@eriktorenbergErik@producthunt.co

Building your earlycommunityBy Erik Torenberg

Founding Team, ProductHunt

Overview:1) Give Value2) Make them feel special3) Build community into product4) Ask them to share their experience5) Build in Public6) Events/Meetups7) Influencer/thought leadership

Who am I?What is Product Hunt?

the “20 minute” MVP

first version:

1) Be obsessed withgiving early users valueand making them feel

special.

community-building tactics

whatWelcome new users via email whyBe memorable & make people feelspecial

whatSeed the community & provide apreview whyGet buy-in, show momentum, & setthe culture

community-building tactics

community-building tactics

whatMention community members whenrelevant whyProvide value & re-enforce a helpfulculture

community-building tactics

whatShare mockups whyGet people excited & invested

community-building tactics

whatT-shirts / swag! whyCreate a sense of belonging & pride

community-building tactics

whatMail stickers whyDelight people

community-building tactics

whatPodcast whyAdd personality, new way for thecommunity to engage with PH

community-building tactics

whatTell stories whyMake the community proud to be apart of the story

Why do people go to events?

1. Help them in their personal life2. Help them in their professional life3. They feel part of a community

Start SmallWith things you enjoy

BRUNCHES!

• Splashthat• 25-30 people• Hosted every

week

Phase Two: Go Bigger

Invite more people • Throw a Big Happy Hour• Condense your social time• Go to where the users are

Los Angeles

New York City

Phase Three: Scale to More Cities

A great first event is key

1. Make it easy for hosts2. Give them incentives (stickers,

shirts, promotion)3. Publicly congratulate them4. Follow up

Feature on your Site

Give Examples

Spreading Awareness• Ask volunteers to take pictures• Partner with local organizations• Promote startups in their city• Have FUN with it!

Follow these guidelines

• Get a person with a lot of followers to postyour product

• Post at the right time (before 730 AM PST)• Get in the comments RIGHT AWAY• Do a featured “starred” launch• Look at who liked your post (investors,

customers)• Write a “how-to” post after your experience

Get influential people to curate collections and feature you

All About Relationships

Thanks!!

I’m @eriktorenberg