Stage 2 — Get Users

First 100 users

The first 100 don't come from marketing. They come from you going and getting them.

AI skill: /first-100-users
  1. 01

    Define your target user precisely

    Not "developers" — "freelance designers who forget to invoice until a project is two weeks old." The more specific, the easier every channel becomes. Write down: job title, community, what they Google, who they follow.

  2. 02

    0 → 10: personal outreach

    List 20 people in your network who have the problem. DM each one personally — not a mass message. "Hey [name], I built something you might actually find useful — it does X. Would you try it and give me honest feedback?" Expect 5–8 to try it.

  3. 03

    10 → 50: communities + build in public

    Find 3 communities (Reddit, Discord, Slack) where your target user spends time. Lurk 48 hours, then post the problem you're solving — not "check out my app." On Twitter/X: tweet your journey daily. Show progress, not polish.

    Tip: Respond to every comment within 1 hour after posting. Active discussion is the algorithm signal in most communities.
  4. 04

    50 → 100: directories + targeted outreach

    Submit to Tier 1 directories (Product Hunt, Indie Hackers, relevant AI directories). Run targeted outreach: find 50 people on Twitter/X or Reddit who have the exact problem, send a 4-line personalized message.

  5. 05

    Retention during acquisition

    Send a welcome email on day 0 pointing to the one action that delivers value. Ask one feedback question on day 3. Check in on day 7. Getting users is pointless if they leave immediately.

Use this in your AI agent

Every step above is baked into the /first-100-users agent skill. Install shipping-skills and type /first-100-users to run the full playbook interactively for your product.