1. Two weeks before: read the rules and pick 4 subreddits
Start with r/hairstylist, r/Hairdresser, r/Nails, r/Estheticians and r/smallbusiness. Read each sidebar and pinned post, and note which ones ban links, require flair or have a weekly self-promo thread. Write the rules down in one doc so you never guess on launch day.
2. Days 14 to 7: answer booking questions with no links
Search each subreddit for "no shows", "deposit", "booking app" and "Vagaro alternative". Leave 2 or 3 helpful comments a day, such as how to word a cancellation policy or when to take a deposit. Do not mention your app yet. You are building karma and a comment history that a moderator can check.
3. Day 5: message the moderators
Send a short modmail to each subreddit you plan to post in. Example: "Hi, I built a booking app for independent stylists and booth renters. I'd like to share it once and ask for honest feedback. Is that allowed here, and is there a thread I should use?" Only post where you get a yes, or where the rules clearly allow it.
4. Day 3: write a feedback post, not an ad
Lead with the problem and what you learned, then ask a question. Example title: "I'm building a booking tool for booth renters. What makes you quit a booking app?" Body: "I kept hearing that stylists pay for features they never use and still deal with no-shows. I built a simple version with deposits and text reminders. What would make you switch, and what would make you quit in a week?" Keep the link out of the post unless the rules allow it.
5. Launch day: post once and stay online for 3 hours
Post in your best subreddit in the morning in your target time zone. Reply to every comment within 30 minutes, thank critics and ask follow-up questions. If someone asks for a link, share it in a reply, or by DM if links are banned. Post in a second subreddit the next day, not the same hour, and rewrite it so it isn't a copy-paste.
6. Days 1 to 3: turn comments into conversations
DM only people who asked to try it or said they have the problem. Example: "You mentioned no-shows cost you a few clients a week. Want me to set up deposits on your account for free and check in after 7 days?" Track each reply in a spreadsheet with name, subreddit, problem and next step.
7. Days 4 to 14: post a follow-up with what changed
Two weeks later, ask the mods if you can share an update. Write what users asked for and what you shipped, like "Added a waitlist after 6 of you asked for one." Use real numbers only. Updates like this usually get a warmer reception than the first post because people see you listened.
8. Keep it going every day
Keep commenting on 2 or 3 threads a day about pricing, policies and client communication, even when you have nothing to promote. Hulby, an AI cofounder, can do this daily for you by finding relevant threads and drafting replies for you to approve.
Mistakes to skip
- Posting the same link in 10 subreddits on the same day.
- Using a brand new account with no comment history.
- Writing a feature list instead of asking about a real problem.
- Getting defensive when stylists criticize your app or your pricing.
Want this done for your salon booking app, every day?
Hulby finds the people asking for what you built, writes every reply and email, and keeps you on it until they pay. Free to start.
Find my first customersQuestions
Can I post a link to my app?
Only where the rules allow it or a moderator says yes. Otherwise share it in a reply or DM when someone asks.
How much karma do I need?
Some subreddits set a minimum, so check each one's rules. Either way, two weeks of genuinely helpful comments makes you look like a real member instead of a spammer.
Should I make a throwaway account?
No. Use one honest account and say you are the founder. Hidden promotion gets found and banned.
What if my post gets removed?
Message the mods politely, ask what rule you broke and don't repost until they reply.