Picture this:
It's 11pm.
I'm sitting at my desk staring at my product.
I have zero users.
And I'm going to be honest with you - I thought I needed ads, thousands of followers, or a whole content strategy - just to get my first users.
And then one day, out of pure desperation, I opened my phone and sent one DM. To someone I already knew. Took me four minutes to write.
That 1 DM turned into my first paying user.
Let me show you exactly how I did it - so you can just copy it.
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But I almost blew it.
Not with the message - with my profile.
You see, when you DM someone, the first thing they do is to check your profile. And if they can't understand what you do in three seconds, they won't reply. This is what a bad profile looks like - and I see this all the time:
• Bad photo
• Generic bio
• Nobody knows what you do or what problem you solve
If this person DM'd me, I'd check their profile and think - what does he even do? And I wouldn’t even reply.
These four things turn a weak profile into one people actually respond to.
• A professional photo
• Show what you built
• Who it helps
• Why it matters to them
And if you have a website, add the link too.
That's it.
To make your profile super clear- use this formula for your bio:
"I help [audience] who have [problem] get [outcome] without [struggle]."
For example, I help small marketing agencies who spend hours on client reports get them done automatically - without touching a spreadsheet.
See the difference?
Someone reads that and immediately thinks - that's for me.
And when they think that, they reply.
This works on LinkedIn, twitter, Instagram - wherever your users hang out. Pick just one platform. The one where your potential users already are.
The worksheet for all of this - the bio formula, the DM script, the follow-up is all part of the system I used to get my first 1000 users.
You can get it here:
It's 11pm.
I'm sitting at my desk staring at my product.
I have zero users.
And I'm going to be honest with you - I thought I needed ads, thousands of followers, or a whole content strategy - just to get my first users.
And then one day, out of pure desperation, I opened my phone and sent one DM. To someone I already knew. Took me four minutes to write.
That 1 DM turned into my first paying user.
Let me show you exactly how I did it - so you can just copy it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
But I almost blew it.
Not with the message - with my profile.
You see, when you DM someone, the first thing they do is to check your profile. And if they can't understand what you do in three seconds, they won't reply. This is what a bad profile looks like - and I see this all the time:
• Bad photo
• Generic bio
• Nobody knows what you do or what problem you solve
If this person DM'd me, I'd check their profile and think - what does he even do? And I wouldn’t even reply.
These four things turn a weak profile into one people actually respond to.
• A professional photo
• Show what you built
• Who it helps
• Why it matters to them
And if you have a website, add the link too.
That's it.
To make your profile super clear- use this formula for your bio:
"I help [audience] who have [problem] get [outcome] without [struggle]."
For example, I help small marketing agencies who spend hours on client reports get them done automatically - without touching a spreadsheet.
See the difference?
Someone reads that and immediately thinks - that's for me.
And when they think that, they reply.
This works on LinkedIn, twitter, Instagram - wherever your users hang out. Pick just one platform. The one where your potential users already are.
The worksheet for all of this - the bio formula, the DM script, the follow-up is all part of the system I used to get my first 1000 users.
You can get it here:
Reach out to the right people
So, your profile is ready.
But here's where most founders make an expensive mistake.
I coached a founder recently. Smart guy. He built a really cool app.
But he didn't know how to get users - so he spent €2,000 on ads.
He got thousands of impressions and a bunch of free signups.
But zero paying users. Zero.
He told me he felt embarrassed.
He'd spent money he didn't have, and told his co-founder it would work - and it didn't.
All because he made a critical mistake.
Your first users usually are not random people on the internet.
They are people who already know you.
→ People from your past jobs
→ People in your network
→ People you already talked to before
That’s where you should start.
❌ Not ads
❌ Not content
❌ Not growth hacks
Just reaching out to the right people.
So, open up a Notion doc and write down 30 people who would really benefit from your product. Former coworkers. People from communities you're in. Warm connections in your industry. Everyone who has the exact problem your product solves.
Notice something right now - you probably already have names coming to mind. That's your list. Don't overthink it. Just write them down.
There is just one rule:
Only add people who would really benefit from your product.
You never want to reach out to someone who isn't a good fit.
And now you reach out.
And I know what you're thinking - what do I even say?
Don't overthink it. Keep it short. Just send this:
"Hey [Name],
quick one - I built [your product] for [target users] who have [problem] and want to [outcome].
Thought this could actually help you.
Would you be open to a quick 15-minute call so I can show you how it works? Best,
[Your Name]"
That's it.
No pitch deck.
No long explanation.
Just tell them what you built and ask for 15 minutes.
The reason this works so well is because it’s so simple.
If they have this problem and they feel like your product could help, they will reply.
It's that easy.
Follow up after 3 days
Most founders send one message.
And when they don’t get a reply, they assume people are not interested.
But that’s not true.
Most people do not reply to your first message.
That’s normal.
They might have missed it, wanted to answer later or whatever.
So you need to follow up once after 3 days. Just say:
"Hey [Name],
just wanted to quickly follow up in case you missed my last message.
Happy to jump on a quick 15-minute call and show you how it works if that's relevant for you.
Best,
[Your Name]"
One follow-up. That's it.
If they still don't reply - move on. You have 30 people on your list.
Focus on the ones who respond.
What to do on the call
When you get someone on a call - don't pitch your product.
Have a conversation.
Here's exactly how I structure it:
Open your product and show the one thing that solves their problem.
Keep it under five minutes. Then stop and ask:
"Does this make sense for you so far?"
That one question changes everything. Because now they're talking.
Now you’re having a conversation. And when you’re having a conversation, you find out if this is actually a good fit - or not.
Your first calls will feel awkward. I know how that feels.
But here's what I noticed: by call three you stop thinking about what to say next. By call five it feels completely natural.
So don't let that stop you from talking to people.
There's one thing I haven't told you yet - and it's the difference between someone saying "Ok, thanks bye" and actually buying your product.
Most founders end the call like this:
"So it's €20 a month, here's the link."
And the person says "Sounds great, I'll check it out."
And you never hear from them again.
The problem isn't the price.
It's the commitment.
Saying yes to €20 a month feels like a big decision for someone who just heard about your product 15 minutes ago.
You need to make "saying yes" as easy as possible.
Imagine someone holding a door open for you.
That's what you're doing. You're not pushing them through it.
You're just holding it open.
So at the end of the call, say:
"I think this could actually help you with [problem].
Would you be open to trying it?" It'll cost €20 a month later, but I'd like to give you one month for free so you can see if it solves your problem."
Or
"As an early user, I'd like to offer it to you for €10 instead of €20."
Keep it simple. And then stop talking and let them speak.
This worked great for me because you're not asking for a big commitment. You're asking them to try something that might solve their problem.
That's completely different.
Your next steps
Remember that 11pm moment I told you about?
When I was staring at my product not knowing what to do?
The only thing that changed everything was sending one message to one person I already knew. That's where you start too.
And once you have your first customers, the next step is growing your startup. If you want a clear roadmap for that - join my startup mastermind.
It gives you a simple step-by-step roadmap so you always know what to focus on next. It’s already being used by 50+ founders, and includes smart AI prompts for each step so you can grow your startup even faster - without overthinking.
You can also join the community, connect with other founders, and build alongside people on the same journey.
You can join here:
