Launch day guide
How to make a Product Hunt launch video
What makes a launch video work in the feed on launch day, in six steps, and how to make one from your website in a few minutes.
Six steps
Pick the one thing it shows
One product, one promise. A launch video is a trailer for the page, not a tour of every feature.
Assume it plays muted
Feeds start videos without sound, so every point has to be on screen in words. A voice-over is a bonus, never the only place a point is made.
Open on the product
Start with the product doing its thing, not a logo or a title card. The first seconds decide whether anyone keeps watching.
Keep it short
For a launch post, ten to thirty seconds is plenty. Link to a longer demo if you have one.
Make a cut for each place
A tall 9:16 cut for Stories, Reels and Shorts, and a 4:5 or 1:1 cut for X and LinkedIn posts on launch day.
Show only what is true
Use your real product and claims your page already makes. Launch-day readers check.
The quick way
Shippy Studio does steps two to six for you. Paste your web address: it reads your live site in a real browser, captures your real screens, takes lines word for word from your page, and cuts a silent video in 9:16, 4:5 and 1:1. You choose the one thing it shows by choosing the page you paste.
Source for the launch count: Indie Hackers, October 2026.
Launch videos made from one link
Each one came from pasting one address. Nothing was edited by hand.
Questions
Do Product Hunt launches with a video do better?
An Indie Hackers count of 411 launches in October 2026 found that the 35 with a demo video got more votes. A video is not the only reason, but it helps people get the product in seconds.
How long should a Product Hunt launch video be?
Short. Ten to thirty seconds for the launch posts, with every point on screen. Shippy Studio videos run about 10 to 20 seconds.
Can I make one without an editor?
Yes. Paste your site into Shippy Studio and it cuts a short video from your real screens and your own words. The preview is free, so you can see it before you decide.
How much does it cost?
The preview is free and needs no account. The HD version costs $9.90 USD, once, per video. Freelance editors often charge tens to hundreds of dollars, and agencies a few thousand.
Does it film my app behind a login?
Not yet. It films the public pages of your site, as a visitor sees them.