Launch templateLaunch posts
Launch announcement thread template for X
A launch thread works when the first post stands on its own and every post after it earns the next tap. This template keeps each post under X's 280-character limit for standard accounts and puts the demo in post two, where most people decide whether to keep reading.
Use it for
- Launch day, posted from the founder's account.
- A major release you want people to try.
- Cross-posting a Product Hunt or LaunchRanked launch.
Limits and rules
- Standard posts are limited to 280 characters; X Premium subscribers can post longer.[1]
- Native video plays in the feed; a YouTube link doesn't.
The template
Copy it, then replace everything in [BRACKETS]. Delete lines that don't apply rather than leaving them vague.
1/ I just launched [PRODUCT]: [ONE LINE ON WHAT IT DOES FOR WHOM]. [ONE SENTENCE ON THE RESULT A USER GETS] Here's what it does and why I built it 🧵 2/ [DEMO VIDEO OR GIF, 15-45 SECONDS] [ONE LINE DESCRIBING WHAT THE VIDEO SHOWS] 3/ The problem: [SPECIFIC PAIN, IN THE WORDS YOUR USERS USE]. Most people [CURRENT WORKAROUND], which [WHY IT FAILS]. 4/ How [PRODUCT] works: - [STEP 1] - [STEP 2] - [STEP 3] 5/ What it doesn't do (yet): [HONEST LIMIT]. [WHEN OR WHETHER YOU'LL ADD IT]. 6/ Early users: [REAL RESULT OR QUOTE, WITH PERMISSION] - or, if you have none yet: "It's day one, so I'd love your honest take." 7/ Try it: [LINK] [PRICE OR FREE TIER IN ONE LINE] Questions and blunt feedback welcome below.
How to fill it in
[ONE LINE ON WHAT IT DOES FOR WHOM]
Name the user and the job. "Sends late-payment reminders for freelancers" beats "AI for your finances".
[DEMO VIDEO OR GIF]
Upload natively. Show the result in the first three seconds.
[SPECIFIC PAIN]
Copy a phrase from a customer interview or support email.
[HONEST LIMIT]
One real thing it can't do. It makes the rest believable.
[REAL RESULT OR QUOTE]
Only real, permitted quotes. If you have none, say it's day one.
Filled example
Fictional example. Paperlark is a fictional product we made up for these examples: an invoice-reminder tool for freelancers that sends polite follow-ups when a client pays late. Names, prices and details are invented to show the template filled in; they aren't a real company or real results.
1/ I just launched Paperlark: it chases late invoices for freelancers, so you don't have to write awkward "just checking in" emails. You set it once. It follows up politely until the client pays. Here's what it does and why I built it 🧵 2/ [30-second screen recording: connect an invoice, pick a tone, see the reminder schedule] Connecting an invoice and setting up three reminders in under a minute. 3/ The problem: freelancers hate chasing money. Most of us set a calendar reminder and then put off sending the email, which means getting paid weeks late. 4/ How Paperlark works: - Forward or connect your invoice - Pick a tone: friendly, firm, final - It sends reminders on a schedule and stops when the invoice is paid 5/ What it doesn't do (yet): it can't take payments itself. You keep using your current invoicing tool. 6/ It's day one, so I'd love your honest take. 7/ Try it: paperlark.example Free for 3 invoices a month. Questions and blunt feedback welcome below.
Do
- Keep post 1 readable on its own; many people only see that one.
- Upload the demo natively.
- Reply to every reply in the first hours.
- Pin the thread for launch week.
Don't
- Don't ask for retweets or likes in the thread.
- Don't use more than one or two hashtags.
- Don't quote users without permission.
- Don't pad to 12 posts; 5–7 is plenty.
FAQ
How long should a launch thread be?
Five to seven posts is enough to cover hook, demo, problem, how it works, limits and the link. Standard X posts are limited to 280 characters each.
Where should the link go?
In the last post, and optionally a reply to the first. The first post should make people want to keep reading.
Should I post a thread or one long post?
If you have X Premium you can post longer, but a thread lets each idea stand alone and be quoted.
Launch guides that use this template
Sources
Checked . Platforms change their rules; open the source before you rely on a number.
Related templates
- LinkedIn launch postA LinkedIn launch post template built around a story, a clear who-it's-for line and one ask, with a filled example and LinkedIn's 3,000-character limit.
- Maker commentA maker comment template for Product Hunt and other launch boards: who you are, why you built it, what's in it, pricing and a request for feedback.
- Show HN postA Show HN template that follows Hacker News rules: a plain title, a link people can try, and a first comment on why you built it and how it works.