I have been working on a side project that would be a database of people interested in carpooling. If people don't signup, the website is useless. I am trying to figure out how to promote this website so users would signup. Any suggestions / advice?
Ask HN: How do you promote your side projects?
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Re: Ask HN: How do you promote your side projects?
#2My first piece of advice is to post a link whenever you're talking (even tangentially) about your project.
Second, promote it within a community who needs it. Some ideas: Subreddits for large metro areas (or suburbs), Facebook groups. Hopefully this gave you the spark you need to come up with others.
Re: Ask HN: How do you promote your side projects?
#3I would focus on the people that could use it the most.
First focus on location,groups,individuals.
If you focus on a city, college campus, or town it could then be pinned down to a specific group of people - in a class, project, building. Then further it could be a few people who live near one another that could take advantage of such a service.
Re: Ask HN: How do you promote your side projects?
#4Ah, the two sided marketplace problem. Who is the limiting factor, and how can you persuade people with those characteristics to join your site?
Is the limiting factor drivers or riders?
Re: Ask HN: How do you promote your side projects?
#5What I've done/will do on the next project:- Reddit
- Pre-release signup to be notified when it's available
- Product Hunt
- Create a "Show HN" post on Hacker News
Re: Ask HN: How do you promote your side projects?
#6Ah, the two sided marketplace problem. Who is the limiting factor, and how can you persuade people with those characteristics to join your site? Is the limiting factor drivers or riders?
Can you explain why you think this is a two sided marketplace problem?
In my case the subscribers of my site are the consumers. But I need a lot of subscribers to start with so that when they sign up, and start to consume, there is a potential match.
Re: Ask HN: How do you promote your side projects?
#7What I've done/will do on the next project: - Pre-release signup to be notified when it's available - Product Hunt - Create a "Show HN" post on Hacker News - Reddit
Question for all the redditors: Is there like a ShowHN on Reddit or you just post a story and hope for the best?
Re: Ask HN: How do you promote your side projects?
#8What I've done/will do on the next project: - Pre-release signup to be notified when it's available - Product Hunt - Create a "Show HN" post on Hacker News - Reddit
Question for all the redditors: Is there like a ShowHN on Reddit or you just post a story and hope for the best?
I have subscribed to two subreddits that sort of cover this. The first is /r/SideProject. It is a place that people post their side projects and occasionally blogs/articles about their side project. The pros of it is that people don't frown on self promotion but the con is that there doesn't seem to be many comments going on to help improve your offering. The second is /r/lookatmyprogram although that sub seems to be dead. The bigger (if not the biggest) software subreddit is /r/programming but they state that "App demos should include code and/or architecture discussion." so you wouldn't be able to flat out promote.
Re: Ask HN: How do you promote your side projects?
#9I am making a tool that showcases 10 new ideas/early projects each day. Sort of a combination of Yahoo news digest with Product hunt. With the purpose of helping form these new ideas.
For each of the ideas/projects, the maker can get feedback by asking multiple choice questions for viewers to answer.
Is this something you might be interested in using to promote and shape your side projects?
Re: Ask HN: How do you promote your side projects?
#10I am making a tool that showcases 10 new ideas/early projects each day. Sort of a combination of Yahoo news digest with Product hunt. With the purpose of helping form these new ideas. For each of the ideas/projects, the maker can get feedback by asking multiple choice questions for viewers to answer. Is this something you might be interested in using to promote and shape your side projects?
This sounds great! I am looking for some initial users that can give some critical feedback as well. I will get in touch with you soon. Thanks!