How to get your first 1000 users
In this topic, we take best practices and advice from Paul Graham (YC), Lenny Rachitsky, and Andrew Chen and turn this into actionable steps for any startup founder.
TLDR
This topic was created by grouping advice from different authors sharing best practices related to growth, startups, and getting to product market fit.
Bash was used to generate a list of actionable items using the Listicle template. You can create other documents using the 50+ built-in templates.
Once signed in you can brainstorm with Bash about this topic. Bash will only answer based on the content in this topic. For example:
A step-by-step guide to getting your first 1000 users
GENERATED BY BASH
- Roll up your sleeves
Founders play a crucial role in the success of startups. Don’t hesitate to roll up your sleeves and manually recruit users in the early stages. Startups like Stripe and Airbnb have shown the effectiveness of this approach.
- Deliver an Exceptional User Experience
Providing an exceptional user experience is vital for startups. Focus on creating a product that delivers value and delights users. Remember, satisfied users are more likely to become loyal advocates for your brand.
- Narrow Your Market Focus
Starting in a narrow market or targeting a specific group of users can lead to quick growth. By understanding the needs and pain points of a specific user segment, you can tailor your product and marketing efforts to achieve critical mass quickly.
- Seek Insights from Potential Users
Consulting with potential users and engaging them in the development process can be an effective strategy for user acquisition. By involving users in shaping your product, you can create a solution that truly meets their needs.
- Learn from Successful Consumer Apps
Take inspiration from major consumer apps like Tinder, Uber, Superhuman, TikTok, and Netflix. Study their strategies for acquiring their first 1,000 users and adapt them to fit your own startup’s needs.
- Define Your Target User
Defining a narrow target user is crucial for successful user acquisition. Understand the demographics, interests, and behaviors of your ideal user, and tailor your marketing efforts accordingly. Remember, one size does not fit all.
- Explore Growth Channels
Once you’ve achieved product/market fit, it’s time to scale your growth. Utilize different growth channels such as paid ads, viral loops, and user-generated content to reach a wider audience and generate more traction for your product.
How major consumer apps acquired their first 1,000 users
Lenny's newsletter provides actionable advice on acquiring the first 1,000 users for consumer apps. The strategies discussed include offline and online methods, leveraging personal networks, and creating FOMO. Real examples from Tinder, Uber, Superhuman, TikTok, and Netflix are used to illustrate each strategy. It is emphasized that defining a narrow target user and using different tactics for the first 1,000 users versus the next 10,000 is crucial. Readers are encouraged to share additional insights and feedback with Lenny.
**Key takeaways**
1. Major consumer apps employ various strategies to acquire their first 1,000 users.
2. Strategies include offline and online methods, leveraging personal networks, and creating FOMO.
3. Real examples from popular apps like Tinder, Uber, Superhuman, TikTok, and Netflix are discussed.
4. Defining a narrow target user is important, and tactics may vary for the first 1,000 users versus the next 10,000.
5. Readers are encouraged to share additional insights and feedback with Lenny.
Do things that don't scale
Startups' success is dependent on founders actively pushing for growth and acquisition of users, even if it means manually recruiting users in the early stages. Startups like Stripe and Airbnb have shown the effectiveness of early user acquisition. Founders may resist manual recruitment due to various reasons, such as shyness or laziness, but it is crucial for a startup to succeed. Creating an exceptional user experience and providing outstanding customer service are also important for startups. It is advisable for startups to start in a narrow market or target a specific group of users to achieve critical mass quickly. Consulting with potential users and using the startup's software for them can be effective strategies for user acquisition.
**Key takeaways**
1. Founders play a crucial role in the success of startups.
2. Manual user acquisition is important for early-stage startups.
3. Providing an exceptional user experience is vital for startups.
4. Starting in a narrow market or targeting specific users can lead to quick growth.
5. Collaboration with established companies may not guarantee startup success.
Product-Market Fit: A Spectrum of Tradeoffs
**Key takeaways**
- Product/market fit is difficult to achieve, but it's vital for traction and success.
- Retention is a key metric to determine product/market fit.
- Different tradeoffs exist in the path from zero to product/market fit.
- Existing markets offer less risk but face more competition, while new markets carry more risk.
- A point between new and pre-existing markets is ideal for product/market fit.
- Building for oneself and adding a twist to a pre-existing market are effective strategies.
- Copying a product may provide a quick path to product/market fit, but differentiation is necessary for long-term success.
- Achieving product/market fit is the first step; scaling growth comes next.
- Different growth channels, such as paid ads, viral loops, and user-generated content, can be utilized to scale a product.
- The Bay Area's resources and expertise can aid in scaling a company after product/market fit is achieved.