Your first ten customers teach you more than any course. They show you which products people want, which questions they ask, and how the whole process feels from order to delivery. The good news: you probably already know most of them.
Why start with people who know you
Our data from about 5,000 cash-on-delivery orders from Sri Lankan online shops shows a big difference:
- Selling to strangers online, 30–37% of parcels came back.
- When customers knew the seller and reordered, about 96% of parcels were delivered.
Trust changes everything. A neighbour who knows you answers the courier's call. A stranger who saw one advert might not. For a beginner, every returned parcel earns nothing, so starting with trust is the safest way to learn.
Step 1: Write your list of 30
Take a notebook and write 30 names. Not to message all at once, just to see who is around you.
- Family and relatives
- Neighbours on your lane
- Colleagues, or people from your old workplace
- Friends from school or university
- Parents you meet at the school gate
- People from your temple, church, mosque or kovil community
- Your regular shop owners and three-wheel driver
Next to each name, write one thing they might need: "new baby", "just bought a car", "always cooking for a big family".
Step 2: Pick one or two products that fit them
Look at your list and at the MyKade catalogue together. In real Sri Lankan online shops, the best-selling categories were home and living, kitchen, car accessories, gadgets, beauty and baby products, and 9 in 10 items sold cost between Rs 1,000 and Rs 3,000. Choose something useful, in that range, that several people on your list could use. See how to pick products that sell.
Step 3: Tell people personally
A personal message works better than a broadcast. Send it one by one, to people who would actually find it useful.
English: Hi [name]! I've started a small online selling business with MyKade. I remembered you mentioned [need], and I have [product] that might help. Can I send you a photo? No pressure at all.
සිංහල: හායි [නම]! මම MyKade එක්ක පොඩි ඔන්ලයින් බිස්නස් එකක් පටන් ගත්තා. ඔයා [අවශ්යතාවය] ගැන කිව්වා මතකයි, ඒකට උදව් වෙන [බඩුව] මට තියෙනවා. ෆොටෝ එකක් එවන්නද? බලකිරීමක් නෑ.
தமிழ்: வணக்கம் [பெயர்]! நான் MyKade மூலம் ஒரு சின்ன ஆன்லைன் விற்பனை தொடங்கியிருக்கிறேன். நீங்கள் [தேவை] பற்றிச் சொன்னது நினைவிருக்கு, அதற்கு உதவும் [பொருள்] என்னிடம் இருக்கு. ஒரு போட்டோ அனுப்பட்டுமா? கட்டாயம் இல்லை.
Also post the product on your WhatsApp Status, so people can come to you. See selling with WhatsApp Status.
Step 4: Make every first order perfect
Your first ten orders are your reputation. For each one:
- Tell them the full total including delivery before you place the order.
- Confirm the address and a phone number they will answer. Read confirm every order.
- Tell them the courier will call, and ask them to keep the phone close.
- Remind them how to pay: cash on delivery, or a secure MyKade payment link. They pay MyKade, never you, even if they are family.
Step 5: Ask two questions after delivery
When the parcel arrives, send a thank-you and ask:
- "Is it what you expected?" Honest answers help you choose better products.
- "Do you know anyone else who might need one?" Only if they're happy.
More ideas in the message after delivery that brings the next order.
The Academy mission helps you track it
Inside the MyKade app, MyKade Academy has a "first 10 customers" mission that ticks itself off as you go. It's a simple way to see your progress without keeping score yourself. The Academy also has short lessons and an AI selling coach that answers in your language.
What not to do
- Don't pressure relatives into buying. One uncomfortable sale can cost you a relationship.
- Don't slash your price to zero profit to "get started". You'll learn the wrong lessons.
- Don't message all 30 people the same text on the same day.
- Don't be disappointed if it takes weeks. Ten good customers, slowly, is a strong start.
Ready to find your first ten? Download the MyKade app, write your list tonight, and send your first personal message tomorrow.