How to Get Traction (Before You Even Build a Thing)

So, you’ve completed the groundwork. You’ve outlined the basics of your idea, evaluated the problem, and identified your audience. Now comes the most crucial part—and no, it’s not building the product. It’s selling it.

Wait, what? Sell something before it even exists? Absolutely. If you want your idea to thrive, you need to prove people are willing to pay for it before you spend time and money building it.

Why Getting Traction aka. Selling Comes Before Building

Here’s the deal: It doesn’t matter how brilliant your idea is if no one’s interested. The world is littered with beautiful websites, apps, and products that launched… and then promptly disappeared.

Case in Point:
I once worked with a client who came to me for an e-commerce site to launch their new offers. They were hyped, I was hyped, and together we created a clean, sleek online shop. The site went live… and then? Nothing. Not a single lead, let alone a sale.

Was the website bad? Not at all. But here’s a truth bomb: A website isn’t a magic wand. It’s a tool—one that only works if you actively use it to lead people to it.

This is why I always encourage clients to flip their process: Test if you can get traction in the real world before you start building it all out behind closed doors. As Sam Altman says, “If you want investors, get clients.” This doesn’t just apply to big investors—it’s about proving your idea to yourself, your co-founders, your family and anyone else backing you.

How to Start Getting Traction

Traction isn’t just about selling; it’s about momentum. Here’s how to create it, even if you’re working with a bare-bones idea:

1. Start with the Tiniest Thing You Can Offer

You don’t need a polished product to test your idea. In fact, starting small helps you validate demand quickly and cheaply.

Think:

A landing page explaining your concept and collecting email sign-ups.
A beta program for early adopters with a stripped-down version of your offering.
A pre-sale offer to gauge interest before you invest in development.

2. Draw People In

Building a website (or product, or service) is only half the equation. You need to actively drive people to it. Think of it like throwing a party—if you don’t send out invitations, no one’s showing up.

Here are 20 no-cost ways to draw people to your website or offer:

Share on social media platforms (LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, etc.).
Post in relevant Facebook or LinkedIn groups.
Write a blog post about the problem you’re solving and direct people to it.
Reach out to people in your network who might be interested.
Ask friends and family to share your idea.
Comment thoughtfully on industry blogs or forums.
Offer to be a guest on a podcast or blog.
Create a free, downloadable resource (like a checklist) and direct people to it.
Share a behind-the-scenes look at your process.
Run a poll on Instagram Stories or LinkedIn to gauge interest.
Add a call-to-action in your email signature.
Leverage Reddit or Quora to join conversations in your niche.
Offer free consultations or strategy calls.
Create a waitlist with early-bird perks.
Share a quick video about your idea.
Write a LinkedIn post sharing your “why.”
Network at industry events or meetups.
Send a personal email to key contacts in your niche.
Partner with influencers or micro-influencers.
Leverage word-of-mouth by asking happy early adopters to share.

3. Make It Irresistible

Once you’ve drawn people in, the next challenge is converting their interest into action. This is where crafting an irresistible offer comes into play.

Here are some tips inspired by The Irresistible Offer by Mark Joyner:

Clarity is key: Your audience should understand exactly what you’re offering and why it benefits them in seconds.
Make it specific: Don’t just sell “better productivity.” Sell “a tool that saves you 10 hours a week.”
Eliminate risk: Offer a money-back guarantee or free trial.
Overdeliver: Sweeten the deal with bonuses or perks they didn’t expect.

From Crickets to Clients: How One Entrepreneur Turned Things Around And Got Traction

A few months ago, I worked with an entrepreneur who wanted to launch an online yoga course. She’d already poured hours into creating a beautiful website and had recorded half the course content, but she was struggling to get sign-ups. When I asked her how she’d tested her idea, she admitted she hadn’t.

Here’s what we did instead:

We paused her course development and built a simple landing page with a clear value proposition.
She pre-sold the course at an early-bird discount, giving buyers a chance to shape the final product.
We leveraged free channels (like social media and her email list) to promote the offer.

The result? She sold enough pre-orders to validate her idea, fund the rest of the course development, and build an audience excited to promote it.

Final Thoughts: Getting Traction Is a Process

Getting traction isn’t about luck or magic—it’s about being intentional. Start small, draw people in, and create an offer they can’t resist. When you focus on testing and selling before building, you not only save time and money but also gain the confidence that your idea has legs.

Ready to get traction for your idea? Join my next Expedition Solopreneur Cohort and get help to create a strategy to test, refine, and launch it the right way—without burning your budget.