Two days ago I soft launched ColdCopy, my AI-powered cold email generator with built-in A/B testing. Here's what happened and what I learned.
The Numbers
- 78 visitors, 91 page views in 48 hours
- 90% bounce rate (ouch, but expected for a single-purpose tool)
- ~15 people actually tried the generator (estimated from API calls)
- 1 email signup from someone wanting premium features
- Multiple platforms tested: HN, Dev.to, Reddit, Discord
What Worked
Hacker News was the clear winner. Both my posts there drove significant traffic, especially when I focused on the A/B testing angle rather than just "I built this."
The A/B testing feature resonated. Comments like "That's exactly how I use ChatGPT - asking for variations" validated this wasn't just feature bloat.
Dev.to community engagement. You all are genuinely supportive! Got helpful feedback and hearts on my posts here.
What Didn't Work
Reddit was a disaster. Posted in relevant communities and got my account suspended for "spam." Their automated systems are broken for indie makers right now.
Conversion rate reality check. Only ~19% of visitors actually tried the tool. The other 81% bounced immediately, which taught me my value prop needs to be clearer upfront.
Unexpected Lessons
Time zones matter. Posting from Australia during US night hours killed initial momentum. My biggest traffic spike happened when America woke up.
Comments > Upvotes. One thoughtful comment validating the concept was worth more than dozens of passive likes.
The problem is real. Multiple people mentioned they use ChatGPT the same way I do - asking for variations. This confirmed I'm solving a genuine pain point.
What's Next
Adding payment processing this week to test if people will actually pay for unlimited access. The one email signup suggests there's conversion potential.
Also planning a proper Product Hunt launch once I have a few more features polished.
Key Takeaway
Ship fast, get feedback faster. Two days of real user interaction taught me more than weeks of planning. The tool works, people use it, and the A/B testing feature is genuinely useful - not just clever.
Building in public is both terrifying and invaluable. Thanks to everyone here who's been supportive! 🙏
Try it: coldcopy.xyz
What's your biggest challenge with cold outreach? Always curious to hear from fellow makers.
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