Article · 15 min read

Tools of the Trade: Finding People to Interview Before You Have Customers

Melissa Suzuno · Product Talk Free Intermediate

This is the most direct answer to the second half of your question: where do you actually find these people. The piece walks through real channels (LinkedIn, Craigslist, niche communities, paid panels like User Interviews) and the tradeoffs of each when you have zero customers yet. It also stresses defining who you want to talk to first, and staying open as that picture shifts.

• Define your target interviewee before recruiting, then expect the profile to evolve
• LinkedIn and community posts are free but reward clear problem framing over selling
• Paid research panels save time when you need a specific job title or industry