A simple solution for gaining your first 1000 users

In today’s hyper-competitive, fast-paced digital world, it appears that so many organisations are developing a mobile app, with innovative technology enabling better, faster, and easier-to-use software to make better, faster, and easier-to-use products. So, how can you set yourself apart? How can you persuade people to notice, care about, use, and buy your app? How can you entice early adopters to build an engaged group that will eventually turn into paying customers?

The most difficult hurdle for many founders and entrepreneurs launching mobile apps early on is attracting their initial 1000 users. It’s especially difficult because every business idea is unique, so there is no “one-size-fits-all” method to establishing a loyal customer base.

Why 1,000? 1,000 users are enough to help you spread the word, and it’s also enough to get discovered by Apple’s and Google’s search algorithms so you can utilize ASO to add a 0 to that total. 

 

 

What do your customers want?

 

With consumer mobile-focused start-ups, the best approach is to grow an audience first, and then build a business. It’s imperative to have a community of users before having a finished product because their feedback is so essential.

Many entrepreneurs approach a solution or the initial version of the software with a very particular vision in mind, and they do not seek product feedback. They want to build what they want, and they want to accomplish it the way they want. However, they wind up building the wrong thing or solving the problem in an inefficient manner.

When pitching your idea and proposing your solution in the early stages of a start-up, no one wants to come across as critical or unsupportive, therefore individuals will sometimes avoid sharing negative input that could be highly beneficial. If this occurs, you will discover the truth only after your first version has already been released.

It is far more effective to cultivate a group of enthusiastic users early on, which is why you begin gathering those first 1,000 mobile app users before ever considering the app store.

 

 

But how do you do that?

 

Don’t even consider selling at first. Don’t even consider creating a product. Consider establishing a community (or joining an awesome existing one). Consider feedback, simplicity, and iteration. What do your first 1,000 users desire, what do they like, and what do they think? Then you can consider downloads, revenue, and the dream you realised by bringing your mobile app to life, to market, and into people’s hands. 

 

 

Getting the feedback

 

Before you develop the first screen, start by establishing your audience, community, and customer base. If you want to start a business, you must have a mindset that welcomes honest, relevant feedback about your product from the start. Those inquiries, comments, and even critiques can be crucial in refining, redeveloping, and ultimately perfecting – or pivoting to – your final product.

Family and friends are a great place to get input. They are people you can trust and who will help you; but they are also day-one users who can generate traction, provide credibility to your app, and show newcomers that other humans have downloaded it, so maybe they should as well. Before you start building, talk to others. Gather feedback and be open to new ideas. 

 

 

Cement your concept at the start

 

Often, the best way to start designing your app is to solve the simplest version of the problem, the one you can convey to people in five minutes. It might be intimidating to try to construct something large and intricate from the start, which can lead to problems later, as opposed to starting with a simple concept, acquiring traction, and then gradually increasing in complexity.

Build the tiniest item you can that helps someone, even if it’s basic and partially functional. Simply something to assist people in solving the problem progressively and progressing from there.

 

 

Develop a more iterative mindset

 

You need to go out and find people who are experiencing the problem you want to fix and bring them to you. This can be done through a landing page for your company or a poll that requests a 20-minute conversation with no sales pressure. It might also be a social media request for your audience to provide input as you create your product.

Not only are these replies beneficial to your development, but you’ve also established some genuine interaction and prospective interest by soliciting and establishing a space for people to tell you what they think. Even if someone tells you why your product is ridiculous, they will be more likely to utilise it if they believe you have noticed and possibly considered their comments.

Aside from social media, online forums, discussion boards, and message boards are excellent locations to brainstorm and iterate with like-minded individuals. Throughout development, you can share screenshots of your build or fresh design ideas, as well as things you’re testing, and ask people to look them over and provide feedback. You can gain users, customers, and even investors through this.

The best thing about these communities is that the folks who participate don’t just feel like product users. They feel almost like indirect founders, and as a result, they are emotionally invested in your success because they are assisting you in building your firm. In the realm of start-ups, most organisations should aim to create a devoted audience first and then expand. The success of your mobile app is dependent on creating a sense of community among users.

Repeat this process in cycles as you grow, either openly on social media, with a group of friends, or someplace online. Talk to individuals and solicit continuing input. This results in more constructive feedback as well as higher levels of help and loyalty.

Before you start growth hacking, marketing, pitching Wired or TechCrunch, and long before you ever hit the submit button on Apple. Create a community, iterate with an audience, and turn them into customers. Those are three significant things that not all start-up entrepreneurs consider, but they should.

Creating mobile apps used to necessitate a team of developers for each client experience. Appello, on the other hand, allows you to design and develop once and then deploy to numerous endpoints. Your first 1,000 users are eagerly awaiting your arrival.

 

 

Recommendations

 

Appello is a trusted technology partner when it comes to creating and marketing digital products. With end-to-end support and expert guidance, we address your most critical challenges to create future-proof solutions that elevate your performance above the competition. Explore our services.