Read the Show HN guidelines and the HN FAQ end-to-end
1 hour
Top comment: 'Why not just use Notion?'
Reply in 5 min — explain the agent-first design. Don't be defensive; show the substantive difference.
Pick the day, the hour, and the timezone alignment
30 min
Top comment: 'Pricing seems high for what it is'
Reply with concrete usage example showing the unit economics. Don't argue; concede where they're right.
Write the Show HN title (the single most important step)
1 hour
Comment: 'How does this handle X?'
Genuine technical question. Answer specifically; link to docs.
Write the technical write-up that goes on your blog
1 day
Hateful comment, no question
Don't engage. Mods often handle. Move on.
Make sure the product itself is shippable to a stranger
1 day
Submit and pin the first comment with context
30 min
Reply to every top-level comment within 30 minutes
8-12 hours of active engagement
Track the rank, the traffic, and the funnel
Ongoing during the 24-hour window
Day-after follow-up: ship one fix and write the post-mortem
1 day
Recover gracefully if the post gets flagged
Depends