How To Get Your First 100 Customers

Andrew Pierno

Dec 28, 2022 • 18 min read

ok ok, so if you're reading this starting from zero, this might feel like looking up at Everest and wondering how you're going to get to basecamp. There are a metric ton of different ways to get your first customers for your startup. There is no best approach, only well defined experiments. Try some of these, get some data, ditch the things that don't feel right or don't work and double down on the ones that do.

And after all that if it's still only paid ads that are doing the trick, then so be it!

Start Here:

Identifying and targeting a specific niche or segment of the market that is likely to be interested in your product or service. Get narrow. The narrower the better!
Leveraging your existing network and connections. Hustling your friends is a perfectly natural place to start. dont be shy about asking for referrals, etc. By leveraging your existing network, you can quickly get in front of potential customers and start building relationships.
Offering discounts, promotions, or other incentives to attract early adopters and generate buzz. People say not to compete on price, but at the start, sometimes that's exactly what you should o! By offering special deals or promotions, you can incentivize potential customers to try your product or service and generate positive word-of-mouth. Yes churn might be higher at first but that's okay! This can help you build a customer base and generate revenue from early adopters.
Participating in relevant events, conferences, or trade shows, and networking with potential customers. Networking is a lame term but you get it. You need to get out there and get in front of people one way or another.

In short, there are many ways to get your first customers for your startup, and the best approach will depend on how much hustle you have. By identifying and targeting a specific niche (like super specific), leveraging your existing network, offering incentives, and participating in relevant events, you can generate leads and start building a customer base for your startup.

How can I use giveaways to get more customers?

Giveaways can be a darn effective way to generate leads and acquire more customers for your business. Here are some potential strategies for using giveaways to get more customers:

Offer a giveaway or contest that requires participants to follow your business on social media or sign up for your email list. By requiring participants to take these actions, you can generate leads and build your email list or social media following.
Make the giveaway or contest relevant to your target audience and your business. For example, if you sell outdoor gear, you might offer a giveaway for a hiking or camping package. This can help attract potential customers who are interested in your product or service, and increase the chances of them becoming actual customers.
Use the giveaway or contest to promote your business and create buzz. For example, you might announce the giveaway on social media, in your email newsletter, or on your website, and encourage participants to share it with their friends and followers. This can help generate more leads and exposure for your business.
Follow up with participants and potential customers after the giveaway or contest. Once the giveaway or contest is over, you can follow up with participants and potential customers to thank them for their interest and offer them additional information or incentives to become customers. This can help convert leads into actual customers and generate revenue for your business.

Overall, giveaways can be a pretty sweet way to generate leads and acquire more customers for your business. By making the giveaway relevant to your target audience, promoting it effectively, and following up with participants, you can increase your chances of success and grow your customer base.

What are some ways I can use LinkedIn to get more customers?

LinkedIn is a monstrosity of a platform for businesses looking to generate leads and acquire more customers. Here are some potential strategies for using LinkedIn to get more customers:

Optimize your LinkedIn profile to showcase your business and its products or services. Your LinkedIn profile should include a clear and compelling description of your business, as well as information about your products or services, customer testimonials, and contact information. By making your profile as informative and engaging as possible, you can increase the chances of it being seen and shared by potential customers.
Connect with potential customers and build relationships on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a great platform for networking and building relationships with potential customers. You can use LinkedIn to connect with people in your target audience, engage with their content, and share your own content to build your reputation and generate leads.
Use LinkedIn's paid advertising and sponsored content features to reach potential customers. LinkedIn offers a range of paid advertising and sponsored content options that can help you reach potential customers and generate leads. You can target your ads and sponsored content to specific audiences and demographics, and track the performance of your campaigns to see how they are performing.
Participate in relevant LinkedIn groups and communities to build your reputation and generate leads. LinkedIn has a wide variety of groups and communities focused on specific industries, interests, and topics. By participating in these groups and communities, you can build your reputation as an expert in your field and generate leads from potential customers

What are some ways I can use Twitter to get more customers?

Twitter, despite the recent faux pas, is still in my opinion an underrated way for businesses to generate leads and acquire more customers. Try some of these strategies for using Twitter to get more customers:

Optimize your Twitter profile to showcase your business and its products or services. Your Twitter profile should include a clear and compelling description of your business, as well as information about your products or services, customer testimonials, and contact information. By making your profile as informative and engaging as possible, you can increase the chances of it being seen and shared by potential customers.
Connect with potential customers and build relationships on Twitter. Twitter is a great platform for networking and building relationships with potential customers. You can use Twitter to connect with people in your target audience, engage with their content, and share your own content to build your reputation and generate leads.
Use Twitter's paid advertising and sponsored content features to reach potential customers. Twitter offers a range of paid advertising and sponsored content options that can help you reach potential customers and generate leads. You can target your ads and sponsored content to specific audiences and demographics, and track the performance of your campaigns to see how they are performing.
Participate in relevant Twitter chats and communities to build your reputation and generate leads. Twitter has a wide variety of chats and communities focused on specific industries, interests, and topics. By participating in these chats and communities, you can build your reputation as an expert in your field and generate leads from potential customers.

Overall, Twitter is a powerful platform for businesses looking to generate leads and acquire more customers. By optimizing your profile, building relationships, using paid advertising and sponsored content, and participating in relevant chats and communities

What are some ways I can use cold email to get more customers?

Cold emailing is a common strategy for businesses looking to generate leads and acquire more customers. Here are some potential strategies for using cold email to get more customers:

Identify and target a specific audience or segment of the market that is likely to be interested in your product or service. By focusing your efforts on a specific group of potential customers, you can increase the chances of your message being read and responded to, and ultimately generate more leads and revenue.
Craft a compelling and personalized subject line and message that will grab the attention of potential customers. Your cold email should include a subject line that is interesting and relevant to your target audience, and a message that is personalized, engaging, and value-focused. By making your email as compelling and relevant as possible, you can increase the chances of it being read and responded to.
Use a reputable and reliable email delivery service to ensure that your cold emails are delivered and not marked as spam. There are many email delivery services available that can help you send cold emails to potential customers without getting flagged as spam. These services can also provide insights and analytics into the performance of your cold email campaigns.
Follow up with potential customers after sending your cold email. Once you have sent your cold email, you should follow up with potential customers to see if they are interested in your product or service. This can include sending additional emails, scheduling a call or meeting, or offering additional information or incentives. By following up with potential customers, you can increase the chances of converting them into actual customers.

Overall, cold emailing can be an effective strategy for businesses looking to generate leads and acquire more customers. By targeting the right audience, crafting a compelling and personalized message, using a reputable email delivery service, and following up with potential customers, you can increase your chances of success with cold emailing.

How about Reddit?

Reddit is a popular online platform that can be a valuable resource for businesses looking to generate leads and acquire more customers. Here are some potential strategies for using Reddit to get more customers:

Identify and target relevant Reddit communities and subreddits that are likely to be interested in your product or service. Reddit is organized into thousands of communities and subreddits focused on specific industries, interests, and topics. By targeting your efforts on relevant communities and subreddits, you can increase the chances of your message being seen and heard by potential customers.
Engage with Reddit users in a genuine and authentic way. Reddit users are savvy and can spot spam and marketing messages from a mile away. To be successful on Reddit, you need to engage with users in a genuine and authentic way, and provide value and insights that are relevant and interesting to them. By building relationships and credibility on Reddit, you can increase the chances of generating leads and acquiring customers.
Use Reddit's paid advertising and sponsored content features to reach potential customers. Reddit offers a range of paid advertising and sponsored content options that can help you reach potential customers and generate leads. You can target your ads and sponsored content to specific communities and subreddits, and track the performance of your campaigns to see how they are performing.
Follow Reddit's rules and guidelines, and be respectful and considerate of other users. Reddit has a strict set of rules and guidelines that all users must follow. To be successful on Reddit, you need to respect these rules and guidelines, and be respectful and considerate of other users. By following Reddit's rules and being a good member of the community, you can build trust and credibility with potential customers.

Overall, Reddit can be a valuable resource for businesses looking to generate leads and acquire more customers. By targeting relevant communities and subreddits, engaging with users in a genuine and authentic way, using paid advertising and sponsored content, and following Reddit's rules and guidelines.

How do people use TikTok to get more customers?

TikTok is a popular social media platform that can be a valuable resource for businesses looking to generate leads and acquire more customers. Here are some potential strategies for using TikTok to get more customers:

Identify and target a specific audience or segment of the market that is likely to be interested in your product or service. TikTok has a diverse and global user base, and there are likely to be users on the platform who are interested in your product or service. By targeting your efforts on a specific group of potential customers, you can increase the chances of your content being seen and heard, and ultimately generate more leads and revenue.
Create engaging and entertaining TikTok videos that showcase your product or service. TikTok is all about creating and sharing short, engaging, and entertaining videos. To be successful on TikTok, you need to create videos that are relevant, interesting, and value-focused. You can use TikTok's editing and special effects tools to create videos that are eye-catching and engaging, and include information about your product or service.
Use hashtags and challenges to increase the visibility and reach of your TikTok videos. TikTok uses hashtags and challenges to organize and discover content on the platform. By using relevant hashtags and participating in popular challenges, you can increase the visibility and reach of your TikTok videos, and generate more leads and exposure for your business.
Engage with other TikTok users and build relationships on the platform. TikTok is a social platform, and building relationships with other users is key to success on the platform. You can use TikTok's features, such as commenting, liking, and sharing, to engage with other users and build relationships with potential customers. By engaging with other users and building relationships, you can increase the chances of generating leads and acquiring customers.

Overall, TikTok is a valuable resource for businesses looking to generate leads and acquire more customers.

What are some hacky ways to get more customers?

It is not recommended to use "hacky" or unethical methods to get more customers for your business. These methods may be tempting because they might provide quick results, but they can also damage your reputation and harm your business in the long run.

Instead of using hacky or unethical methods, it is better to focus on building a strong and reputable brand, and using legitimate and ethical marketing and sales strategies to attract and retain customers. Some potential strategies for acquiring more customers in an ethical and legitimate way might include:

Identifying and targeting a specific audience or segment of the market that is likely to be interested in your product or service. By focusing your efforts on a specific group of potential customers, you can increase the chances of your message being seen and heard, and ultimately generate more leads and revenue.
Providing value and solving problems for potential customers. Instead of focusing on selling your product or service, focus on providing value and solving problems for potential customers. This can include offering valuable content, insights, or resources that are relevant and useful to your target audience. By providing value, you can build trust and credibility with potential customers and increase the chances of them becoming actual customers.
Using social media, email marketing, and other digital channels to connect with potential customers. There are many digital channels and tools that you can use to connect with potential customers and generate leads. These channels can include social media, email marketing, search engine optimization, and paid advertising. By using these channels effectively, you can reach potential customers and generate leads in a legitimate and ethical way.

Overall, it is not recommended to use hacky or unethical methods to get more customers for your business. Instead, focus on building a strong and reputable brand, and using legitimate and ethical marketing and sales strategies to attract and retain customers.

What are some novel ways I can attract attention for my startup?

There are many creative and novel ways that you can attract attention for your startup. Some potential strategies might include:

Creating an engaging and unique brand and visual identity. Your brand and visual identity are key components of your startup's identity, and can help you stand out from the competition. By creating a unique and engaging brand and visual identity, you can differentiate your startup from others and attract attention from potential customers and investors.
Developing a compelling and differentiated value proposition. Your value proposition is the unique value that your startup offers to customers. By developing a compelling and differentiated value proposition, you can attract attention and interest from potential customers and investors.
Participating in startup events, conferences, and competitions. There are many events, conferences, and competitions that are specifically designed for startups and entrepreneurs. By participating in these events, you can showcase your startup to potential customers, investors, and media, and generate buzz and attention for your business.
Leveraging social media and digital channels to share your story and build your audience. Social media and digital channels are powerful tools for startups looking to attract attention and build their audience. By using these channels effectively, you can share your story, showcase your products or services, and engage with potential customers and investors.

Overall, there are many creative and novel ways to attract attention for your startup. By developing a unique and engaging brand, creating a compelling value proposition, participating in startup events, and leveraging social media and digital channels, you can increase the visibility and exposure of your startup and attract attention from potential customers and investors.

Let's take a look at a couple well known startups and learn how they got their first customers?

How did AirBnb get their first customers?

Airbnb, the popular online platform for booking and renting vacation homes, faced many challenges when it was first starting out. In its early days, Airbnb struggled to attract customers and grow its platform.

One of the key strategies that Airbnb used to attract its first customers was to tap into existing networks and communities. For example, Airbnb co-founder Brian Chesky used his personal network of friends, family, and acquaintances to sign up as hosts and renters on the platform. This helped to quickly populate the platform with listings and users, and generated buzz and exposure for Airbnb.

Another key strategy that Airbnb used to attract its first customers was to focus on creating a high-quality and user-friendly platform. Airbnb invested heavily in design and user experience, and worked to create a platform that was easy to use and provided a seamless and enjoyable experience for users. This helped to attract and retain customers, and helped Airbnb grow and expand its platform.

Overall, Airbnb used a combination of tapping into existing networks and communities, and focusing on creating a high-quality and user-friendly platform, to attract its first customers and grow its business.

How did Uber get their first customers?

Uber, the popular ride-sharing and transportation platform, faced many challenges when it was first starting out. In its early days, Uber struggled to attract customers and grow its platform.

One of the key strategies that Uber used to attract its first customers was to offer promotions and incentives to encourage people to use the platform. For example, Uber offered free rides to users who signed up and referred friends to the platform. This helped to generate buzz and interest in Uber, and attracted new users to the platform.

Another key strategy that Uber used to attract its first customers was to focus on creating a high-quality and user-friendly platform. Uber invested heavily in design and user experience, and worked to create a platform that was easy to use and provided a seamless and enjoyable experience for users. This helped to attract and retain customers, and helped Uber grow and expand its platform.

Overall, Uber used a combination of promotions and incentives, and a focus on creating a high-quality and user-friendly platform, to attract its first customers and grow its business.

What about SEO?

There are several ways that you can use search engine optimization (SEO) to get more customers for your business. Some of the key strategies for using SEO to attract customers include:

Optimize your website for search engines: The first step in using SEO to attract customers is to optimize your website for search engines. This involves making sure that your website is structured in a way that is easy for search engines to crawl and index, and that it includes keywords and phrases that are relevant to your business and the products or services you offer.
Create high-quality content: In addition to optimizing your website for search engines, you should also focus on creating high-quality content that is relevant to your target audience. This can include blog posts, articles, videos, and other types of content that provide value to your audience and help to establish your business as an authority in your industry.
Build backlinks: Another important aspect of SEO is building backlinks, or links from other websites to your own. These links help to improve your website's search engine rankings, and can also drive referral traffic to your site. To build backlinks, you can focus on creating high-quality content that is likely to be shared and linked to by other websites.
Monitor and analyze your performance: Finally, to effectively use SEO to attract customers, you should monitor and analyze your performance on a regular basis. This can help you to identify areas where you are performing well, as well as areas where you can improve. By monitoring and analyzing your performance, you can continually improve your SEO efforts and get more customers for your business.

How can I use a community to grow my business?

Building and engaging with a community can be a powerful way to grow your business. Some of the key ways that you can use a community to grow your business include:

Provide value: The most important aspect of building a community is to provide value to its members. This can include sharing relevant and useful information, providing support and guidance, and offering exclusive content or benefits that are only available to members of the community. By providing value to your community, you can build trust and loyalty among its members.
Listen to feedback: Another key way to use a community to grow your business is to listen to feedback from its members. By engaging with your community and paying attention to their thoughts, opinions, and suggestions, you can gain valuable insights into what your audience wants and needs. This can help you to improve your products and services, and to better meet the needs of your target audience.
Collaborate and partner: In addition to listening to feedback, you can also use your community to collaborate and partner with other businesses and organizations. This can include forming strategic partnerships, co-creating content or products, or collaborating on events or promotions. By collaborating and partnering with others, you can expand your reach and build relationships with new customers and partners.
Leverage your community to generate leads: Finally, you can also use your community to generate leads for your business. This can involve using your community to promote your products or services, or to gather information about potential customers who are interested in what you have to offer. By leveraging your community to generate leads, you can grow your customer base and increase your revenue.

Try some affiliate marketing

Affiliates can be a powerful tool for growing your business. Some of the key ways that you can use affiliates to grow your business include:

Offer a high-quality affiliate program: The first step in using affiliates to grow your business is to offer a high-quality affiliate program. This should include attractive commission rates, a user-friendly affiliate dashboard, and a range of marketing materials and resources that affiliates can use to promote your products or services.
Recruit and onboard affiliates: Once you have a high-quality affiliate program in place, the next step is to recruit and onboard affiliates who are interested in promoting your products or services. This can involve reaching out to potential affiliates, providing them with information about your program, and answering any questions they may have.
Provide support and resources: To help your affiliates succeed, it's important to provide them with ongoing support and resources. This can include providing access to marketing materials, offering training and support, and answering any questions they may have. By providing support and resources to your affiliates, you can help them to effectively promote your products or services and generate more sales.
Track and measure your results: Finally, to effectively use affiliates to grow your business, you should track and measure your results. This can help you to identify which affiliates are performing well and generating the most sales, and to adjust your strategy accordingly. By tracking and measuring your results, you can continually improve your affiliate program and maximize its impact on your business growth.

Do ads still works to get customers?

Ads can be an effective way to get customers for your business. However, it is important to remember that the success of your ad campaigns will depend on many factors, including the quality and relevance of your ads, the targeting and placement of your ads, and the overall effectiveness of your ad strategy.

To maximize the chances of success with your ad campaigns, it is important to:

Develop high-quality and relevant ads that will resonate with your target audience. Your ads should be well-designed, engaging, and informative, and should clearly communicate the value and benefits of your product or service.
Use targeting and placement strategies that will reach the right people at the right time. By targeting your ads to specific audiences and demographics, and placing your ads in the right locations, you can increase the chances of your ads being seen and responded to by potential customers.
Continuously monitor and optimize your ad campaigns to maximize their performance. By tracking the performance of your ad campaigns, you can identify which ads are performing well and which are not, and make adjustments to improve their performance.

Overall, ads can be an effective way to get customers for your business. By developing high-quality and relevant ads, using targeting and placement strategies, and continuously monitoring and optimizing your campaigns, you can increase the chances of success with your ad campaigns.

What is engineering as marketing?

Engineering as marketing is a strategy that involves using engineering and technology to create marketing experiences and campaigns that engage and delight customers. They're often free micro-sites or tools that do one thing for free. This can include using technology to create interactive, personalized, and immersive marketing experiences, or to develop new products or features that are specifically designed to improve the customer experience. By using engineering as marketing, companies can create unique and engaging marketing campaigns that differentiate themselves from their competitors and drive customer loyalty and engagement.

How do I know if my startup idea is bad or if my marketing just isn't working?

It can be difficult to determine whether your startup idea is bad or if your marketing is just not working. Here are some potential signs that your startup idea may be bad:

Lack of customer interest or demand for your product or service. If your startup is not generating interest or demand from potential customers, it may be a sign that your idea is not viable or that there is not a need for your product or service in the market.
Lack of traction or growth for your startup. If your startup is not gaining traction or growing, it may be a sign that your idea is not resonating with customers or that there are barriers to adoption or growth.
High levels of competition or market saturation. If your startup is facing high levels of competition or market saturation, it may be a sign that your idea is not unique or differentiated, and that it may be difficult to succeed in the market.

On the other hand, if your marketing is not working, it may be a sign that you need to adjust your marketing strategy or tactics. Some potential signs that your marketing may not be working include:

Lack of engagement or response to your marketing efforts. If your marketing efforts are not generating engagement or response from potential customers, it may be a sign that your marketing is not effective or relevant.
Low levels of conversion or sales from your marketing efforts. If your marketing efforts are not generating conversions or sales, it may be a sign that your marketing is not compelling or effective at driving action from potential customers.
High levels of ad spend or cost per acquisition. If your marketing efforts are requiring high levels of ad spend or resulting in a high cost per acquisition, it may be a sign that your marketing is not efficient or cost-effective.

Overall, it can be difficult to determine whether your startup idea is bad or if your marketing is just not working. By closely monitoring key metrics and indicators, such as customer interest, traction, competition, engagement, conversion, and cost per acquisition, you can better understand the performance and potential of your startup and your marketing efforts.