Building something successful inside TON’s ecosystem? It’s a wild mix of opportunity and challenge. With Telegram’s user base exploding and TON’s blockchain scaling like crazy, you’ve got a shot at reaching, well, hundreds of millions. But let’s be real—getting even a sliver of that audience takes a different kind of hustle than old-school marketing.
You’ll want to dig deep into the TON community before you even think about scaling to Telegram’s wider Web2 crowd. Focus first on truly understanding your users and showing off real product value. Don’t rush into paid campaigns just because everyone else does. Laying this groundwork means you can actually validate your product-market fit and start building genuine connections with early believers—those folks who’ll turn into your loudest advocates.
Key Takeaways
- Get obsessed with your target users before burning a dime on acquisition.
- Start inside the TON community—build relationships here first, then think bigger.
- Prove your value to early users, and you’ll lay the groundwork for real, sustainable growth.
Identifying Your Target Audience
Before you roll out your MVP, you’ve got to answer one question: who’s actually going to use this thing? Teams that skip this part end up wasting time and, honestly, burning out fast.
Try interviewing ten real potential users. Ask them straight up—how do you solve this problem today? Their answers will shape everything you do next.
Dig into demographic details: age, location, interests, daily digital rituals. Where do they hang out online? Don’t just assume it’s all Telegram and Twitter.
When you write your product updates or landing page copy, don’t settle for fluff like “we simplify workflows.” Get specific. What pain are you killing for your users? Spell it out.
Think about why your platform choice matters. What can you offer that a regular website or app can’t? That’s going to drive your unique value proposition and how you talk to your audience.
Building Your Initial User Base: The Personal Touch
Leverage Your Existing Connections
Your network is still your best shot at landing users without spending a cent. Forget generic blasts—go for direct, personal messages to people who already know you.
Ping friends, family, and ex-colleagues one-on-one. Reach out to LinkedIn contacts, conference buddies, and folks from Slack or Telegram groups where you’re already active.
Professional networks worth tapping:
- Former coworkers and industry friends
- People you met at conferences
- Members of pro Slack groups
- LinkedIn connections in your space
If you’ve done hackathons or collaborated with builders, hit them up for cross-promo. Most people in crypto get how tough launching is—they’ll often help if you just ask.
Key TON Platform Resources
TON’s ecosystem actually does a decent job supporting new projects, especially if you know where to look.
TON Nest gives you mentorship from real TON experts and direct lines to the Foundation team. You’ll connect with other builders and community members who “get” crypto and Telegram apps. There’s an application, but if you’re legit, odds are good.
TON Fam runs as a grassroots, Telegram-based group for builders and supporters. Share your progress, get feedback, and swap notes with others building similar stuff.
These aren’t just networking plays. You get access to users who already understand your stack and the market.
Create Content That Drives Interest
You don’t need a marketing agency to create content that lands your first users. Just share your story where your audience already hangs out.
Publishing platforms that actually work:
- Medium for deep-dive build threads and technical breakdowns
- Niche crypto subreddits and industry forums
- X (Twitter) for launch threads and spicy takes
- VC.ru if you’re eyeing the Russian-speaking crowd
Content types that pull people in:
- Unfiltered dev stories and roadblocks
- Technical stuff that actually matters to your users
- Market analysis and predictions (don’t be afraid to be bold)
- “Here’s the problem, here’s how we’re fixing it” narratives
Show the real journey—what’s working, what’s not, what you’re learning as you go. People connect with mission and authenticity more than polished marketing fluff.
Test Small Paid Campaigns
Once you’ve got 50 or so users and some feedback, you can try a few small paid tests.
Use TGStat to find Telegram channels that actually fit your niche, or throw tiny budgets at X or Meta ads. Test value props, creative ideas, and different audience slices—don’t just chase big numbers.
Treat these as experiments. You’re figuring out what messaging actually lands with your crowd, not trying to blow up overnight.
Foundation Phase Success Signals
You’ll know you’re onto something when user engagement and retention start looking steady. Hitting 100+ active users? That’s a legit sign you’re getting market validation.
Key Performance Indicators:
- User Retention: When people keep coming back, you’re delivering value.
- Engagement Metrics: If users spend time and actually use features, you’re onto something.
- Value Proposition Clarity: Can you pitch your product in a single sentence? If yes, you’re set.
Social Proof Development:
Your most excited users will just start talking about you. You can’t force it—they’ll do it because they care. These early fans are way more convincing than any ad spend.
Testimonials will pop up as users share what they like. Capture these—real validation beats any paid campaign.
| Signal | Measurement | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Active Users | 100+ consistent users | Market validation |
| User Advocacy | Unprompted recommendations | Social proof |
| Message Clarity | Single sentence value prop | Marketing foundation |
When users weave your product into their daily workflow, you know you’re delivering real value. That organic adoption? It’s the best foundation for scaling—no crazy ad spends required.
If you’re looking to accelerate this process or need help with advanced crypto marketing, Disrupt Digital has your back.
Preparing for Strategic Expansion
You can’t really move into the next phase of growth until you’ve handled the foundational work. Once you’ve locked down your first user cohort, it finally makes sense to start thinking about advanced distribution strategies and partnership development.
At this point, you’ll dive into platform listings, building alliances, and rolling out new campaigns. These moves only work if you’ve already nailed user validation and spent time refining your product.
Critical Foundation Elements:
- User personas that you’ve actually validated, plus honest feedback loops
- Clear, real-world signals of product-market fit
- User acquisition processes that are more than just theoretical
- Onboarding and retention systems you’ve iterated on, not just dreamed up
If you skip these basics, scaling gets messy—fast. Teams that ignore user insights tend to hit a wall when they try to layer on complex marketing or distribution.
Pouring energy into understanding your users and proving your product’s value creates a kind of stability you just can’t fake. That’s what lets you experiment with more sophisticated growth tactics later.
Honestly, moving from foundation to real growth isn’t quick, and you shouldn’t rush it. Your next big expansion depends on the trust, data, and relationships you’ve built through that first gritty user acquisition stretch.
If you want to shortcut the learning curve or just need a partner who’s been there, Disrupt Digital can help you architect a smarter path forward.