How to Get Your First 1,000 eCommerce Customers Organically
In this episode of the ASOM Pod, hosts Jimmy Kim (CEO of eCom Email Marketer, formally Founder of Sendlane), John Roman (CEO of BattlBox), Amer Grozdanic (CEO of Praella), and Bryan MacDonald (Direct of eCommerce at Oma’s Pride) break down what it really takes to acquire your first 1,000 eCommerce customers—organically. No paid ads. No magic tricks. Just strategy, consistency, and a whole lot of community building.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
- ICP or Bust: Why understanding your Ideal Customer Profile is the foundation of all successful growth.
- Post with Purpose: How consistent, authentic social content builds trust and traffic over time.
- Communities Convert: How Reddit threads, Facebook groups, and micro-influencer collabs can turn browsers into buyers.
- Give to Get: The smart way to run giveaways and referral programs that actually generate leads—not just freebie hunters.
- Play the Long Game: How to avoid burnout and keep the growth engine running once early traction slows.
- Fear of the Feed: Overcoming hesitation around posting and engaging with your audience on social.
This episode delivers actionable strategies, personal stories, and the honest truth about what it takes to build an eCommerce brand—one customer at a time.
Big shoutout to our sponsors who make this podcast possible!
Omnisend — With 125,000+ eCommerce merchants, Omnisend is the all-in-one email & SMS marketing platform built to deliver seamless, personalized experiences via email and sms with ease. Learn more at https://www.omnisend.com/
LiveRecover — Live Agents for eCommerce — Get more out of your revenue strategy with real-time SMS engagement and sales recovery for higher ROI. Learn more at https://www.LiveRecover.com
Kintsugi — AI that monitors, files, and optimizes sales tax for you. Eliminate your tax headaches forever. Mention ASOM for 3 months free at https://www.TryKintsugi.com
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00:00 Teaser Trailer
03:32 Intro to the ASOM Pod
06:14 Identifying and Understanding Your Ideal Customer
15:45 Leveraging Social Media for Organic Growth
20:16 The Importance of Authenticity and Consistency in Social Media
24:14 The Role of Social Media in Consumer Validation
28:46 The Importance of Social Media Presence
29:51 Building Community Through Social Media
31:51 Turning Community Members into Paying Customers
41:45 The Role of Referrals and Giveaways
50:35 Challenges and Strategies for Organic Growth
54:13 Final Thoughts and Advice for Entrepreneurs