Get Product Hunt API Key
Set up your Product Hunt API access to enable automatic lead collection from the latest Product Hunt posts.
Overview
ColdConvert uses the Product Hunt API to automatically collect leads from the latest Product Hunt posts. You'll need to create a free Product Hunt account and generate an API token to enable this feature.
What the API does
The Product Hunt API allows ColdConvert to fetch the latest Product Hunt posts and extract founder information for your cold email campaigns.
Step 1: Sign In to Product Hunt
1.Go to producthunt.com and sign in to your account
2.If you don't have an account, create one (it's free)
3.Make sure you're logged in before proceeding to the next step
Free Account
Product Hunt accounts are completely free. You don't need any paid subscription to access the API.
Step 2: Access API Dashboard
1.Navigate to https://api.producthunt.com/v2/oauth/applications
2.You must be logged in to Product Hunt for this page to render properly
3.You should see the API applications dashboard
Important
You must be signed in to your Product Hunt account for the API dashboard to load. If you see an error page, make sure you're logged in first.
Step 3: Create Application
1.Click "Add an Application" or "Create Application" button
2.Fill in your application details:
•Name: "ColdConvert" or any name you prefer
•Redirect URI: https://yourdomain.com/ (or any valid URL)
•Description: "Cold email automation tool" (optional)
3.Click "Create Application" to save
Application Details
The application name and description are for your reference only. The redirect URI can be any valid URL since we're only using the API token.
Step 4: Generate Token
1.Once your application is created, scroll down on its page
2.Look for "Create token" or "Generate Developer Token" button
3.Click the button to generate your API token
4.The token will be displayed on screen - copy it immediately
API Token Format
phc_1234567890abcdef...Token Security
The Product Hunt API token never expires and is tied to your account. Copy it immediately as it may not be shown again.
Step 5: Save Your Token
1.Copy the generated token (starts with "phc_")
2.Save it securely - you'll need it for environment variables
3.The token will be used as PH_API_TOKEN in your environment variables
Important Notes:
- • Token never expires - you only need to generate it once
- • Keep it secure - don't share it publicly
- • The token is tied to your Product Hunt account
- • You can generate multiple tokens if needed
API Token Ready
Your Product Hunt API token is now ready! Save it securely - you'll need it when configuring environment variables in the next tutorial.
API Configuration
In addition to your API key, you'll need to configure the endpoint URL and topics for lead collection. Product Hunt offers a wide range of topics organized by category to help you target the right audience:
Product Hunt Configuration
# These will be added to your environment variables:
PH_ENDPOINT_URL=https://api.producthunt.com/v2/api/graphql
TOPICS=saas,productivity,artificial-intelligence,developer-tools,marketing
# Available topics for lead collection:
### Technology & Development
# artificial-intelligence - AI/ML products and tools
# developer-tools - Software development utilities
# bots - Chatbots and automation tools
# saas - Software as a Service products
# web-app - Web applications
# ios - iOS apps and tools
# mac - macOS applications
# tech - General technology products
# database - Database management and tools
# browser-extensions - Browser extension development
# chrome-extensions - Chrome browser extensions
### Business & Marketing
# marketing - Marketing tools and platforms
# growth-hacking - Growth marketing strategies
# analytics - Data analytics and tracking tools
# productivity - Productivity and efficiency tools
# a-b-testing - A/B testing and optimization tools
# advertising - Advertising platforms and tools
# email-marketing - Email marketing solutions
# finance - Financial technology and tools
### Digital Marketing & Privacy
# ad-blockers - Ad blocking and privacy tools
# privacy - Privacy-focused products and tools
### Cryptocurrency & Blockchain
# bitcoin - Bitcoin-related products and tools
# blockchain - Blockchain technology platforms
# cryptocurrency - Cryptocurrency tools and platforms
# crypto - General cryptocurrency products
### Design & Creative
# user-experience - UX/UI design tools
# design-tools - Design software and utilities
# photography - Photography tools and apps
# crafting - Digital crafting and creative tools
### Lifestyle & Entertainment
# travel - Travel-related products and apps
# games - Gaming applications and tools
# books - Book-related products and platforms
# home - Home and lifestyle products
# audio - Audio and music applications
### Health & Wellness
# dieting - Diet and nutrition tools
# fitness - Fitness and workout applications
# health-fitness - Health and fitness products
### Education & Learning
# education - Educational technology and learning platforms
### Financial Services
# banking - Banking and financial services
### Emerging Technologies
# internet-of-things - IoT devices and platforms
# wearables - Wearable technology products1.
PH_ENDPOINT_URL - The Product Hunt GraphQL API endpoint (fixed value)2.
TOPICS - Comma-separated list of Product Hunt categories to monitor3.Choose topics that match your target audience and business niche from the comprehensive list above
Topic Selection
The topics you choose will determine which Product Hunt posts ColdConvert monitors for leads. Select categories that align with your target market and business focus. The comprehensive list above includes topics for technology, business, marketing, design, lifestyle, and more.
Lead Quality
More specific topics (like "artificial-intelligence" or "saas") will give you more targeted leads, while broader topics (like "tech" or "productivity") will give you more volume but potentially less relevant leads. Consider your target audience when selecting topics.
Next Tutorial
Deploy to Vercel
Now that you have all your API keys ready, it's time to deploy your application to Vercel.