HowTheyGotUsersHowTheyGotUsers

Be Useful First, Then Post Feedback Requests to Convert

Be Useful First, Then Post Feedback Requests to Convert is a communities tactic for getting your first users: Introducing yourself as the maker once, participating helpfully for a while before asking for anything, and sourcing most beta customers through posts that ask the community for feedback on a specific feature.

It's a strong fit for teams of almost any kind, and works especially well for founder-led early traction in any community. As a communities play, plan for medium effort and expect results to build gradually over time, all grounded in 1 linked primary source.

CommunitiesMedium effortSlow

Why does communities work for this?

Earning a helpful reputation first buys you the right to promote, and feedback asks feel like inclusion rather than selling.

The exact steps (4)

The full step-by-step this founder ran, what they posted, where, and in what order, plus the watch-outs, is part of the library.

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Sources

Works for
Any / universal

Frequently asked

How is the "Be Useful First, Then Post Feedback Requests to Convert" tactic verified?
It is drawn from 1 primary source — a real founder write-up or interview, not generic advice. It is linked in the Sources section above so you can read the original account yourself.
How much effort is it and how fast are results?
It is medium effort, and results tend to be slow.
Where can I see the exact step-by-step?
The full step-by-step a founder ran, documented via Source — IndieHackers, is in the paid library.

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