User Traction - The biting truth.

The word "traction" has been fairly new to the application world. For the longest time the only important term which was important to anyone was user traffic on your website. 

User traction is the qualitative and quantitative growth of your online product in the market.

I have been approached by so many startups who think user traction is just a number. I have 50k downloads for my app and hence a great traction. This is a complete myth. In my opinion, the traction will come when the product will show a natural vitality to grow and make the product increase in numbers and eventually usage. It has everything to do with profitability, active users, engagement and revenues. 

Many startups have taken different routes to create traction in their early years. 

I really don't know what works for who but some of these methods are still favourites to some of the early startups i know. 

In all fair honesty, i believe that every product needs an escape velocity to take a lift. For many, this is really about working hard for many many years and eventually making the move to show the investors that the product works and gain their respect. If Mark Zuckerberg was to think about his product "Facebook" to be something which has traction in real early days, do you think he would have changed the fate of Facebook ?

Getting invested is still a sales tactic. It needs contacts, hard work and eventually a sellable product. 

From my initial posts, i would like to re-iterate that a pure business approach to push a product will bring you success. If you are wasting time discounting the losses your product will make and trying to buy numbers by funding, you are hiding the wrong direction. Do not waste time jumping in existing market space to gain some exposure unless you have deep pockets. 

I wish everyone luck trying to get traction indicated by investors. 

Feel free to follow me on twitter @garydalal