HowTheyGotUsersHowTheyGotUsers

Give Free Access to Friends for Feedback; Some Convert to Paying

Give Free Access to Friends for Feedback; Some Convert to Paying is a first users & traction tactic for getting your first users: Before public launch he handed free access to friends and interested people asking only for feedback; several became active users and one (Kent C. Dodds) chose to pay despite having it free.

It's a strong fit for B2B SaaS teams, and works especially well for pre-launch SaaS, first users. As a first users & traction play, plan for low effort and expect results to show up quickly, all grounded in 1 linked primary source.

First users & tractionLow effortFast

Why does first users & traction work for this?

Low-pressure trials with people who already like you produce real feedback, surprise early revenue, and testimonials.

The exact steps (5)

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
B2B SaaS

Frequently asked

What kind of products does the "Give Free Access to Friends for Feedback; Some Convert to Paying" tactic work for?
It is a good fit for B2B SaaS — pick it when your product looks like that, since the play is shaped around how those users find new tools.
How is the "Give Free Access to Friends for Feedback; Some Convert to Paying" 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 low effort, and results tend to be fast.
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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