How we used ‘$0 MARKETING’ to grow product to 400k users
Hey 👋
I know many of you are thinking about own product or have already started building it.
Just like we did a few years ago: from 0 → to 400k users and $600k+ MRR.
I decided to share 12 growth channels that worked for us and will be useful for your journey.
Stage 1: Design studio → Product
We were a small design studio: UX/UI, branding, websites.
We got the idea: why don’t we make an internal tool for all studio projects?
We started spending 5% of our resources on it. Then 10%. Then 25%. And when we realized we were passionate about it more than 50% of the time, we decided to ❌ close the studio and became product team.
Stage 2: Product growth
We launched freemium SaaS and grew to 400k users (total signups).
Bootstrapped, no VC.
According to Google Analytics we acquired more than 2,000,000+ website visitors with ‘$0 marketing’ strategy.
We work on Product-led Growth strategy using only organic channels. Here are 12 of them that worked for us.
Flowmapp UI elements
Organic Growth Channels
01. SEO
We started working on it BEFORE the product launch. We designed the first version of landing page. Did SEO-research and optimisation (very well-known measures, nothing ultra-professional).
Google search traffic was on of the first source and the first influx of new audience.
SEO is a long marathon. The earlier you start, the better.
02. Blog
I think that content marketing is a king. Especially in 2026.
So back in 2017 we run Wordpress blog and wrote by ourselves first articles: story behind startup, initial idea, value of the product, how it works and how it supposed to be used, about target audience and how we solve their pains.
is currently running on WebFlow:
Home page of our blog
03. Medium
In addition to a WP blog on our website (for SEO purposes), we decided to create our own brand voice.
This is a great mistake: to choose between self-hosted blog and Medium blog. No need to choose, better to run both.
Medium is blog-content social network with own organic audience + great Google visibility.
I suggest to to use advantages of both channels.
04. Landing Page
We just released the 5th version of our website and all the previous ones have won awards (Site of the Day, etc.).
UX/UI/Design approach works great for a lot of aspects: user conversion, user acquisition, Google optimisation, referral, social mentions.
Landing page: #19 version
Landing page is the most important marketing touchpoint for every Saas!
05. Socials
There are few suggestions:
- Start your social journey asap, your audience is already there.
- Start your socials before launch on idea stage.
- Start building your personal brand as founder. And ask co-founders too.
- Grow your social capital.
- Networking is the key to many opportunities (that you can’t plan ahead).
06. Reviews
Use your first users for it. Ask them to share feedback: don’t afraid to do it, reward for it.
Social proof is very very very important for people to make a decision of paying for your service. Collect it on platforms, share in your socials, put on the website, include to newsletter.
07. Product Hunt
I’m not gonna hide it, we’re in love with the PH ( since then). That was our first growth step: first users, traffic, clients, mentions.
Our Product Hunt hub
Today there are plenty of platforms like PH: , , etc. (google ‘PH alternatives’).
08. Micro-Media
Well, before TechCrunch writes about you, pay attention to local media resources and professional media-blogs in your sphere.
As for me, it’s better to have 10 mentions (and external links) in small media websites, rather than 1 in big.
09. Influencers
Make friends with opinion leaders.
(again about social activity)
Make connections and build relationships. Ask for help, ask for support, ask for reposts, and give smth back:
Post from a UX/UI opinion leader
10. Communities
Be visible in communities where your audience is active: Reddit, Indie Hackers, LinkedIn, Telegram groups, Slack communities, etc.
If you can get not only the founder involved, but the rest of the team as well.
11. Partnerships
Look for similar startups for win-win interaction.
We had co-promo in socials, featuring in newsletters, interviews in blogs, etc.
Toolfolio Directory
Opportunities appear wherever you are proactive. Get to know each other, make suggestions. It’s not as hard as it seems!
Everyone do marketing, so look for teams who are on the same level as you for audience sharing and mutual growth.
12. WoM
Do whatever it takes to get recommended.
One of the best approach is talking directly to your users (email, dm, zoom, etc.). Personal approach + engagement boosts WoM:
WoM in action
Now we are a team of 10 people trying to scale product to $1M+ ARR.
Hope these helps and good luck with your future products!
🙌
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