I've helped dozens of early-stage founders figure out their first growth channels. Here's what I've learned:

Most founders spread too thin. They try SEO, paid ads, content, partnerships, cold outreach, communities — all at once. Then nothing works because nothing gets enough focus.

From $0 to $100K, only 3 channels consistently work:

1. Direct outreach (cold DM/email)

Unsexy but unbeatable at small scale. You learn your customer's language, refine your pitch in real-time, and close deals in days not months. Start with 20 messages/day.

2. Building in public

Share your journey, your metrics, your learnings. Twitter/X and LinkedIn are goldmines for founder-audience overlap. One honest post about a real problem you solved will outperform 50 polished graphics.

3. Community-led growth

Join 3-5 communities where your customers already hang out. Don't pitch — help. Answer questions, share frameworks, become the go-to person. The sales come naturally.

That's it. Pick ONE of these and go hard for 90 days before adding another channel.

I break down specific playbooks for each of these (with templates, scripts, and real examples) every week in ScaleUp Weekly. It's free — subscribe if you want the full breakdowns.