How does SubmitWell improve my website's ranking (SEO)?

We manually submit your startup to 100+ high-authority directories, creating quality dofollow and nofollow backlinks. These backlinks improve your domain rating (DR) and help search engines recognize your site as more trustworthy, leading to better rankings.

Do you use bots to submit?

No, we use 100% manual submissions. Our team manually reviews each directory and submits your startup by hand to ensure quality and proper categorization. This approach results in higher acceptance rates compared to automated tools.

Do you guarantee coverage/acceptance?

We guarantee that all submissions will be completed manually and professionally. We cannot guarantee acceptance by every directory (as each has their own review process), but we ensure quality submissions to all directories in your package.

How long does it take to get 100 users?

Highly variable. Some founders get 100 users in the first week with a successful Product Hunt launch. Others take 3–6 months working multiple channels. The channels in this guide are the most reliable — working two or three of them in parallel is the fastest path.

Should I focus on paid acquisition to get my first 100 users?

No. Paid acquisition before you've validated your conversion funnel is expensive and low-learning. Get your first 100 users through organic channels, learn what makes them convert and retain, then use paid channels to scale what works.

How to Get Your First 100 Users for a Startup

1. Launch on Startup Directories

Startup directories like Product Hunt, Uneed, BetaList, and SaaSHub attract visitors who are actively looking for new products to try. Getting listed on these platforms is one of the most reliable ways to get your first batch of users without any existing audience.

A submission run across 50+ directories can generate 200–500 unique visitors in the first few weeks after launch. Even at a modest 5–10% activation rate, that's 10–50 users from a single one-time action.

2. Reddit — the Right Way

Reddit is one of the most effective early traction channels for startups — but only if you approach it correctly.

Don't: Post "check out my new product" in subreddits. You'll be banned.

Do: Find the subreddits where your target users hang out. Spend 2 weeks being a genuinely helpful community member. Then share your product in a post that leads with the problem it solves — not the product itself. The format "I built a tool that does X because I was frustrated by Y" consistently performs well.

Subreddits like r/SideProject, r/Entrepreneur, and r/IndieHackers are particularly receptive to new product launches.

3. Direct Outreach to Target Users

Find 20 people who fit your ideal customer profile and reach out directly — LinkedIn, Twitter/X, email, or wherever they're accessible. Be honest: "I built something I think you'd find useful. Would you try it and give me 5 minutes of feedback?"

This doesn't scale, but it's the fastest way to get your first 10–20 users and the feedback from them will improve your product more than any analytics tool.

4. Twitter/X (Build in Public)

The "build in public" movement on Twitter/X has generated thousands of early users for indie projects. Share your progress, your learnings, your failures, and your metrics publicly. When you launch, your audience of engaged followers becomes your first user cohort.

This takes time to build an audience, but the users you attract through this channel tend to be highly engaged early adopters who share your product with their networks.

5. Hacker News Show HN

A "Show HN" post on Hacker News can generate hundreds of signups in a single day if your product resonates. The HN audience is technical and critical — be transparent, be humble, and show that you've built something technically interesting.

Bad Show HN posts are promotional. Good Show HN posts lead with "here's the problem I wanted to solve and here's how I solved it." The product should speak for itself.

6. Your Existing Network

Your first 20–30 users are often people who already know you — friends, colleagues, former coworkers, Twitter followers. Don't be too proud to ask. Send a personalised message explaining what you built and why you'd value their opinion.

These users won't necessarily be your long-term target customers, but their feedback and word-of-mouth can be invaluable for refining your product before pushing to colder channels.