Issue #1PocketHog
They Move the Needle — Rebecca and PocketHog
#1. Rebecca and her app PocketHog - Yeah, someone already built it. Build it better.
View productThey Moved the Needle
Share the story behind your first paid customer.
I am actively looking for founders who have won paid customers to share their stories with readers on my Substack newsletter.
first paid customergo-to-market lessonsreal founder stories
Register interest Requirements
These are a few helpful guidelines, not hard rules.
These questions are often asked by guests.
1
If you use Substack, please share the secret draft link instead of clicking publish.
2
You can find the secret draft link in the settings at the bottom right of the Substack editor.
3
Feel free to add, delete, or edit any question. A different format is totally fine.
4
If you want to share an exclusive coupon, mention it in the draft.
5
Send product images, demos, screenshots, or any media assets you want included.
6
For the Substack cover, face-forward half-body images work well, but other images are okay too.
Question template
Copy, paste, and write from here.
Copy and paste these questions into any platform you like: Google Docs, Notion, Substack, or wherever you write. As long as you can share the answers with me, it is totally fine.
Q1
Can you briefly introduce yourself and your product? In one sentence, what does your app do?
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Q2
Where did the idea come from? What problem or moment made you feel, "this needs to exist"?
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Q3
How long did it take from the initial idea to launch? What did that journey actually look like?
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Q4
What does your tech stack look like? Any tools, libraries, or services you would strongly recommend to others?
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Q5
What was your go-to-market strategy? How did you get your first users in the door?
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Q6
Tell us about your first paying user. How did it happen, and how did it feel?
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Q7
What did you get wrong early on? Anything you thought would work but did not?
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Q8
What ended up moving the needle the most? If you had to point to one or two things.
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Q9
What was the hardest moment during the process? How did you push through it?
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Q10
Looking back, what would you do differently?
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Q11
What does your product still struggle with today?
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Q12
What is one piece of advice you would give to someone trying to get their first paying user?
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Q13
What are you focusing on next?
A:
Previous issues
Read the format before you write.
More issues will be added here as the series grows.
Write for the series
Register interest or ask a question.
If you can give a relatively fixed time for submitting the draft, I may also mention your product in an upcoming publisher guest post for extra online presence.