Filter practical routes
Find traffic sources that fit your goal, product and budget.
A traffic source is a route through which people discover your product, such as Google, YouTube, an app store, a community or a recommendation. Choose what needs to happen next, then narrow the options by product and cost and open only the guides that fit your situation.
No traffic source matches this selection. Remove a filter or choose another goal.
Google Search
Use your own pages to answer specific searches about problems, instructions, alternatives and comparisons. Search Console then shows whether Google finds those pages and which queries display them.
- Use when
- Your product solves a problem people search for.
- First move
- Publish five pages for specific search questions.
YouTube
Short videos reveal which opening gains interest. Longer demonstrations and instructions answer questions and can bring visitors through YouTube Search over time.
- Use when
- You can show the product in use or show its outcome.
- First move
- Record one demonstration and turn it into several short clips.
TikTok, Reels and Shorts
Short videos quickly reveal which problem statement, use moment or before-and-after example interests new people.
- Use when
- The benefit can be made visible in a few seconds.
- First move
- Test several openings for the same outcome.
Great for products with a clear niche. Write posts that explain the problem, what you tried, what you built and what feedback you need.
- Use when
- A real community already discusses the problem.
- First move
- Comment helpfully before posting your own link.
Product Hunt
Product Hunt lets makers introduce new tools and apps to a technology-oriented audience. Attention is concentrated mainly on the publication day.
- Use when
- Interested visitors can try the product immediately.
- First move
- Prepare a demonstration, screenshots and answers to important questions.
App Store / Google Play
People use app-store search when they are close to installing an app. The title, search terms, first screenshots, reviews and description must make the benefit clear.
- Use when
- You have an installable mobile app.
- First move
- Make the outcome clear across the first screenshots.
Steam and itch.io
Players can discover, wishlist, try and buy a game there. A clear store page with gameplay, a trailer and accurate tags is the foundation.
- Use when
- You can show interesting gameplay and a clear next step.
- First move
- Publish the store page early and collect wishlists.
Amazon KDP
For ebooks, Amazon search and category visibility matter. Pair the listing with sample chapters, review outreach, topic content and newsletter mentions.
- Use when
- The product is a book, guide or structured knowledge asset.
- First move
- Build a launch team before publication day.
Smaller creators and media
Streamers, YouTubers, newsletter writers and podcasters can explain the product to a suitable audience and lend their own credibility.
- Use when
- You can explain why the product genuinely fits each person's audience.
- First move
- Prepare a demonstration, images, trial access and a short explanation.
Comparison sites and directories
A complete listing helps people compare products and can also appear in Google or AI searches. A few relevant platforms are more useful than many arbitrary listings.
- Use when
- People compare products in your category.
- First move
- Choose and complete five relevant directory profiles.
Recommendations in AI search
AI answers often draw on clear product pages, comparisons, reviews, community posts and videos. Clear information and credible mentions improve the chance of being included.
- Use when
- People ask for product recommendations or comparisons.
- First move
- Publish comparable product information and answers worth citing.
Pinterest suits visual outcomes and ideas that remain useful for months, including templates, printables, ebooks and lesson material.
- Use when
- You can show the completed outcome in one image.
- First move
- Create several pins from one concrete outcome.
LinkedIn suits products that solve professional tasks, including business software, AI tools, recruiting and education products.
- Use when
- The buyer or user has a professional problem.
- First move
- Explain the problem and a useful solution before showing the product.
Publish content on additional platforms
Adapt a proven article or instruction for Medium, Dev.to, Substack, Quora, Threads or X. Link from there to the page where users can complete the next step.
- Use when
- You already have a useful article, experience or instruction.
- First move
- Rewrite one proven subject for three relevant platforms.
Email and waitlist
A newsletter rarely creates the first visitors. It lets you tell interested people about a later release, update or offer.
- Use when
- You expect updates, new versions or repeated releases.
- First move
- Offer a useful checklist, preview or bonus.
Advertising in search engines
Paid ads can display a product precisely when someone searches for a relevant solution. This is useful only when you can reliably measure the desired action.
- Use when
- You know what a signup, install or purchase is worth.
- First move
- Test a few exact searches with a small budget.
Advertising on social networks
Paid ads on TikTok, Instagram and similar platforms can amplify a post whose image, video and message already attracted relevant interest.
- Use when
- You already know which presentation interests suitable people.
- First move
- Reach previous visitors again before advertising broadly.
PR, podcasts and newsletters
Works when there is a strong story: data, trend, founder angle, niche problem, unusual result or public launch.
- Use when
- You can explain why the product matters now.
- First move
- Pitch 20 very specific outlets, not a generic blast.
Discord, Slack and forums
Less scalable than algorithmic platforms, often stronger for feedback and trust in narrow niches.
- Use when
- The community welcomes useful examples and feedback.
- First move
- Share the learning, not just the link.
Developer ecosystems
For developer tools, GitHub, package registries, example projects and clear technical instructions can be major routes to new users.
- Use when
- The product has technical users or integrations.
- First move
- Publish a repo with examples and clear docs.
Jams, challenges and awards
Good for games, creative tools, AI prototypes and design products when the event already gathers the right audience.
- Use when
- You can ship a demo or public entry.
- First move
- Use the deadline to create visible progress.
Referral and sales partners
Partners can recommend the product to their own audience and receive a commission. This makes sense once your product page reliably turns visitors into customers.
- Use when
- The commission, product price and purchase rate work together.
- First move
- Begin with a few trusted partners.
Generate traffic
Combine a few routes with clear jobs: get found during a search, reach new people, answer open questions and contact interested visitors again later.
- Use when
- You do not know which route to start with.
- First move
- Choose the desired action and two suitable traffic sources.
Bing Webmaster Tools and IndexNow
Expand search coverage beyond Google and notify supporting search engines more quickly when important URLs change.
- Use when
- Your website publishes or updates content regularly.
- First move
- Verify the site and submit the sitemap.
Digital-product marketplaces
Gumroad, Payhip, Lemon Squeezy, Ko-fi and Creative Market combine checkout, a product page and people already browsing for digital products.
- Use when
- You sell downloads, templates or small courses.
- First move
- Show the preview and finished outcome clearly.
Plugin and extension marketplaces
The Chrome Web Store, Edge Add-ons, Firefox Add-ons and WordPress.org let people find a plugin while searching for something to install.
- Use when
- Your product installs as a plugin or extension.
- First move
- Explain the benefit, screenshots and required permissions.