I would like to learn the art of finding your FIRST customer, arranging meeting/phone call with them, getting them to talk to you and eventually signing them up as your beta customer.
How did you go about this?
Thanks
The first customer that did _not_ come from my personal network was a result of posting to app directories such as feedmyapp.com and the like.
The best advice I can give on signing and keeping your first customer is to _make them happy_. Be nice. Crack jokes. When they call or email you, respond immediately. Your first customers are really important because they're vetting your business model in addition to trying your product.
Accept/understand that, as you observe your first customers interacting with your product, you're going to have to make changes. Make them quickly and reasonably.
Every company is unique, but that's how I found and retained my first customers.
We launched just like the usual via TechCrunch and Wired, so we made our first dollar and got our first customer quite quickly.
Now we are dealing with the struggle everyone else has which is how do you get your next customer after the PR blast.
>>IMHO, That is your problem, I would think. Customer development is something to be gradually worked upon. In fact, You will have to pay your dues sooner or later. If not for the first customer then for the later ones.
Other people we contacted were active people in the active industry forums. This helped get the word out by way of trust.
Second wave came after the first mentions on relevant blogs/new media outlets (http://blog.traindom.com/places-where-to-submit-your-startup...)
Third wave I'd say came from participating in discussions in relevant forums.
Also, how do you handle all the feedback from early customers on product changes? Obviously some are great requests, but many customers make requests are outside of the scope, and could tempt you to change course (if you're on the right course :-)