How to Launch on Product Hunt in 2026
Launching on Product Hunt requires 2 weeks of prep. This guide covers the 5 steps to get #1 Product of the Day using the new Mesh of Growth network.
Stop launching alone. Read our playbooks on how to leverage the Mesh network for instant traffic and trust.
Launching on Product Hunt requires 2 weeks of prep. This guide covers the 5 steps to get #1 Product of the Day using the new Mesh of Growth network.
Looking for Product Hunt alternatives? Here is the curated list of the top 50 startup directories, communities, and launchpads to get your first 100 users in 2026.
Deciding between BetaList and Product Hunt? BetaList is for pre-launch email capture, while Product Hunt is for day-one traffic. Here is the data-backed comparison.
Stop obsessing over Product Hunt. "Tier 2" directories like 1000Tools, Microlaunch, and CrazyAboutStartups convert 3x better for B2B SaaS.
Hacker News (Y Combinator) can send 50k visitors, but they hate self-promotion. Here is the technical guide to posting a "Show HN" that survives.
Most free directories are spam farms. We analyzed 500+ submissions and found the only 10 distinct directories that actually send real, high-quality traffic to B2B SaaS startups.
Don't burn your Product Hunt launch on a buggy product. Use this "Silent Launch" checklist to validate your tech, messaging, and funnel with zero public noise.
AppSumo can generate $10k in a week, but creates a "Lifetime Support Debt." We analyze the math to see if trading 70% revenue share is worth the instant cash.
Reddit hates marketers. If you sell, you get banned. If you share a story, you go viral. Here is the exact framework to launch on r/SideProject and r/SaaS.
Ads are expensive. Cold DMs are ignored. The "Mesh Strategy" uses automated reciprocity to get 50+ founders to feature each other. Here is how it works.
Everyone says "Launch on Tuesday at 12:01 AM PST." Is that true? We analyzed 10,000 launches. The answer depends on whether you want "Volume" or "Ranking."
You don't need ads. You need hustle. Here is the step-by-step manual to getting your first 100 raving fans using manual outreach, communities, and the Mesh network.
Delete your generic sales scripts. Here are the 3 "Humble Ask" cold email templates that got us a 40% reply rate and our first 10 enterprise customers.
Most founders ask "Is this a good idea?" and get lied to. Here is how to use Rob Fitzpatrick's "Mom Test" to get the brutal truth about your startup idea.
Struggling to get feedback? These 5 communities are full of "Early Adopters" who actively want to break your app. Here is how to pitch them.
LinkedIn DMs are gold for B2B, but 99% of messages are spam. Here is the rigorous framework to get a 30% reply rate without being annoying.
Building a product is the easy part. Selling it is hard. Here is how to collect payments *before* you write code to validate your idea with 100% certainty.
We analyzed the exact strategy (and referral loop) that generated 1,000 highly qualified leads in one month. Steal this playbook.
Stop writing blog posts nobody reads. Build a free tool (calculator, analyzer, generator) that solves a tiny problem. It gets 10x the backlinks.
You generally can't afford Kim Kardashian. But you can afford "DevOps Dan" with 5k followers. Here is how to run an influencer campaign with $0 upfront.
Should you offer a "Free Forever" plan or a "14-Day Free Trial"? The wrong choice can bankrupt you. We break down the math.
Pricing is not Math; it is Psychology. Learn the 5 cognitive biases (Anchoring, Decoy Effect, Charm Pricing) that make users click "Subscribe."
Your costs went up. You built more features. It is time to raise prices. Here is the script to do it without causing a mass exodus.
Selling to Enterprises is not about persuasion; it is about "Risk Mitigation." Learn how to navigate Procurement, Legal, and Security to close 5-figure contracts.
Setup fees are not just about revenue; they are about Psychology. Charging $500 upfront kills churn and forces the user to take the product serious.
You are filling a leaky bucket. If your churn is >5%, growth is mathematically impossible. Here is how to plug the holes using "Dunning" and "Exit Flows."
Users don't read manuals. They skim emails. Here is the exact 3-email sequence (Day 1, Day 4, Day 7) that guides users to the "Aha Moment."
Why do you check Instagram 50 times a day? Variable Rewards. Here is how to apply "The Hook Model" to your B2B SaaS to build habit-forming products.
Most exit surveys are useless data dumps. Here is the "Dynamic Logic" survey that offers specific solutions (Discounts, Pausing, Helper Calls) based on the user's answer.
DAU/MAU is a vanity metric. To find Product-Market Fit, you need the "Power User Curve" (L30). It shows you if people are addicted or just passing through.
Virality is not "Luck." It is Math. Learn the formula (K = i * c) and how to tweak the variables to make your user base grow automatically.
The "Jump the queue" tactic is 10 years old. Here is how modern waitlists use "Milestone Rewards" and "Status Badges" to drive hype in 2026.
Dropbox spent $300 to acquire a $99 customer with ads. Then they switched to a referral program and grew from 100k to 4M users. Here is the breakdown.
People want what they can't have. Learn how Superhuman, Clubhouse, and Gmail used "Artificial Scarcity" to become the hottest apps in the world.
Stop guessing what to write. Use the 100-year-old framework that sells everything from soap to software: Attention, Interest, Desire, Action.
Your headline is the 80/20 of your marketing. If it fails, the rest of the page doesn't exist. Here are the templates: The "How To," The "Number," and The "Contrast."
Designers obsess about cramming everything into the top 600px. Data shows users start scrolling immediately. Stop fearing the fold; leverage it.
Nobody cares about "1GB Storage." They care about "1,000 Songs in your pocket." Here is how to translate your boring technical features into cash-generating benefits.
Zapier and TripAdvisor didn't write 10 million pages by hand. They used code. Here is how to use Next.js and a Dataset to capture the entire "Long Tail" of search.
Your main product is a "Swiss Army Knife." Users are searching for a "Screwdriver." Break off one feature, make it free, and put it on its own domain.
Delegating support too early is fatal. Learn why answering tickets yourself is the only way to find "Product-Market Fit" and why ignoring users kills startups.
Reid Hoffman said: "If you are not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you launched too late." Here is why Perfectionism is just Procrastination in a suit.
The first person you hire determines the DNA of your company. Do not hire "Big Tech" engineers for a seed startup. Discover the "Pirate" profile.
Your Mom will lie to you because she loves you. Strangers will lie to you because they are polite. Here is how to ask questions that force the truth.
Don't scream "We represent live!" until you are ready. Here is the checklist to run a "Silent Launch" to verify analytics, payments, and bugs before the press hits.
Stop adding features. Start removing friction. Learn why simple tools (Linear, Notion) are winning by doing LESS, not more.
Your user has a problem. The "Aha Moment" is when they realize your product solves it. If this takes >5 minutes, they churn. Here is how to make it 5 seconds.
Showing your MRR and bugs on Twitter is trendy. But is it smart? We analyze the "Build in Public" movement: The free marketing vs. the risk of copycats.
VCs want "Unicorns." Bootstrappers want "Freedom." Choosing the wrong path is the #1 reason founders are miserable. We break down the math and lifestyle of both.
Investors spend 3 minutes reading your deck. You don't need 40 slides. You need these exact 10 slides, in this order, to get the meeting.
Revenue is vanity. Profit is sanity. Unit Economics are reality. Learn how to calculate if your user is worth more than they cost to acquire.
Startups don't die from bad ideas. They die from running out of money. Here is how to calculate your "Runway" and cut costs without killing morale.
Forget 50-page legal contracts. The SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) is how 99% of seed rounds are done. We explain the "Valuation Cap" and "Discount.".
Ads get expensive. Communities get stronger. We analyze whether you should build your user group on Slack (Professional), Discord (Chaotic), or Circle (Clean).
You have a Board of Investors. You need a Board of Customers. Learn how to recruit 10 "VIP" users who guide your product roadmap (for free).
AI killed the "I saw you went to X university" intro. It looks fake. In 2026, "Relevance" beats "Personalization." Here is the new playbook.
You can't sell to a company. You sell to a person. Learn how to identify and arm your "Champion" to fight procurement and get your deal signed.
Most demos are boring "Feature Tours." "Here is the dashboard... here is the settings." Stop. Read this script to turn your demo into a gripping story.
Investors will say No. Customers will say No. Even your Mom might doubt you. Here is how to turn "No" into "Not Yet" without losing your mind.
70% of high-achievers feel like "fakes" who will be exposed. If you feel like a child wearing a CEO costume, read this. It is a feature, not a bug.
Firing is the hardest thing you will do. Most founders seek to avoid it, which kills the company. Here is exactly what to say to do it with dignity.
If you try to replicate the office on Zoom, you will fail. Learn "Async-First" management. Write more, talk less, and trust your team.
Founders share the wins, not the panic attacks. Founder depression is an epidemic. We discuss the signs, the "Trough of Sorrow," and how to survive.
You are not Google. You will mess up the encryption. Use Auth0, Clerk, or Supabase. We explain why "Not Invented Here" syndrome kills startups.
AWS is powerful but complex. Vercel is easy but expensive at scale. We break down the trade-offs so you don't get a $5,000 surprise bill.
Engineers want perfect code. Founders want shipped code. The answer is in the middle. Here is how to manage "good enough" code without crashing.
Google uses Microservices. You are not Google. Microservices add network latency and complexity. Learn why the "Modular Monolith" is king.
Docs are not "extra work." They are leverage. Good docs stop you from answering the same question 50 times. Here is what to document.
Everyone is building "ChatGPT for X." Are these businesses doomed? We analyze the "Wrapper" business model and how to survive OpenAI crushing you.
Should you pay OpenAI or host Llama yourself? The answer depends on your need for Privacy, Cost, and Intelligence. We break down the math.
Europe creates rules. Startups ignore them. Then get fined. Here is the 10-minute guide to not getting sued by the EU, without reading legal jargon.
It is the document nobody reads. But it protects you from lawsuits when a user does something stupid. Here is what to include.
Tax law is boring. Being rich is fun. If you want to raise money, you act one way. If you want cash flow, you act another. Choose wisely.
Turning the background black is ugly. Real Dark Mode uses "Elevations" of gray. We explain why #000000 is forbidden and how to make your UI pop.
When a user signs up, your app is empty. It looks broken. Don't show "No Data." Show them how to GET data. We design the "Zero Data" state.
Menus are slow. Search is fast. Why every modern SaaS (Linear, Raycast, Slack) uses a "Cmd+K" interface to let power users fly.
A spinner says "Wait." A skeleton says "It is coming." We explain the psychology of perceived performance and Optimistic UI.
Success! Error! Warning! Apps talk to us constantly. Learn the rules of "Ephemeral" UI—what to show, where to show it, and when to shut up.
You built it. You grew it. Now you want to sell it. We explain the process of listing on Acquire.com, finding buyers, and getting the best multiple.
You got an offer! Now the buyer sends in the auditors. If you fail Due Diligence, the deal dies. Here is the checklist to prepare.
You received a Letter of Intent (LOI). It looks official. But it is non-binding. We explain the traps in the LOI and what to negotiate.
"We will pay you $5M now and $5M if you hit targets next year." Danger. Earnouts rarely pay out in full. Here is how to protect yourself.
You have $5M in the bank. Why are you crying? Post-Exit depression is real. You lost your identity (Founder). Here is how to rebuild.
The Startup Launchpad Playbook: What Founders Should Do First — a founder-first guide to launch platforms, discovery, and SEO-ready reviews that compound beyond launch day.
Product Launch Platforms: How Founders Choose the Right Launchpad — a founder-first guide to launch platforms, discovery, and SEO-ready reviews that compound beyond launch day.
Startup Discovery Platforms: How to Get Found by the Right Users — a founder-first guide to launch platforms, discovery, and SEO-ready reviews that compound beyond launch day.
Tech Curation Sites That Actually Send Qualified Users — a founder-first guide to launch platforms, discovery, and SEO-ready reviews that compound beyond launch day.
Product Hunt Alternative: A Launch That Keeps Compounding — a founder-first guide to launch platforms, discovery, and SEO-ready reviews that compound beyond launch day.
BetaList Alternative: Launch Faster, Rank Longer — a founder-first guide to launch platforms, discovery, and SEO-ready reviews that compound beyond launch day.
AppSumo Alternative: Revenue Without a Race to the Bottom — a founder-first guide to launch platforms, discovery, and SEO-ready reviews that compound beyond launch day.
Startup Directories List: Where Founders Get Durable SEO — a founder-first guide to launch platforms, discovery, and SEO-ready reviews that compound beyond launch day.
Places to Launch a Startup: The Modern Founder Stack — a founder-first guide to launch platforms, discovery, and SEO-ready reviews that compound beyond launch day.
Best Places to Launch a Product in 2026 — a founder-first guide to launch platforms, discovery, and SEO-ready reviews that compound beyond launch day.
Startup Launch Checklist: SEO + AEO in 7 Steps — a founder-first guide to launch platforms, discovery, and SEO-ready reviews that compound beyond launch day.
Launch Platform Directory: How to Pick the Right One — a founder-first guide to launch platforms, discovery, and SEO-ready reviews that compound beyond launch day.
Startup Submission Sites That Are Worth It — a founder-first guide to launch platforms, discovery, and SEO-ready reviews that compound beyond launch day.
Startup Promotion Sites for Founder-Led Growth — a founder-first guide to launch platforms, discovery, and SEO-ready reviews that compound beyond launch day.
Where to Launch an App in 2026 (Without Burning Budget) — a founder-first guide to launch platforms, discovery, and SEO-ready reviews that compound beyond launch day.
Launch Your Startup Without Product Hunt: The Founder Path — a founder-first guide to launch platforms, discovery, and SEO-ready reviews that compound beyond launch day.
Founder-Led Launch Platforms: Why Peer Trust Wins — a founder-first guide to launch platforms, discovery, and SEO-ready reviews that compound beyond launch day.
Startup Review Platforms: The Trust Layer for SEO — a founder-first guide to launch platforms, discovery, and SEO-ready reviews that compound beyond launch day.
Startup Recommendations Platforms: The Network Effect for SEO — a founder-first guide to launch platforms, discovery, and SEO-ready reviews that compound beyond launch day.
Launchpad for SaaS: How to Build Compounding Discovery — a founder-first guide to launch platforms, discovery, and SEO-ready reviews that compound beyond launch day.
Early Adopter Platforms That Deliver Real Feedback — a founder-first guide to launch platforms, discovery, and SEO-ready reviews that compound beyond launch day.
Tech Product Launch Sites That Keep Ranking — a founder-first guide to launch platforms, discovery, and SEO-ready reviews that compound beyond launch day.
Startup Curation Directory: Visibility Beyond Launch Day — a founder-first guide to launch platforms, discovery, and SEO-ready reviews that compound beyond launch day.
Startup Launch Communities That Actually Convert — a founder-first guide to launch platforms, discovery, and SEO-ready reviews that compound beyond launch day.
Product Launch Marketing Strategy for SEO + AEO — a founder-first guide to launch platforms, discovery, and SEO-ready reviews that compound beyond launch day.
SEO for Startup Launches: The Durable Visibility Play — a founder-first guide to launch platforms, discovery, and SEO-ready reviews that compound beyond launch day.
AEO for Startup Launches: How to Be Cited by AI — a founder-first guide to launch platforms, discovery, and SEO-ready reviews that compound beyond launch day.
Startup Backlinks Directory: A Founder’s Shortcut to Authority — a founder-first guide to launch platforms, discovery, and SEO-ready reviews that compound beyond launch day.
Launch Distribution Channels That Compound — a founder-first guide to launch platforms, discovery, and SEO-ready reviews that compound beyond launch day.
Best Launch Platforms 2026: A Founder’s Shortlist — a founder-first guide to launch platforms, discovery, and SEO-ready reviews that compound beyond launch day.
A founder-first breakdown of the top launch platforms and when to use each one in 2026.
A complete list of launch directories, communities, publications, and crowdfunding sites for founders in 2026.