DM the Mods for Permission Before You Post

DM the Mods for Permission Before You Post is a reddit & forums tactic for getting your first users: When unsure whether a sub allows promotion, message the moderators directly and ask if you can post, framing it as genuine feedback-seeking rather than promo.

It's a strong fit for teams of almost any kind, and works especially well for Founders posting in strict or feedback-focused subs. As a reddit & forums play, plan for low effort and expect results to show up quickly, all grounded in 1 linked primary source.

Reddit & forumsLow effortFast

Why does reddit & forums work for this?

Mods usually say yes to non-spammy, feedback-oriented posts, and pre-clearance removes the ban risk entirely.

The exact steps (4)

The full step-by-step this founder ran, what they posted, where, and in what order, plus the watch-outs, is part of the library.

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Sources

Works for
Any / universal

Frequently asked

How is the "DM the Mods for Permission Before You Post" tactic verified?
It is drawn from 1 primary source — a real founder write-up or interview, not generic advice. It is linked in the Sources section above so you can read the original account yourself.
How much effort is it and how fast are results?
It is low effort, and results tend to be fast.
Where can I see the exact step-by-step?
The full step-by-step a founder ran, documented via Source — IndieHackers, is in the paid library.

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