Short answer: Go to the places where your buyers already are. With no audience, your first users come mostly from direct outreach, communities, launch directories and search content. Expect the first 100 users to come from effort, not from a launch day.
Why having no audience is not fatal
An audience helps, but it is not required. Your first users need a clear reason to try your product and a way to find it. You can build both without followers.
Step 1: Define who the product is for
Write one sentence: "For [specific person] who struggles with [specific problem]." If you cannot finish it, you are not ready to look for users.
Step 2: Find 50 people who have the problem
Look where they talk about it:
Posts asking for tool recommendations or "alternatives to X."
Subreddits and forums for your niche.
Comment sections on posts about the problem.
Reviews that complain about existing tools.
Write their names and links in a simple sheet.
Step 3: Message them respectfully
Most cold messages fail because they ask for something and give nothing back. Do the opposite.
Mention the specific post or comment that made you reach out.
Offer something useful first: a tip, a short guide or an answer.
Ask permission before you share your product.
Do not ask strangers to test your app for free. Most people have no time, and it can feel like unpaid work.
A simple pattern: "Saw your post about [problem]. I wrote a short guide on fixing it. Want me to send it over?"
Step 4: Launch in directories and communities
Directories give you a permanent page and early visitors. Communities give you conversations. Do both, in that order. See best startup directories and indie hacker communities.
Step 5: Publish content people search for
Write about the problem your product solves, using the phrases people type into Google and ask AI assistants. Lead with a direct answer, then add examples and an FAQ. It is slow at first and compounds. You can publish on your own blog or on a builder network. Forg (forg.to), for example, lets Pro members publish long form articles.
Step 6: Help your first 10 users personally
Offer a quick onboarding chat or message. You will learn what confuses people and what they love. Fix those things before you chase more traffic.
Step 7: Ask for testimonials and referrals
After someone gets value, ask for a short quote and one introduction. Early social proof makes every other channel work better.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get my first 10 SaaS customers? Talk to people who already have the problem, one by one, and help them get a result quickly.
How do I get my first 100 SaaS customers? Combine direct outreach, directory launches, community posts and search content, then repeat what converts.
How do I get SaaS users with no audience? Use direct outreach, communities, directories and search. None of them require followers.
Is B2B or B2C easier for first customers? B2B can be easier to reach one by one because buyers cluster in communities and job titles. B2C usually needs more volume.
Should I offer a free plan or trial? It can lower friction, but make sure users can reach a useful result fast, or the free users will not convert.
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