sales-openlaunch

What this skill does

# Open Launch Platform Help

Helps the user with Open Launch platform questions — from submitting a product and understanding the tiered backlink system through premium launch options, daily rankings, and SEO Growth packages.

## Step 1 — Gather context


If `references/learnings.md` exists, read it first for accumulated knowledge.

Ask the user:

1. **What do you need help with?**
   - A) Submitting a product — preparing a listing, choosing a tier
   - B) Getting a backlink — understanding free vs paid backlink conditions
   - C) Premium launch — evaluating $12 or $59 options
   - D) Climbing daily rankings — upvotes, engagement, visibility
   - E) Comparing Open Launch with Product Hunt or other directories
   - F) Something else — describe it

2. **What stage is your product?**
   - A) Idea stage — haven't built anything yet
   - B) MVP / prototype — working but early
   - C) Launched — live product with users
   - D) Growing — looking for more visibility

3. **What's your goal?**
   - A) First users and feedback
   - B) SEO backlinks (DR65 dofollow)
   - C) Community visibility and daily ranking
   - D) All of the above

**If the user's request already provides most of this context, skip directly to the relevant step.** Lead with your best-effort answer using reasonable assumptions (stated explicitly), then ask only the most critical 1-2 clarifying questions at the end.

## Step 2 — Route or answer directly

If the request maps to a specialized skill, route:
- Launch strategy across multiple directories → `/sales-launch-directory`
- Product launch strategy and funnels → `/sales-funnel`
- Email list building / audience growth → `/sales-audience-growth`
- Email marketing to subscribers → `/sales-email-marketing`
- Landing page / checkout optimization → `/sales-checkout`
- CtrlAlt.cc-specific questions → `/sales-ctrlaltcc`
- MicroLaunch-specific questions → `/sales-microlaunch`
- LaunchingNext-specific questions → `/sales-launchingnext`
- ProductBurst-specific questions → `/sales-productburst`
- SoloPush-specific questions → `/sales-solopush`
- SideProjectors buy/sell questions → `/sales-sideprojectors`
- Huzzler-specific questions → `/sales-huzzler`
- Firsto-specific questions → `/sales-firsto`

Otherwise, answer directly from platform knowledge below.

## Step 3 — Open Launch platform reference

**Read `references/platform-guide.md`** for detailed module documentation, pricing, integrations, and data model.

*You no longer need the platform guide details — focus on the user's specific situation.*

## Step 4 — Actionable guidance

### Submission checklist

| Step | What to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Prepare your listing | Clear name, problem-focused description, screenshots | First impression drives upvotes |
| 2. Choose your tier | Free (patient + confident in Top 3), Premium ($12), or SEO Growth ($59) | Determines backlink guarantee and timing |
| 3. Optimize for 8 AM UTC | Ensure your network is ready to upvote at launch time | Early upvotes drive daily ranking position |
| 4. Share externally | Post your Open Launch listing on Twitter, communities | External traffic drives upvotes |
| 5. Engage with voters | Respond to comments, thank upvoters | Active engagement increases visibility |
| 6. Display the badge (free tier) | Add the Open Launch badge to your site | Required for free-tier backlink |

### Which tier to choose

**Free ($0) when:**
- Budget is zero AND you're confident you can reach Top 3 daily
- You're willing to display the Open Launch badge on your site
- You don't mind waiting in the queue
- The backlink isn't critical (you're submitting for visibility only)

**Premium ($12) when:**
- You want the DR65 backlink guaranteed — no conditions
- You need to control your launch timing (next day)
- You don't want to gamble on reaching Top 3
- Best value per dollar of any paid launch directory option

**SEO Growth ($59) when:**
- You want both the backlink AND long-term Google search traffic
- A dedicated "[Product] review" article adds credibility
- You're investing in SEO and want content that ranks
- You value the article as marketing collateral beyond just the backlink

### Multi-directory launch strategy

Open Launch works best as one platform in a broader launch. Use `/sales-launch-directory` for the full cross-platform strategy, but here's where Open Launch fits:

1. **SoloPush + ProductBurst** — instant listings (Day 1)
2. **Open Launch Premium ($12)** — next-day launch with DR65 backlink (Day 2) — best backlink-per-dollar in the group
3. **MicroLaunch** — 30-day leaderboard cycle
4. **CtrlAlt.cc + LaunchingNext** — curated directories (queue or pay to skip)
5. **Product Hunt** — save for main launch event

### Maximizing daily rankings

- **Coordinate your network**: All launches are at 8:00 AM UTC. Have your supporters ready.
- **Early momentum matters**: Products that get upvotes in the first hours tend to maintain their ranking.
- **Cross-promote**: Share your Open Launch page on X/Twitter, relevant subreddits, Slack communities.
- **Engage in comments**: Active founders who respond to questions get more community support.

## Gotchas

*Best-effort from research — review these, especially items about plan-gated features and integration gotchas that may be outdated.*

- **Free backlink is NOT automatic.** This is the most important gotcha. Unlike every other directory in this category, Open Launch's free backlink requires BOTH Top 3 daily ranking AND displaying their badge on your site. If you just want a guaranteed backlink, pay the $12.
- **$12 Premium is unusually cheap.** At $12 for a guaranteed DR65 dofollow backlink, this is the best backlink-per-dollar value in the launch directory ecosystem. A comparable DR65 backlink through outreach could cost $200+.
- **SEO Growth article uses AI.** The $59 article is created with "product testing and AI assistance" then reviewed by humans. Quality may vary. It's non-refundable once purchased.
- **10 Premium slots per day.** Premium launches are capped at 10/day. On busy days these could sell out — plan accordingly.
- **DR65 but DA21.** The DR (Ahrefs) and DA (Moz) metrics diverge significantly. DR65 is strong; DA21 is modest. Depending on which metric you track, the perceived value differs.
- **Traffic is modest.** Like most indie launch directories, don't expect Product Hunt-level visitor numbers. The value is primarily the backlink and listing presence.
- **Open source means community-run.** The platform is maintained by a small team of contributors. Feature development and support depend on community participation.
- **8:00 AM UTC launch time is fixed.** No flexibility on when your product appears. Coordinate your promotion schedule around this time.

- **Self-improving**: If you discover something not covered here, append it to `references/learnings.md` with today's date.

## Related skills

- `/sales-launch-directory` — Launch strategy across multiple startup directories
- `/sales-ctrlaltcc` — CtrlAlt.cc platform help (curated tool directory)
- `/sales-productburst` — ProductBurst platform help (daily/weekly rankings, badges)
- `/sales-microlaunch` — MicroLaunch platform help (30-day leaderboard, deals marketplace)
- `/sales-launchingnext` — LaunchingNext platform help (curated startup directory)
- `/sales-solopush` — SoloPush platform help (indie maker community, no-pressure launch)
- `/sales-sideprojectors` — SideProjectors platform help (buy/sell side projects)
- `/sales-huzzler` — Huzzler platform help (founder community, weekly Launch Arena competition)
- `/sales-firsto` — Firsto platform help (fair launch platform, sustained SEO discovery — forked from Open Launch)
- `/sales-funnel` — Build and optimize sales funnels for conversion
- `/sales-audience-growth` — Grow your email list and subscriber base
- `/sales-do` — Not sure which skill to use? The router matches any sales objective to the right skill. Install:
  `npx skills add sales-skills/sales --skill s