I Launched 4 Editorial Publishing Platforms to Help Indie Founders Build Backlinks and Get Discovered
Hey everyone!
As an indie maker, I've always been interested in building platforms that solve practical problems for other founders.
One challenge I've noticed repeatedly is that launching a product is relatively easy, but getting it discovered is much harder.
You can build an amazing SaaS, launch an AI tool, or spend months working on a side project, but getting consistent visibility, building backlinks, and reaching potential customers takes a lot more effort.
Traditional product directories are one option, but most follow a similar format: submit your logo, write a short description, and get listed alongside hundreds of other products.
I wanted to experiment with something different.
So, I've launched four editorial publishing platforms, each with a different approach to product publishing, discovery, and backlink building.
Here they are!
1. Lede Press – Daily Editorial Product Publishing
Website: https://ledepress.com
Lede Press is a daily editorial publishing platform for startups, SaaS products, AI tools, and indie projects.
Instead of just listing products in a directory, Lede Press gives each published project its own editorial page with product information and a contextual backlink.
The idea is simple: help founders get their products published regularly while building their online presence.
What you get:
- Dedicated editorial product pages.
- Contextual dofollow backlinks on eligible publications.
- Daily product publishing.
- Free and premium publishing options.
- SEO-friendly content and structured information.
2. Hed Press – Give Your Product a Better Introduction
Website: https://hedpress.com
Hed Press focuses on the importance of a good product introduction.
When someone discovers a new product, the first few sentences should explain what it does, who it helps, and why they should care.
That's the idea behind Hed Press.
It focuses on editorial product stories with compelling headlines and strong opening paragraphs, giving founders another way to introduce their products to an online audience.
What you get:
- Dedicated editorial product stories.
- Strong product introductions.
- Contextual dofollow backlinks.
- SEO-focused publishing.
- Free and premium submission options.
- Up to three relaunch opportunities on paid publications.
3. Listed Press – Get Featured in Product Roundups
Website: https://listedpress.com
Sometimes people don't want to discover just one product. They want to explore multiple solutions and compare different options.
Listed Press focuses on curated product roundups and editorial shortlists.
The goal is to make product discovery more useful by presenting relevant tools and solutions through editorial collections.
What you get:
- Curated editorial roundups.
- Product shortlists.
- Dedicated editorial publications.
- Contextual dofollow backlinks.
- Product discovery opportunities.
- Free and premium publishing options.
4. Piece Press – In-Depth Editorial Product Features
Website: https://piecepress.com
Piece Press takes a more detailed approach to editorial publishing.
A short product description isn't always enough to explain what a product does or why someone should use it.
Piece Press focuses on in-depth editorial explainers that give products more room to communicate their features, benefits, and use cases.
What you get:
- In-depth editorial explainers.
- Dedicated product publications.
- Contextual dofollow backlinks.
- Informative, SEO-friendly content.
- Free and premium publishing options.
How Much Does It Cost?
I wanted to keep publishing accessible, especially for early-stage founders and indie hackers.
All four platforms offer free publishing options with applicable website backlink or badge requirements.
For founders who want faster publishing, premium placements are available for $29 per publication.
There are no complicated monthly subscriptions required to publish a product.
Why Did I Build Four Platforms Instead of One?
This is probably the question some people will have.
Why build four separate platforms when I could have added all these publishing formats to one website?
I wanted to experiment with different editorial formats and product discovery experiences.
Each platform has a specific focus:
- Lede Press: Daily editorial product publishing.
- Hed Press: Product storytelling and introductions.
- Listed Press: Curated product roundups.
- Piece Press: In-depth editorial explainers.
Rather than making four identical directories, I wanted to give each platform a distinct publishing identity.
I'm also interested in building a network of small, focused internet businesses that can operate with systems rather than requiring a large team.
These platforms are part of that experiment.
I'd Love Your Feedback!
If you're building a SaaS, AI tool, side project, or indie business, I'd love to know what you think.
Which editorial format do you find most useful?
Would you prefer a dedicated product story, a curated roundup, or an in-depth product feature?
And if you're working on your own product, feel free to check out the platforms and submit it.
Here are all four websites again:
I'm building these independently and would genuinely appreciate feedback from fellow developers, makers, and indie hackers.
Thanks for reading!
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