Using Reddit for Product Launches
Hey everyone! I’ve seen some people mention using Reddit groups to help launching their products, but I’m a bit new to the platform. From what I’ve noticed, many groups don’t allow self-promotion or talking about your own business. I’m curious, which subreddits do you participate in, and what’s your strategy for engaging and launching your products there?
I’d love to hear about your experiences and any tips for successfully navigating Reddit for product launches!
@gamifykaran Thank you so much for all the details!
The list of subreddits is incredibly helpful — I hadn’t heard of some of those before, and they seem like great communities to tap into. Your strategy tips are spot on too.
I’ll definitely be checking out Boringlaunch as well; I hadn’t heard about it before, but it sounds like a fantastic resource for submitting products! I will drop you a line for sure ;)
So much valuable knowledge in this post, really appreciate it!
Thanks again for taking the time to share this!
look for ppl who successfully launched on Reddit and see what they've done and where they post. Marc Lou is one guy who deff launched on Reddit. worth checking his profile
@taniabell Thanks so much for the suggestion! I’ll definitely take a look at Marc Lou’s profile. Really appreciate you pointing me in the right direction with new ideas!
@natalia_eiriz he wrote a post about his launches on Reddit. you'll find it easily. plenty of failures early on and then more successful posts/launches
seeing some tools being recommended. you don't need to pay anyone to figure out how to post on Reddit. being a messaging board it's a way to engage, get some feedback and put the word out. yes you have to be helpful otherwise you'll be ignored (or banned by some very zealous mods. not had that experience myself) it's not a place to grow your following tho. that's worth keeping in mind.
@taniabell It's great to hear that there’s no need to pay anyone to figure out Reddit, sounds like it’s really all about engaging authentically and providing value.
I totally get what you mean about the mods being strict! I’m hoping to be helpful and make real connections. Will get into that in the following weeks!! Thanks again!
Yeah, Reddit can be tricky for product launches since most subs are allergic to self-promotion unless you do it right. The key is really providing value first, rather than just dropping links.
I’ve had the best experience by engaging in discussions long before launching, sharing insights, answering questions, and only mentioning the product when it’s genuinely helpful. Some subs like r/SaaS, r/SideProject, or r/InternetIsBeautiful can work if you frame it as a showcase rather than a promotion.
Curious—have you already tried posting somewhere, or are you still figuring out the best approach?
@hussein_r Thanks so much for sharing all these details! I haven't tried posting yet, but I've participated in a couple of threads to get a feel for the community. I realized I need to build up enough points before starting my own posts (at least in the subs I tried), so I decided to figure out the best way to approach it first.
Appreciate the advice and will definitely keep it in mind when I'm ready to post!
@natalia_eiriz That’s a smart approach! Engaging with the community first is a great way to understand the dynamics before jumping in with your own posts. Some subs can be pretty strict with self-promotion, so building credibility through discussions first definitely helps.
Have you found any particular types of threads or comments that seem to get the most traction? Would love to hear what’s worked best for you so far!
@hussein_r Thanks for your insight! I haven't had much time yet to dive deep into Reddit, as I'm trying to keep up with everything here on Product Hunt. The endless list of tasks makes it a bit tricky to stay on top of everything! 😅
What about you? Have you found any specific strategies that really work for you? Are you trying to do the launching also at reddit? I’d love to hear any recommendations you might have!
@natalia_eiriz Thanks for your reply! I totally get that launching on Product Hunt alone is already a huge task, and adding Reddit to the mix can feel overwhelming. 😅
For Reddit, I mainly searched for relevant subreddits and threads where people had the exact problems my app solves or at least similar ones. The key for me was helping people first, without constantly mentioning the product. If it feels forced, no one really wants to engage, let alone try it. But if the solution actually fits, then it’s natural to bring it up.
Reddit and I aren’t getting along. Every time I try to participate—even with a simple comment—my account gets flagged or blocked. Kinda frustrating when you’re just trying to join the convo. How do you even get past that initial roadblock? 😁
@croffasia It seems like we’re not alone with these issues! Hopefully, someone with more experience can shed some light on how to get past these roadblocks. I’d love to hear any tips anyone might have!
I would like to know about such Reddits as well :D Especially those ones where they don't ban you :D
That’s correct. I’ve attempted to leverage Reddit for my product launch, but I frequently encounter errors when updating my profile or leaving comments, which has been quite frustrating. Has anyone else faced similar issues? The communities I’ve considered engaging with are r/SaaS, r/entrepreneur, and r/SideProject.
I am also interested in learning about launching reddit. Been hearing a lot people getting quite a success from there
@uaghazade Thanks so much for the new ideas! I’ll definitely check out Listd.in sounds like a great resource to explore for promotion.
Yes, it's definitely a no-go in most communities for direct self-promotion on Reddit. Instead of blasting your product everywhere, consider these before:
Niche is your friend! Forget the general startup subs for now. Where do people who would actually love your product hang out? Those are your goldmines. Think specific interests, hobbies, problems your product solves – what communities are built around those?
Value first, product later. Imagine walking into a group of people chatting and just yelling "BUY MY THING!". Not cool, right? Instead, jump into conversations, offer helpful tips, share your expertise. What can you genuinely contribute to these communities before even mentioning your product?
Helpful contribution, not sales pitch. When the time is right to mention your product, frame it as a solution or a resource for something they're already discussing. Think "Hey, I built something that might help with that..." instead of "BUY NOW 50% OFF!". See the difference? 😉
@nirvayaa Definitely agree, patience and thoughtful engagement are key! Niche communities are definitely a great place to start, and focusing on providing value first makes a huge difference.
Thanks so much for sharing these tips, they’re super helpful and will definitely guide me as I continue to navigate Reddit!
Reddit can be great for product launches, but most subreddits hate direct self-promo. The thing is engage first, share useful insights, ask for feedback, and contribute genuinely.
Subreddits like r/Entrepreneur, r/SaaS, and r/SideProject work well if you add value before talking about your product.
BTW, What are you launching?
@hamza_afzal_butt Thanks for the advice! You’re absolutely right about the approach, engaging first is key. I’m still working on a few things, but I’ll be introducing what I’m building soon. Stay tuned! :)
Our marketing team utilized Reddit subreddits (a group in Reddit is called subreddit), such as r/macapps, to promote our right-click enhancer app, iBoysoft MagicMenu. This versatile app enhances the Mac right-click functionality, allowing users to customize their Finder context menu and improve their workflow. Simply put, it enables you to quickly create various types of new files (including .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .txt, .pdf, .ppt, Keynote, Pages, Markdown, Numbers, and more), move or copy files to a specific location, instantly access frequently used files, apps, and web links, securely delete files, locate duplicate files, copy file paths, and much more – all with a single right-click.
If you're unfamiliar with Reddit, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
Ensure your Reddit account has some karma
Karma functions like a reputation score on Reddit. It increases when your posts and comments receive upvotes, and decreases when they are downvoted.Avoid posting external links if you're new
Many subreddits have strict rules about sharing links in posts and comments. Always review the rules before posting.Search for your competitors on Reddit
Look for older posts about similar products and consider posting your launch information in those subreddits. Pay attention to how marketers describe their products, keeping your introduction concise and easy to understand. Avoid presenting your product launch like a formal, long press release.
Here are some of the communities you can be part of:
r/SideProject
r/RoastMyStartup
r/indiehackers
r/thesidehustle
r/microsaas
r/SaaS
r/BootstrappedSaaS
r/thesidehustle
r/TheFounders
r/Startups
r/startup
r/indiehackers
r/IMadethis
r/EntrepreneurRideAlong
r/entrepreneur
r/marketing
Here are the few tips to get started with Reddit:
General Rule for Each Subreddit:
Look at the top post of the week to see what format works well.
Check if people are adding links in those posts.
Common Rule for Links:
Do not add links on subreddits with 1M+ audience (e.g., r/entrepreneurs) as bots will auto-delete them in seconds.
Read the rules and submission guidelines at least twice before posting.
If You Have a Paid Service/Product:
Avoid directly adding links unless people ask for it in comments.
If you want to include a link, build a free tool around it that helps the same audience. Example: We have a submission service Boringlaunch in which we submits AI products to SaaS platforms and directories. Instead of promoting it directly, during Black Friday we created a free Black Friday directory of directories where people can promote their BF deals.
The Real Game in the Initial Days:
Focus on the comment section, not just the post.
Engage with the community, offer help, and share your experiences.
These comments will you new post ideas as well :)
Commenting Strategy:
Filter posts by top posts of the day/week to find relevant discussions where you can share opinions and experiences.
Filter by new posts so you can be the first commenter on posts you like.
Finding the Best Time to Post:
Use a tool like https://subreddittraffic.live/
Joining Subreddit Communities:
Join subreddits of popular products you use (e.g., Notion, Bluesky) and share your personal experiences there.
P.S. These are some generic strategies that can be helpful if you are just getting started. Not all tips may be useful for a product launch. Feel free to share your strategy and thoughts on the same.
Other than Reddit communities, you can share your product on SaaS platforms and directories like Uneed, Microlaunch, Launching Today, Peerlist, Indie Hackers, etc. If you don't have time, I’d be happy to help with the submission process through Boringlaunch. We submit AI startups to 100+ platforms in 7 days. (P.S.: I am the founder of Boringlaunch.)