How Tony Hrvoic’s DM Playbook Dominated Product Hunt

Breaking the Basic Launch Playbook

Most guides tell you to spray your launch across Twitter, LinkedIn, and every public forum. Tony Hrvoic, founder of Marhit, found exactly the opposite drives results on Product Hunt. He swaps noise-filled broadcasts for focused one-on-one conversations in direct messages. Over ten SaaS launches, this simple swap has driven 3,200+ upvotes and consistent top spots.

The Direct Message Habit

Every day, 4–8 weeks before launch, Tony spends fifteen minutes engaging with Product Hunt makers. He upvotes and comments on the top five new products, then hunts down their creators on LinkedIn. Instead of asking for a favor right away, he opens with genuine praise, congratulating them on today’s launch.

Tony’s 4–8 Week Playbook

• Visit Product Hunt daily; upvote and leave thoughtful comments on the top five products.
• Identify makers on LinkedIn and send a short message: praise, a quick share, then an ask for future support.
• Repeat this habit to build a list of 300–500 engaged, motivated supporters.
• On launch day, reconnect with previous contacts and request their upvote and comment.

Why It Works

Upvotes from active makers carry extra weight in Product Hunt’s algorithm, and genuine messages avoid triggering bot filters. Reciprocity kicks in: recipients remember who showed up for them and feel compelled to help in return. After a few cycles, your list grows organically as makers reach out to you.

Extra Launch Tips

Craft a clear, benefit-driven tagline. Pick a launch day with the right balance of traffic and competition. Lean on any existing audience for social proof once your product gains traction. And above all, start early.

Final Thoughts

Tony’s straight-ahead routine shows that real connections beat mass blasts. With just 15 minutes of daily focus and a simple template, you can replicate a launch that lands in the top slot and drives real business impact.