How to launch your side project and gain visibility

Launching a side project is only half the journey; the other half is getting people to discover it exists. Here are practical ways to gain visibility.

Before launch

• Landing page: a page with problem, solution and email or form for “notify me when you launch” already validates interest.
• Tell the story: posts showing what you’re building and why help create anticipation and connection with those following along.

Where to announce the launch

• Product Hunt: still a strong channel for tech products. Prepare title, description, images and a short video; launch on a day and time when you can respond to comments.
• Reddit: subreddits like r/SideProject, r/SaaS and r/Entrepreneur accept launches when you follow the rules and don’t just drop a link. Share the context and ask for feedback.
• Twitter / X and LinkedIn: a thread or post explaining the problem you solve and the product link attracts curiosity. Short videos of the product in action perform well.
• Niche communities: Discord, Telegram and forums for your audience. Participate before only promoting; that way your launch doesn’t sound like spam.

After launch

• Keep a changelog or “what’s new” and share updates.
• Reply to all feedback, public and by email; it shows the product is alive and that you care.

Launch isn’t a one-off event: it’s the start of a cycle of promotion, feedback and continuous improvement.