Ask HN: When is it time to market your app? And, how fast? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: When is it time to market your app? And, how fast?

4 pointspc2g4d3 comments

It feels like a tricky dance: to know if we have product-market fit, we need to get users/customers, or learn why people don't _want_ to be our users/customers. But if we tell the market about an app that isn't ready yet, we may squander our launch.

What are good strategies for low-key launches that start the virtuous cycle of feedback and updates, but leave room for a "big splash" marketing campaign?

And... when is the right time to go for it?

We're considering search ads, heck, even a "Show HN" post, maybe Product Hunt down the road a little ways, conferences in our industry, etc. But it feels like there's a balance to ramping up the publicity too slowly or too quickly. Just wondering how other people deal with it. Thanks!

View on HN

I'm just parroting what other people say—

If it's a startup, a thing you're trying to make money on, or a community-oriented thing, market your app before you start. Marketing looks like talking to ppl you think are or will be interested in it. See if what they tell you about their needs fits your own understanding of their needs, and if it does, tell them what you're doing. If it's a paid app, see if they'll give you their name/email.

If it's a side project, go ahead and build it, or at least a simple first version of it. Then demo it around to see what people think. Twitter, Discord, Reddit, are great places to find tons of ppl into anything you're wanting to build. Sometimes, in-person meetups are great for that too. For example, my side project is a job board in the vein of japan-dev that was posted here last week. I just put together a prototype and formulating an idea of how I explain the value prop of it.

Mostly it'll be some form of the two — get some idea or prototype out, then see what people think. This will usually inform you what ppl are excited about.

I haven't considered search ads and Show HN or Product Hunt yet — I think I want at least 50-100 interested ppl, and maybe some initial traction before going that route. It'll either be a firehose of criticism or love... but it's a firehose either way.

Basically make sure your wheels are properly attached before you go down the ramp... but don't spend TOO much time attaching those things :P

> But it feels like there's a balance to ramping up the publicity too slowly or too quickly.

Because you can get three times as many users as you send to the Play Store in the first month, you should do the majority of your promotion during that time.

Here is an interesting video about paid user acquisition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV-L1WtZiM4

I would say as soon as possible! Even if your product is not ready yet or is just an idea. As long as you don't have a big investment for your product or service I would of course suggest to limit it to organic marketing.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com