When to Use This Skill
Use this skill when you need to:
- •Launch a new product on GitHub, Product Hunt, Indie Hackers, or other platforms
- •Write launch announcements that clearly communicate value and generate interest
- •Create compelling copy for product releases, feature launches, or updates
- •Draft launch emails to customers, users, or followers
- •Prepare social media posts for product launches across multiple platforms
- •Structure launch messaging for maximum impact and clarity
Core Concepts
Effective Launch Announcements
A great launch announcement does three things:
- •Grabs attention immediately with a compelling hook
- •Communicates value clearly - what problem does it solve?
- •Motivates action - try it, share it, buy it, or provide feedback
Anatomy: Headline → Hook → Solution → Key features (2-3) → Proof → CTA
Platform-Specific Approaches
Different platforms require different approaches:
- •GitHub: Technical value, code quality, setup instructions
- •Product Hunt: Hook-driven, visual, benefit-focused, discussion engagement
- •Indie Hackers: Behind-the-scenes story, revenue/metrics, community feedback
- •X (Twitter): Thread-based, engaging, hashtag-rich, viral potential
- •Threads: Conversational, community-focused, discussion-driven
- •LinkedIn: Professional tone, business value, industry context
- •Email: Personal, detailed, exclusive insights or offers
Step-by-Step Process
Phase 1: Information Gathering
Ask these questions to gather essential information:
Product Basics
- •What is your product name?
- •What problem does it solve? (Be specific)
- •Who is your target audience?
- •What platform(s) are you launching on?
Value Proposition
- •What is the main benefit? (e.g., "Saves 10 hours per week")
- •What makes it different from alternatives?
- •Can you share any metrics or early results?
Product Details
- •What are the top 3 features? (Prioritize impact over quantity)
- •Is there a demo, video, or screenshots?
- •Is it free, paid, or freemium? (If paid, what's the pricing?)
Source Material
- •Do you have a GitHub repo? (Provide URL for technical details)
- •Do you have a website/landing page? (Provide URL for positioning)
- •Any existing descriptions or copy? (About page, tagline, pitch)
Launch Context
- •Is this a public launch, beta, or pre-launch?
- •What's the primary call-to-action? (Star, sign up, buy, share)
- •Any launch offer or incentive?
Additional Context
- •Any interesting backstory? (Why you built it, how long it took)
- •Tech stack or technical details?
- •What's next after launch? (Roadmap, plans, goals)
If user provides a GitHub repo or homepage:
Use available web search and page-reading tools to analyze:
- •Repos: README, features, installation, examples
- •Homepages: Headline, value proposition, features, testimonials
- •Extract key messages, taglines, positioning, technical details
Phase 2: Analyze and Structure
Based on gathered information, determine:
Angle and Tone
- •Platform-appropriate tone: Professional (LinkedIn), casual (X/Threads), technical (GitHub), community-focused (Indie Hackers)
- •Story angle: Problem-solution, behind-the-scenes, technical, success
- •Key differentiator: Speed, simplicity, power, price, quality, innovation
Messaging Priority
Rank by impact:
- •Primary benefit (headline promise)
- •Supporting proof (metrics, testimonials, demo)
- •Secondary benefits (additional value)
- •Technical details (for technical audiences)
- •Backstory (if compelling and relevant)
Platform Adaptation
Create platform-specific variations:
- •Short (X/Threads): 1-2 sentences + link + hashtags
- •Medium (LinkedIn, Product Hunt): 2-3 paragraphs, structured
- •Long (GitHub, blog): Detailed, comprehensive
- •Email: Personalized, detailed, with clear CTA
Phase 3: Draft the Announcement
Headline/Hook Templates
Problem-focused:
- •"Finally, a way to [solve problem] without [pain point]"
- •"Tired of [problem]? Meet [product name]."
- •"I built [product] because I couldn't find [solution]."
Benefit-focused:
- •"[Product name] helps you [benefit] in [timeframe]."
- •"How I achieved [result] using [product name]."
- •"Announcing [product name]: [key benefit] for [audience]."
Story-focused:
- •"After [time period] of building, I'm finally launching [product]."
- •"The story of how I built [product] to solve [problem]."
- •"Why I built [product] and how it helps [audience]."
Body Structure
Paragraph 1: The Hook - State the problem/opportunity, make it relatable, create curiosity/urgency
Paragraph 2: The Solution - Introduce product, explain how it solves the problem, include key benefit
Paragraph 3: Key Features (2-3 bullet points) - Feature 1 → Benefit, Feature 2 → Benefit, Feature 3 → Benefit
Paragraph 4: Social Proof (if available) - "Already used by [number] people", "In beta, we saw [result]", "Users are saying [quote]"
Paragraph 5: Call-to-Action - Clear next step (try it, share it, sign up), link to product, optional: request for feedback
Phase 4: Platform-Specific Optimization
Product Hunt
Structure: One-line hook → Problem → Solution + 3 features → Who it's for → CTA → Gallery
Best practices: Start with "Introducing" or "I built", keep conversational, engage with every comment in first hour, include demo video/GIF
GitHub Release
Structure: Headline → Overview → Key features → Installation → Migration → Contributors → Links
Best practices: Use semantic versioning, link to issues/PRs, include code examples, add visuals
Indie Hackers
Structure: Catchy title → Backstory → Problem → Solution → Revenue/metrics → What's next → Ask the community
Best practices: Share the journey, include revenue numbers (even if small), be transparent about challenges, ask for specific feedback
X (Twitter)
Structure: 8-tweet thread (hook → problem → gap → solution → features → proof → CTA → engagement)
Best practices: Use threads for storytelling, include visuals in every tweet, use 2-4 hashtags, tag relevant accounts, post at 9-11am or 6-8pm ET, engage with every reply
Thread template: See references/social-thread-templates.md
Threads
Structure: 8-post thread (hook + visual → problem → aha moment → solution → features → behind the scenes → feedback → CTA + discussion)
Best practices: More conversational than X, first post needs strong visual, write like talking to friends, encourage discussion with questions, link in bio strategy
Thread template: See references/social-thread-templates.md
Structure: Professional hook → Solution → Business impact → Who it's for → Personal story → CTA
Best practices: Professional but authentic tone, focus on business value, tag relevant companies/people, include clear headline image
Email Launch
Structure: Subject line → Opening → Problem → Solution → Demo → Offer → CTA → P.S.
Best practices: Make it personal not promotional, include clear single CTA, add scarcity/urgency, mobile-friendly formatting
Phase 5: Review and Refine
Review checklist:
- • Clear headline that communicates benefit
- • Problem statement resonates with target audience
- • Solution is clear and differentiated
- • 2-3 key features highlighted (not feature dump)
- • Social proof or evidence included (if available)
- • Strong call-to-action with clear next step
- • Platform-appropriate tone and format
- • Link included to product/repo/landing page
- • Visuals mentioned or embedded (if applicable)
- • Typos and grammar checked
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Feature Dumping - Listing 10+ features overwhelms readers. Focus on 2-3 high-impact features with clear benefits.
Mistake 2: No Clear Problem - Launching with "here's what I built" instead of "here's why it matters." Always start with the problem or opportunity.
Mistake 3: Weak Call-to-Action - "Check it out" is vague and passive. Use specific, active CTAs ("Try it free," "Star the repo," "Join the waitlist").
Mistake 4: One-Size-Fits-All - Using the same copy across all platforms. Adapt tone, format, and length for each platform.
Mistake 5: No Social Proof - Launching without evidence of value. Include metrics, testimonials, early user feedback, or demo.
Mistake 6: Technical Jargon - Using niche terminology that alienates broader audiences. Use simple, benefit-focused language (unless targeting technical audiences only).
Mistake 7: Buried Lead - Important information is in paragraph 5 instead of paragraph 1. Lead with the most compelling benefit or hook.
Output Format
After gathering information and analyzing the product, provide:
- •Platform-specific drafts for each selected platform
- •Headline variations (3-5 options) for A/B testing
- •Feature breakdown prioritized by impact
- •Social proof suggestions (metrics, testimonials to gather)
- •Visual recommendations (screenshots, GIFs, videos to create)
- •Launch tips for each platform (timing, engagement, follow-up)
For complete platform-specific templates, see:
- •references/platform-templates.md - Product Hunt, GitHub, Indie Hackers, LinkedIn, Email
- •references/social-thread-templates.md
- •X (Twitter) and Threads thread templates
Next Steps
After writing the launch announcement:
- •Use
community-growth-specialistskill - Plan launch day engagement, community outreach, and follow-up strategy - •Use
technical-automation-architectskill - Set up automated launch workflows, notifications, or landing page optimization - •Use
lead-research-assistantskill - Identify and reach out to influencers, press, or early adopters for launch amplification