HowTheyGotUsersHowTheyGotUsers

Show the Product Solving the Problem, Don't Pitch It

Show the Product Solving the Problem, Don't Pitch It is a content & youtube tactic for getting your first users: Frame videos around solving a real problem and let the product appear in the background as you walk through the solution, so it sells itself by demonstration rather than claims.

It's a strong fit for B2B SaaS and Dev tools / technical teams, and works especially well for B2B SaaS, dev tools, technical products. As a content & youtube play, plan for medium effort and expect results to build gradually over time, all grounded in 4 linked primary sources.

Content & YouTubeMedium effortSlow

Why does content & youtube work for this?

Showing how easily a problem gets solved is far more convincing than asserting you can solve it, and watching the real product builds confidence that crappy-but-honest demos still convert at high rates.

The exact steps (5)

The full step-by-step this founder ran, what they posted, where, and in what order, plus the watch-outs, is part of the library.

Unlock the steps · $29 oncePlus all 3,000+ tactics and the new ones we add weekly.

Sources

Works for
B2B SaaSDev tools / technical

Frequently asked

What kind of products does the "Show the Product Solving the Problem, Don't Pitch It" tactic work for?
It is a good fit for B2B SaaS and Dev tools / technical — pick it when your product looks like one of those, since the play is shaped around how those users find new tools.
How is the "Show the Product Solving the Problem, Don't Pitch It" tactic verified?
It is drawn from 4 primary sources — real founder write-ups and interviews, not generic advice. They are linked in the Sources section above so you can read the original accounts yourself.
How much effort is it and how fast are results?
It is medium effort, and results tend to be slow.
Where can I see the exact step-by-step?
The full step-by-step a founder ran, documented via SaaS Marketing for (Laravel) Developers and 5 Smartest SaaS Marketing Strategies in 2026, is in the paid library.

Related tactics

Content & YouTubeLow effort· Fast

Titles and Thumbnails That Earn the Click

Engineering the two things that decide whether anyone watches: a title that promises a payoff and a thumbnail that looks like a creator made it, not a marketing department.

Read the steps →
Content & YouTubeMedium effort· Medium

Turn a 'How I Built It' Tutorial Into a Template Funnel

Write a detailed technical build post (Next.js 15 + Tailwind landing page), show real structure, code, and a live demo, then pitch the full source as a paid template at the end.

Read the steps →
Content & YouTubeHigh effort· Slow

Give Away Everything Free Until the Questions Become Your Product

Publicly share everything you know about a topic for free across social and forums; the questions people then ask become both your market research and the outline for a paid product you sell back to that same audience.

Read the steps →
Content & YouTubeHigh effort· Slow

Make a Boring Category Memorable

Win attention in a stale category by deliberately looking and sounding different, gamifying your expertise, and creating branded moments people want to show up for.

Read the steps →
Content & YouTubeMedium effort· Slow

Build in Public to Earn Trust

Sharing the unpolished reality of building your product (decisions, reasoning, stumbles) alongside free resources that genuinely help your audience.

Read the steps →
Content & YouTubeHigh effort· Slow

Utilize Case Studies to Build Credibility

Publishing detailed accounts of successful implementations of the product

Read the steps →

Get all 3,000+ tactics in one place

Filter by your product and channel, follow the exact steps, and get the new tactics we add every week. One payment, yours for good.

Unlock for $29 onceBrowse by channel