The short answer
Get your first 100 users by starting with people who already describe the problem, helping them try the product, and repeating the source that brings signups. Keep a list of 10 to 20 likely users and help them before trying to sell.1 A seven-day test can compare two complaint channels using setup calls and signup-source tracking.2
What each source did
- first 100 usersSoham MehtaDM’d people who complained, replied helpfully in niche threads, and personally supported early users.
- 5 free users under 2 monthsAtefehSalahshoorShared honest Reddit posts about building a goal-planning app and replied to comments.
- 100+ visitors a weekFilip PanoskiMessaged people describing the problem, then added helpful comments in Reddit threads.
- approx. 75 customers last springWill KellyDistributed lawn-care door hangers in neighborhoods the business could serve efficiently.
| Who | What they did | Reported result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soham Mehta | DM’d people who complained, replied helpfully in niche threads, and personally supported early users. | He says these tactics got his first 100 users. | 3 |
| AtefehSalahshoor | Shared honest Reddit posts about building a goal-planning app and replied to comments. | She reports 5 free users she did not personally know in under two months, without spending money. | 4 |
| Filip Panoski | Messaged people describing the problem, then added helpful comments in Reddit threads. | He says Reddit DMs brought his first customers and helpful comments brought 100+ visitors a week. | 5 |
| Fomin Unscripted | Made keyword-focused videos showing a flight-reservation workflow before asking viewers to pay. | The creator says three videos drew a little over 50,000 organic views in a month; some viewers clicked through and bought. | 6 |
| Will Kelly | Distributed lawn-care door hangers in neighborhoods the business could serve efficiently. | He says the business signed approximately 75 customers using door hangers last spring. | 7 |
| Yura Riphyak | Preselected likely meetup prospects, contacted them beforehand, and booked demos in person. | He says he booked three demos on the spot at one meetup. | 8 |
Start with people already describing the problem
Soham Mehta, who says he leads growth at a YC startup, reports that short DMs to people who had complained, useful niche replies, and personal support for early users got him his first 100 users.3 Filip Panoski says DMs to people describing the problem on Reddit and X brought his first customers, while helpful Reddit comments brought 100+ visitors a week.5 Use direct outreach to find problem-aware prospects, then add helpful public replies when you want to reach beyond one-to-one conversations.
Help in communities before promoting
AtefehSalahshoor built a goal-planning app alongside a full-time job and a master’s degree, then shared honest Reddit posts and replied to comments; she reports 5 free users she did not know in under two months, without spending money.4 Ordinary-Stuff9826 says three of eight freelance clients came from Discord after giving useful feedback on specific requests before mentioning services, so that result concerns clients rather than product users.9 Answer questions where your intended users already gather, and mention the product only when it directly addresses what they asked.
Show the product working for a prospect
The unnamed creator featured on Fomin Unscripted made three keyword-focused videos showing a flight-reservation workflow; the creator reports a little over 50,000 organic views in a month, with some viewers clicking through and buying.6 Yura Riphyak says he contacted likely prospects before a meetup and booked three demos on the spot; he estimates an evening allows five to ten conversations.8 A searchable walkthrough fits buyers looking for a solution, while a targeted meetup helps when you can identify likely prospects in advance; views and demos are not user counts.
Match the channel to how customers find you
Chris Koerner found search demand for thrift stores and a weak existing resource, then built a focused directory; he says it reached around 30,000 organic monthly visitors within six months.10 Will Kelly says his lawn-care business signed approximately 75 customers using door hangers last spring, and recommends working a neighborhood where the service can be delivered efficiently.7 Use search content when buyers look online for an answer, and concentrated local outreach when customers can be served in a defined area.
Use launches to demonstrate, then measure acquisition
Shantanu R’s review of 50 AI companies says only 5 got their first paying customers primarily through a public launch, with existing trust or product proof more common.11 Tanay Kothari says Wispr Flow focused on developers who share tools and founders who can roll products out to teams; its first launch got millions of views and reached number one on Product Hunt, but he does not report a user count in that post.12 Use a launch to demonstrate the product and find interested prospects, then judge acquisition by the users who sign up or pay.
When this works
- Use direct outreach when prospects already describe the problem and you can personally help them try or set up the product.
- Use search or community content when buyers seek answers there, and local outreach when you can serve a concentrated area.
When to avoid
- Avoid counting views, demos, or visitors as users; measure signups and paid conversions before expanding a channel.
- Do not copy a launch or content tactic without matching it to how your buyers discover and evaluate the product.
Related questions
Can a waitlist help before the product is ready?
Amanda Bradford says her waitlist showed how many women and men were still needed, and people invited friends to earn a spot.13
Can a public post lead to buyer conversations?
Jake Motyl says his post about sororities becoming the next NIL got millions of views and led BodyArmor, Kalshi, and Gymshark to book calls; he does not report that those calls became customers.14
What should I track beyond views?
Will Kelly recommends tracking distribution, incoming contacts, estimates, closed customers, and what it costs to acquire them.7