How one missing feature sparked the creation of a tool that’s actually… better.
A few days ago, I opened Product Hunt to see some posts about launch “notify” pages being deprecated.
After some digging, I discovered that Product Hunt had quietly removed their “coming soon” feature entirely. No announcement, no migration path, no alternatives suggested. Just… gone.
I was confused at first. Why would they remove this feature? It never seemed to hurt to get people to sign up to be notified. Then, after really thinking about it and having a good convo in a forum thread – it dawned on me how lacking this feature really was…
That’s when the confusion turned into inspiration.
The Problem I Never Really Thought About
Let’s be honest about Product Hunt’s old notify feature — it was lacking from the start, but weveryone used it anyway because it was the only game in town. It’s just part of the process.
Here’s what you would actually experience:
First and most importantly, you had zero control over your subscriber data. Product Hunt collected email addresses and subscriber data on your behalf, but you never got access to that data. It’s basically like building a mailing list and never being able to see or email your subscribers.
The notifications didn’t really work. Users only received alerts if your launch was featured on the homepage. Miss the feature? Your subscribers never heard from you again. Talk about leaving money on the table.
No customization whatsoever. Every notification email was essentially identical and ONLY sent a link to the launch sometime on launch day. You didn’t have any way to change anything. You couldn’t time the emails to send at different times. You couldn’t segment your list and send different messages to different groups.
A big focus on vanity metrics. You could see how many people signed up, but you couldn’t do anything meaningful with that interest. No follow-up campaigns, no relationship building, no conversion optimization. I heard of anecdotal reports that there wasn’t a standard correlation between the PH waitlist number and launch success.
Not having any way to follow up or see who actually signed up basically changed the goal. You weren’t looking for real supporters, you were looking for anyone who would push the button. These people weren’t a part of your ICP or potential buyers… they were just button pushers. No wonder there wasn’t a correlation…
The 2-Day Sprint That Changed Everything
When I realized Product Hunt wasn’t bringing the feature back, I was inspired to build an alternative.
I chose to build. Building is fun… it’s how I get wired in.
Over the next day and a half, I had built Launchrs Notify.
But this wasn’t just about replacing exactly what Product Hunt had taken away. This was about building what that feature could have been from the beginning.
What Actually Works: A Coming Soon Page With More Control
Launchrs Notify operates on a simple principle: your pre-launch audience should be an asset, not a black box.
Here’s how it actually works for founders:
You Own Your Data
Every person who signs up becomes part of YOUR launchrs database. You’ll get access all of the data for every subscriber.
Users are Confirmed Product Hunters
Unlike a regular newsletter signup, the Launchrs Notify list authenticates signups with the Product Hunt API so you know they are a part of the community and your time isn’t wasted on fresh accounts or spam signups.
You Control The Message
Want to share development updates? Send them. Planning a beta program? Recruit directly from your notify list. Building hype for launch day? Craft the exact message your audience needs to hear. Your coming soon page becomes a communication channel, not a single-use dead end.
You Choose Your Tools
Export your subscriber list to any platform you want: Mailchimp, ConvertKit, HubSpot, or whatever email platform you’re already using. No need to learn new systems or abandon your existing workflows. Launchrs Notify plays nice with your existing stack. You can choose to reach out however you want.
Your coming soon page becomes the first step in your sales funnel, not just a placeholder.
Why Free Forever Actually Makes Sense
I’d rather let everyone have it since it was free before and should continue to be a way to build hype for your launch.
Honestly, I hope that founders become customers for the broader platform. They hopefully become advocates who refer other entrepreneurs. They become success stories that validate our approach to launch strategy.
Making the notify feature free isn’t charity — it’s compound growth.
What This Means for Your Next Launch
If you’re planning a product launch in the next six months, the removal of Product Hunt’s notify feature is actually good news in a way.
Here’s what I’d recommend:
- Start your coming soon page now, not two weeks before launch
- Focus on value, not just email collection — give people a reason to stay engaged
- Test your messaging with real subscribers before spending money on ads
- Build feedback loops that help you improve your product before launch day
- Plan your conversion funnel from notify signup to paying customer
The founders who adapt to this new reality will have a significant advantage over those still waiting for Product Hunt to save them.
Ready to take control of your pre-launch audience? Get started with Launchrs Notify at launchrs.com. It’s free forever, and you can have your coming soon page live in under five minutes (if you already have the assets created).
What’s been your biggest challenge with pre-launch marketing? I’d love to hear about it — drop me a line or share your story in the comments.
