First 100 Users Checklist

Who this checklist is for

Solo founders who need to get their first traction and initial users.

When to use it

• After launching MVP
• When you have a working product
• When you need initial feedback

Step-by-step checklist

Identify where your users are

• List 3-5 communities they hang out
• Identify 2-3 Reddit subreddits
• Find relevant Discord servers
• Find Twitter/X communities
• Find LinkedIn groups if B2B
• Find niche forums

Prepare outreach

• Craft genuine intro about yourself
• Explain problem you're solving
• Clear value proposition
• Ask for feedback, not signups
• No spammy, no links first
• Personalize each message

Content strategy

• Write 1-2 blog posts about problem
• Create tutorial for your product
• Share behind-the-scenes journey
• Share what you learned building
• Share mistakes you made
• How you solved problems

Launch posts

• Write launch post for Product Hunt
• Prepare screenshots/videos
• Prepare answers to common questions
• Engage with comments quickly
• Thank everyone who upvotes
• Share with your network

Direct outreach

• Message 20-30 people personally
• Ask for honest feedback
• Offer early access
• Ask what they'd pay for
• Ask what's missing
• Ask for referrals

Early user program

• Create early adopter program
• Give special perks/discounts
• Ask for testimonials
• Ask for case studies
• Ask for referrals
• Build relationships

Social proof

• Collect testimonials
• Get logos if possible
• Share user stories
• Share before/after
• Share metrics
• Share success stories

Iterate quickly

• Talk to users weekly
• Fix bugs fast
• Ship improvements
• Update roadmap publicly
• Show you listen
• Build in public

Common mistakes

• Spamming communities
• Asking for signups before feedback
• Not personalizing outreach
• Ignoring user feedback
• Trying too many channels at once
• Giving up too soon

Verification steps

• 10+ conversations with users
• 5+ testimonials collected
• Some users using product regularly
• At least 1 paying user if possible
• Clear understanding of what users want
• Referrals from existing users

Related build kits

• All micro SaaS ideas

Related fixes

• None yet