Launch Playbooks

A launch post is the first public announcement of a product. It's the Reddit thread, the Hacker News submission, the Product Hunt listing, or the tweet that introduces your product to the world. For indie hackers and solo founders, the launch post is often the single most important piece of marketing they'll ever write.

We break down real launch posts from founders who actually got results. Not the polished case studies you read on SaaS blogs. The raw posts, with real engagement numbers, real comments, and real outcomes. You can see exactly what they wrote, which platform they chose, and what happened after launch.

What makes a launch post work

After analyzing hundreds of launch posts, patterns emerge. The posts that work best lead with the problem, not the product. They use specific language that the target audience recognizes. They include a working demo or free tier, not just a landing page. And they're posted in communities where the target customer already hangs out.

The worst launch posts read like press releases. The best launch posts read like a conversation. They say "I built this because I was frustrated with X" and let the audience decide if they feel the same way.

Where to launch your product

Reddit remains one of the best launch platforms for indie products, but only if you pick the right subreddit and follow community norms. Product Hunt works best for polished products with strong visuals. Hacker News rewards technical depth and novel approaches. The right channel depends on your product and your audience, and these breakdowns help you see what worked for products similar to yours.