How makers stay productive

That's a good question. I think the title is vague, but I'll go ahead and answer it.

So your Product Hunt launch went terribly wrong. What now?

1. Product Hunt is not the end-all, be-all. It's a good step to getting early adopters, but if you really wish, you can continue marketing it wherever the target audience is. Whether that's forums, social media, or handing out flyers in a public square is up to you.
2. Don't stress about it. Product Hunt launches mean nothing in the grander scheme of things, your product is not over.
3. Just keep swimming.

You notice I said exactly the same thing in the last three points. That's all there really is to say or do: your product is not over, just keep swimming.

Keep on working and find customers to use your app/ website, I personally set a time limit for projects to control costs. So for example, if a launch does not go as planned, then just tell yourself I am going to give it my all for x months and if nothing comes from it walk away and take what you learned and apply it to the next one!

I wouldn't worry about it - the products that usually succeed on PH already have an audience and use it to their advantage. So next time build an audience beforehand and then ask them to help you.

Facebook Groups are great for this!

The worse thing is when you get a successful one! Because then you realize it doesn't solve your marketing problems 😅