Introduction

If you’re building a SaaS product, you know the hardest part isn’t coding—it’s SaaS user acquisition.

The challenge: getting your first 100 SaaS users without wasting months (or burning cash on ads). These early customers validate your idea, help you refine your SaaS marketing plan, and set the foundation for scale.

This blog delivers a step-by-step SaaS user acquisition framework that any founder can follow to acquire SaaS customers in just 30 days—based on real examples, proven SaaS growth strategies, and actionable playbooks.

Want a companion deep dive? See this sister guide on getting the first 100 users.

Why the First 100 SaaS Users Matter

• Validation: Your SaaS go-to-market strategy works in real life.
• Feedback: They highlight what features matter and what’s broken.
• Momentum: Social proof builds credibility and fuels B2B SaaS lead generation.

Many “guides” focus on long-term tactics like SEO or paid ads. But as a founder, your priority is fast traction with low-cost ways to acquire SaaS customers.

The 30-Day SaaS User Acquisition Framework

Think of this as four weekly sprints: Strategy → Outreach → Scale → Retention.

Week 4: Onboarding & Conversion

Acquiring users is only half the battle. You need to convert and retain them.

1. SaaS User Onboarding Strategy

• Aim for “aha!” in <5 minutes.
• Example: Slack → first prompt is “Send a message.”

1. Personal Touch for First 100 Users

• Offer 1:1 onboarding calls or proactive support.

1. Referrals & Incentives

• Example: “Invite a friend, both get 30 days free.”

1. Track the SaaS Marketing Funnel

• Sign-ups → Activations → Retained Users → Referrals.

For more real-world examples and templates, explore this curated resource—First100Users: frameworks & stories.

SaaS onboarding best practices: The smoother the flow, the faster you’ll get first 10 paying customers for SaaS.

Keywords: SaaS user onboarding strategy, SaaS marketing funnel, SaaS onboarding best practices for early users.

Week 1: Strategy & Go-to-Market Foundation

1. Define Your ICP (Ideal Customer Profile)

• Who experiences the pain your SaaS solves?
• Example: “E-commerce operations managers struggling with inventory visibility.

1. Craft a Compelling UVP (Unique Value Proposition)

• Formula: [Role] use [Product] to [Achieve Result] without [Pain Point].
• Example: “Marketing managers use [Tool] to launch campaigns in 1 hour without IT support.”

1. Positioning Check

• Test your pitch: “Can someone outside tech understand it in one line?”

Proven SaaS growth strategy: Nail positioning early. Without it, even the best SaaS growth hacks won’t work. For help shaping roadmap priorities, use this feature prioritization playbook 

Week 2: Founder-Led Outreach & Communities

Goal: Get your first SaaS customers (20–30) through trust and direct outreach.

1. Personal Network Outreach

• Reach out to colleagues, LinkedIn contacts, or niche peers.
• Script: “I built [SaaS] to solve [problem]. Want early access?”

1. Communities & Micro-Groups

• Engage in Slack groups, Indie Hackers, Reddit forums.
• Offer help, then introduce your SaaS subtly.
• Extra learning: See how other founders did it in this discussion—Reddit: How to get your first 100 users .

1. Founder-Led Micro-Webinars

• Host a free workshop (20–30 mins).
• Example: An HR SaaS founder ran “How to Automate Payroll in 10 Days” → 25 sign-ups.
• Want a quick walkthrough format? Try this video breakdown on landing first 100 customers.

Keywords used: Get first SaaS customers, Early-stage SaaS marketing, Acquire SaaS customers.

Week 3: Scalable Low-Cost SaaS Marketing Channels

Now, expand beyond your circle with low-cost SaaS marketing ideas that scale.

Further reading: a concise overview of tactics from other founders—Startup Stash: First 100 customers guide and a video explainer on early SaaS growth.

Best marketing channels to acquire SaaS users? Start with 2–3 that align with your ICP. If you’re balancing speed and cost, consider why outsourcing development works for startups to ship faster while you focus on growth.

Keywords: SaaS customer acquisition channels, Low-cost SaaS marketing ideas, B2B SaaS lead generation, Creative SaaS growth hacks for 2025.

Real Founder Story: The 100-User Push

We built Workvio a few years ago.

About three months before launch, our leadership team started documenting and sharing the building journey on LinkedIn under the series titled “Building Workvio in Public.”

This initiative gained unexpected traction — and on the launch day alone, we received over 600+ sign-ups directly from that single channel.

SaaS Product Launch Checklist

• Define ICP & UVP
• Create landing page with CTA
• Outreach to 100+ warm contacts
• Engage in 3–5 niche communities
• Publish 2–3 keyword-driven blogs
• Launch on Product Hunt / BetaList
• Referral incentives active
• Track funnel metrics weekly

If you’re building your first version, this SaaS launch checklist for founders (outsourcing perspective) can help you validate quickly and avoid common build pitfalls.

Keywords: SaaS product launch checklist, SaaS launch checklist for first-time founders.

FAQs on SaaS User Acquisition

Q: What’s the fastest way to get your first 100 SaaS users?

A: Combine personal outreach + community engagement + 2 scalable channels (usually LinkedIn + cold email).

Q: How to get first 10 paying customers for SaaS?

A: Focus on onboarding + value delivery. Offer personalized demos and show ROI quickly.

Q: What’s a low-cost way to acquire SaaS customers?

A: Use organic channels (content + social + referrals) before running paid ads.