5.2 KiB
FRE-632-A1: HN Account Verification
Parent: FRE-632 (Hacker News Show HN)
Owner: CMO
Priority: HIGH
Status: TODO
Due: T-7 days before HN launch (target: May 30, 2026)
Objective
Verify or create Hacker News account meets submission requirements for Show HN post.
Requirements
Minimum Requirements (per HN guidelines)
- Account age: 30+ days preferred (not strict, but new accounts look suspicious)
- Karma: 50+ (unofficial minimum, reduces spam filter risk)
- Complete profile with real info
- History of genuine participation (comments, not just submissions)
Target for Launch
- Account age: 30+ days ✅ (create by March 2026)
- Karma: 100+ (buffer above minimum)
- 20+ thoughtful comments in relevant threads
- Profile: Real name/company info
Action Plan
Step 1: Check Existing Account (May 26, 2026)
Action: Verify if CMO/founder team has existing HN accounts
Questions:
- Does CMO have personal HN account?
- Does Founder/CEO have HN account?
- Does Founding Engineer have HN account?
- Any team member with established HN presence?
Check:
- Account creation date
- Current karma score
- Comment history
- Profile completeness
Decision Tree:
- If account has 100+ karma and 30+ days old → USE IT ✅
- If account exists but low karma → Begin karma building (7-10 days)
- If no account → Create immediately + karma building (10-14 days)
Step 2: Account Creation (If Needed)
Timeline: Create by May 26, 2026 (immediate)
Process:
- Go to https://news.ycombinator.com/login
- Click "create account"
- Use real email (not company domain)
- Choose professional username (e.g., company name or real name)
- Complete profile with:
- Real name
- Company affiliation (optional but recommended)
- Brief bio
Best Practices:
- Use personal email (Gmail) not company domain
- Real name increases credibility
- Complete profile before any submissions
Step 3: Karma Building (7-14 Days)
Goal: Reach 100+ karma through genuine participation
Strategy:
-
Comment on relevant threads (2-3 per day)
- Topics: screenwriting, writing software, SaaS, startups, Tauri, SolidJS
- Add value: insights, experiences, helpful resources
- Avoid: self-promotion, spam, low-effort comments
-
Submit interesting articles (1 per week)
- Industry news (not about Scripter)
- Writing tips, screenwriting resources
- Tech articles about Tauri, SolidJS, CRDTs
-
Engage authentically
- Upvote quality content
- Reply to comments on your submissions
- Build reputation in niche communities
Target Timeline:
- Week 1: 20-30 karma (10-15 quality comments)
- Week 2: 50-70 karma (continued participation)
- Week 3: 100+ karma (ready for Show HN)
Step 4: Profile Optimization
Complete Before Submission:
- Username: Professional (real name or company)
- Email: Verified
- About: Brief bio with company affiliation
- Comment history: 20+ thoughtful comments
- Submission history: 2-3 relevant articles (optional)
Example Profile:
Username: [Real Name] or Scripter
Email: [personal@gmail.com]
About: Building Scripter - modern screenwriting software. Previously [relevant background].
Verification Checklist
Complete by May 30, 2026:
- Account created (or existing account identified)
- Account age: 30+ days (by launch date)
- Karma: 100+ (verified)
- Profile: Complete with real info
- Comment history: 20+ quality comments
- HN guidelines read: https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
- Account ready for Show HN submission
Risks & Mitigation
Risk 1: Account Too New
Impact: Show HN post may be flagged or downvoted
Mitigation: Use founder/team member's established account instead
Risk 2: Low Karma (<50)
Impact: Submission may hit spam filters
Mitigation: Begin karma building immediately, delay submission if needed
Risk 3: Account History of Spam
Impact: Post removal, reputation damage
Mitigation: Use clean account, avoid any spam-like behavior
Risk 4: Wrong Timing
Impact: Low visibility, poor performance
Mitigation: Submit Tuesday-Thursday 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM PT (peak HN traffic)
Resources
- HN Guidelines: https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
- HN Search: https://hn.algolia.com/ (find relevant threads to comment on)
- Karma Calculator: Track progress manually
- Best Times to Post: Tuesday-Thursday 10:30 AM PT
Success Metrics
- ✅ Account age: 30+ days by launch
- ✅ Karma: 100+ verified
- ✅ Profile: Complete and professional
- ✅ Comment history: 20+ quality contributions
- ✅ Ready for Show HN submission by June 7-14, 2026
Next Actions
- IMMEDIATE (May 26): Check if team has existing HN accounts
- May 26-27: Create account if needed OR verify existing account stats
- May 27 - June 7: Karma building phase (2-3 comments/day)
- June 1-7: Profile optimization
- June 7: Account ready for Show HN submission
Owner: CMO
Support: Founder/Founding Engineer (if their account has better karma)
Status: TODO - Begin verification May 26, 2026