13
Self-promo posts like 'What are you working on?' are a trap (I fell for it too)
r/SaaS
7/7/2025
Content Summary
The post discusses the inefficacy of self-promotion in generic SaaS communities like r/SaaS, where most 'What are you working on?' threads result in low engagement. The author advocates focusing on niche communities where target customers actually congregate, emphasizing value-driven participation over promotional shouting. Comments reveal mixed experiences - some acknowledge limited value in promo threads for market research, while others confirm better results from targeted community engagement. Key insights highlight the importance of contextual product introductions and prioritizing quality feedback over vanity metrics.
Opinion Analysis
Mainstream opinion agrees that generic self-promotion threads yield limited results for customer acquisition. Multiple users confirm better outcomes from targeted community engagement. Controversial viewpoints emerge regarding the value of promo threads - some find them useful for market trend observation (u/RememberAPI), while others dismiss them as noise. Debate centers on whether minimal-effort participation has residual value versus focused community building. Notably, some users report paradoxical results where promo efforts show delayed impact, suggesting complex user behavior patterns.
SAAS TOOLS
| SaaS | URL | Category | Features/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| No specific SaaS tools mentioned in the content | - | - | - |
USER NEEDS
Pain Points:
- Self-promotion in generic communities leads to low engagement
- Difficulty obtaining meaningful feedback
- Noise from competing promotions drowns out genuine content
- Wasted effort on ineffective marketing tactics
Problems to Solve:
- Finding authentic customer engagement
- Gaining actionable product feedback
- Cutting through promotional noise
- Identifying where real customers congregate
Potential Solutions:
- Focus on niche communities with target users
- Provide genuine value through helpful contributions
- Contextual product introductions in relevant discussions
- Prioritize quality feedback over vanity metrics
GROWTH FACTORS
Effective Strategies:
- Focus on niche communities over broad promotion
- Contextual product introductions in relevant discussions
- Value-driven engagement over self-promotion
Marketing & Acquisition:
- Participating in targeted communities where ideal users congregate
- Organic growth through problem-solving in context
- Avoiding 'shouting' in crowded spaces
Monetization & Product:
- Importance of product-market fit validation through real feedback
- Need to prioritize solving actual user problems
User Engagement:
- Building trust through genuine contributions
- Creating value before asking for engagement
- Leveraging smaller communities for meaningful interactions