People overengineer how to get their first customers.
Here’s how I do it (Spoiler alert: it’s simple):
1/ Make a hypothesis about who your ICPs (Ideal Customer Profiles) might be.
Start with a rough idea of who would benefit most from your product.
2/ Open LinkedIn.
It’s that simple.
The power of LinkedIn can’t be overstated when it comes to connecting with potential customers.
3/ Connect with potential ICPs.
Send personalized connection requests to people who fit your hypothesis.
Don’t overthink it.
4/ Talk to them (even get them on a call).
Skip the email, go straight for the conversation.
Ask questions, understand their pain points, and validate your assumptions.
5/ Refine your hypothesis and repeat steps 1-4.
Based on what you learn, refine your ICP and approach.
Keep talking to more people until you get a solid understanding of your market.
6/ Ship the MVP.
Once you have the insights, it’s time to build.
Ship a simple, working version of your product—no need for perfection, just something that solves the problem.
7/ Contact the people you had on the call.
Reach back out to the people you spoke with and show them what you’ve built.
Ask for feedback or, even better, offer them early access.
8/ You should now have your first customer 🎉.
They’re already familiar with you and your product—they’re likely ready to take the next step.
That’s it.
You don’t need fancy marketing campaigns or complex strategies to get started.
Just talk to people, build what they need, and repeat.
Simple.
________________________________
👍 Enjoyed this post? I'd really appreciate it if you dropped a like to support me. If not, just know I'll take it personally.
👋 Don't know me? I'm J.Y! I've been building things and making money online since 2017, and I share my entrepreneurial journey here on LinkedIn.