Why is finding the first product tester harder than finding customers? What is the souse secret?

I’ve recently reached the stage where my product is working, but I need real users to test it and give honest feedback.

What surprised me is how difficult it is to find even one person willing to spend 10 minutes trying something new.

I’m working on a browser-based SIP softphone. I’ve contacted people who appear to be relevant, offered free access, and asked only for basic feedback—not a purchase.

Still, most people do not respond.

I’m starting to think the problem may not be the product itself, but the way early testing is presented. “Try my product” can sound like unpaid work, even when the product might solve a real problem.

For founders who have already passed this stage:

How did you find your first genuine tester?

Did you ask people to test the full product, or give them one very small task?

Did offering free access, rewards, or personal onboarding make any difference?

And how did you know whether the lack of responses meant poor outreach, the wrong audience, or weak product demand?

I’d be interested to hear what worked for others.