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In "The Cold Start Problem", Andrew Chen presents several innovative ideas to solve the issue of gaining a core user base. One of these methods is market subsidization, which involves providing incentives to attract users. Another strategy is to make the product invite-only, creating an air of exclusivity and desirability. Chen also suggests bootstrapping a product, as demonstrated by Reddit. The founders of Reddit initially posted on the site's front page manually with dozens of bot accounts to create activity and attract organic users. This kickstart was crucial in building momentum and gaining a core user base.
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Besides things like market subsidization and invite-only strategies, other methods, like bootstrapping a product, can ensure products that rely on communities don't dry up, à la Reddit (the founders would post on the site's front page manually with dozens of bot accounts). This was necessary for Reddit to build momentum and gain a core user base. Organic users soon began to post their own content, which rendered the founders' bot accounts surplus to requirements. But that kickstart was crucial.
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When a networked product launches, it faces a chicken-and-egg problem: people need to use it for it to be worth anything. So how do you start the very...
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