Originally posted on earlybird.im
We had high hopes when we launched EarlyBird, a landing page builder for effortlessly creating, pitching, and validating early-stage businesses.
But we didn’t anticipate our product’s tremendous success in the initial days. EarlyBird is quite simple and easy to use compared to other landing page builders with complex features.
We have acquired 500 users for EarlyBird (in just three days).
Our launch strategy included being active on Twitter and other online communities and submitting our product to Product Hunt. Moreover, we were thrilled to be the #2 product of the day and glad to learn that Product Hunt featured us in their newsletter.
It is a huge achievement for our tiny team, and we couldn’t have done it without the support of our early adopters and the wider tech community of fellow makers and indie hackers.
Now, we’d like to share what we learned and our reflections from acquiring 500 users for EarlyBird within 3 days. We hope this information will be beneficial to upcoming product makers in the tech space.
Without further ado, let’s get to the topic.
You should prepare well for the product launch
If you’ve read our Product Hunt launch summary, you might already know how we’ve been preparing for the PH launch for the last two weeks.
We perfect every copy and content before publishing it to the public. And tested our MVP extensively internally and with friends before taking it to Product Hunt.
Here are some keys things you need to be mindful about:
Research your target audience: Make sure you understand who your product is for and how they will use it. This will help you tailor your messaging and positioning on Product Hunt. We wanted to target fellow entrepreneurs, makers, and creators. Also, we made sure our product and copy reflected that core idea.
Create a compelling Product Hunt listing: Your Product Hunt listing should include a clear and concise product description, a catchy tagline, and visually appealing graphics such as a logo and product screenshots. Luo worked on design materials while I prepared the copy.
Build a landing page: Create a stunning landing page for your Product Hunt launch. This page should provide more information about your product and include a call to action, such as signing up for a newsletter or requesting early access.
Assemble a launch team: If there are resources, you may enlist the help of a small group of friends, colleagues, or beta testers to help promote your Product Hunt launch. This team can help spread the word about your product on social media and other channels.
Be ready for the launch day: Make sure you can answer questions and engage with the Product Hunt community on launch day. You should also have a plan to follow up with any leads or new customers you acquire through your Product Hunt launch.
Follow up after the launch: Remember to follow up with anyone who showed interest in your product during the launch. This can be as simple as sending a thank-you email or inviting these folks to join your new beta testing group.
Partner with a hunter: A hunter with a good reputation on the Product Hunt or startup scene can lend credibility to your product and help build trust with potential customers. Zeng, an AI visual artist and friend of Luo, hunted EarlyBird for us on Christmas Day and promoted us across her social media platforms and groups.
Engagements shape a better product and attract new customers
Based on our experience, engaging with the Product Hunt community on launch day is important for several reasons. Here are some key takeaways:
Feedback: The Product Hunt community comprises tech-savvy and early-adopter types likely to have valuable insights and feedback about your product. By engaging with the community and responding to comments and questions, you can gather useful information to help you improve your product and iterate on it.
Networking: Product Hunt is great for connecting with potential customers, partners, and investors. By engaging with the community and building relationships, you can increase the visibility of your product and gain new customers or opportunities.
Customer acquisition: Product Hunt is a great place to acquire new customers. By engaging with the community, you can make a positive impression and increase the likelihood that users will try your product.
Overall, engaging with the Product Hunt community on launch day is essential to gather valuable feedback (whether it’s good, bad, or critical), making meaningful professional connections, and acquiring new customers.
Be active and honest on Twitter.
Engaging with the Twitter community can be a powerful way to promote a new product. This was certainly the case for EarlyBird. We attracted several users by actively participating in online conversations and building relationships with potential customers on the platform.
After launching TinySnap, we learned that Twitter will be an essential part of our marketing strategy. We began by creating a Twitter account for the product, and Luo routinely tweeted about building EarlyBird in public. We shared every bit of our journey with the community.
But we didn’t stop there. By engaging with other makers, we were able to get our product in front of a wider audience and spark interest in EarlyBird.
In addition to building the online presence, we actively listened to and responded to our followers. We answered questions, addressed concerns, and even offered direct support to Twitter users who showed interest in the product. This personalized approach helped us build trust and loyalty with their target audience.
Other communities and websites where we shared the launch notes:
Apart from Twitter and Product Hunt, we’ve used several other platforms to announce the launch of EarlyBird.
Hackernews: HN is a great source of information about the latest trends and happenings in the tech industry. Reading and participating in discussions on the platform with the Show HN tag can help you stay up-to-date on what’s happening in your field and help you identify opportunities for your product.
Polywork: Unlike Linkedin, Polywork is a relatively new professional social network focusing on collaboration. The platform helps people express their multi-hyphenated work lives. And it’s a great place to share updates about a new product you’re building.
Reddit: Submitting your product to relevant Reddit communities (called “subreddits”) can help you get valuable feedback and insights from potential customers, which can be used to improve and refine your product. In addition, participating in relevant subreddits can help you build relationships with other product makers and entrepreneurs who can provide valuable advice and support.
Closing thoughts
Our success can inspire other indie hackers and developers out there. It’s possible to achieve amazing things with hard work, dedication, and a bit of luck. So don’t be afraid to dream big and take risks – you never know where it might lead.
Also don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d be happy to hear you out. Connect with us on Twitter.