- Image 1: [Description]
- Video: [Description]

CHECKLIST:
- [ ] Pitch drafted
- [ ] Contact confirmed
- [ ] Unique angle clear
- [ ] Gallery optimized

SPECIALTY EDITIONS:
[Which specialized newsletters might be relevant]