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Paul VanZandt

How did you acquire your first paying customer?

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Getting early customers for your product isn't easy - they need to buy into your vision and get a ton of value from your product. Let me know if you have any inspiring (or lucky ☘️) stories about how you attracted and closed on your first paying customer!
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NotesbyHugh
By reaching out to a podcast host and letting them know they inspired us to build a product. We sent them the link to check it out for free and they ended up purchasing anyway!
Paul VanZandt
@hugh_dawkins I hadn't thought about reaching out to some sources of inspiration, this is good advice. Was your product podcast-related or did they just like the vision?
NotesbyHugh
@paul_vanzandt it was the Run WIith It podcast with a guest feature from Courtland of Indie Hackers so definetely related!
Gideon Oni-Becsen
My first paying customer was someone whom I had known quite well. I had asked her to be a pilot customer, and she was a good one. I figured out that she got value from our app. So I requested for to be a paying customer; I gave a good offer and discount. And she was interested.
Paul VanZandt
@gideon_bcxa Searching your internal network is a great way to open up conversations - smart!
AskJesus
Gideon Oni-Becsen
@nftpirate_org Hi @nftpirate_org nftpirate Please I'd like to talk with you about a potential NFT transaction. Also, I'd love one or 2 advice from you. How could I best reach you? Mail? Whatsapp? You can mail me though via gbecsen@aisely.com. Thanks
Matt
Launched on Product Hunt a few weeks back and made my first sales. Now it's time to double down on long-term marketing channels
Paul VanZandt
@mattz Congrats on the successful launch!
Steven Ron
no customers yet! Actually don't really know how this place works
Paul VanZandt
@steven_ron We're all figuring it out together!
Denis Shabanov
We presented our product (https://ucanremote.com/) at various events for startups. It was there that we found our first business clients. No matter how many modern tools there are for attracting potential clients, nothing compares to good old-fashioned live communication:)
Paul VanZandt
@dashabanov I love that - it's definitely one of the best ways to ensure you're presenting to a hyper-engaged audience.
Dylan Merideth
We are still on this road, when we get there, we will come back here and share.
Paul VanZandt
@dylan_merideth I can't wait - best of luck!
Daniel Engels
Word of mouth
Paul VanZandt
@daniel_engels This is one of the best ways to spread awareness for a lot of products
Enola VEDOVOTTO
Is a person from my boss' network, he tested, approved and now he takes a license on Verticalls for his new recruits ! And you ?
Paul VanZandt
@enola_vedovott Thanks for sharing! We're still looking for our first paid customer, but we have both B2C and B2B business models and we're close to closing a new business integration so fingers crossed 🤞
Anil Meena
The first paying customer was from our own network with whom we started discussing the product idea early on. However I think while doing the research for your product idea you'll come across a lot of people of who would be looking for solution and mostly they eventually becomes your first paying customers
Paul VanZandt
@anil_meena21 Agreed - networking throughout the process is one of the biggest sources of interest and potential leads
Yasmina
If you have set a strong sales& product value and know how to market it , then your people/ business will come to you and pay for your services ! no matter how you charge as long as they feel that got value for what they pay ( brand/product positioning ) and be clear on your offering !
Paul VanZandt
@yasminak Those strategies are helpful when acquiring your first paying customer and great methods for sustainable success too - thanks for sharing!
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