{"id":3051,"date":"2026-05-21T05:57:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T05:57:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zopping.com\/blog\/?p=3051"},"modified":"2026-05-21T05:57:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T05:57:15","slug":"how-to-get-first-100-customers-online-store","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zopping.com\/blog\/how-to-get-first-100-customers-online-store\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Get Your First 100 Customers Without Spending Money"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Quick Links<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #121213;color:#121213\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #121213;color:#121213\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/zopping.com\/blog\/how-to-get-first-100-customers-online-store\/#Start_With_the_People_Who_Already_Know_You\" >Start With the People Who Already Know You<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/zopping.com\/blog\/how-to-get-first-100-customers-online-store\/#Turn_Your_WhatsApp_Into_a_Marketing_Channel\" >Turn Your WhatsApp Into a Marketing Channel<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/zopping.com\/blog\/how-to-get-first-100-customers-online-store\/#Use_Instagram_and_Facebook_%E2%80%94_But_the_Right_Way\" >Use Instagram and Facebook \u2014 But the Right Way<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/zopping.com\/blog\/how-to-get-first-100-customers-online-store\/#Give_People_a_Reason_to_Try_You\" >Give People a Reason to Try You<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/zopping.com\/blog\/how-to-get-first-100-customers-online-store\/#Ask_Every_Happy_Customer_to_Tell_One_Person\" >Ask Every Happy Customer to Tell One Person<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/zopping.com\/blog\/how-to-get-first-100-customers-online-store\/#Your_7-Day_Plan_to_Get_Your_First_100_Customers\" >Your 7-Day Plan to Get Your First 100 Customers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/zopping.com\/blog\/how-to-get-first-100-customers-online-store\/#What_Comes_After_100\" >What Comes After 100<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/zopping.com\/blog\/how-to-get-first-100-customers-online-store\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" >Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/zopping.com\/blog\/how-to-get-first-100-customers-online-store\/#Start_Today\" >Start Today<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>You\u2019ve set up your Zopping store. Products are listed. The store looks good. And now you\u2019re waiting for orders that aren\u2019t coming.<\/p>\n<p>Most store owners reach for ads at this point. That\u2019s the wrong move \u2014 not because ads don\u2019t work, but because they work much better once you already have customers, data, and social proof. Before you spend a single rupee, there\u2019s a faster path.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><br \/>\nYour first 100 customers are already in your phone contacts, your WhatsApp, and your local community. Here\u2019s exactly how to reach them.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Start_With_the_People_Who_Already_Know_You\"><\/span>Start With the People Who Already Know You<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Your first customers will not come from strangers on the internet. They will come from people who already trust you \u2014 your existing customers, your neighbours, your contacts.<\/p>\n<p><strong>This is not a shortcut. It is the most effective thing you can do right now.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3>Step 1: Make a list of 50 people who know your business<\/h3>\n<p>Open your phone contacts. Write down anyone who:<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Has bought from your physical store before<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Has messaged you on WhatsApp for orders<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Is a friend, family member, or neighbour who knows what you sell<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Follows you on Instagram or Facebook<\/p>\n<p>You likely have more than 50. Good.<\/p>\n<h3>Step 2: Send each of them a personal message<\/h3>\n<p>Not a broadcast. A personal message. Use their name.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a template you can use:<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"col\"><em>\u201cHi [Name], we\u2019ve just launched our online store where you can order [your product] from your phone and get it delivered to your doorstep. As one of our trusted customers, you\u2019ll get \u20b9[X] off your first order. Here\u2019s the link: [your store link]. Would love your support!\u201d<\/em><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Personal messages get replies. Broadcasts get ignored. This distinction matters more than any other in this guide.<\/p>\n<h3>Step 3: Ask them to share it with one person<\/h3>\n<p>At the end of your message, add:<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"col\"><em>\u201cIf you know anyone who might find this useful, please share the link with them. It would mean a lot.\u201d<\/em><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Most people won\u2019t. But if 10 out of 50 do, that\u2019s 10 new customers from zero ad spend. At this stage, that\u2019s a significant win.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Turn_Your_WhatsApp_Into_a_Marketing_Channel\"><\/span>Turn Your WhatsApp Into a Marketing Channel<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>WhatsApp is where Indian customers actually are. If your store doesn\u2019t have a WhatsApp presence, you\u2019re invisible to the most important channel in Indian retail.<\/p>\n<h3>Set up WhatsApp Business (if you haven\u2019t already)<\/h3>\n<p>Download WhatsApp Business from the Play Store or App Store. Set up:<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Your store name as the business name<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Your Zopping store link in the bio<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 A <a href=\"https:\/\/zopping.com\/product-catalogue\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>product catalogue<\/u><\/a> of your top 10 products<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Auto-reply for when you\u2019re offline<\/p>\n<div class=\"blog_cta\">\n<p class=\"cta_title\">It takes 20 minutes and it works around the clock. Haven\u2019t created your Zopping store yet? Build your free online store in minutes with<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"elementor-button book-demo\" href=\"https:\/\/zopping.com\/store-builder\">Zopping Store Builder<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3>Create a broadcast list and add every contact who has your number<\/h3>\n<p>WhatsApp broadcast sends one message to many people \u2014 and it looks personal because each person receives it as a direct message, not a group message.<\/p>\n<p>Add everyone from your contacts who might be a customer. Start sending weekly updates: new products, offers, restocks.<\/p>\n<p>Once your list is set up, the quality of your message determines whether people order or ignore you.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Use_Instagram_and_Facebook_%E2%80%94_But_the_Right_Way\"><\/span>Use Instagram and Facebook \u2014 But the Right Way<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Most store owners post and then wonder why no one is ordering. The reason is they\u2019re posting at the wrong people.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The right way to use Instagram for your first 100 customers:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1. Post a photo of your store or a popular product<\/p>\n<p>2. Write a caption that explains what you sell and who it\u2019s for<\/p>\n<p>3. Add your Zopping store link in your bio<\/p>\n<p>4. Tag your location \u2014 this helps local people find you<\/p>\n<p>5. Go to posts from local pages \u2014 colony pages, city pages, neighbourhood groups \u2014 and comment genuinely<\/p>\n<p>The goal is not to get followers. The goal is to get the right people to visit your store link.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The right way to use Facebook:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Join local Facebook groups in your city or area. Most cities have groups like \u201cResidents of [Colony Name],\u201d \u201c[City] Business Network,\u201d or \u201cBuy Sell [City Name].\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Post in these groups with your store link, a photo, and a short offer for first-time buyers. Don\u2019t spam \u2014 post once, then engage with comments. One post with engagement is worth more than five posts that nobody responds to.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Give_People_a_Reason_to_Try_You\"><\/span>Give People a Reason to Try You<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A first order is the hardest order to get. Once someone has ordered from you once and had a good experience, they will come back. You need to make that first order easy to say yes to.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Three ways to reduce the barrier to the first order:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1. Offer free delivery on the first order<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Set up a coupon code \u2014 \u201cFIRST\u201d or \u201cWELCOME\u201d \u2014 that gives free delivery. Add it to your WhatsApp message and Instagram bio. Customers who hesitate over \u20b930\u201340 delivery charges will often complete the order when delivery is free.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2. Give a small discount on the first order<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u20b920\u201350 off is enough. It\u2019s not about the money \u2014 it\u2019s the signal that you appreciate their trust.<\/p>\n<p><strong>3. Guarantee it<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Add a line to your store and your messages: \u201cNot happy? Full refund, no questions.\u201d Most people never claim it. But knowing it exists removes the fear of trying.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ask_Every_Happy_Customer_to_Tell_One_Person\"><\/span>Ask Every Happy Customer to Tell One Person<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This is the most underused growth strategy for small stores, and it costs nothing.<\/p>\n<p>When someone orders and you deliver, send them a WhatsApp message:<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"col\"><em>\u201cHi [Name], hope you enjoyed your order! If you liked it, would you share our store with one friend? Here\u2019s our link: [store link]. Every referral means a lot to us.\u201d<\/em><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p>You don\u2019t need a formal referral program to do this. A genuine, personal ask works just as well. The key is timing \u2014 send this message within 30 minutes of delivery confirmation, while the experience is fresh.<\/p>\n<p>Once you start getting consistent orders, you can also use Zopping\u2019s built-in rewards and reviews system to automate this \u2014 collecting reviews and turning happy customers into repeat buyers.<\/p>\n<div class=\"blog_cta\">\n<p class=\"cta_title\">Zopping Rewards &amp; Reviews \u2192 \u2014 Turn happy customers into repeat buyers and brand advocates.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"elementor-button book-demo\" href=\"https:\/\/zopping.com\/rewards-reviews\">Zopping Rewards &amp; Reviews \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Your_7-Day_Plan_to_Get_Your_First_100_Customers\"><\/span>Your 7-Day Plan to Get Your First 100 Customers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"col\"><strong>Day<\/strong><\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\"><strong>Action<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td data-label=\"Day\"><strong>Day 1<\/strong><\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Action\">Message 50 personal contacts with your store link<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td data-label=\"Day\"><strong>Day 2<\/strong><\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Action\">Set up WhatsApp Business and create a broadcast list<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td data-label=\"Day\"><strong>Day 3<\/strong><\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Action\">Post on 3 local Facebook groups with your store link and an offer<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td data-label=\"Day\"><strong>Day 4<\/strong><\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Action\">Set up a WELCOME coupon on your Zopping store<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td data-label=\"Day\"><strong>Day 5<\/strong><\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Action\">Post on Instagram with your store link in bio. Tag your location.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td data-label=\"Day\"><strong>Day 6<\/strong><\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Action\">Follow up with anyone who clicked but didn&#8217;t order<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td data-label=\"Day\"><strong>Day 7<\/strong><\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Action\">Ask every customer who ordered to share your store with one person<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Do this every week for a month. By the end, you\u2019ll have your first 100 customers \u2014 without spending a rupee on ads.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Comes_After_100\"><\/span>What Comes After 100<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Once you have 100 customers, everything changes. You\u2019ll have:<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Real data on who\u2019s buying and what<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 A WhatsApp broadcast list you can use for weekly updates<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Social proof to show new customers<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 A base to run your first paid campaign against, if you want to scale<\/p>\n<p>But equally important: you\u2019ll also start to see why some visitors aren\u2019t ordering. Traffic without conversion is just a number. Once you have your first 100 customers, the next step is making sure every new visitor who lands on your store actually completes an order.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll also notice that some of those 100 customers add products to their cart and disappear. That\u2019s normal \u2014 around 70% of online carts are abandoned. But you can recover many of them automatically.<\/p>\n<p>And once you have a customer base, seasonal campaigns become your fastest growth lever. A well-timed Diwali sale, a Holi offer, an Eid promotion \u2014 these are moments when Indian customers are actively looking to buy.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/zopping.com\/store-builder\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong><u>Not on Zopping yet? Build your store in minutes \u2192<\/u><\/strong><\/a> \u2014 Set up products, coupons, and WhatsApp in one place.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span>Frequently Asked Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<h3>How long does it take to get the first 100 customers for an online store?<\/h3>\n<p>With consistent effort using the plan above, most Zopping store owners reach their first 100 customers within 3\u20136 weeks \u2014 without spending on ads. The 7-day plan covers the core actions; repeating it for 4 weeks compounds the results.<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>Do I need to run ads to get my first customers?<\/h3>\n<p>No. Ads work best once you already have customers, reviews, and purchase data. Before that, personal outreach, WhatsApp broadcasts, and local Facebook groups are more effective and cost nothing.<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>What\u2019s the best first offer for a new online store in India?<\/h3>\n<p><strong><br \/>\n<\/strong>Free delivery on the first order tends to convert better than a flat discount, because delivery charges are the most common reason Indian customers abandon carts. A \u20b920\u201350 discount also works. Try both and see which performs better for your product category.<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>How do I write a good WhatsApp message to promote my store?<\/h3>\n<p>Use the customer\u2019s name, mention one specific product or offer, include a direct link to your store, and add a clear deadline or reason to act now. Avoid generic \u201cDear Customer\u201d openers \u2014 they get ignored. For ready-to-use templates, see our <a href=\"https:\/\/zopping.com\/blog\/whatsapp-message-templates-online-store\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>WhatsApp message guide \u2192<\/u><\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>How do I track how many customers came from WhatsApp vs Instagram?<\/h3>\n<p><strong><br \/>\n<\/strong>In your Zopping admin panel, you can track orders and customer sources under<u> <\/u><a href=\"https:\/\/zopping.com\/analytics-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>Analytics &amp; Reports<\/u><\/a>. For WhatsApp specifically, using a unique coupon code per channel (e.g., WHATS50 for WhatsApp, INSTA50 for Instagram) makes it easy to compare which channel is driving orders.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Start_Today\"><\/span>Start Today<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Your first 100 customers are not waiting for you to figure out the perfect ad strategy. They\u2019re in your phone contacts, your WhatsApp groups, and your local Facebook community.<\/p>\n<div class=\"blog_cta\">\n<p class=\"cta_title\">Message 50 people today. That\u2019s all it takes to start.Ready to get your first 100 customers?<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"elementor-button book-demo\" href=\"https:\/\/zopping.com\/store-builder\">Create your free Zopping store<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You\u2019ve set up your Zopping store. Products are listed. The store looks good. And now you\u2019re waiting for orders that aren\u2019t coming. Most store owners reach for ads at this point. That\u2019s the wrong move \u2014 not because ads don\u2019t work, but because they work much better once you already have customers, data, and social [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":3053,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3051","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-start-online-business"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zopping.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3051","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zopping.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zopping.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zopping.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zopping.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3051"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/zopping.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3051\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3054,"href":"https:\/\/zopping.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3051\/revisions\/3054"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zopping.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3053"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zopping.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3051"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zopping.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3051"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zopping.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3051"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}