After getting some good feedback on my last post detailing how to start a startup with little to no money, I decided to put a list together of free places that you can promote your startup.

Keep in mind that marketing your product or venture to startup ecosystems is one way to get some awareness or traction, but ultimately you need to find the locations where your target customers hang out and engage them there.

1. ProductHunt

Product Hunt seems to be replacing TechCrunch as the #1 source that entrepreneurs and early adopters use to discover new products.

There are a lot of different collections on the site, including tech, games, books, and more. You can use the website to get feedback on your startup and get some initial early traction.

2. Reddit

Reddit has a few different communities devoted to tech startups, including the startups and entrepreneurship subreddit.

I’d recommend using reddit to get feedback on your prototype and connect with early adopters. It’s also a cool way to share your story.

3. BetaList

Beta List is similar to Product Hunt in that you can use the website to discover new and interesting startup products. You can also use the site to list your own!

The website allows you to browse by region, newness, and the different markets that are out there, making it easy to find competitors and potential collaborators.

4. Tech Blogs

I’ve put together a comprehensive list of some of the top tech startup blogs and news websites out there.

You can use tech blogs as a way to gain access to a larger audience and get some traction when you’re just starting out. However, I wouldn’t rely on media mentions as a sustainable growth strategy.

Yes, TechCrunch and the blogs that you get on will send a traffic spike, but you need to create your own engine of growth in order to sustainably retain and acquire new users.

5. Your Local Community

Most cities around the country and world now have some kind of entrepreneurial community. For example, in NYC, there are meetup groups, networking events, and even a made in NYC website that’s designed to showcase startups in the area.

Invest an hour in looking up some of the events, networks, and websites in your area. How can you draw on the resources at your disposal to attract some early adopters?

6. Online Social Networks

There are a lot of Facebook groups, LinkedIn groups, and Google+ groups that you can join to begin to network with people in your industry or other entrepreneurs running startup companies.

But, don’t spam your link. Don’t spam your startup. Treat each group you join like an individual cocktail party. You wouldn’t go up to everyone in the party and just talk about yourself and everything that you’re doing.

Getting to know people and building relationships are the only sustainable way to really leverage social networking groups in the long run.

7. HackerNews

Despite having a simplistic design, HackerNews is a big traffic generator.

If you’re looking to share your cool new product with the world, then HackerNews is one way to get some eyeballs on your project and receive advice or feedback.

Remember, this is not a sustainable source of traffic. Your spot on HackerNews might lead to awareness and media mentions, but ultimately it’s a spike that you’re going to have to capitalize on as best as you can.

I recommend setting up an email list and subscription bar before launching it on HackerNews or any other site so that you can capture emails

8. AngelList

Although I wouldn’t recommend promoting your startup on AngelList, listing your company is a good way to connect with investors and partners over the long term.

AngelList functions as a database and a great way to bring more credibility to what it is you’re doing!

9. CrunchBase

CrunchBase is also a database of startups and established companies that serves as a record of the company’s history.

It can be a resource for journalists, investors, and other entrepreneurs looking to learn more about your company.

10. PromoteHour

PromoteHour is an awesome resource if you’re looking to discover more websites where you can list and promote your startup.

They list a whole slew of places where you can submit your new venture and they also rate each location by traffic and cost.

11. StartupRanking

StartupRanking allows you to register your startup to be listed in a variety of categories. You can search for startups in your region, see your ranking in the world, or simply be featured in the new startups listing.

12. LaunchingNext

LaunchingNext is similar to ProductHunt and BetaList. It’s another website where early adopters, entrepreneurs, and investors can browse through interesting new startup companies and see which ones are trending.

You can use the website as a place to list your startup and get more eyeballs on your new product or venture.