LaunchWakeCan I post my startup on Lobste.rs?
Self-promotion is tolerated but policed. Frame the post as a lesson or a genuine contribution and the tool as context, or it may be removed.
Why the ban risk is medium
- Actively moderated; off-guideline posts are removed fast.
- Explicit limits on self-promotion and marketing language.
- Invite-only and high-signal — marketing is unwelcome by design.
- Rewards transparency; disclose that it's your project.
The rules, in plain English
How to post here safely
- Only submit deep technical content, tagged correctly.
- Disclose authorship if you're linking your own work.
- Don't include any marketing language whatsoever.
Account requirements
- Get invited well before launch — ask someone you know on the site or hang out in the chat room to get known.
- New accounts can't use the show/announce tags for their first ~70 days.
- Keep self-promo under a quarter of your combined stories + comments (the documented rule of thumb).
- Frame your post as technical content, not a product announcement — 'write-only' promoters are the stated target of the rule.
Source: lobste.rs/about — invite-only; users are 'new' for their first 70 days and can't post show/announce-tagged stories; self-promo 'should be less than a quarter of one's stories and comments'.
Frequently asked
Can I post my startup on Lobste.rs?
Medium ban risk. Self-promotion is tolerated but policed. Frame the post as a lesson or a genuine contribution and the tool as context, or it may be removed.
What gets posts removed on Lobste.rs?
Actively moderated; off-guideline posts are removed fast. Explicit limits on self-promotion and marketing language. Invite-only and high-signal — marketing is unwelcome by design. Rewards transparency; disclose that it's your project. In short: Don't include any marketing language whatsoever.
When is the best time to post on Lobste.rs?
Invite only. Timing helps, but fit and format matter more — a rule-breaking post fails at any hour.
Do I need an established account to post on Lobste.rs?
Yes — Lobste.rs gates posting on an account at least 70 days old. (Source: lobste.rs/about — invite-only; users are 'new' for their first 70 days and can't post show/announce-tagged stories; self-promo 'should be less than a quarter of one's stories and comments'.) Tip: Get invited well before launch — ask someone you know on the site or hang out in the chat room to get known.
Related channels
Appears in: Where to launch a security product · Where to share an open-source project
Is Lobste.rs even the right channel for your launch?
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