The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. For a SaaS founder, the journey to a thousand customers begins with one. And then another. And then another. Getting those first ten paying customers is often the hardest part of the entire process. It’s a grind. It’s uncomfortable. But it is the most important validation you can achieve.
This guide provides actionable, no-fluff strategies to help you get those first ten customers.
Strategy 1: Your Personal and Professional Network
This is the lowest hanging fruit. The people who already know you are the most likely to give your product a try. Don’t be shy about reaching out.
- Friends and Family: They might not be your target audience, but they can be your first beta testers. They can help you find bugs and give you honest feedback on the user experience.
- Former Colleagues: These are people who know your work ethic and your skills. Reach out to them on LinkedIn. Explain what you are building and ask if they know anyone who might be a good fit.
- The Key is to Ask for Feedback, Not a Sale. Frame your outreach as a request for help. Say something like, “I’m working on a new product and I really respect your opinion. Would you be willing to take a look and give me some feedback?” People are much more likely to respond to a request for help than a sales pitch.
Strategy 2: Online Communities
Your target audience is already gathered in online communities. You just need to find them and engage with them in an authentic way.
- Find the Right Communities: Look for subreddits, Facebook groups, Slack channels, and forums where your target users hang out. If you are building a tool for writers, look for writing communities. If you are building a tool for developers, find developer forums.
- Provide Value First. This is the golden rule. Do not just show up and post a link to your product. You will be ignored or banned. Instead, become a valuable member of the community. Answer questions. Participate in discussions. Share your knowledge.
- Mention Your Product When It’s Relevant. Once you have established a reputation as a helpful member, you can start to mention your product in a natural way. If someone asks a question that your product solves, you can say, “I’m actually building a tool that helps with that. You can check it out here.”
Strategy 3: Content Marketing (The Seed Stage)
You don’t need a massive blog to get your first customers. You just need a few high-quality pieces of content that solve a specific problem for your target audience.
- Write About Their Pain Points. What are the biggest challenges your target users face? Write a detailed, practical guide that helps them solve one of those problems. For example, if you are building a project management tool for freelancers, you could write an article about how to manage multiple client projects effectively.
- Share Your Content. Post your articles in the online communities you are a part of. Share them on your personal social media accounts. Email them to people in your network who might find them useful.
Strategy 4: Direct Outreach (The Right Way)
Cold email has a bad reputation, but that’s because most people do it wrong. A personalized, thoughtful email to the right person can be very effective.
- Create a Small, Curated List. Don’t just scrape a list of a thousand emails. Instead, spend the time to find 50 people who are a perfect fit for your product.
- Personalize Every Email. Show that you have done your research. Mention their company, their role, or something they have recently posted online. A personalized email is 10 times more effective than a generic template.
- Focus on Their Problem. Don’t start by talking about your product. Start by talking about a problem you believe they have. For example, “I saw on your website that you are using a generic contact form. I’m curious how you are managing your client inquiries.”
Strategy 5: Launch on a Directory
Product directories and communities are a great way to get your first wave of users. These are platforms where people are actively looking for new products.
- Submit Your Product. Find directories that are relevant to your niche. And of course, make sure to add your product to BuildVoyage. It’s a community of founders and early adopters who are eager to try new things.
- Prepare for Your Launch. Have a clear description of your product. Have high-quality screenshots. Be prepared to answer questions and engage with the community on launch day.
Getting your first ten customers is a manual, hands-on process. It’s about building relationships, providing value, and being persistent. There are no shortcuts, but the lessons you learn and the relationships you build will be the foundation of your business for years to come.
Once you have your first customer, start tracking your journey on BuildVoyage. Sharing your progress is a powerful way to attract your next 100 customers.