Getting users for your startup isn’t about luck - it’s about using the right system.
I’m Oskar – I’ve coached over 50 startups and built 2 myself.
Today, I’ll show you exactly how to get users for your startup - step by step. From zero users, to first traction, to scaling. No fluff.
And you don’t need a big budget, a business degree, or a team to make it happen.
Let’s get into it.
I’m Oskar – I’ve coached over 50 startups and built 2 myself.
Today, I’ll show you exactly how to get users for your startup - step by step. From zero users, to first traction, to scaling. No fluff.
And you don’t need a big budget, a business degree, or a team to make it happen.
Let’s get into it.
Stage 1: 0–10 users – Use your personal network
We divide this into 3 stages
• Stage 1: We want to get our first 10 users
• Stage 2: We want to get our first 100 users
• Stage 3: We want to get our first 1000 users
We start with stage 1 – when you have a cool product but still 0 users.
Now, there are a lot of ways to get users. Ads, partnerships, SEO, you name it. I’ve tried most of them – and trust me, when you’re just starting out, you don’t need any of that yet.
In the beginning, you only need one method to get your first 10 users – and it’s surprisingly simple: Use your own network.
I know, that doesn’t sound fancy. But here’s the thing – the people in your personal network already trust you. And trust is everything when you’re starting from zero.
But let me show you how to do it right – because this isn’t about spamming your friends or turning into that pushy salesperson nobody wants to talk to.
Here’s how you do it:
1. Make a list of everyone you know – family, friends, old coworkers.
2. Sort them by who trusts you most – family and close friends at the top, acquaintances a bit lower.
3. Reach out one by one.
But here’s the important part:
❌ You don’t pitch your product.
❌ You don’t sell.
I mean, there’s no point in your mum buying your product just to be nice. Instead, you share what you’re working on and who it’s for – and then the important part – you ask if they know someone who might be interested.
You could say something like:
“Hey Anna,
I just launched a meditation app that helps people relax at work.
Do you know anyone who might find it helpful?”
That’s it. No hard sell. No awkward pitch. Just a friendly conversation.
And when they connect you with someone, message that person the same way. Keep it personal, keep it short, and always focus on helping – not selling.
So why does this work?
Well, because people trust people, and when someone they know says, “Hey, check this out” they’re ten times more likely to try it.
Most early startups find their first 10 users this way. And that’s enough to start testing your product, getting feedback, and building momentum.
• Stage 1: We want to get our first 10 users
• Stage 2: We want to get our first 100 users
• Stage 3: We want to get our first 1000 users
We start with stage 1 – when you have a cool product but still 0 users.
Now, there are a lot of ways to get users. Ads, partnerships, SEO, you name it. I’ve tried most of them – and trust me, when you’re just starting out, you don’t need any of that yet.
In the beginning, you only need one method to get your first 10 users – and it’s surprisingly simple: Use your own network.
I know, that doesn’t sound fancy. But here’s the thing – the people in your personal network already trust you. And trust is everything when you’re starting from zero.
But let me show you how to do it right – because this isn’t about spamming your friends or turning into that pushy salesperson nobody wants to talk to.
Here’s how you do it:
1. Make a list of everyone you know – family, friends, old coworkers.
2. Sort them by who trusts you most – family and close friends at the top, acquaintances a bit lower.
3. Reach out one by one.
But here’s the important part:
❌ You don’t pitch your product.
❌ You don’t sell.
I mean, there’s no point in your mum buying your product just to be nice. Instead, you share what you’re working on and who it’s for – and then the important part – you ask if they know someone who might be interested.
You could say something like:
“Hey Anna,
I just launched a meditation app that helps people relax at work.
Do you know anyone who might find it helpful?”
That’s it. No hard sell. No awkward pitch. Just a friendly conversation.
And when they connect you with someone, message that person the same way. Keep it personal, keep it short, and always focus on helping – not selling.
So why does this work?
Well, because people trust people, and when someone they know says, “Hey, check this out” they’re ten times more likely to try it.
Most early startups find their first 10 users this way. And that’s enough to start testing your product, getting feedback, and building momentum.
👉 So I want you to take a second and think about this: What would this look like in your startup? Write down five people in your network who trust you, and reach out to them this week.
Once you have your first 10 users, it’s time to go bigger. Stage 2 is all about getting your first 100 users.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
But hey, before I show you the next step - I've got something for you that will help you on your startup journey - my Startup Success Bundle.
The Startup Success Bundle is perfect for you if you are looking for a step-by-step, actionable roadmap to build a successful startup. It's trusted by 50+ founders, so it's tried and tested, not theoretical stuff.
Click the button below and check it out!
But hey, before I show you the next step - I've got something for you that will help you on your startup journey - my Startup Success Bundle.
The Startup Success Bundle is perfect for you if you are looking for a step-by-step, actionable roadmap to build a successful startup. It's trusted by 50+ founders, so it's tried and tested, not theoretical stuff.
Click the button below and check it out!
Stage 2: 10–100 users – Use referral programs inside your product
Once you have your first 10 users, something powerful happens.
You’ve proven that people want your product.
Now you need to go beyond your personal network.
And here’s what most founders do wrong:
They hope their product will just “go viral” or that luck will bring users.
But that almost never happens.
So what you actually want to do now is turn those first users into your best marketing channel – through referrals. The reason referrals are so powerful is because they combine two things:
✅ Tust
✅ Incentive
When someone loves your product, they’re happy to share it.
They just need a reason and a reminder.
So here’s how you do it:
Add a small incentive inside your product.
Something like:
→ “Invite a friend and both of you get one free month” or
→ “Share this link and unlock a premium feature”
The key is to make sharing feel natural.
Here’s how it could look:
Let’s say you have built a file-sharing app.
Add a button at the top right that says “Invite a friend, get one free month.” When users click, they enter their friend’s email. And when the friend joins, both get the discount.
This is important: Give both of them an incentive.
And it works because people trust the person who shared it with them.
I once worked with a small SaaS founder who used this exact method.
He only had 30 users at the time – and in two months, that referral loop helped him reach over 120 active users.
❌ No ads.
❌ No fancy funnels.
✅ Just word of mouth and a small incentive so people invite more people.
You’ve proven that people want your product.
Now you need to go beyond your personal network.
And here’s what most founders do wrong:
They hope their product will just “go viral” or that luck will bring users.
But that almost never happens.
So what you actually want to do now is turn those first users into your best marketing channel – through referrals. The reason referrals are so powerful is because they combine two things:
✅ Tust
✅ Incentive
When someone loves your product, they’re happy to share it.
They just need a reason and a reminder.
So here’s how you do it:
Add a small incentive inside your product.
Something like:
→ “Invite a friend and both of you get one free month” or
→ “Share this link and unlock a premium feature”
The key is to make sharing feel natural.
Here’s how it could look:
Let’s say you have built a file-sharing app.
Add a button at the top right that says “Invite a friend, get one free month.” When users click, they enter their friend’s email. And when the friend joins, both get the discount.
This is important: Give both of them an incentive.
And it works because people trust the person who shared it with them.
I once worked with a small SaaS founder who used this exact method.
He only had 30 users at the time – and in two months, that referral loop helped him reach over 120 active users.
❌ No ads.
❌ No fancy funnels.
✅ Just word of mouth and a small incentive so people invite more people.
👉 So think about this – what incentive could work for your product? A discount? Early access? Implement that in your product.
Alright, once you’re getting steady referrals and you’ve hit around 100 users, it’s time for the next big shift - your first 1.000 users.
Stage 3: 100–1.000 users – Build a personal brand through content
Stage 3 is where real momentum starts. And many founders go wrong here. They have 100 users and now want to scale fast. And they think:
"Ok, there are so many marketing channels, if we use all of them, we’ll quickly get more users."
❌ But that’s a trap. In fact, that’s the best way to burn your money and not get any new users at all. Because you just spread yourself too thin.
✅ The better way is to focus on 1–3 marketing channels where you can actually reach your target audience and focus on those.
One of the best ways to grow your startup and get more users is content marketing. Content marketing means sharing helpful blogs, posts, or videos. But here’s the kicker – your personal brand is what really helps you grow.
People don’t connect with logos – they connect with stories and faces.
And I think especially in times of AI, this has become more important than ever.
Now, you don’t need to become some full-time “creator.” What you want to do is show up as a founder and share what you’re learning.
Talk about ...
→ what’s working
→ what you’re struggling with
→ your mistakes
→ your wins
That builds trust. And here’s the thing – when you post as a founder, you’re not just promoting your startup. You’re creating a story people want to follow.
For example, when we stay with our meditation app – write a LinkedIn post about how your first 10 users gave you feedback that changed your roadmap.
Or share a short video explaining how you updated a feature and made your product even more valuable.
That kind of content spreads because it’s real – not empty marketing talk. And when people see these kinds of posts, they start trusting you. And then, when you mention your product, they’re curious – and that curiosity turns into new users.
You can do this on LinkedIn, Twitter, or even YouTube if you like being on camera. But remember - pick the platform where your target audience hangs out the most and post once or twice a week.
The goal is to be honest, transparent, and build trust with people.
"Ok, there are so many marketing channels, if we use all of them, we’ll quickly get more users."
❌ But that’s a trap. In fact, that’s the best way to burn your money and not get any new users at all. Because you just spread yourself too thin.
✅ The better way is to focus on 1–3 marketing channels where you can actually reach your target audience and focus on those.
One of the best ways to grow your startup and get more users is content marketing. Content marketing means sharing helpful blogs, posts, or videos. But here’s the kicker – your personal brand is what really helps you grow.
People don’t connect with logos – they connect with stories and faces.
And I think especially in times of AI, this has become more important than ever.
Now, you don’t need to become some full-time “creator.” What you want to do is show up as a founder and share what you’re learning.
Talk about ...
→ what’s working
→ what you’re struggling with
→ your mistakes
→ your wins
That builds trust. And here’s the thing – when you post as a founder, you’re not just promoting your startup. You’re creating a story people want to follow.
For example, when we stay with our meditation app – write a LinkedIn post about how your first 10 users gave you feedback that changed your roadmap.
Or share a short video explaining how you updated a feature and made your product even more valuable.
That kind of content spreads because it’s real – not empty marketing talk. And when people see these kinds of posts, they start trusting you. And then, when you mention your product, they’re curious – and that curiosity turns into new users.
You can do this on LinkedIn, Twitter, or even YouTube if you like being on camera. But remember - pick the platform where your target audience hangs out the most and post once or twice a week.
The goal is to be honest, transparent, and build trust with people.
👉 So think about this – what story could you share this week about your startup journey? Something small, something true. I want you to post it. And it doesn’t have to be perfect – just authentic.
POWERFUL STARTUP RESOURCES
What's next
So here’s the system to get users for your startup:
Stage 1: Use use your personal network to get your first 10 users.
Stage 2: Use simple referral programs to grow from 10 to 100 users.
Stage 3: Use content marketing, build your personal brand, and share your journey to get 1.000 users.
That’s it. No magic hacks. No big budgets. Just a system that works if you stick with it.
But hey - if you really want to build a successful startup, check out my Startup Success Bundle.
This system gives you a proven roadmap to help you build your startup faster and with less hassle - so you can gain financial freedom, support your family, and build something you truly believe in - WITHOUT feeling stuck or frustrated.
Check it out now!
Stage 1: Use use your personal network to get your first 10 users.
Stage 2: Use simple referral programs to grow from 10 to 100 users.
Stage 3: Use content marketing, build your personal brand, and share your journey to get 1.000 users.
That’s it. No magic hacks. No big budgets. Just a system that works if you stick with it.
But hey - if you really want to build a successful startup, check out my Startup Success Bundle.
This system gives you a proven roadmap to help you build your startup faster and with less hassle - so you can gain financial freedom, support your family, and build something you truly believe in - WITHOUT feeling stuck or frustrated.
Check it out now!