How to find your first 10 users
Short answer: your first 10 users come from conversations, not campaigns. Find the places where people already describe the problem you solve, search Reddit and X for posts where someone asks for a product like yours, reply with a helpful answer that says you are the maker, follow up with anyone interested by DM or email, and track every conversation until you have ten people using it.
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1. Write down who it is for, in one line
Before you look for anyone, describe your product as "a tool that helps [who] do [what]". That sentence decides where you search and which posts count. If you can't name the person, you will end up replying to everyone and converting no one.
2. Go where early users already hang out
Early users gather where they ask for help, not where products are advertised. For most indie products that means:
- Subreddits about the job your product does (the profession, hobby or tool category), not just startup subreddits.
- X, where people post "does anyone know a tool for..." and complain about the tools they use.
- Niche forums, Slack and Discord groups for the profession you serve.
- Comment threads under launches and posts about competitors, where people say what is missing.
3. Search for people asking, not for mentions
Search the problem, not your product name. Combine your problem keywords with intent phrases:
- "is there a tool that..." or "is there an app for..."
- "alternative to [competitor]"
- "how do I..." plus the task your product handles
- "I'm tired of..." or "I hate doing..." plus the task
On Reddit, sort by New and filter to the past week so you reply while the thread is still active. On X, use the search with the same phrases and check the Latest tab. Our guide to finding people asking for your product on Reddit goes deeper on subreddits and scoring posts.
4. Reply to help, not to sell
A reply that gets a user reads like advice from someone who has solved the problem:
- Answer the actual question first, even if the answer isn't your product.
- Mention what you built only where it fits, and say plainly that you are the maker.
- Keep it short and written for that one person; never paste the same text into many threads.
- Check the subreddit's rules on self-promotion before you post, and skip threads where links aren't welcome.
5. Follow up by DM or email
When someone replies, upvotes or asks a question, continue the conversation one-to-one. Offer to set them up yourself, give them free access in exchange for feedback, and ask what would make it useful for them. One follow-up is fine; if they go quiet, move on.
6. Track every conversation
Keep a simple sheet: link to the post, what they asked, what you replied, whether they answered, and whether they signed up. After a week you will see which searches and which kind of reply bring people in, so you can do more of those and drop the rest.
Where First10 fits
The slow part of this playbook is step 3: finding the posts worth replying to. First10 does that for you. You describe your product in one line, and First10 searches Reddit for posts where someone asks for a product like yours, scores each post for buying intent and emails you the best ones with a short, honest reply draft. It searches Reddit today; X is coming soon. It never posts for you: you edit and send every reply from your own account.
The free plan sends the top 5 Reddit posts weekly. First Look is a $9 one-off report of matching posts. Solo ($19/month) sends a daily digest for one product, and Pro ($49/month) covers three. If you're unhappy, email within 7 days for a full refund.
Questions founders ask
What is the fastest way to find your first 10 users?
Find people who are already asking for a product like yours and talk to them one by one. Search Reddit and X for phrases like "is there a tool for", "alternative to" and "how do I" plus your problem, reply with a genuinely useful answer, disclose that you built something for it, and follow up with anyone who shows interest.
Should I use ads to get my first users?
Usually not. With 10 users the goal is learning, not volume. A conversation with someone who asked for your kind of product tells you more than a click from an ad, and it costs nothing but time.
How do I promote my product on Reddit without getting banned?
Read each subreddit's rules before posting, answer the question first, mention your product only where it actually helps, say clearly that you are the maker, and never paste the same reply into many threads. Reply from your own account and keep it short.
How many people should I contact to get 10 users?
There is no fixed number; it depends on how well your product fits and how strong each post's intent is. Contact people in small daily batches, track who replies and who signs up, and adjust your searches and message based on what works.
Is there a tool that finds people asking for my product?
Yes. First10 searches Reddit (X coming soon) for posts where someone asks for a product like yours, ranks them by buying intent and emails you the best ones with a reply draft. It never posts for you. The free plan sends a weekly digest; First Look is a $9 one-off report.
Also useful: how to get your first users for an AI app, alternatives to manually searching Reddit for customers and GummySearch alternatives.