Hi guys,
I had my first launch last Monday, and frankly, I find the results a bit underwhelming, considering all the preparation, time, and effort the team and I put into it.
While we did get some valuable insights, stress-tested the application performance, and received a fair share of support (a huge thank you for that to everyone involved π! ), our upvote count is one of the lowest per day.
This makes me wonder about the cause(s) and what our takeaways should be.
#1 Mistake I Can Think Of: Launch Timing
Scheduling the launch for 00:07 (mostly for fun) seems like a misstep. Apparently, most launches happen at 00:00. This put us at the bottom of the list from the beginning, even during the crucial first few hours when votes are hidden ("to give equal opportunity to everyone"). People would have had to scroll all the way down to see the project, putting us at a disadvantage.
I thought Product Hunt would randomize and mix up the top 5 projects shown in the early hours for equal exposure. Apparently, that's not the case.
So, we ended up at the bottom of the list for the rest of the day. I can't help but feel we definitely missed out on visibility during this launch.
#2 Complex Product / Unclear Value Proposition
From what I've seen, brand-new product launches that perform best have something in common - they focus on a single, clear value proposition a.k.a meant to do just one thing. We, on the other hand, have a complex many-featured product and this complexity might have made it harder for us to transmit, and for other hunters to grasp its core benefit.
#3 Product is not relevant (enough)?
Our products are our babies and we tend to love them unconditionally. So I'm obviously biased here... but, as with any launch, there's always the possibility that the product itself might not resonate with the target audience. While we haven't received direct criticism, I'd love to hear some honest feedback on this. While might be tough to digest, that's what helps us improve and iterate.
So I'm asking for your critical opinion. What do you think could be improved about the Macula launch:
https://www.producthunt.com/post... launch ?
Is it the issue of the presentation, the product itself, or just tough luck?
Or, perhaps a combo of all the above? π€ Please share your thoughts!
P.S. I hope these observations will also help others with their upcoming PH launches. Let's all crush it next time! π