Run a Product Hunt launch playbook

Description

You are launching on Product Hunt in 3-4 weeks and your previous attempt got 20 upvotes because you hit publish and hoped. This builds the launch playbook — hunter selection, pre-launch audience warming, launch-day shift schedule, asset checklist — so the launch produces real signal instead of embarrassment.

You are planning a Product Hunt launch for {{product_name}}. Launch target date: {{target_date}}. Audience I currently have access to: {{audience_details}}.

## T-minus 4 weeks — Foundations

### Hunter selection
- Do you need an external hunter? (Optional but historically useful.)
- If yes: who's a credible Product Hunt hunter in your space and how would you approach them?
- If no: build your personal Product Hunt account credibility (comment on 3-5 launches weekly).

### Asset preparation
- Tagline (8-10 words, clear benefit)
- Gallery: 4-6 images including GIF/video of core interaction
- Description paragraph
- First comment (the long form pitch)

## T-minus 3 weeks — Audience warming

### Email list segmentation
- Core advocates who will vote on launch day
- Prospects who'd benefit
- Broader list (they get a soft announcement)

### Social runway
- 2-3 teaser posts with screenshots
- Behind-the-scenes content
- Build momentum without revealing the PH launch date

## T-minus 1 week — Final prep

### Launch-day checklist
- Launch at 12:01am PT (Pacific time — PH day starts then)
- First comment posted within 5 minutes of launch
- Team assigned to monitor and respond to every comment within 1 hour

### Shift schedule
| Time | Owner | Action |
|------|-------|--------|
| 12:01am-2am PT | founder | post + first 10 comments |
| 2am-6am PT | co-founder/early hire | continuing engagement |
| 6am-noon PT | everyone | sharing, responding, voting activation |
| noon-5pm PT | marketing lead | press + social |

## Launch day — Execution rules
- Don't ask for upvotes directly (violates PH policy)
- Share with existing audiences with a personal note
- Respond to every comment personally, especially critical ones
- Keep posting new content throughout the day (updates, funny asides)

## Output
1. Asset checklist with owner per item
2. 4-week calendar with key milestones
3. Launch-day shift schedule
4. The single biggest risk that could tank the launch and the mitigation
5. Post-launch followup plan for the top 10 commenters

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