How to get your first 10 users?

When starting out, the biggest hurdle we come across in our building journey is how to get those first few customers for our product.

You have an idea, you think it’s great idea and you hit launch but how do you get users to sign-up to your product or service?

Now, you must have heard about products or builders who just shipped their product/ service and got huge number of customers flocking in.

Well, this doesn’t happen usually. You need to a dial a few steps back and see how can your customers get to know what you have built and if that is even valuable for them

So whom and how do you approach these potential customers?

First step is to identify your target audience. Who are you building for?
Do you know these people?

Step 2: Connect with your close networks X/ LinkedIn and message them about your product/ idea[ It could be past colleagues, network of colleagues, your followers or even friends]

Step 3: Remember, it doesn’t always have to be family & friends, unless you are building a solution that solves a pain point which is common across your friends & family.

Step 4: Visualize your customer persona

Step 5: See who in your network fits that customer persona

Step 6: Ask your network to be introduced to their network who fits that customer persona

Step 7: Collect feedback, work on it and ask for more feedback

Step 8: Implement a feedback board using ProductLogz. Get users to share their feedback and make it visible and accessible for everyone else to share their thoughts

This would massively reduce your efforts in building and will direct you into building the right solution[at least a scrappy version of it]

If you are offering a service the best way to start is to offer your service for free. You can again post about these in communities. Give your service for free for a couple of customers in exchange to get some initial feedback & testimonials

But, I have often come across a common problem that makers face:

“Where to find these people or what if I don’t know anyone personally to approach my idea & solution to?”

If you are one who is facing a similar problem, leverage other platform’s audience. But this will only work if you know who you are building for

Follow these steps if you don’t have any personal connections/ network:

1. List your idea in relevant sub reddit groups and ask their feedback or thoughts

2. Make a post on HackerNews. If your post gets a lot of upvotes or comments, you are going in the right direction

3. If you have already launched a scrappy version of your idea, launch on marketplaces like AppSumo, RocketHub or SaasZilla with a life time deal.

4. This one is tricky- Launch on ProductHunt. Don’t think too much and go ahead with the launch. It’s ok if you don’t get voted as number 1 product of the day. You will at least get some feedback or initial set of users

5. Launch your product on relevant FB groups. Approach admins first and ask if you can post about your product/ service to get some feedback

An even better and advanced approach to get your few initial customers:

• Join communities where you see your target users are hanging out( it could be online / offline.

• Show up everyday, contribute to their issues or questions.

• Give value every-time you interact with them.

• Build relationships. Get on a coffee chat and just discuss about what you are working on.

• Share updates as you progress.