The Traction Formula: How to Prove Your Business Idea Is What People Want

So, you’ve got an idea and getting traction is your priority. Maybe this idea has been rattling around in your head for months, or maybe it hit you out of nowhere last week. Either way, it’s the one. You can see the potential, you feel the excitement—but how do you know if it’s actually going to work?

Spoiler: Ideas are easy. Execution is where the magic happens. And in business, execution means getting traction.

Traction isn’t just buzz or excitement—it’s cold, hard evidence that people want what you’re offering. It’s proof that your idea has legs and can scale. If you’re looking to convince investors, attract co-founders, or just validate the time and money you’re about to put in, getting traction is the key.

Let’s break down exactly what traction is, why it matters, and how to build it—step by step.

What Is It, and Why Does Getting Traction Matter?

Traction is simple: It’s proof that your business idea is working. It’s measured in real-world results like pre-orders, sign-ups, sales, downloads, or active users.

Why is getting traction so important? Because it separates ideas with potential from ideas that sound good but won’t stick. Getting traction doesn’t just validate your idea—it gives you leverage. If you want to pitch investors, attract collaborators, or scale, traction is your best friend.

Case in Point:
A client of mine had an idea for a productivity app designed specifically for freelance writers. Instead of diving straight into development, she tested the concept by offering a free Notion template that mimicked the app’s functionality. Within two weeks, she had 500 downloads and emails from people asking when the full app would launch. That’s traction—and it gave her the confidence to invest in building the real thing.

Step 1 for Getting Traction: Start with a Clear Hypothesis

Traction starts with clarity. What exactly are you trying to prove?

Ask Yourself:

Who is my target audience?
What problem am I solving for them?
What’s the simplest way to test if they’ll pay for a solution?

Pro Tip: Write your hypothesis down. For example:

“Freelance writers struggle to organize their projects, and they’ll pay $10/month for a tool that simplifies their workflow.”

Clarity is crucial because it keeps you focused on the right metrics and the right audience.

Step 2 for Getting Traction: Choose the Right Metric

Not all traction looks the same. Depending on your business model, the right metric might be pre-orders, sign-ups, downloads, or something else entirely.

Examples of Traction Metrics:

For a service business: Number of paid clients or inquiries.
For a product: Pre-orders or early sales.
For an app or platform: Active users, sign-ups, or waitlist numbers.

Case in Point:
One of my clients, a graphic designer, wanted to launch a template shop for small business owners. Her metric for getting traction was simple: the number of pre-orders for her first batch of templates. She promoted the templates on social media and offered a discount for early buyers. When she hit her goal within a week, she knew she was onto something.

Step 3 for Getting Traction: Build a Low-Cost MVP (Minimum Viable Product)

Your MVP doesn’t have to be fancy—it just needs to be functional enough to test demand.

Ideas for Low-Cost MVPs:

A simple landing page with a pre-order option.
A manual version of your service (think spreadsheets or PDFs instead of a full app).
A beta test with a small group of users.

Case in Point:
A client who wanted to create an online course on email marketing started with a live webinar. She charged a small fee for attendees and used their feedback to refine her course content. That live webinar became the foundation for a course that went on to generate six figures.

Step 4 for Getting Traction: Generate Demand with an Irresistible Offer

Your idea is only as good as your ability to take action and your ability to sell it. An irresistible offer doesn’t just attract attention—it compels people to act.

What Makes an Offer Irresistible?

Clarity: People should immediately understand what they’re getting.
Value: Show them how your solution will make their life better.
Urgency: Limited spots, early-bird discounts, or exclusive bonuses can drive action.
Trust: Testimonials, guarantees, or a no-risk trial help overcome hesitation.

Case in Point:
A wellness coach I worked with offered a discounted beta version of her coaching program to her first 10 clients. She framed it as a win-win: they got personal coaching at a lower price, and she got feedback to refine her program. Those 10 clients turned into raving fans who helped her spread the word.

Step 5 for Getting Traction: Focus on Building an Audience

Getting traction isn’t just about sales—it’s about creating momentum. And that starts with building an audience of people who care about what you’re doing.

How to Build an Audience:

Share Your Journey: Document your process on social media. People love behind-the-scenes content.
Offer Value: Create free content that solves a small piece of your audience’s problem (like blog posts, videos, or templates).
Engage Directly: Join Facebook groups, Reddit threads, or forums where your audience hangs out and start conversations.

Case in Point:
A client who wanted to launch a vegan meal delivery service started by sharing recipes and cooking tips on Instagram. She used polls and Q&A sessions to learn more about her audience’s preferences, which helped her refine her offering before launch.

Step 6 for Getting Traction: Iterate Based on Feedback

Getting traction isn’t static—it’s a process. Listen to what your audience is telling you, and use that feedback to improve.

Pro Tip: Create a simple feedback loop:

Test your idea with a small group.
Collect feedback on what worked and what didn’t.
Make adjustments and test again.

Case in Point:
That productivity app for freelance writers? Early feedback revealed that users wanted integrations with tools like Trello. Instead of guessing what features to prioritize, my client let the audience guide her roadmap.

The Big Picture: Traction is About Proof, Not Perfection

You don’t need to have it all figured out before you start building traction. In fact, the best traction strategies are messy, iterative, and hands-on. What matters is that you’re actively testing, learning, and proving that your idea has a real audience.

Traction isn’t just for investors or stakeholders—it’s for you. It’s the confidence that comes from knowing your idea is solving a real problem for real people.

Ready to build traction for your business idea? Join my next Expedition Solopreneur Cohort to work on your custom formula that gets results—without wasting time, money, or energy.