Quick answer: the first 100 users are recruited one at a time, not reached through a broadcast. The channels that work are the ones where a specific person can be named and answered. This hub covers the real order: soft launch, build in public, the launch channels, and the conversion of attention into active users.

Why broadcast tactics fail at zero

With no audience, a launch announcement is a message to nobody, and paid traffic to an unproved product burns the budget. The first 100 come from places where the founder can show up as a person: a community, a thread, a reply, a direct message to someone with the problem. The unit is the conversation, not the impression.

Step 1: Soft launch first

  • [ ] Put the product in front of ten people with the problem.
  • [ ] Watch them use it and fix the sharp edges.
  • [ ] Collect the first honest quotes.

The soft launch and launch with no audience guides cover the approach.

Step 2: Build in public

  • [ ] Share the progress, the numbers, and the mistakes.
  • [ ] Tie each post to a claim, not a mood.
  • [ ] Convert the watchers into the first users.

The build in public and marketing for developers guides cover the voice.

Step 3: Use the launch channels

Each channel has a real audience and a real etiquette:

Step 4: Promote the side project

  • [ ] List the product in the directories that match the audience.
  • [ ] Answer the questions the product solves.
  • [ ] Keep the mentions light and useful.

The promote a side project and launch a developer tool guides cover the channels.

Step 5: Convert attention into activation

  • [ ] Answer every reply within 24 hours.
  • [ ] Move the signup to the first success.
  • [ ] Publish the recap and the honest numbers.

The what to do after launch guide covers the conversion.

The comparison table

Stage Output Fails if skipped
Soft launch Fixed edges, first quotes Unproved product
Build in public Watchers and trust No warm audience
Channels Named conversations Broadcast to nobody
Activation First success Signups that vanish

The full guide library

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get the first 100 users? There is no fixed clock; it is a count of conversations, and the honest answer is as long as it takes to name and reach 100 people with the problem.

Do I need to launch on Product Hunt? No; it is one channel, and the soft launch and the communities often come first.

What if I hate marketing? The developer-friendly approach is to make and share useful things; the marketing for developers guide treats it that way.

Can AI help get the first users? It can produce the assets and the replies' drafts; the conversations and the trust stay with the founder.