Why we might stop with Product Hunt
Hi IndieHackers,
On 1 March 2022, we launched our update on Producthunt: https://www.producthunt.com/posts/payrequest-4-0-1
the numbers are disappointing:
- 15 Upvotes
- 1 reply (but from a loyal customer)
- And not much traffic/conversions (we still investigate these numbers)
What we did to promote and try to make our launch successful:
- create a custom logo
- create custom screenshots
- write a nice first reply
- use our 3 Twitter accounts (2000+ followers together)
- send an email to 6000+ businesses
- promote it on Facebook groups & other platforms.
We have come to the conclusion that it takes too much energy & time to set up a product hunt launch, in the future, we will spend our energy and time on more important tasks from which we get enough recognition and growth.
we are still grateful for our previous launches which have yielded enough interaction and good feedback.
Maybe we did something wrong on our end, if someone has feedback we love to hear it.
Trending on Indie Hackers
I read this: "Today we launched PayRequest Update 4, we worked months to add PayPal but also features like Products and TAX are worth checking out!
So what's new in Update 4:
..."
What's missing?
This ---> What is PayRequest? I have no clue, and if I don't use it, and you don't explain what it is, why would I care to read more or click or upvote it?
It's almost as if you assumed your customers were all PHers and know your product.
My 2c, hope it helps!
You are right, we had to explain this.
Thanks for your feedback!
PH discoverability is low. Even for someone with time to explore. It is like trying to buy a bottle of wine on an ecommerce site, with no catalog, no filters, no grouping. Takes forever wading thru the list, scrolling scrolling scrolling. Plus inconsistent tagging + stale data choking the list. A mess. It use to be a great launch pad but its now so gamed/who-you-know. Even as 'product featured on PH' position - who cares. Just tells me, you got gamed. IndieHacker discoverability is much better and feedback has much greater cred. ChatGPT launched in 'research preview' mode. This for me is far more effective than fake upvotes on PH. I purchased a plus subscription on chatGPT after 2 days of use. I never purchase subscriptions as hate the model. Why: 2 days i was hooked. the value is extraordinary. 14 days trial dont work for me, as it makes me feel forced. must do it by x days. I buy an app a week typically in my research periods. I want to be able to play etc.. If you cannot offer what chatGPT did free access, unlimited, then consider providing a Lab. A simulated environment - configured with context (data). Much easier for SMEs, individuals to quickly test and yes/no.
To do a successful PH launch you need to dm at least 50 friends asking for feedback on the post. Half will do it.
15 upvotes means you didn't take it seriously (just being candid), google how to do a PH launch.