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Launch guide · Updated 2026

How to launch your product and get found

A practical playbook for founders launching AI tools and digital products. Use EarlyHunt as your weekly launch home base, stack directories for long-tail SEO, and structure content for search engines and AI answers—not just a one-day spike.

Submit your projectRead the 5-phase playbook

What a real launch should deliver

High-intent traffic for a week, durable discovery for months. This guide is built around outcomes—not vanity launch day numbers.

Backlinks that compound

Dofollow links from EarlyHunt (premium or winners), launch blog posts, and directory listings strengthen domain authority over time.

Social proof you can reuse

Winner badges, vote counts, and “featured on EarlyHunt” copy lift conversion on your homepage and sales pages.

A repeatable playbook

The same five-phase process works for v1 launches, feature releases, and one-time premium relaunches.

The 5-phase launch playbook

Repeat this sequence for every major release. Each phase includes a checklist you can copy into Notion or your issue tracker.

01

Position & prepare assets

Clarify who you serve, nail your one-liner, and ship listing-ready assets before you touch any platform.

  • Write a 10–200 character tagline that states outcome, not features
  • Draft a 400+ word description: problem → solution → who it's for → proof
  • Prepare logo (square), hero screenshot, and 2–5 product screenshots
  • Confirm website URL works on mobile; fix broken flows and 404s
  • Pick 1–3 accurate categories (avoid keyword stuffing)
  • Set up analytics (Plausible, GA4, or PostHog) with UTM parameters ready

Pro tip: Use EarlyHunt AI autofill from your URL, then edit every field—autofill saves time but you should own the final copy.

02

Optimize for search & AI answers

Structure your site and EarlyHunt listing so Google and AI assistants can cite you correctly.

  • Unique meta title and description on your homepage
  • Clear H1 + subhead on your landing page matching your launch pitch
  • Add Organization / SoftwareApplication JSON-LD on your site
  • Use plain language FAQs on your site (mirrors what people ask ChatGPT)
  • Link to your EarlyHunt project page from your site footer or /press page
  • Keep pricing, features, and screenshots consistent everywhere

Pro tip: Answer engines pull from pages with explicit facts—dates, pricing, integrations, and comparisons perform best.

03

Schedule your EarlyHunt launch week

Submit, pass review, and land on a Monday 8:00 AM UTC week when you're ready to promote for seven days.

  • Choose launch type: Free (badge), Nofollow (no badge), or Premium ($19 dofollow + blog)
  • Select a launch week with open slots (premium is not capped like free slots)
  • Complete backlink verification if you chose Free launch
  • Double-check maker name, social handles, and website URL
  • Plan launch-day posts for X, LinkedIn, and communities you already have
  • Brief your team on voting rules—authentic engagement only

Pro tip: Premium launches skip the weekly slot queue, get dofollow immediately, and unlock launch blog + social posts after the week ends.

04

Stack distribution beyond EarlyHunt

One homepage feature is not a go-to-market plan—layer directories and communities for compounding reach.

  • Submit to Product Hunt, BetaList, and 5–10 niche directories from our 100+ list
  • Cross-post to Indie Hackers, relevant subreddits, and your email list
  • Share your EarlyHunt project URL—not only your homepage—so votes count
  • Repurpose launch copy into a short thread and one LinkedIn post
  • Ask partners or beta users for honest votes and feedback during the week
  • Mirror listings on partner platforms (IndieHunt, Aura++, MakerHunt, etc.)

Pro tip: Stagger heavy platforms by 24–48 hours so you can support each launch with real replies and updates.

05

Engage, measure, and follow up

The week after launch is where backlinks, blog posts, and retargeting pay off—don't go silent on day two.

  • Reply to every comment on EarlyHunt and social posts within 24 hours
  • Track signups, trials, and top referrers via UTM (`?utm_source=earlyhunt`)
  • Thank voters and supporters publicly—it encourages more organic shares
  • If you didn't place top 3, consider a one-time premium relaunch on EarlyHunt
  • Publish a short “what we learned” post while traffic is warm
  • Add winner badge to your site if you placed in the top 3

Pro tip: Launch blog posts and dofollow links go live after your week ends—use that content in outreach and newsletter follow-ups.

EarlyHunt launch types explained

Pick the tier that matches your SEO goals and budget. All types get the same homepage exposure during your launch week.

Free launch

$0

Badge
Required on your site
Backlink
Nofollow by default; dofollow if you win top 3
Weekly slots
Counts toward 15 free slots per week

Best when: You can add an EarlyHunt link on your site and want zero cost exposure.

Nofollow launch

$0

Badge
Not required
Backlink
Always nofollow (even if you win)
Weekly slots
Counts toward 15 free slots per week

Best when: You want free visibility without placing a badge.

Premium launch

$19 one-time

Badge
Not required
Backlink
Guaranteed dofollow immediately
Weekly slots
Unlimited—does not consume free weekly slots

Best when: You want SEO certainty, launch blog coverage, and social promotion without waiting to win.

Compare pricing details on our pricing page.

Your launch week on EarlyHunt

Launches run Monday 8:00 AM UTC through the following Sunday. Plan promotion around this rhythm—not a random calendar day.

  1. 1

    Before Monday 8:00 AM UTC

    Scheduled

    Project approved and queued. Polish your page, line up social posts, and test signup flow.

  2. 2

    Monday 8:00 AM UTC → Sunday

    Live on homepage

    Seven days on EarlyHunt's weekly board. Community discovery and voting are open.

  3. 3

    Following Monday ~8:00 AM UTC

    Week ends & winners

    Top 3 by votes earn badges; free launches may upgrade to dofollow. Status moves to launched.

  4. 4

    After launch week

    Evergreen + premium extras

    Project page stays live. Premium gets launch blog post and social posts via our channels.

Pre-launch checklist

Complete these before you hit submit. Most failed launches are asset or funnel problems, not platform problems.

  • ✓Landing page loads in under 3 seconds on mobile
  • ✓Primary CTA above the fold (signup, waitlist, or purchase)
  • ✓Privacy policy and terms linked if you collect emails or payments
  • ✓Open Graph image set for social shares (1200×630)
  • ✓One demo video or GIF embedded or linked
  • ✓Founder / maker profile filled out on EarlyHunt
  • ✓Email capture or onboarding tested end-to-end
  • ✓Press kit or `/launch` page with logos and screenshots (optional but high leverage)

Expand distribution

After EarlyHunt, submit to additional launch sites and directories. Our curated list saves hours of research.

Browse 90+ places to launch your startup →

Where to launch besides EarlyHunt

EarlyHunt is your weekly launch hub. These partner-style platforms complement it with different audiences and evergreen listings.

EarlyHunt

Visit

Weekly launch platform for AI products and digital tools—competitions, backlinks, and launch blog coverage.

Best for: AI SaaS, dev tools, and digital products seeking SEO + community votes

IndieHunt

Visit

Indie and AI product launches with weekly visibility and builder audience.

Best for: Indie makers shipping AI or software products

Aura++

Visit

Launch platform with backlinks, badges, blog posts, and social amplification.

Best for: Products that want broad launch + SEO lift

Uno Directory

Visit

Evergreen directory for productivity and creative tools.

Best for: Productivity, design, and creative SaaS

MakerHunt

Visit

Maker-focused launches for builders who ship in public.

Best for: Solo founders and small teams

SideHunt

Visit

Friendly home for side projects, MVPs, and weekend ships.

Best for: MVPs, experiments, and side projects

Optimize for Google and for AI answers

Buyers increasingly research tools inside ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini—not only blue links. Classic SEO gets you ranked; Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) gets you cited inside those answers.

SEO essentials

  • • Unique title tags and meta descriptions per page
  • • Dofollow links from trusted launch domains (EarlyHunt premium or winners)
  • • Launch blog post indexed with internal links to your site
  • • Consistent NAP-style facts: name, URL, pricing, category

AEO essentials

  • • FAQ sections with direct Q→A pairs (on your site and EarlyHunt page)
  • • JSON-LD: Organization, SoftwareApplication, FAQPage
  • • “Ask AI about this project” links on EarlyHunt project pages
  • • Directory listings so models see you in multiple trusted sources

Common launch mistakes

Launching before the product works

Fix: Run 5–10 user tests first. A broken signup flow wastes your one shot at homepage traffic.

Copy-pasting the same paragraph everywhere

Fix: Tailor the hook per platform; keep facts consistent but angle the story to each audience.

Ignoring the launch week after day one

Fix: Schedule reminders to reply, post updates, and ask for feedback mid-week—not only at launch.

Expecting viral traffic from a single directory

Fix: Treat EarlyHunt as the hub; stack directories, communities, and email for compounding visits.

Skipping structured data and FAQs

Fix: Add JSON-LD and FAQ content on your site so AI search can cite you after the launch buzz fades.

Frequently asked questions

High-intent answers for founders planning an EarlyHunt launch.

When does my project go live on EarlyHunt?+

Launches start every Monday at 8:00 AM UTC and run for seven days. Your project appears on the homepage during that window, then remains on its permanent project page after the week ends.

What's the difference between Free, Nofollow, and Premium?+

Free requires an EarlyHunt link on your site and gives a nofollow backlink unless you win top 3. Nofollow is free without a badge but stays nofollow even if you win. Premium is $19 one-time: guaranteed dofollow backlink, no badge, launch blog post, social promotion, and unlimited weekly slot access.

How do I win the weekly competition?+

Top 3 projects by upvotes at the end of the launch week win badges and—on Free and Premium launches—dofollow backlink upgrades. Share your EarlyHunt project URL, engage your audience authentically, and deliver a product people want to recommend.

Should I launch on Product Hunt and EarlyHunt?+

Yes, if both audiences fit. Product Hunt reaches a broad product-loving crowd; EarlyHunt is optimized for AI and digital products with weekly SEO and community mechanics. Stagger by a few days so you can support each launch properly.

What is AEO and why does it matter for launches?+

Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is structuring content so AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity can cite your product accurately. Pair classic SEO (titles, backlinks, schema) with clear FAQs, consistent facts, and listings on trusted directories—including your EarlyHunt project page.

Can I relaunch if I don't win?+

On EarlyHunt, eligible projects that complete a launch week without placing top 3 may relaunch once as Premium ($19), keeping existing votes and upgrading to full premium benefits. Check your dashboard Relaunch tab for eligibility.

How many other platforms should I submit to?+

Start with EarlyHunt plus 5–10 high-fit directories (see our 100+ launch places list). Prioritize platforms where your ICP already browses—quality and fit beat raw volume.

What results should I expect in the first 30 days?+

Week one: direct traffic, votes, and referral spikes from social. Weeks 2–4: SEO signals from dofollow links and launch blog indexing. Months 2–6: compounding directory traffic and AI citations if your site stays structured and updated.

Ready to launch on EarlyHunt?

Submit your project, pick your launch week, and run the playbook above.

Launch on EarlyHuntRead full FAQ