TinyLaunchpad Launch Guide

Getting your product in front of the right people is tough. You can spend months building something amazing, but if nobody knows it exists, it doesn't matter how good it is.

I've launched products on different platforms over the years, and each one has its quirks. TinyLaunchpad caught my attention because it's built specifically for indie makers and small teams who need real results without the noise. Let me show you exactly how to launch there and why it's worth considering.

Why Launch on TinyLaunchpad?

Before jumping into the process, let's talk about what you actually get from launching here.

Quality backlinks that matter for SEO. Most launch platforms give you exposure for a day, maybe a week, then your product disappears into the archives. TinyLaunchpad gives you a permanent backlink that helps your site rank better in search results. This isn't some low-quality directory link—it's a proper dofollow backlink that passes authority to your website. For context, getting a single quality backlink like this from most SEO services would cost you anywhere from $50 to several hundred dollars.

Your first customers are actually here. The community is full of founders, developers, and early adopters actively looking for new tools. These aren't random browsers—they're people who understand the value of trying new products and are willing to give feedback. I've seen products land their first paying customers directly from their TinyLaunchpad launch.

Focused promotion that doesn't get buried. Here's the thing: TinyLaunchpad only launches 25 products every Monday. That's it. No endless feed where your product is on page 3 within an hour. Every launch gets actual visibility because there's a limited number of spots each week.

Badges and credibility markers. Once you launch, you get a "Launched on TinyLaunchpad" badge you can put on your website. It's a small trust signal, but it matters. It shows you're serious enough to put your product out there and that you're part of the maker community.

Real community engagement. The people who visit TinyLaunchpad are genuinely interested in discovering new products. They upvote, they comment, they ask questions. It's not just about the numbers—it's about connecting with people who might become your biggest advocates.

The Submission Process: What You Need to Prepare

TinyLaunchpad breaks everything into four clear steps. Before you start, gather your materials so you can move through it smoothly.

Step 1: Tell People What You Built

Start with the basics of your project.

Project name and website URL. Simple enough. The platform checks if your URL has been submitted before, so you won't accidentally duplicate a listing. If your site is already there, you can contact support about relaunching.

Short description (50-160 characters). This is crucial because it shows up in Google search results and when people share your link on social media. Don't waste space with generic phrases like "amazing tool" or "revolutionary platform." Tell people exactly what your product does.

Bad: "The most innovative solution for modern teams"
Good: "Turn customer feedback into actionable product insights with AI-powered analysis"

Full description (200-1,000 characters). You get a rich text editor, so you can format this properly. Use this space to explain what problem you solve, who it's for, and what makes you different. Don't just list features—talk about outcomes. The minimum is 200 characters, but aim for something substantial that actually tells your story.

Logo (required). Keep it under 1MB and use a square format (1:1 ratio). This appears everywhere your product shows up on the platform, so make sure it's clean and recognizable even at small sizes.

Product image (optional but highly recommended). Use a 16:9 ratio—basically a standard screenshot or hero image. Show your product in action. A good product image can be the difference between someone clicking through or scrolling past. People are visual; give them something to look at.

Step 2: Help People Find You

This step is about categorization and discovery.

Categories (pick 1-3). There are about 30 options covering everything from Developer Tools and AI to HealthTech and Gaming. Choose categories where your actual target customers would look. If you're building an AI-powered marketing tool, you might pick "AI," "Marketing Tools," and "SaaS." Being in the right categories means showing up in front of the right people.

Platforms. Select all that apply: Web, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux. Straightforward, but important for people filtering by platform.

Country. Where your company is based. Helps with localization and trust.

Pricing model. Free, Freemium, or Paid. Be upfront about this. People filter by pricing, and being transparent builds trust from the start.

Affiliate program (optional but powerful). If you have an affiliate program, enable it here. You'll specify your commission rate (0-100%) and whether it's one-time or recurring. This is a seriously underrated feature—products with affiliate programs get listed in the dedicated affiliate programs directory, which means influencers, bloggers, and content creators actively looking for products to promote will find you. They're literally browsing for products they can earn commissions on. This is basically setting up a free marketing channel that works while you sleep.

Social links. Add your GitHub and Twitter/X profile if you have them. Not mandatory, but it adds legitimacy and gives people more touchpoints to connect with you.

Step 3: Choose Your Launch Strategy

This is where you decide what kind of launch makes sense for your goals. Three options, each with different benefits.

Free Launch ($0)

Fifteen products can launch for free each week. You can schedule up to 30 days ahead if slots are available.

Here's how it works: your product goes live every Monday at 8:00 AM UTC and gets featured on the homepage during launch week. You get exposure and community engagement. The catch is that only the top 3 products that week earn a backlink.

This means you're competing. If you have a strong network, an email list, or an existing community that can support you with upvotes, the free launch can work great. You get the visibility either way, and if you rank in the top 3, you get the valuable backlink too.

If you're starting from scratch with no audience, it's riskier. You might get decent traffic but miss out on the backlink that provides long-term SEO value.

Premium Launch ($18) - The Smart Choice

This is where things get interesting, and honestly, this is what I'd recommend for most people.

Ten slots per week, and you can schedule up to 60 days in advance.

What makes Premium worth it:

Guaranteed lifetime backlink. No competition needed. You get a permanent dofollow backlink to your website the moment you launch. This alone is worth the price—quality backlinks from real websites typically cost $50-300+ through SEO services or link-building agencies. You're getting one for $18 that stays there forever.

Featured at the TOP of listings. Your product appears above free launches. Better positioning means more eyeballs, more clicks, more potential customers.

Featured in sidebar rotation. Extra visibility throughout the site, not just on launch day. Your product continues getting seen by visitors browsing other launches.

Priority queue. You can schedule further out and know exactly when you're launching. No uncertainty about slot availability.

No badge required. Some platforms make you jump through hoops. Here, you pay and you're in.

Think about it this way: for less than the cost of two coffees, you get permanent SEO value, priority placement, and significantly better chances of finding your first customers. If you're serious about your launch and want measurable results, Premium is a no-brainer.

The platform is smart about this too. If you select a free launch but schedule it far out, it'll show you how many days earlier you could launch with Premium. Not pushy, just informative.

SEO Growth Package ($69)

Five slots per week for this premium option.

What you get:

Dedicated SEO article written about your product. This is huge. You get actual content marketing done for you, which provides context, storytelling, and another high-quality backlink.
Guaranteed backlink in that article.
Featured homepage placement for maximum visibility.
Skip the queue entirely.
Priority scheduling up to 30 days ahead.

If you're playing the long game with SEO and content marketing, this package makes sense. Having a full article about your product is worth more than just a listing—it's shareable content, it ranks in search, and it tells your story in depth.

Step 4: Review Everything and Launch

Final step is reviewing your submission. You'll see everything laid out clearly:

Complete project information
All selected categories and platforms
Your uploaded images
Launch plan and scheduled date
Affiliate program details if you added them

You need to check a box confirming you have the rights to display your project and agree to fair play rules. Basically: don't create fake accounts to upvote yourself, don't manipulate votes, play fair. Break these rules and your project can be removed. Pretty standard community guidelines.

Hit submit, and here's what happens:

Free launches: You go straight to your project page
Premium or SEO packages: You're sent to Polar for secure payment, then your launch is scheduled

Key Things You Should Know

One launch per user per week. You can't spam the platform with multiple products. Pick your best one and give it a proper launch.

Every launch happens Monday at 8:00 AM UTC. Mark your calendar. If you want to be active in comments and engage with the community (which you should), make sure you're available. Know what time this is in your timezone.

Your URL is checked. Can't submit the same website twice. If you need to relaunch an existing product, contact the team.

Limited slots create urgency. Only 25 total products launch each week (15 free, 10 premium). If you see an available slot for your target date, grab it. They fill up.

Making Your Launch Actually Work

The submission form is one thing, but here's how to make your launch successful:

Prepare your audience. Even with Premium, getting upvotes and engagement helps with visibility. Tell your email subscribers, share on Twitter, post in relevant communities (without spamming). The more engagement you get, the more the algorithm favors you.

Be present on launch day. Answer questions in the comments. Thank people for their feedback. Engage authentically. The community notices when founders show up and participate.

Complete everything in the submission form. Those "optional" fields? Fill them out. Add social links. Enable your affiliate program if you have one—seriously, check out the affiliate programs page to see how other products are leveraging this for organic promotion. Upload a great product image. Every field you complete increases your chances of converting visitors into customers.

Write descriptions that explain, not hype. People are smart. They can tell the difference between genuine explanation and marketing BS. Tell them what your product does, who it's for, and why it exists. Skip the superlatives.

Use all three categories if relevant. More categories mean more ways people can discover you. If your product genuinely fits multiple categories, use them.

Follow up after launch. Your launch week is important, but don't disappear after Monday. The backlink stays forever, people discover products through search and browsing. Keep your listing updated and respond to new comments.

The Bottom Line

TinyLaunchpad isn't trying to replace Product Hunt or be the biggest launch platform. It's focused, deliberate, and built for people who want real results without the chaos.

The Premium launch at $18 is genuinely one of the best values I've seen. You get a permanent backlink that provides ongoing SEO value, priority placement during launch, and a real shot at finding early customers. Compare that to what most marketing channels cost, and it's almost silly not to do it.

The free option works if you have an existing audience ready to support you. The SEO package makes sense if you're investing in long-term content and search visibility.

But beyond the features and pricing, what makes TinyLaunchpad worth it is the community. These are makers, founders, and early adopters who genuinely care about discovering new products. They're your people. They'll try your product, give you feedback, and some of them will become customers.

Your launch won't automatically go viral. No platform guarantees that. But if you do it right—prepare well, engage authentically, and follow up consistently—TinyLaunchpad gives you the tools and audience to build real momentum.

Now go prepare your materials and pick your launch date. Those 25 weekly slots fill up fast.