How to Get Your First Users Without Spending on Ads (Fr)
✅ What You’ll Get in This Playbook:
✔️ Where to find your first users (so you stop guessing).
✔️ What content actually attracts customers (with examples).
✔️ Cold outreach scripts that get responses (without being salesy).
✔️ A checklist to turn early users into growth engines.
Most SaaS founders struggle to get early users. They build, launch… and nothing happens.
Why? Because getting your first 10–50 users isn’t about luck, it’s about having a system.
This framework gives you a step-by-step playbook to attract early adopters without relying on paid ads. It’s packed with real-world case studies, outreach templates, and quick wins you can use today to start getting traction.
Start with knowing your user(Marketing is not random!)
Not all SaaS users are at the same stage. If you target the wrong ones, your efforts will fail. So make sure you set the expectations right.
The 3 Types of Potential Users & How to Find Them
  • Problem-Unaware (Don’t know they have a problem)
  • Where to find them: General business forums, YouTube, blogs.
  • How to reach them: Educational content, storytelling posts.
  • Best format: “Here’s why [industry problem] is killing your productivity.”
  • Problem-Aware (Know the problem, but don’t know solutions)
  • Where to find them: Reddit, LinkedIn, Indie Hackers.
  • How to reach them: Engage in pain-point discussions, provide insights.
  • Best format: “Struggling with [problem]? Here’s what worked for me.”
  • Solution-Aware (Looking for a tool like yours)
  • Where to find them: Review sites, competitor communities, Twitter
  • How to reach them: Direct outreach, competitor comparison content.
  • Best format: “We tested [competitor], here’s what we do differently.”
📌 Quick Win: Identify which stage your users are in and adjust your outreach accordingly.
Step 1: Find Your First Users (Where They Already Are)
The #1 mistake founders make? Trying to "create" demand instead of tapping into existing conversations.
Instead of launching and waiting, go where users are already discussing their problems.
Where to Look:
✅ Reddit → Search for:
  • "How do I solve [problem]?"
  • "Best tool for [use case]?"
  • "Has anyone tried [competitor]?"
✅ Twitter & LinkedIn → Engage with:
  • People posting about pain points your product solves.
  • Commenters on competitor or industry leader posts.
✅ Slack & Discord → Join niche communities:
  • Engage by answering questions first, don’t pitch immediately.
Case Study: How a Founder Got 23 Beta Users from Reddit
🔹 A B2B SaaS founder searched for posts where people were struggling with automation issues.
🔹 He commented with useful advice and casually mentioned his product.
🔹 23 people DM’d him, asking for early access—all before launch.

My Word: I have closed deals worth more than 10k$ straight from reddit, from posting, prospecting and outreach. Within the first three days I actually landed a 3k$ client for my service without spending a dime on advertising!

social media has people who are Alive, Willing to pay, Looking for a solution!
✅ Quick Win: Find 10 real discussions about your problem today. Comment with insights (not a pitch).
An example of us, finding the target audience for our products and service!

Early Users & Engagement Checklist (B2B & B2C):
  • Defined target user persona(s).
  • Joined relevant communities (forums, groups, etc.).
  • Made helpful contributions before promoting.
  • Leveraged personal network contacts.
  • Reached out in those communities with a value-first approach.
  • Created a beta sign-up or landing page for interested people.
  • Followed up with contacts and kept track.
Step 2: Create Content That Attracts Users (Instead of Spamming Them)
Most founders post about their product and get no engagement.
The fix? Post about user pain points first, product later.
Proven Content Formats That Get Users’ Attention:
✅ “I failed at X, here’s what I learned” → Personal insights drive engagement.
✅ “Struggling with [problem]? Here’s how I fixed it” → Offers quick wins.
✅ “We tested [competitor], here’s what we do differently” → Sparks curiosity.
✅ “How we got [X users] in [Y days]” → Case studies attract interest.
Case Study: How One Founder Got 50+ DMs from a Single Post
🔹 A SaaS founder shared a LinkedIn post about how he struggled with churn and what he did to fix it.
🔹 It went semi-viral (over 10K views) because it was story-driven, not promotional.
🔹 50+ people DMed him, many asking how his SaaS handled churn.
Quick Win: Write one post today using these formats. Track responses.
Visual Idea: A Twitter or LinkedIn post mockup with strong engagement.
Example of replies we get for our content! - such conversations are really important as it connects you to many more amazing people who are having the problem that you solve.

Content Strategy Checklist:
  • Brainstormed and listed key topics/questions of target users.
  • Published first value-packed blog post or article.
  • Shared content on social platforms and communities.
  • Optimized content for SEO (basic keyword targeting).
  • Started building an email list (newsletter or lead magnet).
  • Engaged with everyone who interacts with content.
  • Planned a content calendar (consistent schedule).
Step 3: Use Cold Outreach That Gets Replies (Without Sounding Salesy)
The problem? Most cold DMs & emails sound like spam.
✅ Fix: Keep it short, personal, and about their problem.
Best Cold Outreach Formula:
Cold DM Template (for Twitter/LinkedIn/Reddit):
"Hey [Name], saw your post about [problem]. I’m working on something that might help. Curious—how are you solving it now?"
Cold Email Template (for B2B outreach):
📩 Subject: Quick question about [problem]
"Hey [Name], I saw that [their company] has been working on [specific challenge]. We built [solution] that’s helped companies like [example] reduce [pain point] by [X%].
Would love to share insights—would a 10-min chat be helpful?"
Case Study: A Founder Who Got 5 Paying Users in 7 Days
🔹 Sent 30 well-crafted LinkedIn DMs to people engaging in posts about his problem space.
🔹 10 replied, 5 converted to paying beta customers.
🔹 Key? Messages were short, personalized, and focused on the user's pain.
✅ Quick Win: Send 5 targeted DMs today using this template. Track responses.
Cold Outreach Checklist:
  • Built a list of prospects with contact info.
  • Wrote personalized cold email templates (problem-focus, compliment, etc.).
  • Kept cold emails short, clear, and friendly.
  • Sent out initial batch and tracked results (opens, replies).
  • Scheduled follow-ups for no responses.
  • Responded quickly and helpfully to any replies.
  • Continually refined messaging based on feedback.
Bonus Outreach tips:
Cold Outreach Formulas for SaaS]
Each product has a different user persona, find and use the one that fits the best. While marketing products always test every possibility before coming to a conclusion, because you never know what might work well for you!
1. Problem-Based DM (For Twitter/LinkedIn/Reddit)
“Hey [Name], noticed you’re working on [problem]. We’ve built [solution] to help teams like yours [specific benefit]. Curious—what’s your current approach?”
2. Pain-Point Cold Email (For B2B SaaS Outreach)
Subject: Quick question about [problem]
_"Hey [Name], I saw [company] is focused on [specific challenge]. We helped [similar company] cut [pain point] by [X%] with [solution].
Would love to share insights—would a quick 10-min chat be helpful?"_
3. Social Proof DM (For SaaS Founders & Decision-Makers)
“Hey [Name], we helped [competitor/similar company] improve [specific metric] by [X%] using [solution]. Think this could be relevant for [company]?”
4. Case Study Cold Email (For High-Ticket SaaS Sales)
Subject: How [company name] improved [metric] by [X%]
_"Hey [Name], we recently helped [similar company] [achieve a specific result] with [solution].
Would love to share what worked—interested in a quick call?"_
5. Competitor Comparison DM (For Stealing Market Share)
“Hey [Name], saw you’re using [competitor]. Many of our users switched to [your SaaS] and saw [specific benefit]. Open to a quick chat?”
6. Time-Sensitive Offer Cold Email (For Driving Urgency)
Subject: Exclusive early access for [company]
_"Hey [Name], we’re rolling out [solution] to a select group of [target industry] teams before our full launch.
Since [company] is working on [problem], I wanted to extend early access—interested?"_
7. Feature-Based DM (For New Product Awareness)
“Hey [Name], we just launched [feature] that helps [target audience] with [specific challenge]. Would love your feedback—want to try it out?”
8. Referral-Based Email (For Leveraging Existing Users)
Subject: [Mutual contact] suggested I reach out
_"Hey [Name], [mutual connection] mentioned that [company] is focused on [problem].
We’ve helped [similar company] with [solution]—would love to share insights. Open to a quick chat?”_
9. Free Trial/No-Risk Offer DM (For Low-Friction Onboarding)
“Hey [Name], we’re offering [X days] of [your SaaS] free to teams solving [problem]. Want early access?”
10. Data-Driven Cold Email (For SaaS with Measurable Impact)
Subject: How [company] can boost [metric] by [X%]
_"Hey [Name], based on our data, companies like [their industry] lose [X] due to [pain point].
[Solution] helps reduce that by [X%]—want to see how?"_
Step 4: Turn Users Into a Growth Engine (Referral & Expansion)
Your first users can become your best marketers—if you set up the right system.
✅ How to Get Users to Bring More Users:
Referral System: “Invite 3 friends, unlock [exclusive feature].”
Feature Early Users: Share success stories publicly (they’ll share too).
Engage Personally: DM early users & ask, “What would make this better for you?”
📝 Case Study: The SaaS That 5X’d Growth with a Referral Hook
🔹 A founder offered a 1-month free trial extension to users who referred 3 friends.
🔹 30% of new users came from referrals.
🔹 Key? The incentive was tied to something valuable (free access).
✅ Quick Win: Add a simple referral incentive today. Announce it to existing users.
Referral & Viral Loop Checklist:
  • Decided on referral incentive (and it’s enticing).
  • Set up unique referral links or codes for users. (if needed)
  • Double-sided reward in place (benefits both referrer & friend).
  • Added in-app referral prompts at key moments.
  • Ensured sharing is easy (one-click, pre-filled messages).
  • Communicated referrals (email or dashboard updates).
  • Measured referral uptake and adjusted incentive if needed.
Avoiding Common Pitfalls
Mistakes to Avoid:
  1. Waiting too long to market. Start promoting before launch.
  1. Targeting too broad an audience. Focus on a niche first.
  1. Spamming communities. Engage genuinely before self-promoting.
  1. Ignoring user feedback. Talk to early adopters and iterate.
  1. Giving up too soon. Success comes with persistence.
Quick Wins:
  • Reassess your niche targeting and refine it if too broad.
  • Implement one piece of user feedback this week.
Recap: The Free Traffic System in a Nutshell
1) Find your users where they already are (Reddit, Twitter, LinkedIn, Slack).
2) Post valuable content that attracts attention.
3) Use cold outreach that sparks conversations, not sales pitches.
4) Turn early users into your best growth channel.
💡 Most SaaS founders overcomplicate growth. Follow this system & get traction without spending a dime on ads.
Want more real-world SaaS growth case studies & templates?
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