HowTheyGotUsersHowTheyGotUsers

Offer a Free Resource via DM to Open Sales Conversations

Offer a Free Resource via DM to Open Sales Conversations is a first users & traction tactic for getting your first users: Dangle a wanted freebie (a list of 100+ vetted ideas) and ask people to DM you for it, turning each request into a chance to probe their problems and softly pitch your product.

It's a strong fit for B2B SaaS teams, and works especially well for solo founders, audience-light SaaS. 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?

A wanted freebie earns you a one-on-one channel where soft pitching feels natural rather than spammy.

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.

Unlock the steps · $29 oncePlus all 3,000+ tactics and the new ones we add weekly.

Sources

Works for
B2B SaaS

Frequently asked

What kind of products does the "Offer a Free Resource via DM to Open Sales Conversations" 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 "Offer a Free Resource via DM to Open Sales Conversations" 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.

Related tactics

First users & tractionMedium effort· Slow

Reverse-Engineer How Rivals Get Customers

Before you pick or commit to an idea, you map out exactly how a similar company acquires its customers and decide whether you can copy or beat that motion.

Read the steps →
First users & tractionMedium effort· Slow

Recruit Your First Testers and Live in Their Inbox

A scrappy push to get the first handful of people actually using the product, then a relentless one-on-one feedback loop with every one of them.

Read the steps →
First users & tractionLow effort· Fast

Shrink Until You Can Own It

Instead of building for "any business," you pick a target market so narrow that your current, modest resources are enough to capture a meaningful share of it.

Read the steps →
First users & tractionLow effort· Fast

Mine Your Inner Circle for the First 25 Signups

Before touching any public channel, the founder hit up everyone he already knew who fit the target profile (SaaS founders) - peers, former colleagues, mentors - and asked them to sign up and spread the word.

Read the steps →
First users & tractionMedium effort· Slow

Positioning Is Step Zero

Before you spend a dollar on any channel, you decide who you serve, how you're segmented, and what makes you the only sane choice — then express it in a sharp message.

Read the steps →
First users & tractionLow effort· Medium

Trade a Big Discount for Customer Interviews That Pre-Sell

Recruit your exact target customers for research interviews by dangling a large first-month discount, then use the call to learn their jobs-to-be-done and warm them toward buying.

Read the steps →

Get all 3,000+ tactics in one place

Filter by your product and channel, follow the exact steps, and get the new tactics we add every week. One payment, yours for good.

Unlock for $29 onceBrowse by channel