Subreddit Marketing Guide

How to Market on r/indiehackers

A community for indie hackers building bootstrapped businesses and side projects.

100Ksubscribers
400active now
Lenient Self-Promo Policy
Subscribers
100K
Total community members
Active Now
400
Users currently online
Post Lifespan
12-24 hours
How long posts stay relevant
Peak Times
weekday morning-est
Best time to post

r/indiehackers Rules & Self-Promotion Policy

Understanding the rules is critical for successful marketing. Here's what you need to know about r/indiehackers.

Lenient Self-Promotion Policy

This community is more accepting of self-promotion when done authentically. Still follow the community spirit.

Community Rules

  • 1Be supportive and constructive
  • 2No spam or excessive promotion
  • 3Share your journey authentically
  • 4Help others when you can

How to Write for r/indiehackers

Authentic and transparent. Share real numbers including failures. Be supportive of others. No corporate speak or polished marketing language.

Best Practices for r/indiehackers

Maximize your impact by understanding when, what, and how to post.

Best Times to Post

  • Weekday Morning Est
  • Weekend Morning Est

Posts stay relevant for about 12-24 hours

Content That Works

  • Revenue milestones with journey
  • Launch announcements with story
  • Indie hacking lessons learned
  • Questions about specific challenges

Who's Here

Solo founders, bootstrappers, and side project builders. Very supportive community. Values transparency and authenticity over polished marketing.

Common Mistakes on r/indiehackers

Avoid these pitfalls that get marketers banned or ignored.

Only posting when you want something

The community values participation. People who only post launches without engaging are noticed.

Instead

Comment on others' posts, share advice, celebrate others' wins. Build relationships first.

Hiding struggles and only sharing wins

The community values authenticity. "Everything is great!" posts feel inauthentic.

Instead

Share challenges alongside wins. Vulnerability builds connection and trust.

Asking for feedback without being specific

"Any feedback?" posts don't get responses because people don't know what to focus on.

Instead

Ask about specific aspects: "Is the pricing page clear?" or "Does the value prop resonate?"

Post Formats That Work on r/indiehackers

These content formats consistently perform well in this community.

Revenue Milestone

Example Format

""Hit $XK MRR after Y months: here's everything that worked (and didn't)" with honest breakdown."

Why It Works

Real numbers with real lessons. The community celebrates authentic milestones.

Launch Story

Example Format

""Launching [product] today after Z months of building. Here's the journey." with backstory."

Why It Works

Story-based launches get more support than pure product announcements.

Lessons Learned

Example Format

""X things I learned building my side project to $Y/month" with specific, actionable insights."

Why It Works

Helps others on similar journeys. Educational content is valued.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about marketing on r/indiehackers

Yes! r/indiehackers is one of the most launch-friendly communities. Share your story alongside the product - why you built it, challenges you faced, and what you learned. Authentic launches get warm receptions.
r/indiehackers focuses specifically on bootstrapped, indie businesses and embraces side projects and smaller wins. r/SaaS is broader and includes VC-backed companies. r/indiehackers is generally more supportive and celebrates smaller milestones.
All milestones matter here - from first sale to $10K MRR. The key is sharing what you learned, not just the number. A $100 MRR post with genuine insights can get more engagement than a $10K post without context.
Be specific about what kind of feedback you want. Instead of "any feedback?", ask about specific aspects like pricing, messaging, or features. Share context about your target users and what you've already tried.
It can be, but build relationships first. Participate in discussions, help others, and share your own journey. Co-founder relationships often emerge naturally from community participation.
Be consistently helpful. Comment on others' posts with genuine advice. Share your journey transparently, including struggles. Celebrate others' wins. The community remembers people who contribute.

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