Starting a SaaS (Software as a Service) business is exciting, but getting your first users can feel like climbing a mountain. You’ve built something amazing, but now you need people to use it. The good news? You don’t need a huge budget or a fancy marketing team to get your first organic users. This guide will show you exactly how to do it.
Also Read: The Complete Guide to Programmatic SEO: Get Thousands of Visitors
What Does “Organic Users” Mean?
Before we dive in, let’s make this simple. Organic users are people who find and sign up for your product naturally, without you paying for ads. They might discover you through Google search, social media, word of mouth, or online communities. These users are valuable because they’re genuinely interested in solving a problem, not just clicking on an ad.
Why Your First Users Are So Important
Your first 10-100 users aren’t just numbers on a dashboard. They’re your co-builders. These early adopters will:
Tell you what’s broken in your product
Give you ideas for new features
Become your biggest supporters and tell their friends
Prove that people actually want what you’re building
According to successful SaaS founders, getting to your first 100 users teaches you more than getting from 100 to 1,000 users. Why? Because you’re talking directly to customers and learning fast.
Strategy 1: Start With People You Already Know
This might sound too simple, but it works. Your first users should come from your personal network – friends, family, former coworkers, and people in your contact list.
Here’s how to do it:
Make a spreadsheet of everyone you know who might need your product
Don’t send generic messages. Instead, write personal emails like: “Hi Sarah, I remember you mentioned struggling with [problem]. I built a tool that might help. Would you be open to trying it?”
Follow up, but don’t be pushy
Real Example
When the founder of GummySearch (a Reddit research tool) launched,
their first 10 users came from people they talked to during customer interviews.
These weren’t strangers — they were people who had already shown interest in the problem.
The founder of BuildWise, a construction management SaaS, showed the software to coaching clients who owned construction companies. These people already knew and trusted them, making it easier to get early feedback.
Strategy 2: Join Online Communities Where Your Customers Hang Out
This is where many SaaS founders find their breakthrough. Your potential customers are already online, talking about their problems. You just need to find them and help.
Best platforms for finding users:
Reddit :Indie Hackers: Perfect for bootstrapped foundersProduct Hunt: Great for launching to early adoptersFacebook Groups: Industry-specific groups
LinkedIn :
The Golden Rule (80/20)
Spend 80% of your time helping people and sharing valuable information.
Only 20% of the time should you mention your product.
Reddit users especially hate obvious self-promotion.
If you just spam your product, you’ll get banned.
How to actually do this:
Join 3-5 communities where your ideal customers spend time
Start by commenting on other people’s posts. Be helpful, not salesy
Share your own experiences and lessons learned
When someone mentions a problem your product solves, offer to help (not just drop a link)
Real Example
One SaaS founder got their first 100 users entirely from Reddit by genuinely helping people in communities.
They spent months building trust before ever mentioning their product.
When they finally shared it, people were excited to try it because they already knew and trusted the founder.
Strategy 3: Use Social Media to “Build in Public”
Building in public means sharing your journey as you create your SaaS. People love following along and seeing the behind-the-scenes process.
Best platforms:
Twitter (X): Share weekly updates, celebrate small wins (“Just got user #27!”), and ask questions. Use hashtags like #buildinpublic, #SaaS, and #indiehacker.
LinkedIn: Post authentic stories about why you built your product and the problems you’re solving. LinkedIn is especially powerful for B2B SaaS.
Instagram: Yes, even for SaaS! Share before/after screenshots, customer testimonials, and quick tips.
What to post:
Your progress updates: “Week 3: Added user authentication today.”
Challenges you’re facing: “Struggling with pricing – what would you pay for this?”
Small victories: “First paying customer! Here’s what I learned.”
Polls and questions to get feedback
Real Example
A company called Workvio shared their entire building process on LinkedIn under
“Building Workvio in Public.” On launch day, they got over 600 sign-ups just from
that one channel. Why? Because people felt connected to the journey and wanted to
support them.
Strategy 4: Do One-on-One Outreach (The Right Way)
Cold outreach might sound scary, but it’s actually one of the fastest ways to get your first users. The key is making it personal, not spammy.
Email outreach that works:
Find people who have the exact problem you solve (use LinkedIn, Twitter, Reddit)
Write short, personal messages (not copy-paste templates)
Focus on their problem, not your product
Make a small ask: “Would you be open to a 15-minute chat?” not “Buy my product.”
Good email template:
“Hi [Name],
I saw your comment on [platform] about struggling with [specific problem]. I’ve been working on a solution for exactly this.
Would you be open to a quick 15-minute call? I’d love to hear more about your experience and see if what I’m building could help.
No pressure if not – just thought it might be useful!
[Your name]”
Real Example
Lemlist, an email outreach tool, grew to 10,000 customers and $6 million in revenue
in just 3 years by using cold email outreach themselves. They practiced what they
preached, and it worked.
Strategy 5: Create Valuable Content
Content marketing isn’t just for big companies. Even as a solo founder, creating helpful content can bring users to you.
Types of Content That Work
Blog posts answering common questions in your industry
How-to guides and tutorials
YouTube videos showing how to solve problems
Case studies of early users getting results
The goal isn’t to go viral. The goal is to help people find you when they search for solutions to their problems.
SEO tip: Use simple keywords people actually search for. Tools like Google Keyword Planner can help, but you can also just think about what you would type into Google if you had the problem your SaaS solves.
Real Example
HubSpot grew massively by creating tons of free resources, guides, and educational content. People found them while searching for marketing help, got value from the free content, and eventually became paying customers.
Strategy 6: Offer a Free Trial or Freemium Version
Make it ridiculously easy for people to try your product. The lower the barrier to entry, the more people will give it a shot.
Two Approaches
Free trial: Let people use the full product for 7–14 daysFreemium: Offer a basic version free forever, charge for premium features
Dropbox famously grew by offering free storage space and giving extra storage for referrals. People could start using it immediately without paying anything.
Strategy 7: Get Listed on Directory Sites
Some websites list new SaaS products and tools. Getting listed can bring free traffic.
Places to List Your SaaS
Product Hunt
BetaList
Indie Hackers
SaaSHub
G2 (once you have some users)
These platforms have audiences specifically looking for new tools to try. A good Product Hunt launch can bring hundreds or even thousands of visitors.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Building in isolation: Don’t spend months building in secret. Talk to potential users from day one.
2. Trying to target everyone: Focus on a specific niche first. It’s easier to reach “project managers at small agencies” than “anyone who manages projects.”
3. Being too salesy: People can smell desperation. Focus on helping first, selling second.
4. Giving up too soon: Getting your first users takes time. The founder of GummySearch said it took 6-12 months of building community presence before seeing real results.
5. Ignoring feedback: Your first users are giving you gold. Listen to them, even when it’s hard to hear.
The Reality Check
Let’s be honest: getting your first users is hard work. It’s not going to happen overnight. Most successful founders say they spent 50% of their time building the product and 50% talking to customers and marketing.
You might send 100 emails and get 5 responses. You might post in 10 communities and get ignored 9 times. That’s normal. The founders who succeed are the ones who keep going.
One founder shared that they spent 50 hours on Reddit to get just 5 sign-ups early on. But those 5 users gave them feedback that shaped the entire product. They were worth it.
Your Action Plan (Start Today)
Here’s what to do this week:
Day 1-2: Make a list of 20 people you know who might need your product. Send 5 personal messages.
Day 3-4: Join 3 online communities. Don’t promote anything – just start commenting and being helpful.
Day 5-6: Post on Twitter or LinkedIn about what you’re building and why. Share your story.
Day 7: Review what worked. Did anyone respond? Did anyone sign up? What can you learn?
Then repeat. Keep talking to people, keep being helpful, and keep improving your product based on feedback.
Frequently Asked Questions (From Real Reddit Conversations)
Q: How long does it take to get the first 100 users?
A: It varies a lot. Some founders get there in a month, others take 6-12 months. The key is consistency. Keep showing up, keep helping people, and keep improving your product. One Reddit user shared that it took them 3 months of daily effort to reach 100 users.
Q: Should I charge my first users or make it free?
A: Most successful founders say you should charge from day one, even if it’s a small amount. Paying customers give better feedback and take your product seriously. Free users often don’t engage as much. Offering a free trial to get them started is fine.
Q: What if I get rejected or people don’t respond?
A: This is completely normal! One founder shared that out of 100 cold emails, they got maybe 5-10 responses. Don’t take it personally. Focus on the people who do respond.
Q: Can I really use Reddit without getting banned?
A: Yes! Each subreddit has its own rules. Don’t post links to your product right away. Be genuinely helpful in comments. Build “karma” by contributing value. After being active for a while, share your product in appropriate threads.
Q: How do I know if people actually want my product before building it?
A: Talk to potential users BEFORE you build. Ask about their problems, not your solution. If 10 people say “yes, this is a huge problem,” you’re onto something.
Q: Should I focus on just one channel or try everything?
A: Start with 1-2 channels where your customers hang out. Get good at those first. Trying to be everywhere at once will burn you out and give poor results.
Q: What if my competitors have way more users?
A: Good! That means there’s a market. You just need to serve your specific niche really well. Focus on something you can do better, faster, or simpler.
Q: How personal should I make my outreach?
A: Very personal for your first 100 users. Mention something specific about them or their situation. Generic “Hey, check out my product” messages get ignored 99% of the time.
Final Thoughts
Getting your first organic users for your SaaS is about a genuine human connection. It’s about finding people with real problems and showing them you have a solution that works.
You don’t need to be a marketing genius. You don’t need a big budget. You just need to:
1. Know who you’re helping
Identify your target users and understand their needs, pains, and goals before you start sharing your product.
2. Go where they hang out
Find the online communities, forums, or social platforms where your potential users spend their time.
3. Be genuinely helpful
Provide value, answer questions, and solve problems without expecting immediate returns.
4. Ask for feedback
Engage with users to understand what works and what doesn’t, and iterate based on their input.
5. Keep improving
Continuously refine your product, content, and approach based on learnings and feedback.
hundredth will feel like you’re building something real.
Now stop reading and start doing. Send that first email. Make that first post. Talk to that first potential user. Your SaaS journey starts with action, not planning.
Good luck! You’ve got this.
