HowTheyGotUsersHowTheyGotUsers

Publish Under Large Medium Publications, Not Your Own Profile

Publish Under Large Medium Publications, Not Your Own Profile is a content & youtube tactic for getting your first users: Multiply article reach by getting your work accepted into big Medium publications instead of posting from your personal account.

It's a strong fit for Newsletters / media teams, and works especially well for writers, newsletter and content-led founders. As a content & youtube play, plan for medium effort and expect results to build gradually over time, all grounded in 1 linked primary source.

Content & YouTubeMedium effortSlow

Why does content & youtube work for this?

A publication's built-in audience can take an article from a few hundred to thousands of views.

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
Newsletters / media

Frequently asked

What kind of products does the "Publish Under Large Medium Publications, Not Your Own Profile" tactic work for?
It is a good fit for Newsletters / media — pick it when your product looks like that, since the play is shaped around how those users find new tools.
How is the "Publish Under Large Medium Publications, Not Your Own Profile" 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 medium effort, and results tend to be slow.
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

Content & YouTubeLow effort· Medium

Expand Winning Comments Into Long-Form, Then Seed Similar Threads

When a short comment gets strong engagement, turn it into a blog post or Twitter thread, then go back and reply in detail on other similar threads to distribute it.

Read the steps →
Content & YouTubeLow effort· Fast

Have an Actual Opinion

Leaning into a distinct personality, strong opinions, and an authentic tone (even memes) instead of safe, neutral content that no one remembers.

Read the steps →
Content & YouTubeLow effort· Medium

Repurpose One Newsletter Issue Into Multiple Platform Posts

Take a single longer post originally written for your newsletter and reframe it as a helpful community post on Indie Hackers (and Medium), ending with a soft invite to subscribe and follow the journey.

Read the steps →
Content & YouTubeMedium effort· Slow

The Three-Bucket Video Portfolio

Deliberately splitting your uploads across three roles: evergreen videos that compound forever, timely news videos that spike subscribers fast, and the occasional swing at a broadly viral hit.

Read the steps →
Content & YouTubeLow effort· Medium

Republish Newsletter Essays on Indie Hackers With a Subscribe CTA

Takes the same essay published on Substack, reposts it to the Indie Hackers community, and bookends it with explicit Share and Subscribe calls to action to convert community readers into newsletter subscribers.

Read the steps →
Content & YouTubeLow effort· Medium

Give Away Paid Material Free as a Lead Magnet

Take something you planned to sell (a method presentation) and release it free, using it as a lead magnet that drives goodwill and channel subscribers.

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