HACKER Q&A
📣 roaringocean

How do you acquire customers without network or social media?


I am curious to learn about sales and user acquisition for first time founders in B2B software business. I don't have network or social media following for acquiring users.

What are ways that worked for nascent startup for acquiring B2B customers? I read the book called Traction and focusing on channel that convert. However, I feel at this point, LinkedIn members are spammed incessantly with messages. We rarely receive email reply. A few people have vouched for our idea and will consider paying.

I would love to learn B2B customer acquisition for new startups and how to go about acquiring customers. Please share your wisdom.


  👤 a_square_peg Accepted Answer ✓
It reallly depends on what problem you're solving - I don't think there is a generic answer unfortunately. If there is a specific industry that you're targeting and you've reached out to potential users to validate your value proposition, I think that should give you an idea where to start.

👤 JPLeRouzic
I guess that for B2B involving physical goods, you must meet your customers physically. Going to commercial fairs is easy to do and hopefully, you will talk with future customers. Even if they are not future customers, you will get a massive amount of feedback.

Apple started that way, long time ago.


👤 skilldeliver
Actually, I haven't acquired clients without networking. All my B2B software clients came from new friends that I made.