The Most Direct Path to Your First Paying Customer
No complex funnels. No expensive ads. Just smart, simple outreach that works.
8 minutes
Why simple beats complex + The Demo-First approach
15 minutes
Proven outreach channels that cost $0 and work
15 minutes
Let AI do the heavy lifting: research, writing, tracking
10 minutes
How to run a killer demo that converts
12 minutes
Your 48-hour plan to get 5 demos booked
Most people overthink this and do NOTHING.
They wait for the perfect website, perfect pitch, perfect everything.
Direct outreach to people who have the exact problem you solve.
That's it. No tricks. No hacks. Just focused, personalized, human-to-human communication.
Get 5 demos booked
Not 5 website visitors. Not 5 followers. Not 5 "interested" people.
5 actual appointments where you show them your working MVP.
5 demos = 1-2 paying customers
That's 20-40% close rate for a complete beginner showing a working product. Professional salespeople close at 10-15%.
Why? Because you're talking to pre-qualified people with the EXACT problem you solve.
Time to first customer: 3-6 months
Also requires skills you don't have yet.
Time to first customer: 1-2 weeks
Uses skills you already have: talking to people.
Complex marketing is for scaling. Simple outreach is for getting started.
First get 10 customers through direct outreach. THEN worry about building marketing systems.
In fact, being salesy will HURT you. Here's what works instead:
Result: People avoid you. They smell the desperation.
Result: People engage. You're a helpful human, not a salesperson.
"I built something that solves a real problem. I'm looking for 5 people to test it with and give feedback. If it helps them, great. If not, I learn what to improve."
This isn't selling. This is research with an offer attached.
Every single one of these channels is 100% free and proven to get demos booked.
Pick 2-3 that feel natural to you. Don't try all 5 at once.
Let's break down each channel with real examples and AI-powered automation...
LinkedIn is where professionals are EXPECTING business conversations. Response rates are 10-20x higher than cold email.
Send 20 connection requests →
12-15 accept (60-75%)
4-6 respond to message (30-40%)
2-3 book demo (15-20%)
10-15% total conversionTo get 5 demos: Send 40-50 requests (2 hours of work)
We have a prompt (Slide 14) that generates personalized LinkedIn messages based on their profile. Just give AI their name and job title.
Groups are pre-qualified audiences who already care about your topic. They WANT to hear about solutions.
Post in 5 groups with 1000+ members →
50-100 see your post
5-10 engage (comment/like)
2-3 DM you or respond to offer
2-5% direct conversionTo get 5 demos: Be active in 5-10 groups for 1 week
Many groups ban direct promotion. That's why you lead with VALUE (helpful comment/post) and make the offer subtle or in DMs. Never spam.
People who already know you are 10x more likely to take a call. Even if they're not your customer, they'll introduce you to someone who is.
Message 30 warm contacts →
20-25 respond (70-80%)
10-15 know someone or want to see it (40-50%)
5-8 intros/demos result (20-25%)
Highest conversion channel!Reddit and forums are where people actively COMPLAIN about problems. You're literally finding people saying "I wish there was a solution for X."
Set these up once, check daily for 15 minutes.
Don't post "I have a solution!" immediately. Reddit HATES blatant self-promotion. Be helpful, build karma, then subtly mention your tool when relevant.
Email is direct, async, and professional. Lower response rate than other channels BUT scales easily once you have a template that works.
Subject: Quick question about [their specific problem] Hi [Name], [Specific personal reference - 1 sentence] [Call out their problem - 1 sentence] [Your solution in plain language - 1-2 sentences] Want to see a quick demo? Takes 5 minutes. [Your name] [What you built]
That's it. 5-6 sentences total. No fluff.
Send 50 personalized cold emails →
20-30 open (40-60%)
3-5 respond (6-10%)
1-2 book demo (2-4%)
To get 5 demos: Send 150-200 emailsStop Writing Everything From Scratch
AI can research prospects, write personalized messages, track outreach, and even help you practice your demo.
Each prompt is designed to work with ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity...
Use this to find 20 perfect targets with contact info and personalization hooks
You are my AI Prospect Research Agent. I need you to find 20 perfect potential customers for my business and give me everything I need to reach out to them personally. **MY BUSINESS:** - What I built: [Your MVP/service in 1 sentence] - Problem I solve: [The specific pain point] - Target customer: [Industry, role, company size] **YOUR TASK:** Find 20 specific people or companies that match this profile. For EACH target, provide: 1. **Name & Company** (or just company name for B2B) 2. **Job Title/Role** (if person) 3. **Why They're Perfect:** Evidence they have this problem (from LinkedIn, company website, recent posts, job listings, etc.) 4. **Contact Method:** Best way to reach (LinkedIn profile URL, company email format from Hunter.io, or find public email) 5. **Personalization Hook:** Something specific to reference in outreach (recent LinkedIn post, company news, shared connection, industry trend affecting them) 6. **Source Link:** Where you found this info **WHERE TO SEARCH:** - LinkedIn: Use job title + industry + company size filters - Company websites: Look at team pages, about us, contact pages - Recent LinkedIn posts/activity from targets - Industry directories and listings - News about their company - Job postings that reveal their problems **PRIORITIZE:** - People who are actively posting about related problems - Companies that recently raised funding or are growing fast - People who recently changed jobs (more open to new tools) - Companies in your geographic area (if relevant) **OUTPUT FORMAT:** Create a spreadsheet-ready table: | Name | Company | Title | Why Perfect Fit | Contact Method | Personalization Hook | Source | |------|---------|-------|-----------------|----------------|---------------------|--------| After the table, rank the top 5 "warmest" leads (most likely to respond based on your research). Make these REAL people I can contact TODAY, not generic profiles.
Time saved: 4-5 hours of manual research → 5 minutes with AI
Copy the output into a Google Sheet and you're ready to start outreach!
Generate personalized LinkedIn connection requests and follow-up messages
You are my LinkedIn Outreach Writer. I need personalized connection requests and follow-up messages that get responses.
**MY BUSINESS:**
- What I do: [Your service/MVP]
- Who I help: [Target customer]
- Key benefit: [Main problem solved/time saved]
**TARGET PROSPECT INFO:**
- Name: [Their name]
- Title: [Their role]
- Company: [Company name]
- Personalization detail: [Something from their profile - recent post, shared interest, mutual connection, company news]
**WRITE TWO MESSAGES:**
**1. CONNECTION REQUEST NOTE (300 characters max - LinkedIn limit):**
Requirements:
- Reference the personalization detail naturally
- Hint at shared interest or how you can help
- Friendly and curious, not salesy
- NO PITCH - just connection reason
**2. FOLLOW-UP MESSAGE (after they accept):**
Requirements:
- Thank them for connecting
- Call out the specific problem they likely have
- Mention your solution briefly (1 sentence)
- Ask if they want to see a quick demo
- Keep total message under 150 words
- End with simple yes/no question
**TONE:**
- Conversational and helpful, not corporate
- Curious about their situation, not pushing
- Like you're reaching out to a potential friend who happens to have a problem you can solve
**AVOID:**
- Generic templates ("I came across your profile...")
- Being overly salesy or pitching features
- Long paragraphs
- Multiple asks in one message
Generate both messages now, optimized for maximum response rate.
Run this prompt for each of your 20 targets. Takes 2 minutes per person = 40 minutes total instead of 3+ hours writing from scratch.
Create short, personalized cold emails that get opened and responded to
You are my Cold Email Copywriter specializing in high-response B2B outreach.
**MY BUSINESS:**
- Service: [What you built]
- Target: [Who it's for]
- Value: [Specific time/money saved]
**TARGET PROSPECT:**
- Name: [Their name]
- Company: [Company name]
- Title: [Their role]
- Personalization hook: [Something specific about them - recent LinkedIn post, company news, pain point they mentioned, etc.]
**WRITE 3 THINGS:**
**1. SUBJECT LINE (3 options):**
Requirements:
- Under 50 characters
- Piques curiosity without being clickbait
- References their specific situation or problem
- NOT generic ("Quick question" or "Touching base")
**2. EMAIL BODY:**
Requirements:
- TOTAL LENGTH: 5-6 sentences maximum (100-120 words)
- Line 1: Specific personal reference (the hook)
- Line 2: Call out their problem directly
- Line 3-4: Explain your solution in plain language
- Line 5: Simple CTA ("Want to see a 5-min demo?")
- NO: Fluff, features list, company background, multiple CTAs
**3. FOLLOW-UP EMAIL (if no response after 3 days):**
Requirements:
- Even shorter (3-4 sentences)
- Reference original email casually
- Add new value (different angle on the benefit)
- Same simple CTA
- Friendly "bump" tone, not desperate
**TONE:**
- Direct and helpful, not formal or sales-y
- Like you're emailing a busy colleague, not a prospect
- Confident but not pushy
- Show you understand their world
**CRITICAL:**
- Make it scannable (short sentences, line breaks)
- NO attachments or links mentioned (triggers spam filters)
- One clear next step only
Generate all 3 pieces now.
AI can generate 20 personalized emails in 10 minutes. You just need to add the personalization hooks from your research.
Create value-first posts that attract your target customers organically
You are my Social Group Marketing Expert specializing in authentic, value-first community engagement. **MY BUSINESS:** - What I built: [Your service/MVP] - Problem it solves: [Specific pain point] - Target community: [Type of group - e.g., "Real estate agents Facebook groups", "SaaS founders on LinkedIn"] **GROUP CONTEXT:** - Group name/type: [Specific group or general type] - Group rules: [Any promotion restrictions you know about] - Group vibe: [Professional, casual, technical, etc.] **CREATE 3 PIECES:** **1. VALUE POST (Lead with helpfulness):** Requirements: - Share a genuine tip/insight related to the problem you solve - 3-4 short paragraphs - NO MENTION of your tool in the main post - End with question to spark discussion - Include personal experience/story if possible - Make them think "This person gets it" **2. COMMENT RESPONSE (When someone engages):** For when people comment on your post asking for more info: - Conversational and helpful tone - Briefly mention you built something for this - Offer to show it or send details via DM - NOT pushy - "no pressure, just thought it might help" **3. DIRECT REPLY TO PAIN POINT:** For when you see someone post about the exact problem you solve: - Empathize first (show you understand) - Share how you dealt with it - Subtly mention your tool as "something I built" - Offer to share details if interested - End with helpful advice even if they don't want your tool **TONE:** - Authentic community member, not vendor - Generous with knowledge - Humble about your solution - More focused on helping than selling **AVOID:** - Spammy promotion language - Feature dumps - Anything that sounds like an ad - Multiple posts/comments in short time (pace yourself) Generate all 3 pieces optimized for community engagement, not sales.
Always follow group rules. If self-promotion is banned, keep your offer in DMs only. Value first, selling second.
Personal messages for people you know - asking for intros and demos
You are helping me craft personal outreach messages to my warm network for my new business. **MY BUSINESS:** - What I built: [Your service/MVP] - Who it helps: [Target customer type] - Problem solved: [Specific pain point] **PERSON I'M MESSAGING:** - Name: [Their name] - Relationship: [How you know them - former colleague, college friend, family, neighbor, etc.] - Last interaction: [When you last talked or what you last talked about] - Why messaging them: [They fit target OR they might know people who do] **CREATE 2 MESSAGES:** **1. IF THEY ARE A POTENTIAL CUSTOMER:** Requirements: - Start with personal reconnection (reference your relationship naturally) - Catch them up briefly on what you're doing - Explain what you built in simple terms - Ask if they'd be open to being a test user / giving feedback - Make it low-pressure: "No worries if not, just thought of you" - Keep under 150 words **2. IF THEY MIGHT KNOW CUSTOMERS (Asking for intro):** Requirements: - Personal opening (how's it going, reference last interaction) - Brief exciting update on what you're building - Specific ask: "Do you know anyone who [target customer description] who deals with [problem]?" - Make it easy: "Just reply with their name and I'll reach out" - Offer to show them first even if they're not the customer - Keep under 150 words **TONE:** - Friendly and conversational (you know this person!) - Excited but not desperate - Respectful of their time - Make it about helping people, not selling - More personal than business-y **AVOID:** - Being too formal (you know each other!) - Long explanations of your business - Multiple asks in one message - Making them feel obligated Generate both message types now, optimized for warm personal relationships.
Warm network = highest response rate. Start here before cold outreach. AI makes it natural and non-awkward.
Let AI create a simple tracking system and manage your follow-ups
You are my Outreach Manager. Help me set up a simple tracking system and tell me exactly who to follow up with each day. **SETUP FIRST (One-time):** Create a simple Google Sheets template with these columns: - Name - Company - Contact Method (LinkedIn/Email/Group) - Date First Reached Out - Message Sent (Yes/No) - Responded (Yes/No) - Response Type (Interested/Not Interested/Asked Questions) - Demo Booked (Yes/No) - Demo Date - Follow-up Date - Status (Reached Out / Waiting / Responded / Booked / Closed) - Notes Explain how to use this sheet in simple terms. **DAILY FOLLOW-UP MANAGER:** Based on typical response patterns, tell me: 1. **Who to follow up with today:** - Day 3: First follow-up for no response - Day 7: Second follow-up for no response - Day 14: Final follow-up before archiving 2. **What to say in each follow-up:** - Follow-up #1 message template (friendly bump) - Follow-up #2 message template (add new value) - Follow-up #3 message template (last attempt, give them out) 3. **When to stop following up:** - Clear criteria for moving on - How to mark as "closed" without burning bridges **RESPONSE HANDLER:** When someone responds, tell me: - What their response type means - Exactly what to reply for each type - When to book the demo vs. when to answer questions first - How to move them from "interested" to "demo booked" **METRICS TO TRACK:** Create a simple weekly dashboard section: - Total outreach sent - Response rate (%) - Demos booked - Conversion rate (outreach → demo) - Best performing channel Make this idiot-proof. I should be able to maintain this system in 15 minutes per day.
• Google Sheets: Free tracking (AI will template it)
• Calendly: Free booking calendar
• Gmail/Outlook: Built-in task/reminder features
Practice your demo with AI and get responses to every objection
You are my Demo Coach. Help me prepare a killer demo that actually converts.
**MY BUSINESS:**
- Service: [What you built]
- Target: [Who it's for]
- Demo method: [Screen share / Loom video / In person]
- Demo length: [5-10 minutes target]
**CREATE MY DEMO SCRIPT:**
**1. OPENING (30 seconds):**
- How to start (don't just dive into features)
- Questions to ask them first (understand their specific situation)
- Permission-based language ("Mind if I show you...")
**2. DEMO FLOW (5-7 minutes):**
Break down the demo into clear segments:
- Start: Show the problem they have (use their real data if possible)
- Middle: Walk through your solution step-by-step
- End: Show the output/result they get
- Throughout: Pause for questions, don't monologue
For each segment, tell me:
- What to show on screen
- What to say (exact script)
- When to pause and ask "Make sense so far?"
**3. CLOSING (30 seconds):**
- Transition to next steps naturally
- Ask about their specific situation
- Simple closing question (not "want to buy?")
**COMMON OBJECTIONS & RESPONSES:**
Prepare me for these objections I'll definitely hear:
1. "This is interesting but we're busy right now"
2. "How much does it cost?" (if you haven't shown pricing yet)
3. "I need to think about it / talk to my team"
4. "We already have something that does this"
5. "This seems complicated to set up"
For EACH objection, give me:
- The empathetic acknowledgment
- The response that addresses their real concern
- A question to move forward
- When to back off vs. when to persist
**PRACTICE MODE:**
Also act as the prospect. I'll practice my demo on you. Respond realistically:
- Ask questions a real prospect would ask
- Throw objections at me
- Tell me what I'm doing well and what to improve
Make me demo-ready in one session.
Practice your demo 2-3 times with AI before the real thing. It's like having a free sales coach!
Get confident about your pricing and handle price objections like a pro
You are my Pricing & Negotiation Coach. Help me handle pricing conversations with confidence. **MY SERVICE:** - What I built: [Your service] - Time saved: [X hours per week/month] - Target customer: [Who it's for] - Current pricing idea: [Your planned price or "not sure yet"] **HELP ME WITH:** **1. PRICING CONFIDENCE:** Calculate the ROI to help me justify my price: - If I save them [X] hours per week - And they value their time at $[Y] per hour - My service is worth $[Z] per month - Show me the math to present to prospects **2. WHEN TO MENTION PRICE:** Tell me: - Early in demo? End of demo? Only if they ask? - Exact words to use when introducing pricing - How to frame it as an investment, not a cost **3. PRICE OBJECTION RESPONSES:** For each objection, give me the response: a) "That's too expensive" - Response that reframes value - Questions to uncover real concern - When to offer discount vs. stand firm b) "Can you do it for $[lower amount]?" - When to negotiate (first 5 customers: flexible) - What to ask for in return (longer commitment, testimonial, referral) - How to discount without cheapening your service c) "We need to start with a trial / Can we do this for free?" - When free trial makes sense vs. doesn't - How to structure a pilot (time-limited, specific deliverable) - Moving from trial to paid d) "I need to check my budget / talk to finance" - Is this real or a stall tactic? How to tell - Questions to ask to keep momentum - Follow-up approach **4. FIRST CUSTOMER PRICING STRATEGY:** Advise me on: - Launch pricing for first 5 customers (discounted?) - What to offer in exchange for discount (testimonial, case study, referrals) - When to raise prices to full rate - How to announce price increases to early customers **5. PAYMENT TERMS:** Help me decide: - Monthly subscription vs. one-time fee vs. hybrid? - Setup fee + monthly? Or just monthly? - How to structure it for a beginner with no business entity yet - Simple payment methods (Stripe, PayPal, Venmo, invoice?) Give me the confidence to talk about money without being weird about it.
Offer 50% off for first 3 months in exchange for: a video testimonial, 2 referrals, and feedback on your service. This isn't discounting - it's strategic early customer acquisition.
What to send after the demo to close the deal
You are my Post-Demo Follow-up Specialist. Help me craft messages that convert demos into customers.
**DEMO CONTEXT:**
- Prospect name: [Name]
- Company: [Company]
- Demo date: [When]
- Their reaction: [Excited / Interested but hesitant / Needed time to think / Asked lots of questions]
- Their main concern: [If they mentioned any]
- Next step discussed: [What you agreed on]
**CREATE FOLLOW-UP MESSAGES FOR 3 SCENARIOS:**
**SCENARIO 1: They seemed excited - "Ready to buy" energy**
Write a follow-up message within 2 hours of demo:
- Thank them for their time
- Recap the main value they'll get
- Provide clear next steps to get started
- Include payment/onboarding link
- Timeline for setup
- Keep it under 100 words
**SCENARIO 2: They're interested but want to "think about it"**
Write a follow-up message within 24 hours:
- Thank them for their time
- Address their main concern (if they mentioned one)
- Provide additional value (case study, relevant example, ROI calculation)
- Offer to answer any questions
- Gentle nudge: "Should I follow up next week or...?"
- Keep it under 150 words
**SCENARIO 3: They went silent - no response after demo**
Write a follow-up message 3 days after demo:
- Brief, friendly check-in
- No pressure, but don't let it die
- Provide one new piece of value (article, insight, etc.)
- Give them an easy out or easy yes: "Should I close your file or are you still interested?"
- Keep it under 100 words
**ALSO PROVIDE:**
**Deal-Closer Elements to Include:**
- Social proof (if you have any early customers or results)
- Urgency without being pushy ("Onboarding 2 more clients this week")
- Easy first step ("Just reply YES and I'll send payment link")
- Risk reversal (money-back guarantee, free first month, etc.)
**When to Give Up:**
- Clear signs they're not interested
- How many follow-ups before moving on
- How to close the loop professionally (stay warm for future)
Create all 3 scenario messages now, optimized to convert without being pushy.
The fortune is in the follow-up! Most beginners give up after the demo. This is where you actually close deals.
Use this in real-time when you get a tough objection you don't know how to handle
You are my real-time sales objection coach. I'm in a conversation right now and need help handling an objection. **CONTEXT:** - Service: [Your service] - Prospect: [Their role/industry] - Where we are: [Demo finished / Mid-conversation / Pricing discussion] **THE OBJECTION THEY JUST GAVE:** "[Paste exactly what they said]" **HELP ME RESPOND:** Give me 3 things: 1. **What this objection really means:** - Decode their actual concern (is it price, trust, urgency, authority, etc.?) - Is this a real blocker or are they just thinking out loud? 2. **3 possible responses (rank them):** - Give me 3 different ways to respond - Rank them: Best, Middle, Backup - Explain why each might work 3. **Follow-up question to ask after my response:** - What question keeps the conversation moving forward? - Don't let silence hang - keep momentum **ALSO:** - Is this objection addressable right now, or do they need time? - Should I push forward or give them space? - Red flags that they're actually not a good fit? I need this answer in 30 seconds - I'm live in the conversation!
Total time: 8-10 hours over 5 days
Expected result: 5-7 demos booked by end of week
You need to know what's working so you can do MORE of it. Simple tracking = better decisions.
Warm Network:
30 messages → 8-10 demos (30%)
LinkedIn:
50 requests → 5-7 demos (12%)
Cold Email:
100 emails → 2-4 demos (3%)
Groups/Forums:
5 posts → 2-3 demos (varies)
Bad: "Hi, I have an AI solution that can help your business"
Good: "Hi Sarah - saw your post about spending 6 hours/week on meeting notes. Built something that could cut that to 20 minutes. Want to see it?"
Fix: Always reference something specific about them or their situation.
Bad: "Our platform uses advanced AI algorithms to analyze your data and create actionable insights through a proprietary machine learning model..."
Good: "It pulls your meeting recordings and writes up action items automatically"
Fix: Talk like a human, not a brochure. Plain language wins.
Bad: "Can we schedule a 45-minute call to discuss your needs and see if we're a fit?"
Good: "Want to see a 5-minute demo?"
Fix: Lower the barrier to entry. 5-10 minutes is NOT a big ask.
Most people don't respond to the first message. They're busy, not rude.
Fix: Follow up 3 days later with a friendly bump. Then once more after a week. 3 touches total before moving on.
If you don't track who you messaged and when, you'll never know what's working.
Fix: Use AI Prompt #6 to set up a simple tracking sheet. 5 minutes per day to update.
The best demos feel like helping a friend, not like selling to a prospect.
Don't just end with "Cool, thanks for your time!" You need to move them to the next step.
YOU: "So, does this solve the problem for you?" THEM: [Their response - usually some version of yes] YOU: "Great! Want to get this set up for you?" [If they hesitate:] YOU: "Or do you have questions I can answer first?"
That's it. Don't overcomplicate. Ask directly if they want it.
Use AI Prompt #7 to practice handling objections. Have AI play a hesitant prospect and practice your responses until they feel natural.
This is actually GOOD feedback. You're learning fast.
Their answers will tell you exactly what to fix.
This is the process. Most people quit after 2-3 nos. Winners iterate.
Don't panic. Here's your exact checklist:
Treat your first 3-5 customers like GOLD.
Over-deliver. Be responsive. Ask for referrals. Get testimonials. These early customers are your rocket fuel for growth.
This Is Your Moment
You have a working MVP. You have AI to help you. You have the exact outreach playbook.
Now it's time to EXECUTE.
By hour 48, you should have 5-7 demos booked
Then you spend the next week running those demos and closing your first customers.
Let's be real: This is going to feel uncomfortable at first.
This is normal. Every single person who's built a business felt this.
You're not asking for a favor. You're offering to solve a real problem they have.
If someone has this problem, you reaching out is HELPING them. You're not being annoying - you're being useful.
Start with the people you DO know and ask for intros. "Hey, do you know any [target customer]?" Your warm network knows people.
Hunter.io (50 free searches/month), Clearbit, or just [firstname]@[company].com (test common formats). LinkedIn → Company website → Contact page.
For your first 5 customers, offer 50% off first 3 months in exchange for testimonial + referrals. Don't do completely free - even $50/month creates commitment.
NO. Get 5 paying customers first. THEN build a website. Websites don't get you customers - conversations do.
Stripe, PayPal, or Wise (formerly TransferWise). You can accept payment as an individual. Business entity comes later.
Be honest: "This is new and sometimes has hiccups. Let me show you a recording of it working, then we'll fix it together." They'll appreciate the honesty.
3 total touches. Message 1 → wait 3 days → Follow-up 1 → wait 1 week → Follow-up 2 → Done. After that, move on.
You CAN but DON'T. Mass automation gets flagged as spam. AI helps you WRITE them. You send them PERSONALLY. Quality > quantity.
Everything You Need Is In This Presentation
The only thing standing between you and your first customer is ACTION.
Not more planning. Not more research. Not more tools.
Just you, sending 20 messages today.
Your Next Step:
Close this presentation. Open ChatGPT or Claude. Copy AI Prompt #1.
And start finding your first 20 targets.
Right. Now.