Stop launching on Product Hunt primarily for SEO the website links are often nofollow

A lot of indie founders still tell me they are launching on Product Hunt for the backlink. I used to say the same thing. Then I checked what the website field actually passes.

On Product Hunt the outbound website links are often nofollow. You can still get traffic and social proof. You should not plan that page as your main SEO move. If the goal is a lasting dofollow URL plus a week to talk to people, a weekly board with clear Premium rules is a different tool.

IndieHunt is the Monday to Monday board I run for indie SaaS and AI. Free has limits. Premium is about 19 dollars one time with guaranteed dofollow, ads that week, and a lasting launch page. On Product Hunt Alternatives I score launch boards only so people stop mixing directories into the SEO story. Directories and hunt boards get separated on purpose.

I still use Product Hunt when the story is ready. I just stopped pretending it was my link building day. Warm up and dofollow elsewhere. Spike for attention when the one liner already survived quieter comments.

Are you launching for traffic this week, for a backlink, or for both and hoping one form does both jobs?