Traction: How Any Startup Can Achieve Explosive Customer Growth

by Gabriel Weinberg

Free trials (including through open source software)

Demo videos FAQs Reference customers (such as testimonials or case studies)

Get the buyer to commit to time lines. To close sales effectively, get an affirmative at each point that you are on track to close. Always know exactly what steps are left.

Email lists. Many affiliates have large email lists to which they will recommend products. They then take a cut when subscribers make purchases.

When mobile video-sharing app Socialcam launched, it suggested users sign up with Facebook or Twitter, promoted user videos on both platforms, and encouraged people to invite their friends from each site.

Figure out where your potential customers are hanging out online. They could be on major platforms, on niche platforms, or on some combination thereof. Then embark on a strategy to target these existing platforms.

Throw a party. Having meetups or parties, either alongside conferences or across many cities, is another successful strategy to attract and reward prospective customers.

Remember that you are doing organizers a favor by presenting. Event organizers need to fill time at their events. Submit authoritative proposals far in advance. Organizers consider timing, topic, and credibility when selecting a speaker. By establishing yourself as an expert on the right topic and submitting proposals far in advance, you maximize

Sending emails and gifts is great, but nothing beats personal interaction. It’s just easier to form a lasting relationship with someone when you’re sharing a laugh, a meal, or a drink. In that way, community building works nicely with other channels like offline events and speaking engagements. These occasions present great opportunities for customers to connect with you and with one another.

Quibb uses an invite-only model to recruit people they feel would be a positive addition to their community. Like Stack Overflow, reddit developed a karma system based on voting that determines what links and comments are displayed prominently.

Set high standards from the start. Focus on community quality early on and set strict standards that can be maintained as the community grows. You can build tools and processes into your community to help your community police itself.