# How to market your product > 10 ways to market your product without an ad budget, with a plain-English guide for each: how it works, what to prepare, step by step, the rules, a template, and what to measure. Last checked: 2026-10-04. Made by AgentMarket (https://agentmarket.lol/). ## For AI agents Each guide below has a Markdown copy (last column). To help someone market their product: ask what stage they are at and who their buyer is, pick two plays from "Which plays at which stage", then use those guides' checklists and templates to draft the work. Never fake engagement, reviews or accounts: every platform here bans it. Laws for email differ by country; flag them rather than guess. ## The plays | Play | Time per week | First results | Cost | Markdown | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Build in public on X](https://agentmarket.lol/how-to-market/build-in-public-on-x) | 3 to 5 hours | 2 to 6 weeks | Free | https://agentmarket.lol/how-to-market/build-in-public-on-x/guide.md | | [Post on LinkedIn as the founder](https://agentmarket.lol/how-to-market/linkedin-founder-posts) | 2 to 3 hours | 2 to 6 weeks | Free | https://agentmarket.lol/how-to-market/linkedin-founder-posts/guide.md | | [Answer questions in communities](https://agentmarket.lol/how-to-market/answer-questions-in-communities) | 2 to 4 hours | A few days | Free | https://agentmarket.lol/how-to-market/answer-questions-in-communities/guide.md | | [Write pages people search for](https://agentmarket.lol/how-to-market/seo-pages) | 3 to 6 hours | 3 to 6 months | Free | https://agentmarket.lol/how-to-market/seo-pages/guide.md | | [Get recommended by ChatGPT, Claude and Perplexity](https://agentmarket.lol/how-to-market/get-recommended-by-ai) | 1 to 2 hours | Weeks to months | Free | https://agentmarket.lol/how-to-market/get-recommended-by-ai/guide.md | | [Give away a free tool](https://agentmarket.lol/how-to-market/free-tool) | A few days to build, then 1 hour | 1 to 3 months | Free to cheap (hosting) | https://agentmarket.lol/how-to-market/free-tool/guide.md | | [Cold email that doesn't land in spam](https://agentmarket.lol/how-to-market/cold-email) | 3 to 5 hours | A few days | About $10 a month (a separate domain and inbox) | https://agentmarket.lol/how-to-market/cold-email/guide.md | | [Build an email list](https://agentmarket.lol/how-to-market/email-newsletter) | 1 to 2 hours | 1 to 3 months | Free to start | https://agentmarket.lol/how-to-market/email-newsletter/guide.md | | [Make short videos](https://agentmarket.lol/how-to-market/short-videos) | 3 to 6 hours | 2 to 8 weeks | Free (your phone or a screen recorder) | https://agentmarket.lol/how-to-market/short-videos/guide.md | | [Start a referral or affiliate program](https://agentmarket.lol/how-to-market/referrals-and-affiliates) | 1 day to set up, then 1 hour | 1 to 3 months | Free to about $29+ a month for software, plus the rewards | https://agentmarket.lol/how-to-market/referrals-and-affiliates/guide.md | ## Before any channel - **One sentence:** What it does and for whom. If you can't say it in one sentence, no channel will fix it. - **One page, one button:** A landing page that repeats that sentence and has one clear action: sign up, try free, or book a demo. - **A way to try it:** A free plan, a trial or a demo. Every channel works better when people can try before paying. - **Know where people come from:** Analytics on your site, tagged links (UTM), and a "How did you hear about us?" question at sign-up. - **One piece of proof:** A customer quote, a number, or a short demo video. Use it in every channel. - **Two channels, 90 days:** Pick two plays from this guide and do them properly for three months before judging them. ## Which plays at which stage - **0 users:** Answer questions in communities, Cold email that doesn't land in spam. Fast feedback. You talk to real people this week and learn what they actually want. - **First 100 users:** Build in public on X, Post on LinkedIn as the founder, Make short videos. Grow an audience while you improve the product. Pick the platform where your buyers are. - **Product people like:** Write pages people search for, Get recommended by ChatGPT, Claude and Perplexity, Give away a free tool, Build an email list. Slow to start, but they keep bringing people for years without daily effort. - **Happy paying customers:** Start a referral or affiliate program. Your customers and partners bring more customers. --- # Build in public on X > Share your progress every day. People follow the journey, then try the product. - Time per week: 3 to 5 hours - First results: 2 to 6 weeks - Cost: Free - Best for: Developer tools, AI tools, indie SaaS - Human guide: https://agentmarket.lol/how-to-market/build-in-public-on-x - Last checked: 2026-10-04. Platforms change their rules and prices; confirm before relying on a number. ## How it works Building in public means posting your real progress as you go: what you shipped, what broke, how many users you have, what you learned. People like following a story, and some of them become your first users. X has published the code that ranks its For You feed on GitHub. For each post, it predicts how likely each person is to like, reply, repost, quote, share, click or stay reading, and how likely they are to mute, block or report. It adds those up with weights. In the published code, a reply counts 10 times as much as a like, and mutes, blocks and reports count against you. The code also lowers the score when the same author shows up many times in a row. So a few good posts beat a flood of small ones. Many creators report that posts with links get less reach. We could not find a fixed link penalty in X's published code, but the safe habit costs nothing: put your link in a reply under your post. ## Good fit if - Products for founders, developers or tech people, who are very active on X - Makers happy to share numbers, mistakes and screenshots ## Skip it if - Your buyers aren't on X (for example, local businesses) - You can't post at least a few times a week ## Prepare before you start - [ ] A clear profile: photo of you, a bio that says what you build and for whom, and your product link - [ ] A pinned post that explains your product in one screenshot or short video - [ ] A list of 20 to 50 people in your niche to follow and reply to - [ ] A simple place to note ideas for posts (numbers, screenshots, lessons) - [ ] A tracked link (with ?ref=x or UTM tags) so you can see sign-ups that came from X ## Step by step 1. **Pick one topic.** Post about one thing: the problem your product solves and the journey of building it. Mixed topics confuse the people (and the feed) deciding whether to follow you. 2. **Post most days.** Share one real thing a day: a feature you shipped, a screenshot, a number (users, revenue), a mistake, a lesson. Short and specific beats long and general. 3. **Reply to others every day.** Spend 20 to 30 minutes replying thoughtfully to people in your niche. Good replies get you noticed by their followers. This is how small accounts grow. 4. **Show the product, not just talk.** Short screen recordings and screenshots of the product working make people curious. Put the link in a reply, not the main post. 5. **Write a weekly recap.** Once a week, post a short thread: what you shipped, the numbers, what you learned, what's next. These recaps are what new followers scroll back to. 6. **Talk to people who reply.** Answer every reply. When someone shows real interest, offer to help them try the product. Early users often come from these small conversations. ## Rules and mistakes to avoid - Don't buy followers, likes or replies, and don't join engagement groups. X's rules ban fake engagement - Don't reply to big accounts with your link. It reads as spam and gets you muted - Don't send automated DMs to new followers - Don't post the same text again and again ## Tips - Numbers get attention: "12 users → 140 users in 3 weeks" beats "growing fast" - Honest failures do as well as wins. People trust makers who share both - Post at times your audience is awake. Check your post stats after two weeks ## What to measure - Profile visits and new followers each week - Clicks on your tracked link - Sign-ups where people answer "How did you hear about us?" with X ## Template: Progress post ```text Day [N] of building [product] in public. Shipped: [one thing you built this week] Numbers: [users / sign-ups / revenue, even if small] Learned: [one honest lesson] Next: [what you're building next] (Link in the reply below.) ``` ## Important links - [X's ranking code (GitHub)](https://github.com/xai-org/x-algorithm) - [The X Rules](https://help.x.com/en/rules-and-policies/x-rules) - [Platform manipulation and spam policy](https://help.x.com/en/rules-and-policies/platform-manipulation) ## Sources - [xai-org/x-algorithm: README and ranking weights (home-mixer/params/param.rs)](https://github.com/xai-org/x-algorithm) - [X algorithm in 2026: reported ranking factors](https://www.socialpilot.co/blog/twitter-algorithm) --- # Post on LinkedIn as the founder > Your personal profile reaches far more people than a company page. - Time per week: 2 to 3 hours - First results: 2 to 6 weeks - Cost: Free - Best for: B2B products: tools for teams, companies, recruiters, sales - Human guide: https://agentmarket.lol/how-to-market/linkedin-founder-posts - Last checked: 2026-10-04. Platforms change their rules and prices; confirm before relying on a number. ## How it works On LinkedIn, posts from people get far more reach than posts from company pages. Industry studies in 2026 report that personal profiles get several times the engagement of company pages. So post as yourself, the founder. LinkedIn rewards posts that people actually read and talk about: time spent on the post, and real comments (not just "Great post!"). Document posts (a PDF shown as swipeable slides) are reported to keep people reading longest. Posts with links to other websites are widely reported to get much less reach, and the "link in the first comment" trick is reported to be penalised too in 2026. Write the value into the post itself. Let people find your product through your profile. ## Good fit if - Products that companies or professionals pay for - Founders comfortable writing about their work and industry ## Skip it if - You sell to consumers (games, personal apps) - You only want to post links. LinkedIn shows those to fewer people ## Prepare before you start - [ ] A profile that sells: a clear photo, a headline that says who you help and how (not just "Founder at X"), and a link to your product in the Featured section - [ ] 3 topics you know well, related to your product's problem - [ ] A list of 20 people (customers, peers, leaders in your field) whose posts you'll comment on - [ ] A short note of stories: customer problems, numbers, lessons ## Step by step 1. **Fix your headline and Featured section.** People click your name before your product. Your headline should say who you help and how. Pin your product link and one strong post in Featured. 2. **Post 2 to 3 times a week.** Share lessons from your industry, customer problems you've seen, behind-the-scenes of building, and simple how-tos. Lead with a strong first line, because LinkedIn cuts the post after about two lines. 3. **Try a document post.** Turn a how-to into 6 to 10 simple slides, export as PDF, and upload it as a document post. These are reported to hold attention best. 4. **Comment before and after you post.** Leave thoughtful comments on others' posts. Reply to every comment on yours, especially in the first hour. 5. **Move warm people to a conversation.** When someone engages several times, send a friendly, personal message. No sales pitch in the first message. ## Rules and mistakes to avoid - Don't use engagement pods or bought engagement. LinkedIn's community policies ban fake engagement - Don't use bots or browser tools that auto-connect, auto-message or scrape profiles. LinkedIn's User Agreement forbids them, and accounts get restricted - Don't pitch in connection requests ## Tips - Write like you talk. Short lines, plain words - A specific story ("A customer lost 3 hours a week doing X") beats general advice - Reuse your best posts as blog articles or newsletter issues ## What to measure - Profile views and new followers each week - Messages started from posts - Demo calls or sign-ups where people say they found you on LinkedIn ## Template: Story post ```text [A surprising first line about a real problem your customers have.] Last [week/month], [a customer / I] [what happened]. The problem: [what went wrong and what it cost, with a number]. What fixed it: 1. [step] 2. [step] 3. [step] [One-line lesson.] What's your way of handling [problem]? ``` ## Important links - [LinkedIn Professional Community Policies](https://www.linkedin.com/legal/professional-community-policies) - [LinkedIn User Agreement](https://www.linkedin.com/legal/user-agreement) ## Sources - [LinkedIn algorithm 2026: documents, newsletters, video](https://www.dataslayer.ai/blog/linkedin-algorithm-february-2026-whats-working-now) - [LinkedIn personal profile vs company page (2026 data)](https://blueberry-media.co.uk/blog/linkedin-personal-profile-vs-company-page) --- # Answer questions in communities > Find people asking for help with your problem, and genuinely help them. - Time per week: 2 to 4 hours - First results: A few days - Cost: Free - Best for: Every product, especially in the first months - Human guide: https://agentmarket.lol/how-to-market/answer-questions-in-communities - Last checked: 2026-10-04. Platforms change their rules and prices; confirm before relying on a number. ## How it works Every day, people post questions like "Is there a tool that does X?" or "How do I fix Y?" on Reddit, forums, Discord and Slack groups. If your product solves that, a helpful answer can win a user right away. The help must come first. Answer the question properly. Mention your product only when it really fits, and say you made it. Good answers keep working. Popular threads show up in Google results and AI answers for years. ## Good fit if - Getting your first 10 to 100 users - Learning the exact words your users use for their problem ## Skip it if - You only want to drop links. Communities ban that fast ## Prepare before you start - [ ] A list of 5 to 10 places your users ask questions: subreddits, forums, Discord or Slack groups, Stack Overflow tags, Facebook groups - [ ] The rules of each place, read and understood - [ ] Keyword alerts for your problem (F5Bot is a free tool that emails you when words appear on Reddit and Hacker News) - [ ] An account with some history in each community ## Step by step 1. **Find where your users ask.** Search Google for your problem plus "reddit" or "forum". Note which communities keep coming up. 2. **Set up alerts.** Add keywords for the problem (not just your product name) to F5Bot or your community's notification settings, so you see new questions fast. 3. **Answer properly.** Give a real answer that helps even if they never use your product. Steps, examples, honest options, including competitors when they fit better. 4. **Mention your product only when it fits.** If it solves their problem, add one line at the end: "I made [product] for exactly this, happy to help if you try it." Always say it's yours. 5. **Write down their words.** Copy the exact phrases people use for the problem. Use them on your landing page and in your posts. ## Rules and mistakes to avoid - Follow each community's rules. Many ban self-promotion completely - Always disclose that you made the product - Don't use multiple accounts to recommend yourself. It gets every account banned - Don't paste the same answer everywhere ## Tips - Answer questions about the problem, not just about your product's category - Old popular threads still get read. A good new answer there can bring users for months - Join communities as a member first. Help with things unrelated to your product too ## What to measure - Clicks and sign-ups from each community (use a tracked link or ask "How did you hear about us?") - Which answers get upvotes and replies ## Template: Helpful answer ```text [Direct answer to their question in 1–2 sentences.] How I'd do it: 1. [step] 2. [step] 3. [step] [One honest alternative or caveat.] Disclosure: I built [product] for this exact problem. It [what it does]. Free to try if it helps: [link]. Happy to answer questions either way. ``` ## Important links - [Reddit Rules](https://redditinc.com/policies/reddit-rules) - [F5Bot (free Reddit and Hacker News alerts)](https://f5bot.com/) ## Sources - [Reddit Rules](https://redditinc.com/policies/reddit-rules) - [Reddit self-promotion rules in 2026](https://redship.io/blog/reddit-self-promotion-rules) --- # Write pages people search for > One helpful page per question your buyers type into Google. - Time per week: 3 to 6 hours - First results: 3 to 6 months - Cost: Free - Best for: Products people search for by problem or by competitor name - Human guide: https://agentmarket.lol/how-to-market/seo-pages - Last checked: 2026-10-04. Platforms change their rules and prices; confirm before relying on a number. ## How it works People search Google for problems and tools every day. If you have the best page answering their search, Google sends them to you for free, for years. The pages that bring buyers for small products are usually: "[competitor] alternative", "[tool A] vs [tool B]", "how to [do the job your product does]", templates, and use-case pages ("[product] for [type of user]"). Google's rule is simple: write for people, not for search engines. AI-written text is allowed if it is accurate, reviewed and genuinely helpful. But making many pages mainly to grab rankings is "scaled content abuse" under Google's spam policies, however the pages were made. ## Good fit if - Long-term, free traffic that keeps coming - Products with known competitors ("alternative to X" searches) ## Skip it if - You need users this month. SEO is slow - Nobody searches for your problem yet (a brand-new category) ## Prepare before you start - [ ] Google Search Console set up for your site (free), with your sitemap submitted - [ ] A list of 20 questions customers ask before they buy - [ ] Your competitors' names, and what people search with them - [ ] Real material only you have: screenshots, data, customer stories - [ ] A site that loads fast and has correct titles and descriptions (Web Scan checks this for free) ## Step by step 1. **List the questions.** Write down 20 questions buyers ask: in support emails, sales calls, Reddit threads, and Google's "People also ask" box. 2. **Check what already ranks.** Search each question. If the top results are weak, outdated or missing real examples, you can beat them. 3. **Write one page per question.** Answer it fully and clearly, near the top. Add real screenshots, steps and numbers. Mention your product where it truly helps. 4. **Write comparison pages honestly.** "[Competitor] alternative" and "[A] vs [B]" pages bring ready buyers. Be fair about where the competitor is better. Readers trust it more. 5. **Link your pages together.** Link related pages to each other and to your product page, so readers and Google find more. 6. **Check and update.** Each month, look at Search Console: which pages appear, for which searches. Improve pages that show up but don't get clicks. ## Rules and mistakes to avoid - Don't publish lots of AI pages without checking them. Google calls this scaled content abuse - Don't buy links. Google's spam policies treat it as link spam - Don't copy competitors' pages or other sites' content - Don't stuff keywords. Write for readers ## Tips - One great page beats ten thin ones - Update dates and facts on your best pages every few months - Use your customers' exact words in titles ## What to measure - Search Console: impressions, clicks and the searches you appear for - Sign-ups from each page (analytics landing-page report) ## Template: Comparison page outline ```text Title: [Competitor] alternative: [your product] vs [Competitor] ([year]) 1. Short answer (2–3 sentences): who should pick which 2. Comparison table: price, key features, limits 3. Where [Competitor] is better (be honest) 4. Where [your product] is better (with screenshots) 5. How to switch, step by step 6. FAQ (real questions from customers) ``` ## Important links - [Google Search Console](https://search.google.com/search-console) - [Google SEO Starter Guide](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/seo-starter-guide) - [Creating helpful, people-first content](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/creating-helpful-content) - [Google Search spam policies](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/essentials/spam-policies) - [Web Scan (free SEO check)](https://agentmarket.lol/web-scan) ## Sources - [Google: Creating helpful, reliable, people-first content](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/creating-helpful-content) - [Google: guidance on generative AI content](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/using-gen-ai-content) - [Google Search spam policies](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/essentials/spam-policies) --- # Get recommended by ChatGPT, Claude and Perplexity > More people ask AI which tool to use. Make sure it knows about yours. - Time per week: 1 to 2 hours - First results: Weeks to months - Cost: Free - Best for: Any product people might ask an AI assistant about - Human guide: https://agentmarket.lol/how-to-market/get-recommended-by-ai - Last checked: 2026-10-04. Platforms change their rules and prices; confirm before relying on a number. ## How it works AI assistants with search (ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Google's AI answers) read web pages and then recommend tools and cite sources. This is sometimes called GEO, generative engine optimization. First, they must be allowed to read your site. Each company has a separate search crawler. OpenAI says sites that block OAI-SearchBot won't be shown in ChatGPT search answers. Anthropic's search crawler is Claude-SearchBot, and Perplexity's is PerplexityBot. If you use Cloudflare, also check its AI-crawler blocking settings, which can block them even when robots.txt allows them. Second, give them something worth citing. A 2024 Princeton study (the GEO paper) found that adding statistics, quotations and cited sources made pages show up much more in AI answers, while keyword stuffing didn't help. Third, be mentioned elsewhere. AI answers draw on many sites: reviews, comparison lists, Reddit threads, directories. Mentions on those pages help AI recommend you. ## Good fit if - Products in a category people compare ("best tool for X") - Sites that already have helpful pages ## Skip it if - Your site has no real content yet. Start with "Write pages people search for" ## Prepare before you start - [ ] Your robots.txt checked: OAI-SearchBot, Claude-SearchBot, PerplexityBot and Googlebot not blocked - [ ] Your Cloudflare (or other firewall) AI-crawler settings checked - [ ] A clear page that says what your product is, who it's for, the price, and how it compares - [ ] A list of 10 questions buyers might ask an AI ("best tool for…", "[competitor] alternative") - [ ] Optional: an llms.txt file (a proposed standard that gives AI a short summary of your site) ## Step by step 1. **Ask the AIs yourself.** Ask ChatGPT, Claude and Perplexity your buyers' questions. Write down which tools they recommend and which pages they cite. That's your baseline. 2. **Open the door.** Make sure the search crawlers can read your site (robots.txt and firewall). Make sure your important pages work without JavaScript tricks and have clear titles. 3. **Make pages easy to quote.** Put plain facts in clear sentences: what it does, for whom, price, limits. Add real numbers, short quotes from customers, and links to sources. 4. **Get listed where AI looks.** Look at the pages the AIs cited. Many are directories, comparison articles and community threads. Get your product listed or mentioned there honestly. 5. **Re-check every month.** Ask the same questions again. Note whether you appear and which pages are cited. ## Rules and mistakes to avoid - Don't stuff keywords or hidden text. It didn't help in the GEO study and can hurt in Google - Don't post fake reviews or fake Reddit recommendations. It breaks platform rules and can backfire badly - Don't block the AI search crawlers if you want to be recommended ## Tips - Blocking training crawlers (like GPTBot) and allowing search crawlers (like OAI-SearchBot) is possible. They are separate - A clear comparison page often becomes the page AI cites - Web Scan checks whether AI crawlers can read your site ## What to measure - How often you're recommended for your 10 questions (check monthly) - Visits from chatgpt.com, perplexity.ai and claude.ai in your analytics - Sign-ups where people say an AI suggested you ## Template: robots.txt that lets AI search in ```text User-agent: OAI-SearchBot Allow: / User-agent: Claude-SearchBot Allow: / User-agent: PerplexityBot Allow: / User-agent: * Allow: / Sitemap: https://[your-domain]/sitemap.xml ``` ## Important links - [OpenAI crawlers (OAI-SearchBot, GPTBot)](https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/bots) - [GEO paper (Princeton, KDD 2024)](https://arxiv.org/abs/2311.09735) - [Our GEO guide](https://agentmarket.lol/blog/what-is-generative-engine-optimization) - [Our llms.txt guide](https://agentmarket.lol/blog/llms-txt-guide) - [Web Scan (checks AI crawler access)](https://agentmarket.lol/web-scan) ## Sources - [OpenAI: overview of OpenAI crawlers](https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/bots) - [GEO: Generative Engine Optimization (arXiv 2311.09735)](https://arxiv.org/abs/2311.09735) - [Anthropic's crawlers: ClaudeBot, Claude-User, Claude-SearchBot](https://almcorp.com/blog/anthropic-claude-bots-robots-txt-strategy/) --- # Give away a free tool > Build a small free tool that solves one step. It brings visitors for years. - Time per week: A few days to build, then 1 hour - First results: 1 to 3 months - Cost: Free to cheap (hosting) - Best for: Makers who can code, products with a natural "check" or "calculator" step - Human guide: https://agentmarket.lol/how-to-market/free-tool - Last checked: 2026-10-04. Platforms change their rules and prices; confirm before relying on a number. ## How it works Instead of writing articles, you build a small free tool: a checker, a calculator, a generator, a template. People search for it, use it, share it, and some go on to your main product. A classic example is HubSpot's Website Grader, a free site checker launched in 2008. It is still reported to bring about 65,000 visits a month. Free tools keep working after you build them, and other sites link to good ones, which also helps your SEO. ## Good fit if - Products where a quick check, calculator or generator leads to the paid product - Developers who'd rather build than write posts ## Skip it if - You can't think of a small tool that relates to your product ## Prepare before you start - [ ] One small job your buyers do just before they need your product - [ ] A tool idea that gives a useful result in under a minute - [ ] A result page that clearly leads to your product ("Want to fix this automatically? Try [product]") - [ ] A free or cheap way to host it ## Step by step 1. **Pick the step before your product.** What do your buyers do right before they need you? If you sell invoicing, a free invoice generator. If you sell SEO fixes, a free site checker. 2. **Keep it tiny and fast.** One input, one useful result. No sign-up for the first result. Speed matters more than features. 3. **Make the result shareable.** A result page with its own link, or an image people can post, spreads the tool for you. 4. **Connect it to your product.** On the result, show the natural next step your product handles, with one clear button. 5. **Launch it like a product.** Free tools are welcome on Show HN, Reddit and launch sites. See our Where to Launch guides. ## Rules and mistakes to avoid - Don't hide the first result behind an email form. People leave - Don't build something unrelated just for traffic. The visitors won't buy - Keep it working. A broken free tool hurts your brand ## Tips - Give the tool its own page with a title people would search ("free [thing] checker") - Ask for an email only for extras, like saving or monitoring results ## What to measure - Tool uses per week - Clicks from the tool to your product, and sign-ups - Other sites linking to the tool ## Important links - [Where to Launch (to launch your free tool)](https://agentmarket.lol/where-to-launch) ## Sources - [Engineering as marketing: build free tools that drive growth](https://growthmethod.com/engineering-as-marketing/) - [HubSpot: Website Grader](https://www.hubspot.com/blog/bid/5539/website-grader-analyzes-over-2-million-sites) --- # Cold email that doesn't land in spam > Short, personal emails to a small list of perfect-fit people. - Time per week: 3 to 5 hours - First results: A few days - Cost: About $10 a month (a separate domain and inbox) - Best for: B2B products with a clear type of buyer - Human guide: https://agentmarket.lol/how-to-market/cold-email - Last checked: 2026-10-04. Platforms change their rules and prices; confirm before relying on a number. ## How it works Cold email means writing to people who don't know you yet. Done well, it's short, personal and useful, and it gets replies. Done badly, it lands in spam and can damage your domain. Gmail's sender rules require all senders to set up SPF or DKIM (email authentication). Anyone sending 5,000 or more emails a day to Gmail must have SPF, DKIM and DMARC, one-click unsubscribe, and keep spam complaints under 0.3%. Gmail recommends under 0.1%. Even at small volume, set up all three. In the US, the CAN-SPAM Act applies: no misleading subject lines, include your physical address, tell people how to opt out, and honour opt-outs within 10 business days. In the UK, emailing people at limited companies is allowed without prior consent, but sole traders need consent. Rules in the EU differ by country and some are stricter. Check before emailing people there. ## Good fit if - Getting first customers for a business product - Products with a clear buyer you can name ("heads of support at 10–50 person SaaS companies") ## Skip it if - You sell to consumers - You can't name exactly who your buyer is ## Prepare before you start - [ ] A separate domain for outreach (for example, try[product].com), so your main domain stays safe - [ ] SPF, DKIM and DMARC set up on that domain - [ ] A short list of 50 perfect-fit companies and the right person at each - [ ] A reason to email each person (something specific about them) - [ ] Your physical address and a simple opt-out line for the email footer ## Step by step 1. **Set up a separate domain.** Buy a similar domain, create an inbox, and set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC. Start slow: a few emails a day, rising over a few weeks. 2. **Build a small, sharp list.** 50 companies that match your best customer exactly. Find the one person who owns the problem. 3. **Write short and personal.** Under 100 words. First line about them, not you. One problem, one sentence on how you help, one easy question. 4. **Follow up once or twice.** A short follow-up 3 to 5 days later. Then stop. More than that annoys people and raises spam complaints. 5. **Learn from replies.** Every "no" tells you something. Note objections and change your list or message. ## Rules and mistakes to avoid - Don't buy email lists. They're full of bad addresses and people who never agreed to anything - Don't use misleading subject lines like "Re:" or "Your invoice". CAN-SPAM forbids deceptive subjects - Always include an opt-out and honour it - Don't send from your main domain at volume - Check the law where your recipients live. EU rules can be stricter ## Tips - Ask a question, don't push a call: "Is this a problem for you?" gets more replies than "Can we book 30 minutes?" - Send from a real person's name - Check your sending domain's setup with a free tool before you start ## What to measure - Reply rate for each version of your email (change one thing at a time) - Positive replies and booked calls - Spam complaints (in Google Postmaster Tools) ## Template: Cold email ```text Subject: [their company] + [the problem, in 3–5 words] Hi [first name], [One specific line showing you looked at them, e.g. "Saw you're hiring 3 support agents."] [The problem in one sentence, e.g. "Teams that size often lose hours answering the same 20 questions."] I built [product], which [result in one sentence]. Is this a problem for you right now? [Your name] [Product] · [physical address] Not interested? Reply "no" and I won't email again. ``` ## Important links - [Gmail email sender guidelines](https://support.google.com/a/answer/81126) - [Google Postmaster Tools](https://postmaster.google.com/) - [FTC: CAN-SPAM compliance guide](https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/can-spam-act-compliance-guide-business) - [ICO (UK): direct marketing guidance](https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/direct-marketing-and-privacy-and-electronic-communications/) ## Sources - [Google: email sender guidelines](https://support.google.com/a/answer/81126) - [FTC: CAN-SPAM Act compliance guide](https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/can-spam-act-compliance-guide-business) - [Cold email under PECR regulation 22 (UK, 2026)](https://www.salespeople.co.uk/explained/cold-email-pecr-regulation-22) --- # Build an email list > The one audience no algorithm can take away from you. - Time per week: 1 to 2 hours - First results: 1 to 3 months - Cost: Free to start - Best for: Every product, especially ones people need over time - Human guide: https://agentmarket.lol/how-to-market/email-newsletter - Last checked: 2026-10-04. Platforms change their rules and prices; confirm before relying on a number. ## How it works Most visitors aren't ready to buy on their first visit. An email list lets you stay in touch until they are. Unlike social media, nobody can change an algorithm and take your list away. You give something useful in return for an email address: a checklist, a template, a short guide. Then you send helpful emails regularly, and mention your product when it fits. Free plans are enough to start. At the time of writing, Kit's free plan is reported to allow up to 10,000 subscribers, beehiiv's free plan up to 2,500, and Buttondown's up to 100. Check their pricing pages, because these change. ## Good fit if - Turning visitors who aren't ready yet into customers later - Announcing launches and features to people who care ## Skip it if - You can't send something useful at least once or twice a month ## Prepare before you start - [ ] A newsletter tool on a free plan - [ ] One small freebie people want (a checklist, a template, a mini-guide) - [ ] A sign-up form on your homepage, blog and free tool - [ ] A welcome email - [ ] A simple plan: what you'll send, and how often ## Step by step 1. **Create one good reason to sign up.** "Get updates" doesn't work. "Get the 10-step launch checklist" does. Make the freebie specific and useful. 2. **Put the form where people already are.** End of blog posts, on your free tool's result page, on your homepage. One clear sentence, one email field. 3. **Write the welcome email.** Deliver the freebie, say who you are, say what you'll send and how often, and ask one question they can reply to. 4. **Send on a schedule.** Every week or two. Useful first: lessons, how-tos, short stories. Mention your product naturally, not in every line. 5. **Reuse what you already write.** Your best X or LinkedIn posts and blog pages make great newsletter issues. ## Rules and mistakes to avoid - Only email people who signed up. Don't add contacts or bought lists - Every email needs an easy unsubscribe link - Include your physical address (US CAN-SPAM rule) - In the EU and UK, use clear consent, and consider double opt-in (people confirm by clicking a link) ## Tips - Don't trust open rates much. Apple Mail's privacy feature makes many emails look opened when they weren't. Watch clicks and replies - Ask readers to reply. Replies help your emails reach the inbox, and give you ideas ## What to measure - New subscribers per week, and from which page - Clicks and replies per email - Sign-ups or sales that came from email links ## Template: Welcome email ```text Subject: Here's your [freebie] Hi [first name], Here's the [freebie] you asked for: [link] Quick intro: I'm [name], and I build [product], which helps [who] [do what]. Every [week / two weeks] I'll send you one short, practical [topic] tip. No spam, and you can unsubscribe any time. One question: what's your biggest challenge with [topic] right now? Just hit reply. I read every answer. [Name] ``` ## Important links - [Kit pricing](https://kit.com/pricing) - [beehiiv pricing](https://www.beehiiv.com/pricing) - [Buttondown pricing](https://buttondown.com/pricing) - [FTC: CAN-SPAM compliance guide](https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/can-spam-act-compliance-guide-business) ## Sources - [beehiiv: new plans and pricing (October 2026)](https://www.beehiiv.com/blog/beehiiv-pricing-2026) - [Kit free plan 2026: up to 10,000 subscribers](https://www.passivekit.com/kit-free-plan/) - [Buttondown pricing 2026](https://yoursolopreneurkit.com/blog/buttondown-pricing-2026) --- # Make short videos > 30-second clips of your product solving one problem. Post them everywhere. - Time per week: 3 to 6 hours - First results: 2 to 8 weeks - Cost: Free (your phone or a screen recorder) - Best for: Visual products, consumer apps, AI tools with a "wow" moment - Human guide: https://agentmarket.lol/how-to-market/short-videos - Last checked: 2026-10-04. Platforms change their rules and prices; confirm before relying on a number. ## How it works Short vertical videos on YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels and TikTok can reach people who have never heard of you, because the feeds show videos from people you don't follow. You don't need to show your face. Many software products grow with simple screen recordings: a problem, then the product solving it, with captions. Limits change often. At the time of writing, YouTube Shorts can be up to 3 minutes, Instagram Reels up to 3 minutes, and TikTok allows longer uploads. The format for all three is vertical 9:16 (1080 × 1920). Short videos of 15 to 60 seconds are the usual starting point. ## Good fit if - Products you can show working in seconds - Reaching people who don't read long posts ## Skip it if - Your product's value can't be shown on a screen at all ## Prepare before you start - [ ] A screen recorder or your phone - [ ] A free editor that adds captions - [ ] A list of 10 "before → after" moments your product creates - [ ] Accounts on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok with the same name and a link in the bio ## Step by step 1. **Hook in the first 2 seconds.** Start with the problem or the result: "Stop writing cover letters by hand." No logo intros. 2. **Show one thing.** One video, one problem, one solution. Show the product doing it, sped up if needed. 3. **Add captions.** Many people watch with sound off. Burn in large, readable captions. 4. **Post the same video on all three.** Upload natively to YouTube Shorts, Reels and TikTok. Same video, triple the chances. 5. **Post 3 times a week for 2 months.** Most videos get little reach. A few take off. You only find out by posting regularly and watching which ones work. ## Rules and mistakes to avoid - Only use music from the platform's own library, or music you have rights to - If someone is paid to post about your product, they must label it as a paid partnership, using the platform's tools - Don't buy views or followers ## Tips - Remake your best-performing video with a new hook - Reply to comments with a new video answering them - Turn your best video into an X and LinkedIn post too ## What to measure - Average watch time and how many watch to the end - Profile visits and link-in-bio clicks - Sign-ups that say they found you through a video ## Template: 30-second script ```text 0–2s HOOK: "[Painful problem in 6 words]" 2–8s Show the problem (the old, slow way) 8–25s Show [product] solving it (screen recording, sped up) 25–30s Result + "Link in bio" / "Free to try: [product]" ``` ## Important links - [YouTube Shorts](https://www.youtube.com/shorts) - [Instagram Reels](https://www.instagram.com/reels/) - [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/) ## Sources - [Social video specs 2026: Shorts, Reels and TikTok](https://blitzcutai.com/blog/social-video-specs-2026) - [Social media video length: 2026 guide](https://quso.ai/blog/social-media-video-length-best-practices) --- # Start a referral or affiliate program > Pay happy customers and creators to bring you more customers. - Time per week: 1 day to set up, then 1 hour - First results: 1 to 3 months - Cost: Free to about $29+ a month for software, plus the rewards - Best for: Products that already have happy, paying customers - Human guide: https://agentmarket.lol/how-to-market/referrals-and-affiliates - Last checked: 2026-10-04. Platforms change their rules and prices; confirm before relying on a number. ## How it works A referral program rewards customers for inviting friends, often with a reward on both sides (for example, a free month each). An affiliate program pays creators and partners a commission for customers they send. For subscription software, affiliates are commonly paid a share of each payment for a set time. Rewardful's own affiliate program, for example, pays 25% of payments for the first 12 months. Software tracks who referred whom. Tools like PromoteKit (reported to have a free plan for very small programs), Rewardful and Tolt connect to Stripe. Check their pricing pages, because prices change. In the US, the FTC requires affiliates to clearly disclose that they earn a commission, in a way that's hard to miss. ## Good fit if - Products people already recommend - Tools that creators, consultants or agencies use with their clients ## Skip it if - You don't have happy customers yet. Fix that first ## Prepare before you start - [ ] Customers who already like your product (check reviews, support emails, replies) - [ ] A reward you can afford (a free month, a discount, or a commission %) - [ ] Simple written terms: what counts, when you pay, what's not allowed - [ ] Referral tracking software, or a simple coupon-code system to start - [ ] Ready-made assets for affiliates: screenshots, a short description, a demo video ## Step by step 1. **Start with referrals from customers.** Ask your happiest customers first. Give both them and their friend a reward. Put the invite link inside your product where people feel success. 2. **Pick a commission for affiliates.** Choose a percentage and a time limit you can afford. Make sure you still make money after paying it. 3. **Write clear terms.** Say how long a referral counts, the minimum payout, and what's banned (self-referrals, spam, bidding on your brand name in ads). 4. **Invite the right partners.** Creators who already make content about your problem, consultants and agencies who'd use your tool with clients. Write to each personally. 5. **Help them sell.** Give them assets, a demo account and quick answers. Partners who understand the product send better customers. ## Rules and mistakes to avoid - Require affiliates to clearly disclose that they earn a commission (FTC rule in the US) - Ban spam, fake reviews and misleading claims in your terms, and remove partners who break them - Don't pay out before the refund window ends. It protects you from fraud ## Tips - A double-sided reward (both people get something) usually works better than one-sided - Show referral stats inside the product so people see progress ## What to measure - Share of new customers that came through referrals or affiliates - Revenue per partner, minus commissions paid - Refund and cancel rate of referred customers ## Template: Partner invite ```text Subject: Partner with [product]? [X]% for [N] months Hi [name], I loved your [video/post] about [topic]. Your audience has exactly the problem [product] solves: [one sentence]. We pay [X]% of every payment for [N] months for customers you send. You get a free account, a demo video and screenshots to use. Want me to set you up? [Your name] ``` ## Important links - [FTC: Endorsement Guides (disclosures)](https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/ftcs-endorsement-guides-what-people-are-asking) - [Rewardful](https://www.rewardful.com/) - [Tolt](https://tolt.com/) - [PromoteKit](https://www.promotekit.com/) ## Sources - [FTC: Guides Concerning Endorsements and Testimonials (16 CFR Part 255)](https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/P204500%20Guides%20Concerning%20Endors%20and%20Testimonials.pdf) - [Rewardful affiliate program (25% for 12 months)](https://www.rewardful.com/affiliate-program) - [Best affiliate software for SaaS in 2026](https://refgrow.com/blog/best-affiliate-software-for-saas-2026)