Here's how my side-project became the #2 product of the day on Product Hunt

I launched version 2.0 of my side-project Product Disrupt on Product Hunt this Easter Monday and with the love and support from the community, it became the #2 product of the day with 649 upvotes.

For some context, I've been running this website and the newsletter for almost 3 years now and have grown the number of subscribers to 2500 over the years.

Now, let me share some launch day numbers for Product Disrupt 2.0 with you:

🥈 #2 on Product Hunt with 649 upvotes
💙 21.5k tweet impressions
📈 3k pageviews
👪 248 new subscribers
❤️ $20 donation

Here's how it rolled out:

Step 1
Firstly, I built the product in public by creating a thread of updates on Twitter and by telling my friends that I'm working on it. I got derailed from the project a few times but my people kept me motivated. Public accountability works.

Step 2
A day before the launch, I messaged a few close friends saying that I'm launching tomorrow and would need their support. I also scheduled an email to the audience of Product Disrupt Newsletter. I scheduled the launch for 00:05 PST, set an alarm and went to sleep.

Step 3
Immediately after launching, I announced it on my social feeds – Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram & Dribbble. Here's the announcement tweet.

Step 4
I posted about the launch in online communities for designers & makers. I've been an active member of these communities for quite some time and have found great support.

• Designers Guild on Facebook
• Indie Hackers & Designer News
• Slack communities for designers

Step 5
I sent out personal messages to the friends I've been in touch with recently and those who are active online, politely asking them if they would take a look at Product Disrupt and upvote it.

Step 6
I reached out to those who've been featured on Product Disrupt asking them if they could take a look and share feedback if any. I'd no intention of generating any traction from this but just to let them know that their work has inspired me & helped me become a better designer.

Step 7
And lastly, I remained actively engaged with the Product Hunt community. Responding to their messages, collecting their feedback and appreciating their support.

Product Disrupt is on 933 upvotes as I write this. If things go well, it could even notch a decent weekly ranking.

I'm grateful for your love and support. I'm going to continue investing more time in creating content and products that help fellow creatives make a career in design.

If you find my work useful and would like to support me, you could buy me an ice-cream here 🍨

Feel free to ask any questions in the comments. I would be happy to share any insights that I've gained.