HowTheyGotUsersHowTheyGotUsers

Use an AppSumo Lifetime Deal to Buy Users, Not Revenue

Use an AppSumo Lifetime Deal to Buy Users, Not Revenue is a launches & ph/hn tactic for getting your first users: Offer a lifetime deal to a limited number of buyers on AppSumo with the explicit goal of acquiring users and spreading awareness of the product's features, not maximizing cash.

It's a strong fit for B2B SaaS teams, and works especially well for early SaaS needing users and proof. As a launches & ph/hn play, plan for medium effort and expect results to show up quickly, all grounded in 1 linked primary source.

Launches & PH/HNMedium effortFast

Why does launches & ph/hn work for this?

Trading near-permanent access for a burst of users and word-of-mouth seeds your base when you have none.

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.

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 "Use an AppSumo Lifetime Deal to Buy Users, Not Revenue" 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 "Use an AppSumo Lifetime Deal to Buy Users, Not Revenue" 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 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

Launches & PH/HNMedium effort· Fast

Launch a Lifetime Deal on AppSumo for First Paying Users and Feedback

Listing a new SaaS as a discounted lifetime deal on AppSumo to convert a wave of first paying customers who also generate heavy product feedback.

Read the steps →
Launches & PH/HNLow effort· Fast

Utilize Contact Sales Option to Capture Leads

Providing a contact sales option for potential customers to get in touch

Read the steps →
Launches & PH/HNMedium effort· Slow

Protect Deliverability With a Separate Sending Domain

A sending setup that keeps mass outreach off your primary inbox by routing it through a dedicated, warmed-up address — ideally on a separate domain — so deliverability problems never touch your main email.

Read the steps →
Launches & PH/HNMedium effort· Fast

Seed Across Six Free Launch Channels in One Push

With no paid ads, the founder seeded the product simultaneously across Betalist, Product Hunt, Indie Hackers, Hacker News, Twitter, and niche Slack communities for marketers and salespeople.

Read the steps →
Launches & PH/HNMedium effort· Fast

Offer a Free Trial to Prospective Customers

Allowing potential customers to try the product before committing to a purchase

Read the steps →
Launches & PH/HNMedium effort· Fast

Launch on a Deal Marketplace to Borrow Its Mailing List

Run a launch on a deals platform like AppSumo so your offer goes out to its enormous existing email database instead of one you'd spend years building.

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