How I Reached Product Hunt Top Slot

How I Reached Product Hunt #1

Lessons from launching Sublime Tutor

The Launch

On June 18, 2016, I launched Sublime Tutor on Product Hunt. By the end of the day, it had climbed to the #1 spot. Here's what I learned from the experience.

Preparation

Weeks before the launch, I focused on:

  • Polish: Made sure the product was rock solid with no obvious bugs
  • Documentation: Created clear, visual documentation
  • GIF: Recorded a compelling demo GIF showing the product in action
  • Timing: Chose a Tuesday (statistically good for launches)

Launch Day

The key activities on launch day:

  1. Posted early in the morning (PST timezone)
  2. Shared on Twitter, Reddit, and relevant Slack communities
  3. Responded to every comment on Product Hunt
  4. Engaged authentically—no fake accounts or bought votes

What Worked

The product filled a genuine gap. Developers immediately understood the value proposition: "vimtutor for Sublime Text." The clear positioning made it easy to share.

The Results

  • #1 Product of the Day
  • 5,000+ upvotes
  • Coverage in developer newsletters
  • Sustained growth in Package Control installs

The best marketing is a great product that solves a real problem.

Documents

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