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I downvoted you - it is not the self-promotion, but rather the fact that except for mentioning "Fred", this whole comment reads like an auto-generated message. For example, an ancedote about a similar open source project that failed on kickstarter and found success on IgnitionDeck would probably be better received.

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That's fair enough, I appreciate the feedback.

Ironically, I avoided a lengthier comment because I worried it would seem fake.

Hey Nathan,

Just add a "shameless self-plug" or "* this is my product". I guess it's important to mention that you are advertising "your" product.

I certainly can't speak for the whole crowd but I would approach it like this:

"Rachel - if you'd still like to pursue crowdfunding for open sourcing Fred, email me at nathan@ignitiondeck.com - we'd love to feature you in a new series we are doing called Kickstarter Redemptions"

Nathan's comment sounded like a genuine suggestion: the focus is on her to be able to utilize an alternative. With yours, the focus is on we'd "love to feature you." Sounds so much more self-serving, and also like impersonal marketing copy. Though, as with you, I cannot speak for the whole crowd.

I don't see any decrease in the smarminess of your approach.

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