firstthousandusers
  1. Idea and validation
  2. Waitlist
  3. Private beta
  4. Launch
  5. First 100 users
  6. First 1,000 users
Partnerships

Get featured in new-product newsletters

Send a short, specific pitch to newsletters that cover new tools in your category.

What's required2–3 hours to build a list of 20–40 newsletters, then 10 minutes per pitch.
Accounts
An email address on your product's domain.
Assets
A one-line description, one image or GIF, a link people can try, and a short pitch email.
Time
2–3 hours to build a list of 20–40 newsletters, then 10 minutes per pitch.
Cost
Free. Paid placements exist but are a separate tactic.
Prerequisites
A live product people can try today, ideally with a free plan or trial.

What to do

  1. Find newsletters that regularly feature new tools in your niche. Big general newsletters are hard to get into; small niche ones often want submissions. Search for:
    • new tools newsletter [niche], [niche] tools weekly, [niche] newsletter "submit a tool" and "tools of the week" [niche],
    • Substack search for your niche plus words like “tools”, “roundup” or “weekly”,
    • curators on X, LinkedIn or Bluesky who post regular “tools I found this week” threads, since many run a newsletter linked in their bio,
    • the newsletters your target users mention or forward, asked directly in user calls.
  2. Read two or three issues before pitching. Check that they feature products like yours, how they describe them and how long each mention is. Note the writer’s name and whether there is a submission form. Use the form if one exists.
  3. Build a list of 20–40 in a spreadsheet. Track name, writer, subscriber estimate if public, how to submit, date pitched, reply and date featured. Start with the smallest and most niche ones; they reply more often.
  4. Make it easy to feature you. Writers are busy. Give them copy they can paste: a one-line description, one image or GIF sized for email, and a direct link with a UTM tag (?utm_source=newslettername). If you have an offer for their readers, include it.
  5. Write a short, personal pitch. Four to six sentences. Mention a specific recent issue so they know you read it, say what the product does and who it is for, and give the assets. No attachments, no deck. Use the template below.
  6. Time your pitches around your launch. Many newsletters plan issues a week or more ahead. Pitch 1–2 weeks before a launch like Product Hunt, and pitch again with news later: a big feature, a notable number, an open-source release.
  7. Follow up once, then move on. If there is no reply after about a week, send one short follow-up. No reply after that means no; do not keep chasing.
  8. Thank and share when you are featured. Share the issue on your channels and tag the writer. It builds a relationship for the next pitch and makes other writers more willing to feature you.

Pitch template

Subject: Tool for [their audience]: [product] – [what it does in 5 words]

Hi [name],

I liked your note on [specific item from a recent issue]. I built [product], which helps [their readers] [do what] without [usual pain].

One-liner you can use: “[Product] – [one sentence description].”

Link: [URL with UTM]. Image: [link to a 1200x600 image or GIF]. [Optional: Readers get X free with code Y.]

If it’s a fit for an upcoming issue I’d be grateful. Happy to answer any questions.

[Your name], maker of [product]

Why it works

Newsletter readers opted in to hear about new tools, and they trust the writer’s taste. A mention from a curator in your niche works like a recommendation from a friend, sent straight to the inbox of the right people. Small niche newsletters constantly need good material, so a clear, well-packaged pitch is often welcome.

How it gets users

Expect most pitches to get no reply; a reply rate of 10–30% from small niche newsletters is a good result. A mention in a small newsletter usually brings a few to a few dozen visitors and some signups, often of higher quality than from launch platforms. A feature in a larger, well-matched newsletter can bring hundreds of visitors in a day or two. The effect is short but can repeat: each new feature or milestone gives you a reason to pitch again.

Common mistakes

  • Pitching huge general newsletters first and ignoring small niche ones.
  • Sending the same generic email to everyone without reading an issue.
  • Long pitches with attachments, decks or no image the writer can use.
  • Pitching a product that is not live or needs a sales call to try.
  • Following up more than once, or asking why they did not feature you.
  • Not tagging links, so you cannot tell which newsletter sent users.

Next steps

This guide is connected to these guides on the map. Numbered ones come next.

01 Idea02 Waitlist03 Beta04 Launch05 First 10006 First 1kLaunch on Product Hunt1Cross-promote with adjacent products2Sponsor a niche newsletter3This guide04 Launch05 First 10006 First 1kLaunch on Product Hunt1Cross-promote with adjacent products2Sponsor a niche newsletter3This guide
  1. 104 Launch · Launch platformsLaunch on Product HuntPrepare the listing and assets in advance, launch at 12:01 a.m. Pacific time, and tell your own list and communities on the day.
  2. 206 First 1,000 users · PartnershipsCross-promote with adjacent productsAgree with a non-competing product that serves the same users to mention each other in emails, docs or onboarding.
  3. 306 First 1,000 users · PaidSponsor a niche newsletterBuy one placement in a small newsletter your users read, measure signups, and repeat only what works.