Target Subs That 'Somewhat' Allow Self-Promo, Then Warm Up With Value

Target Subs That 'Somewhat' Allow Self-Promo, Then Warm Up With Value is a reddit & forums tactic for getting your first users: Picking subreddits in your niche that permit self-promotion under specific rules, then posting pure value first before ever promoting.

It's a strong fit for Consumer / mobile apps teams, and works especially well for B2C and consumer products on Reddit. As a reddit & forums play, plan for medium effort and expect results to build gradually over time, all grounded in 1 linked primary source.

Reddit & forumsMedium effortSlow

Why does reddit & forums work for this?

Building a value track record inside permissive subs earns the goodwill that lets later promotion survive.

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

Frequently asked

What kind of products does the "Target Subs That 'Somewhat' Allow Self-Promo, Then Warm Up With Value" tactic work for?
It is a good fit for Consumer / mobile apps — pick it when your product looks like that, since the play is shaped around how those users find new tools.
How is the "Target Subs That 'Somewhat' Allow Self-Promo, Then Warm Up With Value" 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.

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