LeadPerchGuide
How to find beta users (who actually use the product)
Most beta programs fail the same way: lots of signups, few people who log in twice. The fix is to recruit people who have the problem right now, not people who like trying new apps. This guide covers where to find them, how to screen them, and how to ask without being spammy.
1. Define the beta user before you look
Write one sentence: who they are, what problem they hit, and how they solve it today. A good beta user:
- has the problem now, not in theory;
- uses a workaround or a competing tool today;
- can complete your core workflow without hand-holding;
- will tell you plainly when something is confusing.
Friends and family are encouraging, but they rarely match the audience, urgency or budget of a real customer.
2. Start with people you already know
Former colleagues, clients and community peers who fit the description will reply to you and give honest feedback. Send personal notes explaining why you picked them and what you want tested, not a mass announcement.
3. Find people describing the problem in public
The best cold beta users are people who posted about the pain this week. Search for:
- recommendation requests: “what do you use for…”, “looking for a tool that…”;
- alternative threads: “alternative to <competitor>”, “<competitor> too expensive”;
- complaints and manual workarounds (“I’m doing this in a spreadsheet”);
- Ask HN questions and X posts asking for tool suggestions.
On Reddit, read each subreddit’s rules first. Many allow a disclosed mention when it genuinely answers the question; others ban self-promotion entirely.
4. Make the invite honest
Say you are the founder, that the product is early, and that you are building for exactly the problem they described. Offer something real in return (early access, direct founder support, or a discount) and give them an easy “no”. Never pretend to be a neutral user, and never send the same copy-pasted message to everyone.
5. Screen before you invite
- How do you solve this today?
- When did you last run into it?
- What would make you switch?
- Can you use it during the next two weeks?
Prioritise people with recent, repeated, costly pain. Start with a cohort small enough that you can talk to every user personally, and add more only when you can keep up with their feedback.
6. Use directories and build-in-public last
Beta directories, launch sites and build-in-public posts can add volume, but much of that audience is other makers. Use them to supplement direct conversations, not replace them.
Automating the search part
Checking Reddit, Hacker News and X by hand every day for “looking for” posts gets old fast. LeadPerch runs your phrases across all three daily, scores each post’s buying intent from 0–100 with a one-line reason, and drafts a disclosed reply you can edit. It never posts or DMs for you. The free plan covers 3 keywords on Reddit and Hacker News.
FAQ
How many beta users do I need?
There is no universal number. A cohort small enough to support personally (often a few dozen at most) teaches you more than hundreds of inactive signups, because the same issues come up again and again.
Should I pay beta users?
Usually not with cash. Early access, direct influence on the roadmap or a discount attracts people who actually have the problem.
Is it OK to recruit beta users on Reddit?
Only where the subreddit rules allow it, with clear disclosure that you built the product, and when it actually answers the question being asked.
Related guides
Find your first leads in a few minutes
Free tier, no card. Pro is $29/mo or $290/yr with a 1-day free trial. Agency is $79/mo.
Create a free account