From Underdog to Top 3 — My Second Product Hunt Launch with Z3D
For Z3D’s Vortex Release, we shot from underdog to Top 3 on Product Hunt—without a hunter and without a huge following. Here’s what actually worked.
🚀 Introduction
My first Product Hunt launch landed Z3D at #9—exciting, but just shy of being featured. This time, I was determined to break into the top ranks. With sharper prep and a stronger crew, we made it to #3—no hunter required. Here’s what mattered most.
🎯 Key Strategies
1. Building a Support Network
No influencer? No problem. I rallied friends and volunteers across Europe, Asia, and the US to keep the buzz going around the clock. Prepping the team with clear roles and a shared goal made all the difference—especially on Discord, which became our launch HQ.
2. Leveraging Niche Communities
Goldmine: Discord, WhatsApp groups, and Reddit threads filled with Product Hunt fans. A simple, direct call-to-action (with the correct launch link) sparked a surge of upvotes. Lesson: meet your people where they already hang out.
3. Preparing Launch Assets
The first hours are chaos. I prepped everything—tweets, LinkedIn, Discord pings, emails, and a checklist of contacts. When we went live, it was plug-and-play: drop the launch URL, hit send, and spend the rest of the time engaging with early supporters.
4. Engaging Your Community
I DM’d everyone in Discord, even people I hadn’t met before: “Launching today—can you help?” It worked. As ranks shifted, I posted real-time updates so supporters felt like part of the campaign. By late afternoon, a five-vote gap separated #2 from #4. Every vote counted.
5. Staying Resilient
Product Hunt is a 24-hour marathon. Last time, I obsessed over vote swings and burned out. This time, I cleared my schedule, paced myself, and shook off dips. When we dropped to #4 mid-morning, I kept going. By midnight, we’d climbed back to #3.
👏 Crew Shout-Outs
This win belongs to our stellar crew—friends, volunteers, and Discord champs who shared, voted, and cheered us up the leaderboard:
- Tong Hu
- Peng Bo
- Jenny Zheng
- Adrian Maczek
- And You: Your support turned this launch into a shared win!
You all made this possible. Thank you!
📝 Lessons Learned
- Prep saves sanity: Pre-made assets and a plan keep you focused.
- Every vote counts: Single digits decided our rank—no outreach was too small.
- Community is everything: Personal DMs turn strangers into allies.
- Stay chill: Early ups and downs don’t define the day—just keep pushing.
- Logo trick: A GIF logo (mini-slideshow) can showcase your product’s magic right on the leaderboard.
💡 Final Thoughts
Hitting #3 was thrilling, exhausting, and humbling. This launch taught me to trust my community, lean on prep, and keep going through chaos. If you’re launching: don’t overthink the playbook. Be real, rally your people, and let them rally back. That’s the magic.
📚 Attributions
Inspired by: