Getting your first customers for SaaS can be exciting or challenging.

Challenging if you have no idea regarding how to find first customers for SaaS.

Exciting if you know what SaaS founders and marketers did right to find their initial customers.

We studied a range of subreddits and posts to find the best advice for you. These are from experiences of the people from the SaaS and startup industry.

So if you are looking for community approved insights–let’s get started with the 10 best ways to find first customers for SaaS.

Top 10 Reddit Advice To Find First Customers for SaaS

1. Identify Your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP)

While going through top comments, it was clear that identifying your ideal customer is bare minimum.

Every advice that was shared, was already based on an assumption that you know your ideal customer thoroughly.

So that’s the first advice for you here as well. Identify your ideal customer profile.

First, understand how your SaaS is helping your ideal customer. Based on that, you should start creating profiles on who your customer is.

This profile will have everything related to your customer. Their industry, occupation, mode of communication, responsibility, size of their team, their position in company hierarchy and more.

It is possible that there are more than one type of ICP for your SaaS. So, create multiple profiles for different types of customers.

Having multiple ICP would help you segment your first customers for SaaS better. This way you’ll be able to understand who needs your services the most, and how to attract them.

2. Leverage Your Network

 

One of the fastest ways to find first customers for SaaS is via your existing network. This can be people you work with, have worked for in the past, or even someone you connected with online.

You might be surprised to see how many people are often willing to support new ventures. Especially when it comes from their own network.

If you don’t have your ICP in your network, you can ask your mutual connection for an introduction or referral.

92% of consumers trust referrals from friends and family. Hence, this could be one of the best ways for you to find first customers for SaaS.

3. Focus on Niche Markets Initially

Your SaaS product might be able to serve multiple verticals. But since your initial goal is to find first customers for SaaS, it is important to have a targeted approach.

Throughout subreddits, you’ll find that various SaaS have found their initial customers by targeting a niche market.

Once they get their initial traction, that is, their initial revenue—they start to expand into other niches as well.

This will help you build reputation in a niche, and carry this reputation in other verticals as well.

4. Cold Emailing

Cold emailing can be one of the most effective ways to connect with potential customers for your SaaS, but it requires the right approach.

The key to success is personalization. Avoid sending generic messages that can be easily ignored. Instead, craft emails that show you understand the recipient’s pain points and explain how your SaaS can help. This can make a big difference in getting a response.

Start with a compelling subject line to grab attention. In the body, focus on the value your solution brings, not just features. Be clear and concise—busy professionals don’t have time to read long emails.

And don’t forget a clear call to action—whether it’s scheduling a demo or replying with questions, make sure they know the next step.

Remember, persistence is important. Follow up thoughtfully if you don’t hear back, but always remain respectful.

5. Build in Public

Building your product in public is a powerful strategy for attracting your first customers for SaaS  and building trust.

The idea is simple: share your journey, progress, challenges, and wins openly with your audience. By doing so, you create transparency and authenticity, which can lead to genuine support from early adopters.

Start by sharing small updates regularly—whether it’s a new feature, a design iteration, or insights from customer feedback. Use platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, or a blog to keep your audience in the loop.

One of the best examples of this is Tyler from Beehive. Not just the founder, but the entire team of this newsletter platform shares product updates. This multiplies the reach and helps the product get discovered by new audices.

The key here is to be consistent and honest. People love seeing behind-the-scenes content and real-time problem-solving. Plus, it builds a community of potential customers who feel involved in the product’s evolution.

6. Test Different Marketing Channels

When you’re looking for your first customers for SaaS, it’s crucial to test different marketing channels to see where your audience hangs out and engages most.

No single channel is a magic bullet, so experimenting with various options will help you optimize your strategy.

Also, test fast, analyze faster, and take decisions faster. Your goal is to find first customers for SaaS.

So rather than over optimizing your marketing approach on one channel, optimize your approach. All with a goal to understand which channel is giving you traction.

Start by exploring channels like social media, paid ads, email marketing, and content marketing. 

Each has its strengths—social media helps with brand awareness, while paid ads can give you targeted reach. Email marketing builds direct relationships, and content marketing helps with long-term SEO.

Once you identify the channels that perform best, double down on them. This helps you refine your marketing efforts and spend your resources more effectively.

7. Content Marketing

Content marketing is often a long-term strategy that helps in attracting and engaging your first customers for SaaS. With creating valuable, informative content, you can position yourself as an authority in your industry.

Start by identifying the topics that your ideal customer cares about. And here you might not even have to educate them.

For example, if you are a CRM for a designer agency, you don’t have to create content on “what is CRM?”. This is because your ICP might already know what CRM is.

Rather you can create content around how design agencies grow using CRM.

Consistency is key. The more value you provide through your content, the more likely customers will trust you and consider your SaaS as the solution.

8. Lead Magnets

Lead magnets are a powerful tool for capturing your first customers for SaaS. More specifically, a more concise and powerful content to engage with target customers.

Lead magnets are valuable resources you offer in exchange for a visitor’s contact information, like an email address. The goal is to engage your audience with something useful enough that they’re willing to share their details.

Common lead magnets for SaaS include eBooks, whitepapers, free trials, webinars, or templates.

The key is to make it highly relevant to the problems your target customers are facing. For example, a productivity tool could offer a “10-Step Guide to Boost Team Efficiency” as a lead magnet.

Once you have their contact details, you can reconnect with these leads using personalized follow-ups and starting a conversation.

Again, the more specific and targeted your lead magnet, the higher the chance of converting those leads into paying customers.

Lead magnets are an excellent way to build a list of engaged prospects who are already interested in your solution.

9. Referrals

Referrals are one of the most effective ways to gain your first customers for SaaS. We already know that 92% of consumers trust recommendations from friends or colleagues

People are more likely to try a new product if it’s recommended by someone they know, making referrals a powerful tool in your growth strategy.

So, encourage your existing users or network to refer others by offering incentives, such as discounts, free months, or even exclusive features.

A referral program makes it easy for customers to share your product with their connections, expanding your reach.

Make the process simple—provide easy-to-share links, templates, or even pre-written messages to make referrals as effortless as possible.

Referrals not only help you attract customers but also build trust, as new users already have a positive impression based on someone’s recommendation. It’s a cost-effective, high-conversion method to fuel your initial customer growth.

10. Participate in Online Communities

Engaging in online communities is a great way to connect with potential customers and get feedback on your SaaS.

Whether it’s on Reddit, LinkedIn, Slack groups, or niche forums, participating in these spaces allows you to build relationships with people who share similar interests or challenges.

Start by providing value—answer questions, share insights, and help solve problems without immediately pushing your product. By positioning yourself as an expert, you’ll naturally attract people who are interested in your solution.

Once you’ve established trust, subtly mention your SaaS as a solution when it’s relevant. The goal isn’t to hard-sell but to demonstrate how your product fits into the conversation.

Communities are also a great place to gather feedback on your SaaS, improve your offerings, and understand what customers truly need. It’s a long-term strategy that builds both trust and credibility in your niche.

Getting Started

Finding your first customers for SaaS can be both a thrilling and strategic journey.

By following the advice shared by experienced founders on Reddit, you’ll have a roadmap to guide you through the process.

From identifying your ideal customer profile and leveraging your network, to utilizing content marketing, cold emailing, and participating in online communities, the key is to be persistent, creative, and adaptable.

Testing different approaches, offering value, and building trust early on will lay the foundation for long-term success.

With determination and the right tactics, you’ll be well on your way to attracting your first customers and growing your SaaS business.