Ask HN: How can hackers learn to get customers?

Empathize with them. Really try to put yourself in their shoes. Does your product actually solve a problem for your customer? Is it a problem they're willing to pay for?

Once you build a product that solves a problem customers are willing to pay for, figure out where they are and go there. At the risk of sounding trite, like pg's advice, do things that don't scale: http://paulgraham.com/ds.htm. Literally go to potential customers in person and talk to them.

Do you already have a product?

Not an any order:

- try putting your self in the shoes of your potential customer(what are they trying to accomplish?)

- start with training, consulting, coaching your potential customers.

- Promote a freebie. try making it viral and/or habitual

- hang out where your customers are.

I learned a lot from https://stackingthebricks.com/

port scanning?

Depends on the product/market. What is yours?

Study marketing and copywriting.