Where to launch: Product Hunt, Reddit and communities
Getting into the store is not "launching" — it is just putting the app on the shelf. Someone has to be told it is there. There are free channels for that, but each has its own rules, and whoever breaks them usually gets banned.
What these channels have in common: they are communities, not ad slots. Someone who walks in like an advertiser gets rejected; someone who brings something useful gets accepted.
| Channel | Who it suits | The main rule |
|---|---|---|
| Product Hunt | Global, English-language products; a tech audience | Free to use; community members share the product, upvote and comment |
| Reddit (topic subreddits) | Apps with a narrow ICP | Every subreddit has its own rules — self-promotion is often restricted |
| Telegram / Discord communities | Local markets, an Azerbaijani audience | Participate first, share later |
| Indie Hackers | Products built solo or by a small team | Telling the process works better than pitching the product |
| University / professional groups | Apps whose ICP gathers in one place | The highest conversion, the smallest scale |
How Product Hunt works. Per its own guide the platform is completely free: community members share ("hunt") what they have built, others upvote, comment and share, and products compete for spots on the homepage leaderboard — including the "Product of the Day" title.
Practical consequences:
- The audience is English-speaking and technical. For an app aimed only at the Azerbaijani market, launching here is often a waste of time
- The result hinges on a single day, so preparation matters: strong visuals, a clear one-line description, and replying to comments that same day
- Soliciting upvotes ("paid votes", "upvote groups") goes against the spirit of the platform and can nullify the result
The most common mistake on Reddit is dropping a bare link. What works: tell the problem and how you solved it, and mention the app naturally at the end. Many subreddits set aside a specific day or format for self-promotion — read the rules before posting.
All of these channels give a one-off spike: traffic arrives for a day and then falls to zero. They are not a source of sustained growth. The real value of launch channels is not the traffic but the first users and first reviews — which is what ASO needs to start working.
Practice. Find five communities where your ICP gathers (a subreddit, a Telegram group, a Discord server, a forum). Read the rules of each and note in one line: self-promotion allowed / not allowed / allowed with conditions. Done means: in at least two of them you have participated for a week before posting anything.
📚 Sources and documentation
- Product Hunt Launch Guideproducthunt.com
The platform's own guide: how it works, that it is free, and what success means.
- Indie Hackersindiehackers.com
Launch experiences from small teams — examples of telling the process.
- App Store marketing guidelinesofficialdeveloper.apple.com
How you may use Apple's badges and marks when promoting the app off-store.