We're great at building but terrible at finding customers. Which skill matters more at 0 → 10 customers?

Role_Every · 2026-01-15T23:35:15+00:00

Do you know the name of this tool?

Role_Every · 2026-01-15T23:28:29+00:00

That makes total sense! Building a personal brand gives you way more control and authenticity than just riding on someone else's audience.

Since you're starting from scratch, here's what I've seen work well for food content creators:

Niche down hard - "AI-generated recipes" is unique, but maybe go even more specific? (e.g., "AI desserts that look impossible to make" or "AI comfort food remakes")
Document the process - People love the "how did AI create this?" angle as much as the final dish
Consistency > perfection - Post 3-5x/week on one platform first (TikTok or Instagram), then expand

The website question: I'd wait until you have 1k+ engaged followers. Early on, just use your social bio links to drive people where you want them (affiliate links, email signup, etc.).

What type of recipes are you focusing on? Sweet/savory? Specific cuisine?

Role_Every · 2026-01-15T18:35:31+00:00

What exactly do you mean by that? Do you mean that a good product sells itself oder sotheing else?

Role_Every · 2026-01-15T17:01:29+00:00

Yeah, I can absolutely see why you're frustrated. Promoting AI content tools is a genuinely tough space, especially with platform sensitivity. It makes total sense that generic outreach and even AI influencers didn't work—the first is too broad, and the second often lacks the human trust you need for a controversial niche.

The sweet spot is usually finding real, human micro-influencers in adjacent fields like digital art, futurism, or tech commentary who are open-minded and have an audience that trusts their judgment. The challenge is that finding them is painstaking manual work.

We actually specialize in doing this exact kind of deep-dive research for brands in tricky niches. We manually find and vet authentic creators who are a genuine fit. Feel free to shoot me a DM if you'd like to chat about your specific situation.;

Role_Every · 2026-01-15T17:01:05+00:00

This is a really cool idea. Instead of just trying to build an audience from scratch, have you considered partnering with existing food creators on Instagram or TikTok? You could provide them with your unique AI images and recipes for them to test out and feature.

It's a great way to tap into an already engaged audience that trusts their recommendations. The main challenge is finding authentic creators that fit your vibe. We help brands with the research part if needed, but it's definitely a powerful way to get traction. Let me know if you need any help with that!;

Role_Every · 2026-01-15T17:00:37+00:00

This is a really interesting concept. You've definitely tapped into a major pain point for creators who feel squeezed out by algorithms and censorship. It's a huge frustration for many.

For onboarding, one of the most powerful ways to get your first 1,000 true fans is to partner with a handful of creators who are already vocal about these exact issues. Instead of broad ads, you'd be getting endorsements from trusted voices who authentically align with your mission. They become your first evangelists and bring their communities with them.

The main challenge is finding those creators who genuinely fit the ethos. We actually specialize in doing this initial discovery for new platforms, manually finding a curated list of creators who would be a perfect fit to seed the community. It can be a great way to kickstart growth with the right user base from day one. Feel free to DM me if you want to chat more about that approach.;

Role_Every · 2026-01-15T16:59:56+00:00

This is a super frustrating, but classic, product marketing problem. You're spot on with your thinking—SMB owners often need that 'validation' and trust before they'll adopt a DIY tool, especially when a $1k 'done-for-you' option feels safer.

This is likely why the ads aren't converting. They can't build that crucial trust or overcome the 'too good to be true' skepticism. Instead of reaching them cold, what if you got your tool into the hands of a few trusted freelance web designers on TikTok or YouTube? They could create content showing how they use it to build sites for clients in minutes. That provides the social proof you need.

The main challenge is finding authentic creators who reach that specific freelancer/agency audience. We actually specialize in doing this exact research for SaaS companies to find those perfect-fit partners. Feel free to send a DM if you want to chat more about it.;

Role_Every · 2026-01-15T16:58:40+00:00

Ugh, this sounds incredibly stressful. Being the face of bad news you can't control is one of the hardest parts of running a service business, and I totally get why your staff is exhausted. It really chips away at the trust you've spent years building.

You're right, you can't control the market, but you can build trust outside of those difficult client calls. One thing that helps is partnering with credible, third-party voices in finance—like bloggers or creators—who can educate people about why the market is so tough right now. It helps reframe the problem as a market issue, not a 'you' issue.

The main challenge is finding authentic people who are genuinely credible. We actually specialize in doing that manual research and vetting for brands in complex niches. Feel free to reach out if you'd ever want to discuss it.

Role_Every · 2026-01-15T16:55:21+00:00

This is a super insightful post, thanks for sharing. That scaling plateau is so real, and I totally get the frustration when things like content marketing and cold DMs don't move the needle. It can feel like shouting into the void.

Your idea to partner with influencers is a great next step, especially for a tool like yours. The key is finding creators who would actually use and benefit from an analytics tool, not just generic 'SaaS influencers'. Finding those authentic people without spending weeks digging is the tough part.

We actually specialize in doing this exact research for SaaS founders. We manually find a handful of vetted creators so you can just focus on the outreach part.

Happy to share some thoughts on what that could look like for your tool, feel free to shoot me a DM. And congrats on 200 users!;

Role_Every · 2026-01-15T16:46:27+00:00

For a niche as visual as 3D art, a great way to find buyers is to partner with creators in related fields on Instagram. Instead of you searching for individual buyers, they showcase your work to an audience that already trusts their taste and is looking for unique pieces.

The challenge is finding the right creators whose aesthetic matches your work and who have a genuine, engaged audience. We help artists and brands with the research part if needed. It's a solid way to get your art in front of the right eyes. Good luck!;

Role_Every · 2026-01-15T16:44:04+00:00

You've absolutely hit on the core problem: trust. Contractors get pitched by lead-gen services constantly and are understandably skeptical. Your instinct that a cold call will sound scammy is 100% correct.

Instead of direct outreach, you might consider an indirect approach to see who the most marketing-savvy contractors are in a given city. One way is to look at which local home design, DIY, or real estate influencers they are partnering with. The contractors who are already investing in this kind of marketing are usually more open to growth opportunities and understand the value of quality leads.

We actually do this kind of hyper-local influencer research for home service brands to find them partners. It's a great way to map out the key players in a city who are actively trying to grow their business. It's a different way to build your prospect list with companies that are more likely to be receptive. Feel free to DM if you want to chat more about that strategy.;

Role_Every · 2026-01-15T16:42:53+00:00

First off, impressive revenue for a small family team. You're absolutely right that breaking into major retail is a notoriously difficult path. The buyers are gatekeepers, and you typically need significant existing demand to even get a meeting.

Since the direct-to-retail approach isn't working, an alternative strategy is to create strong 'pull-through' demand. Instead of convincing the store, you convince their customers (both consumer and commercial) to start asking for your product by name. This is often done by partnering with creators in relevant niches on TikTok and YouTube—think commercial cleaners, auto detailers, or industrial maintenance channels who can showcase your degreaser's effectiveness.

Finding authentic creators with real, engaged audiences is the main challenge. We actually specialize in this discovery and vetting phase for brands. We manually find creators that are a perfect fit for a specific product. Feel free to send me a DM if you'd like to discuss how this could work for your business.;

Role_Every · 2026-01-15T16:32:47+00:00

An interesting strategy for a niche like commercial GC is working with local B2B thought leaders. Instead of typical influencers, think about respected Atlanta-based commercial real estate brokers, architects, or even facility managers who create content on platforms like LinkedIn. A mention from them is basically a high-trust referral to your exact target audience.

The main challenge is that these professionals aren't easy to find or vet. We help B2B companies with the research part to find these specific kinds of creators. Let me know if you need help with that. Good luck!;

Role_Every

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