After watching 2,500+ products launch on Launch, these are the 7 biggest factors behind startup product success:
1) Distribution > product
I'm biased but for the majority of software products now, you start with an prototype product and get distribution to create a customer feedback loop and make it better. Not the other way around.
2) Consistency compounds
The guys that consistently ship and push their product across X, LinkedIn, Reddit etc win. You have to put in the work every day between building, marketing and selling.
3) Founders with audience move faster
Part of the reason I built Launch is to help people have an audience. But it really starts with your own personal brand/following. Build that up even as you cycle through failure as it will stand you in good stead when you have something that clicks.
4) Speed wins
AI makes it easier than ever to ship updates. Hell I'm not a developer and I can now ship daily with Codex that would've taken me weeks before. Use this to your advantage to move faster than existing players.
5) Most people price too low
$9. Yup been there, done that. You can't have a viable business unless you charge more. Everyone sees the massive success like Google, ChatGPT etc that do free products. That's not you. Charge more money and re-invest that back into your thing.
6) Momentum attracts momentum
People like when other people win. Might be cringe but you have to post your wins. MRR, ARR, users, traffic etc whatever is going up. Share that and people will follow you/try your thing.
7) The founders that keep going usually win
Hardest one of all. There's a fine line between giving up and keeping going. If you have traction, you'll know it and you have to keep going with that thing. The worst thing you can do is move on to something else when you have something that might just win.
Building is easier than ever, attention is the bottleneck now.
Most important: don't be one of those who quit too early. If you have traction, double down and go all-in.