HowTheyGotUsersHowTheyGotUsers

Post the Build to r/SideProject for Early Upvotes

Post the Build to r/SideProject for Early Upvotes is a reddit & forums tactic for getting your first users: Sharing the new tool in r/SideProject pulled 72 upvotes and another wave of beta visitors during the first two weeks.

It's a strong fit for teams of almost any kind, and works especially well for Indie/maker products. 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?

Maker subreddits tolerate self-promotion and surface new products to people who like trying them.

The exact steps (5)

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.

Unlock the steps · $29 oncePlus all 3,000+ tactics and the new ones we add weekly.

Sources

Works for
Any / universal

Frequently asked

How is the "Post the Build to r/SideProject for Early Upvotes" 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.

Related tactics

Reddit & forumsLow effort· Fast

Treat the Title Like an Email Subject Line

The headline does almost all the work on Reddit. Nobody reads a single word of your post unless the title earns the click, so it deserves the bulk of your writing time, not an afterthought.

Read the steps →
Reddit & forumsHigh effort· Medium

Run a Multi-Post Feedback Loop So the Community Promotes You

Turn repeated posts into an iteration story: ask for feedback, ship the fixes fast, then post again showing exactly what you changed because of them.

Read the steps →
Reddit & forumsLow effort· Fast

Stay Ad-Proof: Only Share Free + Useful, and Add an Image

Avoid the spam/ban reflex by never selling anything, only posting things the community actually asked for, and attaching an image.

Read the steps →
Reddit & forumsLow effort· Fast

Be the First Commenter on Your Own Reddit Post

Dropping a useful, subreddit-tailored first comment on your own post to seed the discussion and add context that invites replies.

Read the steps →
Reddit & forumsLow effort· Fast

Disclose Before They Catch You

Open any comment or post that mentions your product with a one-line admission that you built it, before you say anything else.

Read the steps →
Reddit & forumsHigh effort· Medium

Write a Separate Native Post per Subreddit Angle

Craft distinct posts tailored to each community's values and norms so the same product reads as native content in every subreddit.

Read the steps →

Get all 3,000+ tactics in one place

Filter by your product and channel, follow the exact steps, and get the new tactics we add every week. One payment, yours for good.

Unlock for $29 onceBrowse by channel