That rush of building something from scratch, shaping your dream, and finally putting it out into the world—it’s equal parts thrilling and terrifying, right?
One minute you’re riding the high of your big launch, and the next you’re hitting ‘refresh’ on your email, waiting for that first customer to say hello.
Truth be told, landing those first 100 customers who believe in you enough to try what you’re offering is one of the biggest challenges every new business faces.
This is not just about making a sale. Rather it’s about gaining trust, proving your value, and finding people who are willing to take a chance on something brand new.
In this article, we’ll share a few tips that can help you reach that milestone.
#1 Get on Social Media and Post Consistently
Around 48% of customers prefer using social media to learn about small businesses. That means your future fans are likely already scrolling, just waiting to discover you.
Don’t be on every platform. Pick your playground wisely, however. Figure out where your ideal customers spend their time the most and focus your energy there.
Selling beautiful, visual products? Instagram or Pinterest could be your jam. Are you a B2B company? LinkedIn is probably your best bet. For reaching a wide variety of people and having direct chats, Facebook is great. Meanwhile, Twitter/X is awesome for quick, real-time conversations.
Once you’ve picked your platform, share the good stuff. Your business journey is a great start. People genuinely love to see the real story behind the scenes. Post helpful tips related to what you offer. This shows everyone you’re an expert in your field.
A piece of advice: Try to post regularly. This helps build trust. However, remember that good-quality posts are much better than just posting anything. Make your content valuable.
And don’t just post and run. Reply to comments and messages and chat with people. When you provide value first and talk with your audience, you build real connections.
#2 Start a Blog and Create Relevant Content
A blog might seem old-school compared to flashy videos and viral memes. But it’s still one of the best ways to bring people to your website and turn them into loyal customers.
Most importantly, it helps people find you when they are searching for answers on Google.
The more helpful content you create, the more chances you have to pop up in search results. Companies with blogs tend to have a whopping 434% more pages indexed by search engines.
Wondering what to write about? Write blog posts about how your product or service can help solve your ideal customer’s problems. Don’t just publish the blog and forget it. Hocoos advises using the comment section to connect with your audience on a deeper level. This encourages reader engagement.
To share your knowledge with your target audience, you’ll need a website. Haven’t built one yet? Don’t worry.
Website builders powered by AI make it super easy to build one without needing to code. All you have to do is answer a few questions, and AI does all the long, boring, technical bits. As a result, a professional yet engaging website is ready within minutes.
#3 Offer a Free Trial
What’s one of the best ways to show people how amazing your product or service is? Let them try it out for themselves.
Offering a free trial is a brilliant way to get people’s attention for your new business. A free trial lets potential customers see how awesome your product or service is, all without any pressure to buy immediately.
People are much more likely to become paying customers if they have had a good experience trying your product or service for free.
Keep the process of signing up for a free trial simple, though. Don’t ask for tons of information upfront. Clearly show what benefits they get with the free trial.
There are a few things to watch out for to make your free trial successful. Be clear about what you want users to achieve or experience during the trial period. The trial shouldn’t be too short for them to see the value, nor so long that they lose that sense of urgency to make a decision.
Ideally, offer a 30-day trial. Research has shown that 30-day free trials have had the highest conversion rates (56%) and customer acquisition rates (32%).
Go Get Those First 100!
Landing those first 100 customers is a massive achievement. It’s the ultimate validation that all the hard work, late nights, and tough times are starting to pay off.
Achieving this milestone is not easy, though. But with these tips, it’s achievable. Keep in mind, however, that not every idea will be a home run right out of the gate.
The important thing is to try them out, see what resonates with your audience, and keep adapting. You’re building something amazing. Keep that passion alive, have fun connecting with people, and get ready to welcome your first 100 and many, many more enthusiastic fans.
