We hit #3 on our first launch, and I want to share my takeaways with you all!

Hi everyone, I'm Shane. Yesterday, we launched Codebay on Product Hunt and secured the #3. Thank you very, very much, as well as Product Hunt! I've had quite an experience, and today, I'm excited to share it with all of you. Firstly, about this launch—our performance wasn't exceptionally outstanding, given the many top-ranked product makers in the community. However, it exceeded our expectations. Codebay operates with a small team, and it's worth mentioning that I officially registered on Product Hunt just a month ago. So, until the launch day, I didn't have many followers or points. Moreover, our product was making its debut, with no established user base. As mentioned in the previous Launch Day post, we only had 35 notified users before the launch. Now, let's delve into what we did right that surpassed our expectations: 1. Seizing the 4-hour window right after launch As we all know, in the initial 4 hours after launch, products are displayed randomly. This is critical because after this period, products are arranged based on votes and comments. If your product isn't visible initially, it might not get the attention it deserves. During these crucial 4 hours, I actively engaged in the community and notified Hunters who had previously shown interest in Codebay. It's essential to refrain from buying votes or using unfair means to campaign. Additionally, gaining as many supporters as possible in the beginning ensures that more of your target users see the product and provide valuable feedback. At the end of these 4 hours, we secured 52 votes and were ranked #7. While relieved to be in the top ten, I noticed that some products ahead had significantly more votes, with others closely trailing behind. 2. The product itself and promotion After the initial 4 hours, we had no external resources to seek help. The competition thereafter hinges on the product's strength and presentation. Some other products, like ours, exhausted their initial support within the first 4 hours. Consequently, there was minimal change in votes and comments until the morning when Hunters began selecting their favorites. This is when we pleasantly discovered Codebay was gaining votes at an accelerated pace! If you have confidence in your product, showcase it on the presentation page. Highlight its selling points, features, and articulate the design philosophy. These aspects resonate with the audience. It's crucial to design the presentation page well because, from the final data, fewer people downloaded the app than those who voted for us. Not everyone experiences your product; some may only watch the demo video or visit the website for a general understanding. Emphasizing this doesn't mean presentation is more critical than the product itself! The creativity and quality of the product are paramount. 3. The whole team being responsive in a timely manner: IIn the 24 hours post-launch, aside from being nervous, we were extremely busy! Our technical team monitored for any unexpected issues, and we responded promptly to all product comments. During the release, we encountered some minor incidents, such as OpenAI's API going down, and our AI assistant relying on their service. We had to make urgent adjustments. Despite our small team, everyone showed great cohesion and contributed to the smooth launch on release day. So, what did this launch bring us? 1. A wealth of valuable feedback Truly, thank you so much. Many people left comments, not just congratulating us, but also providing ideas or suggestions for our product. This is the most valuable thing we gained this time, even more valuable than the #3 ranking. 2. Some app activations and conversions Since our target user group on Product Hunt is limited, the actual traffic wasn't extremely high. Nevertheless, it was enough for us to conduct some data analysis and determine the direction for the next iteration. 3. Confidence for ongoing efforts Growing from #7 to #3 this time gave us tremendous encouragement, making us believe that our efforts are on the right track. I'm grateful to all of you in the PH community. While Codebay still has many shortcomings, everyone is so kind! A successful launch on Product Hunt is just the beginning. Don't expect to sit on this achievement and gain traffic. But it serves as proof and motivation for our efforts. We will continue to work hard! Finally, if you missed our launch yesterday and are interested in Codebay, feel free to check out our product, experience it, and give us some suggestions! https://www.producthunt.com/posts/codebay