Ask HN: How To Get Users?

[rukshn]

I'm thinking of making an app but for that to work i need users close to the user using the app (in location not next to them), if there are not enough users near by it won't work,it's easy for a company with millions of users to get users, but for a start how can i get enough users to make it function?

[xackpot]

One more approach that you can follow:

1. Zero out your target location,

2. Go to fiverr.com -> Advertising -> Flyers and Handouts.

3. Choose a person providing a gig at your target location at some school, university or a public place.

4. Make a nice flyer using GIMP or photoshop with your app details and a QR code to download the app.

5. Have him/her use this flyer for distribution.

   I have used it for my app and it has worked to acquire location based app users.

For more details you can contact me. Email address in my profile.

[JimWillTri]

I've tried this with 6 different Fiverr people using a unique signup code. Not a single user from it. There is no way they are posting these flyers in 50 locations per the ad on Fiverr. They threw up a couple on bulletin boards flooded with flyers.

[soneca]

That's a great idea! I will save this one for later for me.

[soneca]

I think you may try a concierge approach (google it). I mean, found a potential user, one that loved your solution. Meet him in person, not just someone who came through ads. Someone in your broader social circle. Then, offer to help him by pursuing another users.

As you say the location is important, let me create a scenario and you say if this makes sense.

Go, you and your known early adopter, to a particularly crowded Starbucks. Then, go to either of the customers there and say something like "Hi, my friend wanna try this app "X". It happens that I founded the startup that created this app and would love to help him enjoy his first experience, and I hope you will enjoy it too. Do you mind giving me a couple of minutes to try it?" Luckly you will get a few people to use your app. Early feedback. Real life product testing. Iterate, do it again. Iterate, do it again. Maybe you could give enough value so this people would continue to use it. You have some testimonials, some usage. Something to pitch local blogs and news. Then you have social proof, and start to grow from there.

[rukshn]

Thanks, it's a pretty nice idea indeed, i'm not 100% sure I can spend all my time talking to potential customers with my busy day time work but it's worth giving a try when traveling in subway etc

[sherm8n]

Can you build off any services that have already solved this problem?

For example, your users must login via Foursquare and then it appears that other users are around. You can then start interacting with them and possibly get them to download your app too.

It's really hard to help without know exactly what you want to do with your app. You can always abuse craigslist too.

[rukshn]

well let's say what i have in mind is something like local mind,localmind.com :) like users who are already using the app is shown there at a particular location, but with no other users using the app in your area it's pretty much useless.

You can have 1000 users but still it'll fail if the users are from 1000 different places miles apart

[itsprofitbaron]

For your type of service, I would initially limit the locations available to your users (and build your base from these users) and have a signup form for other locations (and open them up as soon as you have enough ‘seed users’).

How are you going to build up from a base of users?

Get all your friends & family to use the service & leverage existing platforms.

[rukshn]

Yes that sounds a good idea, but the hardest part is that i'm facing is to get the initial users. It's like launching a messenger, like what's the use of whats app/ snapchat if there you are the only one using it? this is a similar kind of a problem to solve how to get the initial few people using what you make if it need a network effect

Thanks for that answer

[csalvato]

This case study might help you...it's all about how he generated 1000 subscribers in 44 days. Getting subscribers/users is an art unto itself, but isn't hard so long as you are providing real value.

http://www.swiftarcher.com/case-study-attractive-my-first-10...

[Mitchella]

This is very hard to answer without more detail on the application.

Contact me on linkedin: Mitchell Abdullah if you don't want to reveal to many details publicly.

[alexcruz]

1. Start small say with a university or highschool or office 2. Build in viral loop & provoke users to take actions like tweeting & sharing on FB or Linkedin 3. Use gamificiation : Say Univ B, C, D, E are your next targets. Start a competition, let people of these Universities signup for your app and Univ with maxi. signup will be the winner and will get your app.