r/SideProject Rules & Posting Guide
r/SideProject welcomes builders sharing what they've made — but there's a difference between showcasing your work and spamming. Learn the community standards to get upvotes instead of removals.
How to Post Safely in r/SideProject
Understand the community norms
r/SideProject is friendlier to self-promotion than most subs, but posts still need to tell a story. Read the rules and check recent top posts to understand the expected format.
Write a compelling project post
Include what you built, why you built it, what tech you used, and what feedback you're looking for. A bare link to your landing page won't get traction.
Run a quick risk check
Use the promotion risk checker to ensure your post doesn't read like a sales pitch. Even in r/SideProject, overly commercial language gets downvoted.
Key Rules for r/SideProject
Share your project, not just a link
Posts should describe what you built and why. A link with no context is treated as spam regardless of how interesting the project is.
No repeated posting of the same project
Posting the same project multiple times within a short window is considered spam. Wait for meaningful updates before re-sharing.
Engage with commenters
If people take time to give you feedback, respond to them. Post-and-ghost behavior is frowned upon and may lead to removal.
No affiliate links or referral schemes
Sharing your side project is encouraged; using the sub to push affiliate programs or referral bonuses is not.
Be honest about the project stage
Don't present a prototype as a polished product or vice versa. The community values honesty about where you are in the journey.
No hiring posts or job ads
r/SideProject is for showing work, not recruiting. Co-founder searches and job listings belong in other subreddits.
Common Reasons Posts Get Removed
Common Posting Mistakes in r/SideProject
Treating it like a launch platform
r/SideProject is a community for builders, not a Product Hunt clone. Frame your post around the building experience, not the launch announcement.
Skipping the backstory
The community loves hearing about your motivation, tech stack, and challenges. A bare 'check out my app' post misses what makes this sub special.
Reposting too soon
If your first post didn't get traction, wait until you have a genuine update before posting again. Reposting the same thing looks like spam.
Not asking for specific feedback
Generic posts get generic engagement. Ask for feedback on something specific — your pricing model, onboarding flow, or landing page copy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Share Your Side Project Without Getting Flagged
Make sure your r/SideProject post follows the rules before submitting. Our free tool summarizes subreddit guidelines in seconds.
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