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