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Strategy8 min read

Build in Public: 5 Reply Strategies That Actually Work

Here are the exact reply strategies that helped Build in Public founders grow from zero to thousands of followers while building their products.

Why Replies Matter for Build in Public

Build in Public founders have a unique advantage: their daily journey is their content. But posting updates alone isn't enough. Strategic replies are how you join conversations, build relationships, and attract your first customers.

These 5 strategies come from analyzing hundreds of successful Build in Public replies. They work because they add genuine value while naturally showcasing your expertise.

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Strategy 1: The Behind-the-Scenes Add-On

Someone shares their launch or milestone. Instead of just congratulating them, reveal something interesting from your own experience building.

Example:

"Congrats on hitting 1K users! 🎉 That's huge. We hit that milestone last month and our biggest lesson was that 40% came from one specific Reddit post. Don't stop shipping!"

Why it works:

  • • Adds concrete value beyond congratulations
  • • Shows you're also building (credibility)
  • • Creates curiosity (what's your product?)
  • • Feels generous, not self-promotional
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Strategy 2: The Quick Win Share

Someone asks for advice or shares a problem. Share a bite-sized, actionable win from your journey.

Example:

"Notion for early docs, Webflow for marketing pages, Zapier for integrations. Pick tools that let you ship fast and migrate later. Don't build anything custom until you have 100 paid users."

Why it works:

  • • Provides immediate value
  • • Shows tactical expertise
  • • Memorable (3-part frameworks stick)
  • • Demonstrates you're a doer, not just a talker
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Strategy 3: The Skeptical Question

Someone makes a bold claim. Ask the clarifying question that shows you understand the nuance.

Example:

"Interested. Did you launch to your existing email list, or was this cold traffic? We saw completely different conversion rates (12% vs 2%) between those two."

Why it works:

  • • Shows analytical thinking
  • • Reveals you have data/experience
  • • Drives deeper conversation
  • • Positions you as an expert
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Strategy 4: The Personal Pivot

Someone shares a principle or framework. Connect it to your personal journey or challenge.

Example:

"100% agree on launching early. We spent 3 months perfecting our landing page only to find users wanted something different entirely. Now we ship in 2 weeks, iterate in public."

Why it works:

  • • Makes you relatable
  • • Shares your story without bragging
  • • Shows you apply the principles
  • • Creates connection and trust
💰

Strategy 5: The Compound Value

Someone shares a metric or milestone. Add context, contrast, or pattern recognition that elevates the conversation.

Example:

"That's a solid 3% conversion rate. Industry average is 1-2%. The biggest lever for us was adding social proof "Join 500+ founders" rather than just CTA buttons. Small change, 2x lift."

Why it works:

  • • Provides benchmarking context
  • • Gives tactical optimization
  • • Shows you understand metrics
  • • Demonstrates strategic thinking

The Framework

Apply these strategies systematically:

Step-by-Step Process

  1. 1
    Use ReplyBro to find high-opportunity Build in Public posts (70+ score)

    Focus on your niche to maximize relevance

  2. 2
    Identify which strategy fits the context

    Launch? Behind-scenes. Problem? Quick win. Claim? Question.

  3. 3
    Add genuine value from your experience

    Specific > general. Data > opinion.

  4. 4
    Reply within first hour for maximum visibility

    Hotness 70%+ = your reply gets seen

  5. 5
    Track what works and double down

    Review replies that got the most engagement

Start Replying Smarter

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