So you built something. Now you’re asking where to launch a side project so real people see it. There are hundreds of launch sites, and it’s easy to waste a week on forms that bring no one. Here’s the simple plan I’d use for the first month.
Quick answer
- Start with people who already know you.
- Then try one weekly launch board.
- Then add a few small, curated directories.
- Track every site in one sheet.
Where to launch a side project: 3 questions to ask first
Do the users match?
Look at the products already listed. If they’re from a very different niche, or they look abandoned, skip that site.
Will you get a page that stays up?
Some boards hide you after one day. A page that stays online keeps bringing a few visitors and helps Google find you.
How long is the wait?
Some free queues take months. If your date is more than two weeks away, save that site for later.
Your first month, week by week
Week 1: friends and communities
Share your product with your own audience and one or two communities you already belong to. Fix the problems they find.
Week 2: one weekly launch board
Try PeekLaunch, a free Product Hunt alternative. Products launch on a weekly board, get upvotes and reviews, and keep their product page after launch day. A weekly board is kinder to small makers, because you compete with a few launches, not thousands.
Weeks 3 and 4: a few curated directories
Pick small lists that someone looks after. Twelve Tools, PeerPush and Neeed take a few minutes each. If you like posting updates, a founder log like IndieLogs works too.
Write your launch kit once
Most sites ask for the same things:
- A name and a short tagline (under 60 characters)
- A one-line description (about 160 characters)
- A longer description, two short paragraphs
- A square logo and a 1200x630 cover image
- Three or four screenshots
Keep them in one doc and copy from it. Then keep a sheet with each site, the date, the status and the live link.
Mistakes I’d avoid
- Don’t submit everywhere on the same day. You won’t have time to reply to comments.
- Don’t pay for launch packages before you try the free options.
- Don’t forget your listings. Reply to reviews and update screenshots when your product changes.
The short version
Pick launch sites that match your users, give you a page that stays up, and publish soon. Launch in small steps, write things down, and keep going.
Photo: “Laptop on a desk (Unsplash)” via Wikimedia Commons (CC0), with text added.
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