The free promotion that works for a new app is a mix of fast channels (launch platforms, Reddit and communities, social posts) for the first visitors, and slow channels (directories, SEO, AI search) that keep sending visitors after the spike fades. Start with two or three and do them properly.
Fast channels: visitors this week
- Launch platforms: IndieLaunch, Uneed, Peerlist Launchpad, Microlaunch, Fazier, DevHunt for developer tools, and Show HN for technical products.
- Reddit and communities: share where it fits the rules, and lead with the story or the lesson, not the link.
- Social posts: a short demo video or a before-and-after screenshot beats a feature list.
- Direct messages to people with the problem, one at a time.
How to promote your app on Reddit without getting banned
- Pick subreddits where your users are, not just r/SideProject. Read each one's rules; many ban links or allow them only on certain days.
- Comment helpfully for a while first. Accounts with no history that only post links get removed.
- Write the post as a story: the problem, what you tried, what you built, what you learned. Put the link at the end or in a comment if the rules ask.
- Reply to every comment, including the harsh ones.
Slow channels: visitors every month
- Startup directories: a permanent listing people and search engines keep finding. Our free startup directories list has the ones worth doing.
- SEO: one page per question your users search for, with a clear answer in the first lines.
- AI search: ChatGPT, Claude and Perplexity recommend tools they can read about. Add an llms.txt, get listed where assistants look, and submit your site to Bing Webmaster Tools, since ChatGPT search draws on Bing.
- Backlinks: a dofollow link from a relevant site helps every page on yours rank.
What to skip at the start
- Paid ads, before you know who converts.
- Posting the same link across dozens of groups. It gets you banned and teaches you nothing.
- Bulk directory submission services that promise hundreds of listings.
Promote your app on IndieLaunch for free
A free launch puts your app in front of makers and early adopters, and your product page keeps getting found by search engines and AI assistants.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best free way to promote an app?
- For most new apps: personal outreach and community posts for the first users, a few launch platforms for a spike, and directories plus SEO for steady traffic afterwards.
- Can I promote my app on Reddit?
- Yes, in subreddits that allow it and when you follow their rules. Lead with a story or lesson, and join the conversation before posting your own link.
- How do I get traffic to my website fast?
- Launch platforms, a Show HN or Reddit post that fits, and sharing with people you already know. For lasting traffic, pair that with SEO and directory listings.