Built a SaaS from 0 to 1, Then Hit the Traffic Wall: I Paused and Went Back to Grind SEO

In my opening manifesto, I laid out a clear path: "Indie Development + SEO."

This post is the first 'real-world' report card I'm submitting. It shows how I successfully navigated the "Indie Development" part, only to crash hard against the reality of "SEO," and why I decided to hit the "pause button."

1. From 0 to 1: The Technical Victory

Starting in June this year, I began experimenting with shipping AI SaaS web applications internationally.

Over the past three months, I managed to get a SaaS application, NanoBananaEdit, through the entire 0-to-1 process: From discovering demand -> Feature development -> Launching & deployment -> Submitting to Google for indexing.

Before diving in, SaaS seemed complex. But after actually building the product and summarizing the process, I found it was entirely feasible from a technical standpoint.

At that moment, I was thoroughly confident in my "Indie Development" capabilities.

2. Hitting the "Traffic" Wall

However, after the application went live, reality quickly taught me a lesson.

I'd ritually open Google Analytics each day, only to be greeted by that glaring '0' visitors.

Looking back, I realized that promotion, traffic generation, and operations were the biggest problems. I didn't know how to do them; my mind was a blank slate, utterly clueless.

It was then that I painfully understood just how crucial SEO is.

I used to think SEO was just about "driving traffic." Now I understand it covers almost all the "Business Systems" of a Super Individual:

1. Pre-Project (Product & Market Validation):

   • Analyzing User Intent and Search Volume through Keyword Research to discover market opportunities and validate your product's feasibility.

2. Post-Launch (Continuous Optimization & Growth):

   • On-Page Optimization: Creating high-quality content around keywords, optimizing titles and meta descriptions.
   • Technical Optimization: Ensuring site speed, mobile-friendliness, and crawlability.
   • Authority Building (Off-Page): Acquiring high-quality Backlinks through content to establish brand authority.
   • Analysis & Iteration: Tracking rankings and traffic, analyzing user behavior, and iterating on the product.

My nanobananaedit.com project made it from 0 to 1 technically, but in the "market," it was still stuck at 0.

3. Hitting Pause, Going Back to Learn

Admitting my ignorance was tough. nanobananaedit.com felt like my child; I'd spent over three months raising it, and now I had to pause it? What about my "sunk costs"?

But I believe more strongly in "Rationality." If you're heading in the wrong direction, the faster you run, the further off course you go.

I had to go back and learn SEO properly.

I started diving into various communities and devouring articles. Experienced white-hat SEO veterans suggested starting with a WordPress site focused on providing high-quality content.

I completely agree with the core idea (creating quality content).

However, this path isn't right for me right now. I have no content experience, and there's the learning curve of WordPress. This approach wouldn't leverage my strength as a developer.

I needed a "vessel" to practice the learning method I believe in most: "learn by doing, learn in doing".

4. "Tool Site": My Best Practice Ground

Later, I realized that a "Tool Site" is the most suitable "learn by doing" experiment for me at this stage.

It's a perfect blend of "Indie Development + SEO."

I can use a focused, single-point tool that solves a real pain point (leveraging my development strengths) as a traffic entry point; then, through systematic content SEO strategies (practicing my SEO weaknesses), I can capture a large volume of targeted users.

This was exactly what I was looking for!

5. My New Experiment: CompressImage

I didn't just stop at planning. After the National Day holiday, I started my new experiment:

• Project: CompressImage (an image compression tool site)
• Purpose:
  1. To have an immediate "vessel" to apply the SEO knowledge I was learning.
  2. To once again try exploring my ability to "face the market directly"—this time, armed with an SEO map.

nanobananaedit.com wasn't a failure; it helped me validate my "Stamina" (technical skills). compressimage.dev will be my first training ground for cultivating "Command" (SEO) and "Influence".

This blog will document my practical exercises as an "SEO newbie." Feel free to watch (and offer advice)!