ZEYANG LYU

Should our product launch video feature a real person or just a voiceover with product footage?

Hey PH community! 👋

We’re preparing for our upcoming launch on Product Hunt and planning to include a short video introducing our product. We’re debating between two approaches and would love your input:

  1. A clean, polished video showing the product in action with a voiceover explaining the features.

  2. A video where a real person (our founder) appears on camera to introduce the product and walk through the key value points.

We want the video to be engaging, trustworthy, and clear. Have you seen one format work better than the other on Product Hunt?

Do people respond more positively when they see a real face, or is a sleek, voiceover-style video more effective?

Would really appreciate any advice or examples you can share! 🙏

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Himashwetha Gowda

Hey @zeyang , featuring a real person might help get better engagement and response.

ZEYANG LYU

@himashwetha_gowda Thanks so much!

Chris Jobs
Having the founder present the product is a great move, it brings authenticity and raw passion. But the real magic happens when that passion comes through in a way that pulls us in. Nail that, and I’d choose it over a dry, feature-dumping voiceover. PS: My personal opinion, you can’t please everyone, so focus on making it authentic and memorable.
ZEYANG LYU

@justchrisjobs Yeah that is exactly right! We want to share our passion with every audience! One more vote for real face! Thanks for your opinion!

mountroot

Personally prefer a video where a founder walks through their own product with a real face. It establishes personal connect which is less likely in a monotonic voiceover video :)

ZEYANG LYU

@mountroot  hhh one more vote for real face, so good to know!

Anton Cogood

We are launching soon and are wondering the same question too

ZEYANG LYU

@antosha_kogut  Good luck with your launch!

Aaron Marco Arias

Mmm... I can think of different reasons to go for one or the other.

The polished, feature-centric video:

  • Could be great for ads - or any other context where it's important to make a good first impression and hook the user.

  • Would be easier to delegate/outsource.

The founder video:

  • Would humanize the brand

  • Would provide a more in-depth view of the product

  • Could require more time and budget - especially if you have high production standards

What do you think?

ZEYANG LYU

@aaronmarco  wow thats a good one, I will think about it!

Tejas

Hey @zeyang - We're live today and getting a lot of positive response because my co-founder (and CEO) did a walkthrough video with him in it

ZEYANG LYU

Hey @tejgw I just watched it and LOVE that! Best wishes for your launch!

Bryce York

From a viewer's perspective, I would see a video with the founder as more personal. It brings the human element into play.

But, with that said it shouldn't just be a talking head video. Blending between having the founder on video then cutting to the product would be the best.

ZEYANG LYU

@bryce_york_ag  Love this! We'll definitely try it.

Manu Goel
Launching soon!

We are debating exactly the same. Thanks for bringing up this thread. I will listen in too

Anthony Cai

Hi Zeyang, great question! Both approaches can work well, but it really depends on your brand personality and audience. Having a real person, especially the founder, on camera can build trust and create a personal connection with viewers—it makes the product feel more authentic and relatable. On the other hand, a sleek, voiceover-driven video focusing purely on product footage can look very professional and keeps the focus on features and usability.

From what I’ve seen on Product Hunt, videos with founders often get more engagement because people love hearing the story behind the product directly. However, if you or your founder aren’t comfortable on camera, a polished voiceover video with clear visuals can be just as effective.

If possible, you might even combine both: start with a quick personal intro from the founder, then switch to product demos with voiceover. This way, you get the best of both worlds—trust and clarity. Good luck with your launch! Looking forward to seeing your product.

Jennifer Nechanicka

I think featuring a real person would be better, to me it feels more personal and shows the founder/team member took the time to explain their product. I myself am also launching this week and am going to feature a video with myself in a video bubble talking through the video. I also read that its helpful to add subtitles since some people keep videos muted.

ZEYANG LYU

@jennifer_interactively Add subtitlesGood oneThanks!