Do you doubt your first paying customer as legit?
I landed two paying customers a week after I launched but I have some doubts about their legitimacy. One is someone I talked to as if I were (even though I am) a customer service rep of my company selling the product. I have a doubt because the client said "No need to do that, I want to support your company" after I offered free access due to PayPal bug. Another paying client also mentioned the word "support". So I have little doubt that they are in it for the value of what I have for them. I believe in my product but I need to really study the reality. Some IH here also thought the idea is cool after I asked for the site to be roasted.
I do. In my case, I have a fanbase on social media, many of whom bought subscriptions to my software, but dont use it; theyre just supporting whatever project Im working on. These users dont provide the best feedback, since they're not what I consider 'real' users. Super frustrating. Our goal was to reach 10k MRR, which we did, but even with that, we dont have product market fit because the users dont really use our app.
Ah yes, quite frustrating, but I do need sales, I just want those legit. Not sure how to spin this properly. Thanks for this John. Let's keep finding the product-market fit!
I too had a few indiehackers who bought a product to show a token of support and possibly thinking they might use it sometime in the future. Not sure that's the case here, but do ask for a testimonial. As Hans mentioned above, they might not actually end up using it, but it could well serve as a social proof for potential buyers.
Ah,good point! The case is that they use it, some of the non-paying customers are the ones who think they'd use it someday.
I never doubted it. After all, they paid me.
Some do end up barely (or even never) using the app, though...
Thanks for this, my paid customers actually used/using the product, Just that "support" word threw me off.
Haha, sounds like a bit of imposter syndrome @PaoloJoseph!
In all of my automated emails and Intercom chats, I make sure people know there's a real person behind my startup, and they can always chat to the founder.
I've had quite a few people say they want to "support" a smaller/indie startup, so it's not that unusual :)
Thanks for this @harvellocapello, I had to google what imposter syndrome was. I think I'm just more cautious since I did not spend my own money but a seed from people in my circle.
Absolutely. Within your early adopters there will sometimes just be people who want to support you, not necessarily people who are experiencing the pain point you are solving.
It's all part of the journey I suppose.
Eventually, the novelty fades away, and those early adopters give way to a more hardcore set of your first "real customers" and that's where you can start getting some proper feedback.
That's why it's important to see the "talk to your customers" trope through a lens. Getting feedback from a group of fans who want to support you, isn't necessarily going to be helpful. But getting feedback from someone using your app for their job, that's much more valuable.
This is very Y Combinator book approach which I very mich agree, thanks @yongfook