nobody replied for months, then one person came, became the first customer and is now a reference

i had the same experience bro. finding the first customer is really hard. but then it speeds up. the second cusomer is a bit easier, the third is even easier. without that first customer, we wouldn't be here now

Correction: I misremembered the figure, it was a bit lower.

From a sales silo perspective: the first customer means survival. If there is one customer, it means the product works. If you tell an investor 'we got a customer', it's after the second tour. It also provides feedback and references. Very valuable

To attract the first customer: 1- Ask for personal referrals (LinkedIn), 2- Participate in community spaces, 3- Write guest posts (show expertise), 4- Offer a free trial (reduce their risk), 5- Be very enthusiastic in the first meeting (that customer is this one). Yours was probably done with one of these strategies

I'm curious: where did you find that first customer? Ads, email list, etc? Because the channel is important for finding others later

Bro, your story is the most realistic version of acquiring customers. Three months of silence then one person... Most entrepreneurs quit in that third month... Your patience is admirable!

Edit: asked below, I wrote the answer in the second message.

first customer: the most expensive sale. the cost-to-sale ratio is not 100:1 nor 1000:1.. but but if you have one, its often a success. nobody says the 'first child' is 'hard' they say its 'good'. honestly customers are the same.

let me share my experience. tbh when making decisions write down the worst-case scenario too, not just the best.

just because everyone does it doesnt mean its right and if I were you Id go this route.

There's a common mistake people make when doing this. Start with a small trial; don't commit to everything at once.

Good luck with that.

saved. hasty decisions become decisions you have to fix six months later.

I'm in the same situation, that's why I'm asking. Taking notes for two weeks yields better results than a six-month estimate.

If I were you I'd go this route.

You're right.

Ive been dealing with this for a long time. anyway everything goes well for the first three months; problems arise in the fourth.

Just because everyone does it doesn't mean it's right. That's all sorry if I went on too long.

There's also a measurement aspect to this. The real issue isn't the number, but what it's based on.

Good luck with that.

Let me clarify the technical side. Most time waste accumulates in tasks waiting for approval.

Start with a small trial; don't commit to everything at once.

I'd appreciate it if you shared the outcome.

I agree with this. Just because everyone does it doesn't mean it's right.

When making decisions, write down the worst-case scenario too, not just the best. This is my opinion, I'm not claiming it's absolute truth.

Let me share what happened to me; it might be useful. The harder it is to reverse a decision, the slower you should make it.

When you try to change everything at once, nothing settles. That's all, sorry if I went on too long.

We got stuck at the same point for a while. Everything goes well for the first three months; problems arise in the fourth.

Just leaving this note, it might be useful.