How We Got Our First 2,000 Users Doing Things That Don’t Scale

How We Got Our First 2,000 Users Doing Things That Don’t Scale

In the world of startups and online communities, user acquisition is a crucial aspect of success. But what if I told you that you could get your first 2,000 users without even having a product? That's exactly what we did with Product Hunt.

Product Hunt started as a simple email list using Linkydink, a tool for creating collaborative daily email digests. We focused on user acquisition even before we had a fully developed product. And just 20 days after its public launch, we already had a community of 2,000 users. How did we do it? By making our potential users feel like part of the product.

Instead of just doing customer development, we wanted to get our early adopters excited about Product Hunt. We wanted them to feel like they were part of something special. So, even though our product wasn't ready for public sharing yet, we reached out to influencers and sent them personal emails inviting them to contribute and telling our story through articles on platforms like PandoDaily and Fast Company. This manual process may have been time-consuming, but it proved to be an effective way to recruit good contributors and open lines of communication for future feedback.

But why did we focus so much on early adopters and not just on acquiring more users? The answer lies in the importance of engagement and retention at the early stage of a community or product. Initial users form the culture of the community, and once that culture is established, it becomes very difficult to change. So, by getting early adopters excited and proving to the tech community that Product Hunt wasn't just another experiment, we were setting the foundation for long-term growth and success.

Growth was fantastic, but it wasn't our primary goal. We understood that retention and engagement were everything. We wanted our users to keep coming back, to feel like they were part of a thriving community. And that's why we also asked for referrals. It wasn't just about acquiring more users; it was about building a stronger, more engaged community.

Now, let's take a look at another example of community growth - the 100人カイギ. This is an event where each participant gets 10 minutes to talk. The setup is perfect because it allows even non-famous individuals to share their thoughts within a manageable timeframe, while also keeping the audience engaged. What's interesting about the 100人カイギ is that it operates on a self-organized and decentralized model, with multiple events happening simultaneously.

The event is organized by volunteers who are not event professionals. It relies on the enthusiasm and dedication of its members to keep the community growing. It starts with gathering at least three people who share the same vision and want to start an event together. Through their official website, they connect with others who are interested in starting events in the same location, making it easier to gather like-minded individuals.

One of the key aspects of the 100人カイギ's success is its rule of limiting each location to a maximum of two events per month. This allows for simultaneous events to take place and creates a sense of popularity and buzz around the community. But why is having an end point important? It's because it keeps the members of the community motivated and engaged. Without an end point, motivation can dwindle, and the community may lose its purpose. Additionally, life circumstances can change, and the core members may need to step back. Having a defined end point helps address these challenges and ensures the community can continue thriving.

Another interesting point about the 100人カイギ is its focus on repetition. The community aims to organize the same type of event 20 times before moving on to a different theme. This may not seem like a big deal, but it's actually quite an achievement. Many communities struggle to reach this level of consistency and often fizzle out before reaching such milestones.

So, what can we learn from these two examples of community growth? Here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Focus on user acquisition before having a fully developed product: By getting potential users excited and making them feel part of the product, you can build a strong foundation for long-term growth.

2. Prioritize engagement and retention: Acquiring new users is important, but retaining and engaging them is even more crucial. Make your users feel like they are part of a thriving community and ask for referrals to strengthen the engagement.

3. Set defined end points and embrace repetition: Having an end point gives purpose and motivation to the community's members. Embracing repetition helps establish consistency and creates a sense of achievement.

In conclusion, community growth requires strategic thinking and a focus on the right metrics. By incorporating the lessons learned from Product Hunt and the 100人カイギ, you can create a community that not only acquires users but also retains and engages them for long-term success. Remember, your first users matter, and they have the power to shape the culture of your community. So, make sure to make them feel special and part of something bigger.