Quick Reference
| Topic | File | Key Trap |
|---|
| ------- | ------ | ---------- |
| Launch execution | launch.md | Wrong launch time (not 12:01 AM PT) |
| Hunting products | hunting.md | Hunting without maker coordination |
| Competitive research | research.md | Treating upvotes as validation |
| Engagement rules | engagement.md | Vote manipulation detection |
Critical Launch Traps
Timing:
- Launch window: 12:01 AM to 11:59 PM Pacific Time — not your timezone
- Best days: Tuesday-Thursday. Mondays = catch-up mode, Fridays = weekend mode
- First 4-6 hours determine ranking trajectory — front-load your promotion
Assets (exact specs matter):
- Gallery images: 1270x760px — first image is EVERYTHING
- GIF/video dramatically outperforms static images (<30 seconds)
- Logo: 240x240px
- Tagline: 60 chars max, no buzzwords ("revolutionary", "AI-powered" = instant skip)
Maker Comment:
- Personal story, not corporate pitch — PH community is indie-friendly
- Why you built it, what problem you personally faced
- Update throughout the day with new info
First Paragraph Gets Truncated:
- Hook must be in first sentence — longer descriptions cut off in feed
Hunter Reputation System
Building Credibility:
- Quality over volume — 5 great hunts > 20 mediocre ones
- Each flop damages future hunt performance
- Top hunters have followers who get notified — real distribution advantage
- Hunt without maker coordination = product has bugs on launch day
Hunter Mechanics:
- Anyone can post, but established hunters have amplification
- Getting "Featured" is editor's pick — massive visibility boost
- Collections extend long-tail traffic beyond launch day
Engagement Anti-Patterns
What Gets Detected & Penalized:
- Multiple upvotes from same IP/device → shadowbanned votes
- Burst of upvotes from new accounts → astroturfing pattern
- Upvote circles (same 50 people always vote each other)
- External vote exchange groups (PH actively monitors Slack/Discord)
- Asking for upvotes in comment threads → public callout
What Looks Spammy:
- Copy-paste comments across products
- Generic "Congrats!" with no substance
- Mass DMs to makers
- Defensive/hostile responses to criticism
Competitive Intelligence Limits
Model Blind Spots — Don't Trust:
- Upvotes ≠ users ≠ paying customers (zero correlation)
- 80%+ of "Product of the Day" winners are dead within 2 years
- PH audience = indie hackers, designers, early adopters — NOT enterprise
- High upvotes + low comments often = gamed launch
Useful Signals:
- Comment sentiment reveals real user feedback
- "I wish it had..." patterns = your opportunities
- Maker response time indicates team readiness
- Velocity curve > total upvotes (200 in 2h > 500 in 24h)
Scope
Covers: launching products, hunting/curating, competitive research, community engagement.
Does NOT cover: building the actual product, growth outside PH, paid acquisition.