Hey everyone,

I’ve built a community-driven deal platform similar to HotUKDeals

Right now, I'm stuck in the classic chicken-and-egg problem:

• Low daily traffic (5-10 visits/day) means barely any deal conversions.
• No conversions means no affiliate revenue to reinvest in ads or visibility.
• Inactivity leads early enthusiastic users to lose interest and bounce.

Competing head-on with established giants by just posting the usual "big brand discounts" feels like a losing game because they already have the network effect.

The New Angle I'm Testing:

Instead of just curating top deals from giant retailers, I’m planning to reserve one "Spotlight Deal" per day specifically for small, emerging online shops, makers, and micro-brands (e.g., indie board game creators, sustainable gadgets, specialty coffee, local brands).

The Win-Win Setup:

1. For the micro-brands: They get a dedicated spotlight (clearly marked as a partner deal to maintain 100% transparency) and exposure to new early adopters, provided they offer a truly great intro discount.
2. For the platform: In exchange for the feature, the brand shares the deal link with their own Instagram/social audience ("Check out our exclusive launch deal on Huchadeals!").
3. For the buyers: They get access to everyday top deals plus a unique opportunity to discover cool brands they wouldn't find on traditional deal sites.

The goal is to leverage their existing small followings to piggyback traffic into my ecosystem, while capturing those visitors through a newsletter/alert channel so they keep coming back.

My Questions for You:

• Has anyone used a similar cross-promotional "spotlight" mechanic to kickstart a two-sided platform or directory?
• What would be the best way to approach these micro-brands via Instagram/DM without coming across as cold spam?
• Any obvious pitfalls with this hybrid approach (curated top deals + 1 daily partner spotlight) that I might be blind to?

Would love to hear your thoughts and feedback!