Manual empty-state concierge onboarding
For the first few dozen users, fill the blank workspace or report yourself so the product starts with proof instead of an empty screen.
Why this can grow a startup
Early users often churn because the first screen asks them to imagine value. Manually creating the first report, example, or setup collapses time-to-value, exposes the real onboarding friction, and buys the team time to build self-serve flows around behavior they have already seen up close.
Company example
Buffer Analyze manually emailed prospects, onboarded early users, and even created initial reports on users' behalf so they would not land on an empty reports section. After about 1,000 invitations, the product reached its first 100 customers and roughly $5,000 MRR by the end of 2018.
Source and metric
Source: Buffer Open Blog · Browse Buffer Open Blog tactics
First 100 customers and about $5K MRR after roughly 1,000 manual invitations
Source discovered: May 24, 2026
When to use it
Use this when Product, Email, Onboarding is relevant to activation, 0-100, 100-1K and you can run a bounded test with a free budget.
When not to use it
Do not use it as a substitute for customer evidence, a clear owner, or a measurable stop condition. Local platform rules and market behavior still need checking.
Founder checklist
- Read Buffer Open Blog and identify what is directly supported.
- Choose one channel context: Product, Email, Onboarding.
- Define the test around First 100 customers and about $5K MRR after roughly 1,000 manual invitations.
- Set an owner, evidence window, and stop condition before launch.
Explore the context
Apply this with an operator
Choose product surfaces that compound distribution without hiding weak activation or retention.