How do I get my first users?
Quick Answer
Start with your immediate network, post in relevant online communities, and build in public. Your first 10-100 users should come from personal outreach, not marketing.
Full Explanation
Getting your first users is one of the hardest challenges for new founders, but it's also simpler than most people make it.
The first 10 users: These should come from people you know. Friends, colleagues, social media connections. Reach out personally and ask them to try your app. This isn't scaling-it's learning. Their feedback is more valuable than their usage.
The first 100 users:
- Post in relevant online communities (Reddit, Discord servers, Facebook groups)
- Share your building journey on Twitter/LinkedIn ('building in public')
- Find where your target users gather online and provide genuine value before promoting
- Cold outreach to people who fit your target profile (politely, not spammy)
What doesn't work early:
- Paid advertising (too expensive before you know your messaging)
- SEO (takes months to have impact)
- Viral features (you need a base of users first)
- Hoping people will just find you
Melbourne-specific opportunities:
- Local startup communities and meetups
- Australian founder communities on Discord and Slack
- Co-working spaces and startup events
The uncomfortable truth: Early user acquisition is manual and doesn't scale. That's okay. Do things that don't scale until you understand what resonates, then figure out scalable channels.
Related Questions
How do I validate my app idea before building?
Talk to potential users, build a landing page to gauge interest, and create the simplest possible version to test the core value proposition before investing heavily.
How do I protect my app idea?
Ideas are worth less than execution. Focus on building and launching rather than protecting. If you're worried about competition, move faster-speed is the best protection.
What's an MVP and why does it matter?
MVP (Minimum Viable Product) is the simplest version of your app that lets you test your core idea with real users. It matters because building the wrong thing is the biggest startup risk.
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