Show HN: Reddit search engine for startup founders

Can OP or another employee provide some background here? I feel like most Show HNs have one of the founders explaining a bit in the HN discussion page.

One thing I'd like to understand better is how to avoid problems with mods. My startup had some very popular posts on LPT and YSK, but both were taken down. Some of the mods said that the reasoning given by other mods was bogus, and that we were just being targeted.

Since then, I've never tried engaging on reddit much, since it seems like even successful posts can be taken down without rhyme or reason. Any insights into how to avoid these sorts of problems, either with your tool or in general?

Re: Show HN: Reddit search engine for startup founders

#5

Post by PUSH_AX » Mon, Jun 13, 2022, 8:00 AM UTC

gnicholas wrote: post #4

Can OP or another employee provide some background here? I feel like most Show HNs have one of the founders explaining a bit in the HN discussion page. One thing I'd like to understand better is how to avoid problems with mods. My startup had some very popular posts on LPT and YSK, but both were taken down. Some of the mods said that the reasoning given by other mods was bogus, and that we were just being targeted. S…

The spirit of Reddit is to share things you’ve found that you think are cool or suited to the sub. This falls down when people start self promoting their stuff. The thing is there are lots of cool things people have created that should be shared, but if you open the floodgates then you also get the other 90% of spammy garbage. So generally there are blanket rules about this kind of thing.

Re: Show HN: Reddit search engine for startup founders

#6

Post by Maxion » Mon, Jun 13, 2022, 8:11 AM UTC

gnicholas wrote: post #4

Can OP or another employee provide some background here? I feel like most Show HNs have one of the founders explaining a bit in the HN discussion page. One thing I'd like to understand better is how to avoid problems with mods. My startup had some very popular posts on LPT and YSK, but both were taken down. Some of the mods said that the reasoning given by other mods was bogus, and that we were just being targeted. S…

Reddit is not a platform for self-promotion, and moderators there are very keen for it not becoming such a place.

Each subreddit is moderated differently by completely volunteer moderators. How things are in one subreddit does not really tell you how it is in another.

In broad terms, directly engaging as a company on Reddit by creating a post is generally frowned upon. What works better is to respond to posts in the comments hwhere your company would be relevant. But it is very hard to toe the line between spamming advertisements, and engaging with the community. 90% of companies I see trying to engage on Reddit seem to do it with metrics such as ROI or engagement in mind, rather than simply trying to make a community a better place.

If you go by the former, you'll have your posts removed and maybe even banned from the community. If you do the latter, then you will make some headway.

E.g. Do not promote your business selling router bits, DO make a lengthy post explaining the differences between router bits and how to choose one that's right for you.

Re: Show HN: Reddit search engine for startup founders

#7

Post by gnicholas » Mon, Jun 13, 2022, 8:46 AM UTC

Maxion wrote: post #6

gnicholas wrote: post #4

Can OP or another employee provide some background here? I feel like most Show HNs have one of the founders explaining a bit in the HN discussion page. One thing I'd like to understand better is how to avoid problems with mods. My startup had some very popular posts on LPT and YSK, but both were taken down. Some of the mods said that the reasoning given by other mods was bogus, and that we were just being targeted. S…

Reddit is not a platform for self-promotion, and moderators there are very keen for it not becoming such a place. Each subreddit is moderated differently by completely volunteer moderators. How things are in one subreddit does not really tell you how it is in another. In broad terms, directly engaging as a company on Reddit by creating a post is generally frowned upon. What works better is to respond to posts in the…

Appreciate this detailed reply! Just for additional context, I wasn't going around spamming — I made a post on LPT when my startup launched, and then on YSK at the suggestion of a mod who thought my very popular post was unfairly taken down on LPT. Each post had over a thousand upvotes and an 85% +/- ratio, and was generating good conversation. It was super frustrating to lose those posts, which were driving tons of traffic!

I can see that I would have been much better off letting one of my startup's users, or someone who had seen our Show HN, post to reddit and get the ball rolling. That would have generated the same type of publicity, and I would have been able to jump into the comments and answer questions in the same way. Lesson learned!

Re: Show HN: Reddit search engine for startup founders

#8

Post by InCityDreams » Mon, Jun 13, 2022, 8:53 AM UTC

Completely free to try No credit card required

So how much is it (going to be)? Thankfully my kids are now aware of 'free to try' and 'no credit card required'.....to try, i presume, but not 'to actually use'. Skipped, on principle.

Re: Show HN: Reddit search engine for startup founders

#9

Post by AlchemistCamp » Mon, Jun 13, 2022, 9:05 AM UTC

gnicholas wrote: post #7

Maxion wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Reddit is not a platform for self-promotion, and moderators there are very keen for it not becoming such a place. Each subreddit is moderated differently by completely volunteer moderators. How things are in one subreddit does not really tell you how it is in another. In broad terms, directly engaging as a company on Reddit by creating a post is generally frowned upon. What works better is to respond to posts in the…

Appreciate this detailed reply! Just for additional context, I wasn't going around spamming — I made a post on LPT when my startup launched, and then on YSK at the suggestion of a mod who thought my very popular post was unfairly taken down on LPT. Each post had over a thousand upvotes and an 85% +/- ratio, and was generating good conversation. It was super frustrating to lose those posts, which were driving tons of…

> I wasn't going around spamming — I made a post on LPT when my startup launched

How many launches of other startups not affiliated with you did you share there first? What % of your comments in the sub would you say were on threads you didn't start?

Re: Show HN: Reddit search engine for startup founders

#10

Post by SyneRyder » Mon, Jun 13, 2022, 9:15 AM UTC

InCityDreams wrote: post #8

Completely free to try No credit card required So how much is it (going to be)? Thankfully my kids are now aware of 'free to try ' and 'no credit card required'.....to try, i presume, but not 'to actually use'. Skipped, on principle.

There's a Pricing link at the top of the page, and it's also included mid-way down the page.

$19/mo Starter plan, $39/mo Pro plan (Tracks keywords & more advanced search) and $99/mo Team plan (multiple users, shareable search result reports).