Proven Tactics to Get Your First 100 SaaS Customers

Video Summary

In this video, Rob Walling, a seasoned startup founder, shares his insights on how to get the first 100 customers for a SaaS product.

Key Points

1. Look for advantages like an existing audience or network in your target market before building the product.
2. Build a network of other entrepreneurs through online communities to gain support and insights.
3. Validate your idea by setting up a landing page and capturing email addresses before writing any code.
4. Launch first to your email list to get the initial customers and work out any issues.
5. Employ "scratching and clawing" tactics like Product Hunt, Hacker News, and Q&A sites to acquire the first 100 customers.
6. Price your product based on the value it provides, not just to attract more customers.
7. Retaining customers is just as important as acquiring them, as building a product people want to pay for long-term is the real challenge.

How to Get Your First 100 Customers for Your SaaS Product

As an aspiring SaaS founder, acquiring your first 100 customers is a crucial milestone. In this informative article, we'll dive into the strategies and tactics shared by Rob Walling, a seasoned startup founder with multiple exits, author of three books, and an investor in over 100 companies.

Start with Advantages

The key to getting your first 100 customers begins even before you write the first line of code. Walling emphasizes the importance of looking for advantages you can leverage, such as having an audience or network in the target market. If you have an existing audience or connections, you can build a product to serve that space. However, if you don't have these advantages, don't worry - Walling suggests that building an audience is often time-consuming and not necessary for launching a successful SaaS product.

Build a Network

Whether you have an existing network or not, Walling recommends getting involved in online entrepreneur communities, such as Indie Hackers, MicroConf Connect, or the Dynamite Circle. These communities can help you build relationships with like-minded founders and gain valuable insights as you navigate the early stages of your SaaS journey.

Validate Your Idea with a Landing Page

Before writing a single line of code, Walling advises setting up a landing page to validate your idea and start building an email list of interested customers. By capturing email addresses and engaging in customer development conversations, you can gather valuable feedback and gauge the level of interest in your product, even before it's built.

Launch to Your Email List First

Once you've built the product and are ready to launch, Walling recommends starting with your email list. Give them an exclusive early access or launch offer, allowing you to work out any kinks and get your first 10, 20, or even 50 customers.

"Scratching and Clawing" for Customers

After the initial email list launch, Walling suggests employing a "scratching and clawing" approach to acquire your first 100 customers. This involves leveraging tactics that don't necessarily scale, such as launching on Product Hunt, Hacker News, Reddit, or Q&A sites like Quora and Stack Exchange. These one-time, targeted efforts can help you get those crucial first customers.

Pricing Your Product Correctly

One common mistake Walling highlights is underpricing your SaaS product. He emphasizes that your pricing should be based on the value you're providing, not on attracting a higher volume of low-paying customers. A higher price point can open up more marketing opportunities and help you achieve profitability more quickly.

Retaining Customers is Key

Finally, Walling reminds us that finding 100 customers is only half the battle - retaining them is the real challenge. Building a product that people are willing to pay for month after month requires ongoing effort and iteration. By focusing on customer needs and delivering continuous value, you can ensure that your first 100 customers are just the beginning of a thriving SaaS business.

Overall, Walling's strategies provide a comprehensive roadmap for aspiring SaaS founders looking to acquire their first 100 customers. By leveraging your advantages, building a network, validating your idea, and employing creative customer acquisition tactics, you can set your SaaS business up for long-term success.