How to Get Traffic to Your New Website: Scenarios & Strategies

Launching a new SaaS product or web app is exciting, until you realize traffic doesn’t just magically appear because you built something great. 

If you are such a start up hustler – looking around to figure out generating traffic, this guide is for you.

Generating traffic to new websites needs SEO. Thats a well established marketing channel and there are tons of guides on how to do SEO right to get traffic to your new website. 

Then, WHY again this guide and how is it any different?

While writing this guide, I have personally seen a ton of guides from SEO tools like Ahrefs, Semrush on topics like how to do your content marketing right, should you target low-competition keywords or the other way around, and from reddit threads a lot more on whether sandboxing is a myth or not. But very little about product market research, understanding the target audience, their needs and ways to use that research to design, develop and promote your product.

SEO tools are great but just relying on SEO tools alone is kinda like asking ChatGPT to write you a “guaranteed formula,” for driving traffic. It is more or less like shooting in the dark.

Once you combine those SEO tools data with your market research and product’s unique selling points, you get a clear sense of 

• what is your offering, 
• how to take that to your target audience, 
• who are your direct and indirect competitors and their offerings, 
• the use-cases you can solve, 
• the way you can use those use cases to differentiate yourself from competitors or 
• in some cases completely define your own market. 

Do these can get you easy wins – not only just with traffic, but also with potential leads and better conversions.

To help you do that, I have simplified the process by using 4 scenarios  for new products or services trying to get traffic. This covers pretty much everyone, from newly launched AI agents to eCommerce sites, local businesses, or straight-up SaaS solutions.

In each scenario, we’ll talk about where your product stands in the market and why that matters for organic traffic. Finally, we’ll wrap up with some core and 2025 SEO tips that work in any of these scenarios.

The 4 Scenarios: Which One Are You In?

Below are four ways you can look at your product’s position. Recognizing where you stand shapes how you’ll approach everything—from content to SEO to community engagement.

Scenario 1: Established Market, Established Demand

If your new product or website is in a MARKET with KNOWN PROBLEMS, KNOWN SOLUTIONS,  there are competitors – that are generating traffic, sales, leads and revenue. So you have their SEO data in SEO tools about – the keywords that are generating the most traffic, the difficulty and competition of keywords, the number of backlinks you might need to rank for those keywords. 

That’s the good part!

Now coming to the challenging part – existing products, defined market usually means, SEO competition. There are established websites with some sort of search authority, trying to rank in top SERP positions for all kinds of traffic generating and leads generating keywords in the niche.

So how do you solve this?

The answer is in finding content gaps. As there is SEO data, there are patterns on what kind of topics are generating traffic. If your SEO can figure out those patterns or is lucky enough to find useful content gaps, purely with tools, that can get easy wins for your project. 

In most cases, this data can be extremely useful for designing the product pitch and building use-case landing pages of products or in some cases completely re-brand the offering.

For instance, when we were targeting to rank for bitcoin casinos with our site bitcoinplay.net – a very competitive market – I took a route of target – bitcoin casinos USA, the whole landing page was optimized for that. We had very quick wins as most other competitors were targeting the global market. Once I started ranking for bitcoin casinos USA, the website was ranking for quite a lot of LSIs. And I changed the targeting gradually to bitcoin casinos to target the global market. 

Key Takeaway: If you’re building something like a new project management SaaS (with plenty of existing solutions), you can piggyback on current user demand. Tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or Semrush show how people find your competitors. Then you craft unique value propositions to carve out your portion of the market.

Scenario 2: Brand-New Product, Creating a Market from Scratch

If your product is so fresh and innovative that nobody even realizes they need it, welcome to Scenario 2. In other words, you’re not just launching a product—you’re launching an entire market. 

People out there probably have a latent problem, but they haven’t put a name on it or recognized it as an actual ,”thing.,” Now you have to educate them first, then show them your solution.

Unlike the previous scenario, This Scenario Is a tough gig.

Why?

For instance we created a tool on linkedin post automation – a tool that helps personal branding consultants, personal branding enthusiasts to automate their posts with AI – in much less time.

If we look at the search market dynamics, everything is targeted around linked automation tools – which are about automating outreach for sales and leads. Only two guys are talking closely about the use case – (those 2 were not existing there before when we actually started the work)

So how to deal with this scenario – how to get started

Here are some strategies

Market Validation

• Reddit Threads & Niche Forums: Post about the pain point and gauge reactions. Are people going, ,”Wow, I need that!,” or ,”Meh,”?
• In our socialsurfer.app – the linkedin post automation tool, we used linkedin automation tools and sales nav to reach to people who are trying to become personal brands in their niche – mostly SEO consultants, PPC consultants who did not have enough time to share their ideas on Linkedin to build a personal brand for themselves. Based on that data, we went ahead and developed the tool.
• Test the Waters: Before you sink thousands of dollars into dev, see if you can drum up interest, sign-ups, or a small community.

Trend Discovery

• Google Trends & Exploding Topics: Check if there are any related keywords trending upward. Even if your exact product isn’t searched for, maybe a concept around it (e.g., ,”friendly email writing,” or ,”AI email assistance,”) is seeing some traction.

Let’s say you got all some information from trends, reddit and exploding topics, then?

Then I say go with –

Thought Leadership & Educational Content

• Publish blog posts, whitepapers, or case studies explaining the ,”hidden,” problem.
• Reach out to all closely associated blogs, influencers, youtube creators (with traffic of course) and pitch your website or tool to get that much required initial traction.
• Also pitch it to industry newsletters, LinkedIn groups, or even relevant podcasts. The goal is to put a name to this issue and spark that ,”Oh, I DO have that pain,” moment.

For our tool – we are at this stage – we are actively pitching to relevant blogs to write a review about our product, reaching out to people with posts on how to build your personal brand (on linkedin, facebook groups, Twitter, blog posts) to promote us.

Scenario 3: Real Problem, but No Existing Tool

Ever stumbled on a massive user headache that nobody’s solved yet? That’s Scenario 3 in a nutshell. People already know the problem is real—they might complain about it on Reddit or in Slack channels—but no direct solution or specialized product has emerged to handle it.

 It’s (Slightly) Easier Than Scenario 2

How?

• No Need to Convince
  Users are already aware they have a problem; they just don’t think a solution exists (or they jury-rig a bunch of spreadsheets to cope).
• Low/Moderate Search Volume
  Although total search numbers might be small, the intent behind those queries is sky-high. People searching are actively seeking help.

Strategy Highlights

1. Problem-Centric SEO
   • Identify the exact phrases or ,”complaint queries,” people use. For instance, ,”time zone scheduling headache,,” ,”automate multiple timezone calendar.,”
   • Craft blog posts, landing pages, or even short guides that address these frustrations head-on.
2. Community Involvement
   • Reddit Threads, Quora, Twitter Rants: People vent about their struggles—listen, then respond with legit help (and a mention of your tool if it’s truly relevant).
   • Niche Forums: Industry-specific boards or Slack communities can be a goldmine for direct engagement.
3. Direct Outreach
   • If you spot folks complaining on social media, reach out with a personalized invite to try your beta. Offer them a free trial, get feedback, maybe snag some early testimonials.

Bottom Line for Scenario 3 is market research combined with effective use of SEO tools to find right low competitive keywords with decent to medium volumes.

Scenario 4: Spinning Off a Popular Use Case

Picture a big, successful product or platform. Now imagine there’s one particular feature or use case that’s super in-demand. Scenario 4 is all about taking that use case and making it a stand-alone solution, often at a lower price or with a specialized focus.

Why It’s Effective

• Laser-Focused Solution
  You’re going after high-intent keywords (like ,”time tracking for freelancers,” or ,”free screen capture tool,”) rather than a broad suite of functionalities.
• Proven Demand
  If your competitor’s analytics (or your own product analytics) show that 70–80% of their user base is only using one feature, it’s a no-brainer to spin that off.

Example: Clockify for Time Tracking

Clockify branched off from the general project management world by offering a dedicated time-tracking platform. They knew ,”time tracking software,” had strong monthly search volume, so they built an entire brand around that single functionality.

Strategy Highlights

1. Keyword Mapping
   • Pinpoint phrases that folks searching for an all-in-one tool might also use. For instance, ,”best time-tracking software free,,” ,”simple time tracker online.,”
   • You can rank quickly for these narrower, more specific terms since your entire site or app is specialized.
2. Competitive Positioning
   • On your landing pages, emphasize how an all-in-one competitor might be bloated or more expensive, whereas you are streamlined, user-friendly, or cheaper (or even free).
3. Cross-Category Promotion
   • Partner with bigger brands or platforms. If your specialized feature integrates smoothly with a popular project management tool, you could get listed in their ,”Recommended Integrations,” section.

Each scenario comes with its own set of market dynamics, and figuring out which one you’re in helps you shape your traffic-building strategy:

From purely competitor-driven strategies (Scenario 1) to full-blown evangelism (Scenario 2), each approach requires different SEO techniques, content angles, and marketing outreach. The key is to match your product’s situation with the right tactics so you’re not ,”shooting in the dark,” with random traffic hacks.

No matter your scenario, the foundational SEO pillars—quality content, on-page optimization, backlink building, technical performance, and analytics—remain the backbone of generating sustained, organic traffic

So, let’s also look into those details.

How to Get Traffic to a New Website (In Any Scenario)

No matter which scenario fits your situation, core SEO and content marketing fundamentals still apply. Below are 7 strategies that I usually use to improve organic traffic for a fresh site:

1. Create Valuable Content

Many SaaS teams I see write so passionately about topics in their niche. This content is usually very valuable. But often, these teams miss the point of VOLUMES. At times – accidentally if they get those volumes right, they fall short on optimizing the blog post for search. Even with HCU in place, unfortunately, Google is not that great at finding the hidden pieces without proper search optimization – unless you are writing on reddit.

For instance look at this –

I found a great piece on kubernetes observability after deep digging but if you search on google for it – you can see either reddit or other seo optimized  ULTIMATE GUIDES ON KUBERNETES OBSERVABILITY

So how create real value

So, If you are starting new, I would say, use your passion for your project or product – but combine that with SEO tools data.

If you’re in Scenario 2 or 3, where direct keywords might be limited, long tail keywords can be life savers. Focus on ,”problem-solving,” content that draws in curious users with specialized queries can give you that dream start.

If you’re stuck, I’ve had success using AnswerThePublic to see real user questions. This approach helped me rank for queries I hadn’t even considered.

2. Master the On-Page SEO Basics

You’d be amazed how often new sites skip these essentials:

• Title Tags & Meta Descriptions: Make them descriptive and click-worthy.
• Heading Tags: A clear H1 for your main topic, then H2/H3 subheadings to structure the page.
• Internal Linking: If you wrote a blog post on ,”Tips for Remote Collaboration,,” link it from your ,”Time-Zone Coordination,” page if relevant.
• Keyword Placement: Don’t force keywords; just ensure they appear naturally in the URL, intro paragraph, and at least one heading.

3. Build Credible Backlinks (Without Getting Spammy)

Getting backlinks is like earning endorsements from other sites. But not all links are created equal.

• Guest Posting: If you’re in Scenario 1 or 4, you can target competitor audiences on relevant blogs.
• HARO: If you’re in Scenario 2 or 3 with a unique product, responding to reporter queries can get you coverage from major outlets.
• Resource Pages: Perfect for solutions that fill a clear gap (Scenario 3). Websites listing ,”Top Tools to Solve X Problem,” might add you.

Before moving on to the next strategy – there are a ton of backlink services and agencies with the sole goal to make money by selling links on sites they don’t own. I myself receive 100+ emails for links from seo and link building agencies. 

I strongly advise you to stay away from such services. I would rather suggest someone who can find you links on sites:

1. That are not made for selling guest posts – checking the recent posts on link-giving website can help you figure that out
2. That did not sell links to irrelevant niches ever – If your niche is tech and your link builder got you a link on a website that sold links to a casino website in the past, then it is a big red flag

Make sure the link provider gets you – in-context, relevant and high authority links.

4. Speed & Mobile Friendliness: The Technical Edge

Regardless of your scenario, if your site is slow or clunky on mobile, people will bounce, and search engines will notice.

• Optimize Images: I personally use WebP format and lazy loading to speed up page loads.
• Minify Code: Tools like CSSMinify or your wp-rocket can help.
• Mobile Testing: Always check your site on real devices and Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test.

Personal Example
After minifying CSS and JavaScript on techjury.net, I shaved off 2 seconds of load time. Rankings for competitive keywords jumped from the bottom of page 2 to near the top of page 1 within a month, partly due to improved user metrics.

5. Leverage Social Channels (Even for SEO)

Why Social Media Helps

• Traffic Boost: Shares on Reddit, LinkedIn, or Twitter can drive early visitors.
• Brand Awareness: Even if links are no-follow, brand mentions and direct visits can signal demand.

Tailoring to Scenarios

• Scenario 2 (brand-new product) might rely heavily on community engagement to create that initial buzz, nobody’s searching for you yet, but they might discover you in social feeds.
• Scenario 4 could benefit from niche Twitter hashtags around your specific use case.

6. Track Analytics & Metrics

You can’t improve what you’re not measuring:

• Google Analytics: Check where visitors come from, which pages they stick to, and your bounce rate.
• Google Search Console: Monitors your site’s presence in search, including any indexing or coverage issues.
• Rank Tracking: Tools like Semrush or serpwatch can follow your keyword positions over time.

7. Patience & Consistency Win the Race

Finally, the big one: time. SEO doesn’t yield overnight miracles, especially in competitive niches.

• Incremental Goals: Celebrate when you break into the top 50 results, then top 20, then top 10.
• Regular Updates: Post fresh content weekly or bi-weekly. Search engines (and humans) like active sites.
• Adapt: If you’re not seeing traction after a few months, re-check your assumptions, maybe pivot in content direction or ramp up link-building.

How To Do It All Together?

1. Identify Your Scenario: Are you entering an existing market (Scenario 1) or forging an entirely new concept (Scenario 2)? Or maybe you’re solving a well-known problem with no solutions (Scenario 3), or honing in on a spun-off use case (Scenario 4).
2. Tailor Your SEO Strategy:
   • Scenario 1 & 4: Lots of search volume already exists; focus on competitor-driven keyword research and highlight your differentiator.
   • Scenario 2: Educate your audience and build a market from scratch, possibly leaning on social channels and community-driven awareness.
   • Scenario 3: People know the pain but not your solution, target complaint-based queries and frequently asked questions.
3. Apply the Core Tactics: From content creation and on-page SEO to backlink building, tech optimization, and consistent tracking, each step helps build momentum.
4. Stay Patient, Stay Consistent: Traffic won’t explode overnight, but if you’re methodical and responsive to what the data tells you, you’ll see steady gains over time.

My Final Word: Each scenario has its own challenges, but also unique advantages. In my personal experience, the biggest mistake you can make is assuming ,”SEO is the same for everyone.,” It’s not. Tailor your approach to whether you’re leveraging an existing market or building a solution that no one even searched for yet. 

Ready to start? Pick your scenario, develop a content + SEO plan, and remember: working on providing value at every step always wins in the long run. Need a hand in doing that – ping me at muninder@techjury.net

Good luck building that traffic!