Good news: most effective marketing happens behind a keyboard, not in person. Here are 6 channels perfect for shy founders.
What it is: People finding your site through Google searches.
How to do it:
- Write helpful blog posts targeting specific keywords
- Optimize each post with proper titles, headings, and meta descriptions
- Publish consistently (at least 2 posts per month)
- Update old posts every 6 months with fresh information
Timeline: 3-6 months to see significant traffic
Effort: Medium (mostly writing)
Cost: Free (just your time)
What it is: Participating in communities where your target audience hangs out.
How to do it:
- Join subreddits like r/freelance, r/entrepreneur, r/smallbusiness
- Don't promote directly - this gets you banned
- Answer questions and provide genuine help
- When relevant, mention "I use a tool that helps with this" and link to a helpful blog post
- Build karma and trust before any mentions
Timeline: Immediate traffic possible, but build trust first
Effort: Low (30 minutes per day)
Cost: Free
What it is: Answering questions people ask about topics related to your product.
How to do it:
- Search Quora for questions like "How do I write a freelance proposal?"
- Write detailed, helpful answers (300-500 words)
- Link to your relevant blog post for "more details"
- Include a brief mention of your tool at the end if appropriate
Timeline: Immediate traffic possible
Effort: Low (20 minutes per answer, 3-5 answers per week)
Cost: Free
What it is: Writing articles for other websites that your target audience reads.
How to do it:
- Identify blogs freelancers read (FreelanceSwitch, Freelancing Hacks, The Write Life)
- Email them: "I'd like to write a guest post about [topic] for your audience"
- Write a high-quality article (1,500+ words)
- Include a brief author bio with a link to your site
Timeline: 1-2 months to get published
Effort: Medium (research + writing)
Cost: Free
What it is: Building a list of subscribers who receive your content and updates.
How to do it:
- Create a "lead magnet" - free resource people get when they subscribe
- Send a weekly or bi-weekly email with tips and new content
- Use a simple format: one tip, one resource, one call-to-action
- Gradually introduce your product to engaged subscribers
Timeline: Builds slowly over time
Effort: Low (30 minutes per email)
Cost: Free up to 500-1,000 subscribers
What it is: A community where people discover new products.
How to do it:
- Create a Product Hunt account
- Prepare screenshots, description, tagline, and maker story
- Launch on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday (best days)
- Engage with comments throughout the day
Timeline: One-day event, can bring hundreds of visitors
Effort: Medium (preparation + launch day engagement)
Cost: Free
Don't try all 6 at once. Start with 2-3 that feel most comfortable:
- If you like writing: Focus on SEO and guest posting
- If you're helpful by nature: Try Reddit and Quora
- If you want quick wins: Launch on Product Hunt
- If you're patient: Build an email list
Remember: You're not selling, you're helping. Your product is just a natural extension of that help.