How a small startup can win its first 100 customers
Your first 100 customers come from people you can reach directly: friends of friends, communities, WhatsApp groups and local businesses. A step-by-step plan.
The first customers are the hardest. Big ads rarely work at this stage. Direct effort does.
Step by step
- List 50 people who have the problem you solve. Start with people you can message today.
- Talk to them one by one. Ask about the problem before you pitch.
- Offer a simple trial or a first-order discount.
- Join the communities where your customers already are: Facebook groups, WhatsApp communities, university societies, trade associations.
- Ask every happy customer for one referral.
- Post useful content on Instagram or LinkedIn that shows how you solve the problem.
Keep track
A simple sheet with name, contact, date, outcome and next step is enough.
Why "doing things that don't scale" works
Personal attention wins early fans, and early fans tell others.
Related
- Product-market fit
- Free and low-cost tools for small startups