Pay Users $2 for a 2-Minute Test Instead of $150 Ad Clicks

Pay Users $2 for a 2-Minute Test Instead of $150 Ad Clicks is a first users & traction tactic for getting your first users: Recruited real, interested testers by paying a tiny $2 bounty for a focused 2-minute feedback session, getting 60-85 engaged users per product versus a $150-200 cost-per-user from Meta ads.

It's a strong fit for teams of almost any kind, and works especially well for Pre-launch products needing real testers and feedback. As a first users & traction play, plan for low effort and expect results to show up quickly, all grounded in 1 linked primary source.

Why does first users & traction work for this?

A small payment filters for people willing to genuinely engage and produces real usage plus feedback at a fraction of ad CAC.

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
Any / universal

Frequently asked

How is the "Pay Users $2 for a 2-Minute Test Instead of $150 Ad Clicks" 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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