i started building products a little over a year ago now. during my journey i've gone through months of building with absolutely no sign ups or buyers, trying every marketing method under the sun without getting any results. i know the feeling of getting excited about a new marketing channel i found off of reddit, putting time and effort into it, and then getting 0 link clicks as always, and it's tough.

i've also built a saas that got 23,000 clicks in the past 60 days, converting into 3,000 users. the difference in those experiences is huge, and the reason is demand. it's like switching the difficulty of the game from impossible to medium. growing a product still takes a lot of work of course, but you don't run into the same impenetrable wall when trying to market it.

i think building without real demand is the biggest trap new founders fall into simply because we lack experience. it's similar to walking into a gym without a plan, choosing random machines and hoping for results when there's actually a proven method to get strong.

there are countless ways to build products. but if you're serious about removing the guesswork and actually hitting that $10k mrr milestone, there's really just one path that works. this method prioritizes discovering genuine demand before you invest months building something.

here's the exact process i followed:

1. start with a problem from your own life that you'd actually pay to solve:

what frustrates you daily or weekly in your personal routine? if it's bothering you, there are likely thousands of others dealing with the same thing.

what roadblocks do you hit in your job? what issues do companies already pay you to handle?

what hobbies consume your time? when you're deep into something, you naturally discover all the annoying gaps and problems.

find a problem that matters enough to you that you'd open your wallet for a fix.

2. build a basic solution outline

once you spot a real problem, solutions usually start forming in your mind immediately. you don't need every feature mapped out. just a clear concept that's easy to explain so your audience gets it instantly.

develop a straightforward solution concept you can clearly communicate to potential users.

3. validate with real people to prove the problem exists and they'll pay

tap into your connections first. no connections? reddit is perfect for reaching virtually any group (seriously, there's a community for everything). write a genuine post asking for input, not selling anything, and give value in exchange for their time.

dig into four key questions:

- is this actually a problem for them?

- what's the real impact on their life/work?

- what workarounds are they using now?

- would they INVEST MONEY in a better solution?

focus on what they've actually done, not what they claim they'll do. people often say "i exercise religiously" but when you ask specifics, they've hit the gym twice in the past month.

confirm the problem is legitimate and people will genuinely pay for your solution.

4. launch your mvp fast

with a validated problem in hand, resist the urge to build every feature imaginable. launch the most basic version that actually solves the core problem. great products evolve through real usage and user input. my product has transformed dramatically from day one to where it stands now with thousands of active users. you gradually discover what actually works.

reminder: stay focused on your core problem and vision despite all the feedback. users will request features that serve their specific needs but might derail your product. filter every suggestion through your main problem you're solving and build the best possible solution for that.

get real users using your product immediately so you can iterate based on actual feedback.

i hope this was helpful to you as a newer founder.

it made all the difference for me so i just wanted to do my part and share it with you because it's what i would've needed when starting out.

let me know if you have any questions (would be happy to answer them) :)

here's the product if you're curious: [link](https://saasmilli.com/)

How I found real demand for my product (5,000 users in 60 days)