Mobile App Launch Checklist • Hacker News Board

Re: Mobile App Launch Checklist

#11

Post by ohstopitu » Wed, Oct 26, 2016, 2:32 PM UTC

minimaxir wrote: post #8

ohstopitu wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From what I understand about the PH algorithm, votes for a product that directly come from the link are not valued as much as votes that are organic (either from the homepage, if you search for the product, find it in a collection etc.)

Of course, there is a "workaround" where people post on public forums "my product was featured on the Front Page of Product Hunt!" with a link to the front page, and the implication is clear. Whenever I call them out as attempting to beat the algorithm, it usually starts a flame war. ("It's hustle!" / "Everyone is doing it!")

I mentioned the above comment because spending on ads (which have links to the direct product on product hunt) would not do too much good (PH algorithm seems to take vote count, vote origin, time of vote and time density of votes into accounts).

That said, one of the startups I interned at, had a massive internal doc (and tools) on how exactly to game product hunt (which I believe was extremely effective) - The startup ran out of business and is no longer around, which is why I was trying to recreate that document + tool.

Re: Mobile App Launch Checklist

#12

Post by brudgers » Wed, Oct 26, 2016, 3:19 PM UTC

Use the Lastest iOS/Android Features

Researching the feature list is easier than making the app more useful. It's easier than cutting the features to the core essentials. It's easier to talk about how the app incorporates the latest features than user metrics.

Mostly, it's easier than talking to users. It smells like pretend work.

Re: Mobile App Launch Checklist

#13

Post by hmate9 » Wed, Oct 26, 2016, 5:50 PM UTC

eDameXxX wrote: post #9

>Use the Lastest iOS/Android Features >Apple and Google want to show off the latest features in iOS and Android, so incorporating these into your app will make sure you have the best chance of getting featured. . I think it's not fair not included Windows here. Windows 10 also have excellent features. https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/windows

Windows has a 2.5% mobile market share. If you're JUST launching an app you will not focus on Windows. You'll be happy you got both iOS and Android to work.

Re: Mobile App Launch Checklist

#14

Post by taytus » Wed, Oct 26, 2016, 5:50 PM UTC

ohstopitu wrote: post #6

taytus wrote: post #2

"How can you get featured on Product Hunt? " Honest question, I've never followed or cared about PH. It's that big of a deal to be featured there?

I'm not sure if someone has mentioned this but not everyone on product hunt is created equal. More than 80% of the stuff you see on product hunt (on it's home page) is directly placed there by influencers (that have bypassed upvotes and comments to get there). So if you are a creator and submit your product to product hunt, you are severely disadvantaged - it's much better if either (form best to worst case): 1. You…

Thank you for the detailed explanation. Would love to test your product whenever is ready.

Re: Mobile App Launch Checklist

#15

Post by tag2 » Wed, Oct 26, 2016, 6:48 PM UTC

ohstopitu wrote: post #6

taytus wrote: post #2

"How can you get featured on Product Hunt? " Honest question, I've never followed or cared about PH. It's that big of a deal to be featured there?

I'm not sure if someone has mentioned this but not everyone on product hunt is created equal. More than 80% of the stuff you see on product hunt (on it's home page) is directly placed there by influencers (that have bypassed upvotes and comments to get there). So if you are a creator and submit your product to product hunt, you are severely disadvantaged - it's much better if either (form best to worst case): 1. You…

We were 'Hunted' for our App (Hucnhapp) on PH this weekend. We were also hunted a few months ago for our iOS Framework (Redbeard). Both times it was by an influencer that was able to get it featured onto the homepage. Even though we were featured on a weekend both times it still led to thousands of visitors to our site (Approximately 7K in the case of Redbeard). Apparently weekdays leads to an order of magnitude greater. It really can be a great way to seed early traction. Getting featured can also mean you're picked up by various other blogs and publications as it does lend some credibility with the tech blogs. If you're looking to reach out to some influencers here's a great site that ranks them: https://www.yvoschaap.com/producthunt/

Re: Mobile App Launch Checklist

#16

Post by mahyarm » Wed, Oct 26, 2016, 6:49 PM UTC

ohstopitu wrote: post #6

taytus wrote: post #2

"How can you get featured on Product Hunt? " Honest question, I've never followed or cared about PH. It's that big of a deal to be featured there?

I'm not sure if someone has mentioned this but not everyone on product hunt is created equal. More than 80% of the stuff you see on product hunt (on it's home page) is directly placed there by influencers (that have bypassed upvotes and comments to get there). So if you are a creator and submit your product to product hunt, you are severely disadvantaged - it's much better if either (form best to worst case): 1. You…

Sounds like digg.

Re: Mobile App Launch Checklist

#17

Post by clay_to_n » Wed, Oct 26, 2016, 7:31 PM UTC

brudgers wrote: post #12

Use the Lastest iOS/Android Features Researching the feature list is easier than making the app more useful. It's easier than cutting the features to the core essentials. It's easier to talk about how the app incorporates the latest features than user metrics. Mostly, it's easier than talking to users. It smells like pretend work.

I think the value in this point is that the Android and iOS app stores are more likely to highlight apps using new features (for the homepage or whatever).

Re: Mobile App Launch Checklist

#18

Post by brudgers » Wed, Oct 26, 2016, 9:03 PM UTC

clay_to_n wrote: post #17

brudgers wrote: post #12

Use the Lastest iOS/Android Features Researching the feature list is easier than making the app more useful. It's easier than cutting the features to the core essentials. It's easier to talk about how the app incorporates the latest features than user metrics. Mostly, it's easier than talking to users. It smells like pretend work.

I think the value in this point is that the Android and iOS app stores are more likely to highlight apps using new features (for the homepage or whatever).

To me, a strategy that depends on the app store highlighting the app is pretty much just hoping to pick a winning lottery number.

Re: Mobile App Launch Checklist

#19

Post by mada299 » Thu, Oct 27, 2016, 1:53 AM UTC

thallukrish wrote: post #3

Looks detailed. But if you are someone doing an App all by yourself it looks scary. At the end of the day, a lot depends on if you have built something that the users cannot refuse I guess.

I think that's somewhat fair - but not totally true. Getting featured and getting some initial traction is really important - otherwise no one can find you...