You’ve built your MVP. It’s out there in the world—scrappy, functional, and just good enough to test whether people actually want what you’ve created. Now comes the part that separates builders from true founders: distribution.
Because here’s the truth nobody tells you early on: even the best product means nothing if no one uses it. And in the beginning, you don’t have marketing teams, brand equity, or ad budgets. You have hustle, honesty, and creativity. That’s more than enough.
Start by Talking to Humans
At this stage, forget automation. Forget viral growth. Your first users won’t come through a polished sales funnel—they’ll come through conversations.
Start by reaching out to people who fit your target audience. Friends, peers, college groups, LinkedIn connections, niche online communities—anyone who might benefit from your solution. Don’t pitch. Talk. Ask about their pain points. If your product genuinely helps, they’ll want to try it.
You’re not just building a user base here—you’re building trust and insight. Each conversation gives you clues. Each “yes” gives you momentum.
Leverage Where Your Audience Already Hangs Out
Instead of trying to create your own audience, go where your users already exist. That might be a subreddit, a WhatsApp group, a Discord server, a LinkedIn hashtag, or a niche forum.
Join those spaces—not to spam your link, but to genuinely contribute. Answer questions, offer value, and then share your product when it makes sense. People trust products that come from people who care.
This is slow, yes—but it’s incredibly effective. Ten highly engaged users are worth more than a hundred passive clicks.
Use Scarcity and Personalization to Your Advantage
In the early days, one of your greatest assets is how personal you can be. Big companies can’t do this, but you can.
DM someone saying, “Hey, I’m building something small that might help with [their problem]. Want early access?” People love being early adopters—especially if they feel seen.
If you’re running a waitlist or newsletter, mention that spots are limited. People value what feels exclusive. Even if you have ten users, make those ten feel like insiders.
Document Everything, Publicly
One of the best organic ways to attract users is by sharing your journey. Whether it’s Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram Stories, or a blog—build in public.
Talk about the idea. The launch. The mistakes. The lessons. Post screenshots, updates, questions. People love following authentic builders, and eventually, they’ll want to support what you’re creating.
You’re not just marketing you
r product—you’re building a brand around you, the founder.
Don’t Obsess Over Virality—Obsess Over Usefulness
You don’t need a viral launch. You need users who care. One user who uses your product every day is more valuable than fifty who sign up and vanish. Focus on making your product genuinely useful, not just “cool.”
Keep checking in with your first users. Ask what’s confusing, what they wish worked better, what they love. Those insights are more valuable than any data dashboard.
The First 100 Are the Hardest—and Most Important
These users aren’t just your early adopters. They’re your future testimonials, your referrers, your community. Treat them like partners, not just numbers.
Most successful startups didn’t explode overnight. They grew user by user, conversation by conversation, improving with every step. That’s your path too.
Coming Up Next: Funding Your Startup – Do You Even Need Investors?
You’ve got users. Maybe even some early traction. So now you’re thinking: should I raise money? In the next post, we’ll explore when to bootstrap, when to seek funding, and how to know what your startup truly needs.
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