17 ways your startup can get its first customer:
1. Comment on the first tweet in this thread (above) with a link to your product.
I'll check out every product that's linked.
If I get decent responses I'll pick the best one and amplify your startup across my network of 10K+ followers.
We'll find you a customer.
I'll check out every product that's linked.
If I get decent responses I'll pick the best one and amplify your startup across my network of 10K+ followers.
We'll find you a customer.
2. Build distribution before launch
Distribution is the new product.
Relevant audiences are more valuable than ever.
If you're in early idea phase, now's the time to develop an audience on twitter that you can then pitch your product to.
Roadmap: twitter -> email list -> sale
Distribution is the new product.
Relevant audiences are more valuable than ever.
If you're in early idea phase, now's the time to develop an audience on twitter that you can then pitch your product to.
Roadmap: twitter -> email list -> sale
3. Twitter DMs
It's insane the caliber of people on twitter that let you send them direct messages.
CEOs, VCs, celebrities and professional athletes.
Find 100 potential customers in your niche and message them.
Make it worth their time and someone will respond.
It's insane the caliber of people on twitter that let you send them direct messages.
CEOs, VCs, celebrities and professional athletes.
Find 100 potential customers in your niche and message them.
Make it worth their time and someone will respond.
4. Find early adopters
Depending on whether your product is B2C or B2B there may be a group of people more open to trying it out.
Tech early adopters hang out on forums, hacker news and work at other startups.
Find lists of VC backed companies and contact them.
Depending on whether your product is B2C or B2B there may be a group of people more open to trying it out.
Tech early adopters hang out on forums, hacker news and work at other startups.
Find lists of VC backed companies and contact them.
5. Join an incubator
Startup incubators come with a built-in network of potential first customers comprised of other startups / alumni.
If you're B2C, there are probably a lot of early adapter types that work at these companies.
Go to their networking events.
Startup incubators come with a built-in network of potential first customers comprised of other startups / alumni.
If you're B2C, there are probably a lot of early adapter types that work at these companies.
Go to their networking events.
6. Investor networks
Similar to the power of an incubator, experienced investors should be able to introduce you to potential customers, or point you in the right direction.
Similar to the power of an incubator, experienced investors should be able to introduce you to potential customers, or point you in the right direction.
7. Friends and family
The obvious choice for mainstream B2C products.
If you can't convince your mom to be your customer maybe your product isn't ready for primetime.
Or your mom doesn't like you.
In all seriousness though, mine your networks of existing contacts.
The obvious choice for mainstream B2C products.
If you can't convince your mom to be your customer maybe your product isn't ready for primetime.
Or your mom doesn't like you.
In all seriousness though, mine your networks of existing contacts.
8. Cold email
If cold email didn't work, I wouldn't get 50 sh*tty emails a day from lame B2B companies.
It works.
Figure out the titles of likely decisionmakers and buy a batch of emails from a lead service, or track them down yourself.
If cold email didn't work, I wouldn't get 50 sh*tty emails a day from lame B2B companies.
It works.
Figure out the titles of likely decisionmakers and buy a batch of emails from a lead service, or track them down yourself.
9. LinkedIn Inmails
Similar to cold emails, LinkedIn Inmails are where bad companies go to die.
The bar is so low here that if you can convey your value proposition clearly, you're doing better than 95% of your competition.
Write like a human and offer something humans want.
Similar to cold emails, LinkedIn Inmails are where bad companies go to die.
The bar is so low here that if you can convey your value proposition clearly, you're doing better than 95% of your competition.
Write like a human and offer something humans want.
10. Industry Events
Depending on your niche, there's probably a slew of related conferences you can go to.
Hang out outside and hand out flyers.
Buy people drinks at the hotel happy hour.
Walk the trade show floor and bump into people on purpose.
Depending on your niche, there's probably a slew of related conferences you can go to.
Hang out outside and hand out flyers.
Buy people drinks at the hotel happy hour.
Walk the trade show floor and bump into people on purpose.
11. Join an entrepreneur community
There are thriving communities of likeminded folks online trying to launch businesses.
Join one of them.
You're apt to find someone on Trends, Indiehackers, ProductHunt etc. willing to try your product.
There are thriving communities of likeminded folks online trying to launch businesses.
Join one of them.
You're apt to find someone on Trends, Indiehackers, ProductHunt etc. willing to try your product.
12. Launch on ProductHunt
ProductHunt is a platform for new companies to launch their products.
Early adopters check it out every day to see what cool stuff humans have cooked up that they can try out.
Getting traction requires real planning and strategy, so do your research.
ProductHunt is a platform for new companies to launch their products.
Early adopters check it out every day to see what cool stuff humans have cooked up that they can try out.
Getting traction requires real planning and strategy, so do your research.
13. Pitch your competitors' customers
Most B2B companies showcase testimonials from existing customers.
Reach out to these chatty customers and tell them you have a better solution and they can try it for free.
You'll even stop by their office and install it yourself.
Most B2B companies showcase testimonials from existing customers.
Reach out to these chatty customers and tell them you have a better solution and they can try it for free.
You'll even stop by their office and install it yourself.
14. Guest blogging
This sounds super lame but can be powerful.
Find blogs that cover your space and pitch them articles.
Come up with 2-3 ideas that would add value for their audience and pitch them via cold email.
This sounds super lame but can be powerful.
Find blogs that cover your space and pitch them articles.
Come up with 2-3 ideas that would add value for their audience and pitch them via cold email.
15. Google Ads
Google is a magical internet wishing well where people show up and say "Give me X product or service."
If you can't get a customer from paid google ads, give up.
Unless your product is so unique that no one in the world has thought to search for it.
It's not.
Google is a magical internet wishing well where people show up and say "Give me X product or service."
If you can't get a customer from paid google ads, give up.
Unless your product is so unique that no one in the world has thought to search for it.
It's not.
16. Product review blogs
Product review and comparison sites are big business.
Most of them are driven by affiliate revenues, meaning, they review your product in the hopes someone clicks through and buys.
Cobble together basic sales tracking and get in the game.
Product review and comparison sites are big business.
Most of them are driven by affiliate revenues, meaning, they review your product in the hopes someone clicks through and buys.
Cobble together basic sales tracking and get in the game.
17. Give something away for free
The B2B freemium model works.
For B2C, is there something cheap you can offer your target demo?
- Newsletter
- Free guide
- Try to buy
The B2B freemium model works.
For B2C, is there something cheap you can offer your target demo?
- Newsletter
- Free guide
- Try to buy
That's it for now.
If you found this useful please retweet the first tweet because others might too.
If you're looking for your first customer, don't forget to comment on the first tweet in this thread.
Follow me at @bbourque for more threads like this.
If you found this useful please retweet the first tweet because others might too.
If you're looking for your first customer, don't forget to comment on the first tweet in this thread.
Follow me at @bbourque for more threads like this.
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