Home/r/indiehackers/2025-06-27/#3317
6

ProductHunt Isn’t the Place for Indie Devs Anymore

r/indiehackers
6/27/2025

SAAS TOOLS

SaaSURLCategoryFeatures/Notes
TailwindResumehttps://tailwindresume.coResume BuilderNot specified in detail
ProductHunthttps://www.producthunt.comProduct Launch PlatformAlgorithm favors established names, rankings depend on upvotes
HackerNewshttps://news.ycombinator.comTech News & DiscussionTechnical feedback, less prep needed for posts

USER NEEDS

Pain Points:

  • ProductHunt algorithm favors big companies with budgets
  • Rankings depend on network size rather than product quality
  • High effort for launch preparation yields low returns (few users, spam)
  • Lack of meaningful, actionable feedback on ProductHunt
  • Difficulty getting visibility for indie projects

Problems to Solve:

  • How to gain visibility for indie SaaS products without big budgets
  • How to get quality user feedback for product improvement
  • How to achieve better ROI on launch efforts
  • Finding alternative platforms for effective product launches

Potential Solutions:

  • Using alternative platforms like HackerNews or Reddit for launches
  • Focusing on platforms where target audience is active (GTM strategy)
  • Adopting a mindset of continuous experimentation across platforms
  • Exploring niche launch directories (e.g., LaunchDirectories.com, letit.net)

GROWTH FACTORS

Effective Strategies:

  • Experimenting with multiple launch platforms instead of focusing on one
  • Prioritizing platforms where target users are actually active
  • Lowering expectations for single launch events

Marketing & Acquisition:

  • Leveraging Show HN posts on HackerNews for technical audience reach
  • Using Reddit communities (e.g., r/indiehackers) for targeted exposure
  • Exploring niche launch directories as alternatives to ProductHunt

Monetization & Product:

  • Need for product differentiation in crowded markets (e.g., resume builders)
  • Importance of product-market fit validation through user feedback

User Engagement:

  • Seeking communities that provide actionable feedback (e.g., HackerNews technical discussions)
  • Building networks to support future launches
  • Participating in niche communities like IndieHackers for peer support