Many people of us think that successful SaaS is a unique SaaS, something that different with others and solve real problem of the users.
Waittt... Are u sure?
Have you ever seen some good apps that you think its potential milion SaaS but the reality is: execution failed, low conversation rate, or have you find some apps that you think its non sense, not unique, not really needed by user but making a profits?
If so, did it confuse you?
The Reality Check: Threads vs. X
We often think we need a "disruptive" feature to enter a crowded market. But look at Threads.
It lacked basic features like a desktop version, a proper search function, and even a "following" feed at the start. It was, in many ways, a "boring," stripped-down version of what already existed.
Yet, it reached 100 million users in 5 days.
Why? Because Meta didn't rely on innovation to win; they relied on Distribution.
- They leveraged the existing Instagram user base (billions of people).
- They made the "onboarding" a single tap.
- They positioned it as the "sane" alternative to the chaos of X.
X already dominated the market. X had the "innovative" features (Spaces, Community Notes, Long-form video).
But Threads proved that if you have a massive distribution pipe and clear positioning, you don’t need to be "better" or "more unique", you just need to be right there when the user is looking for an alternative.
Real-World Contradictions: The "Feature" Fallacy
The "Feature-Rich" Ghost: A founder builds a decentralized social media app with blockchain encryption, AI-summarized feeds, and built-in crypto rewards.
It’s technically superior to everything on the market. But because they have no distribution plan, the "active users" are just the founder and their two developer friends.
The "Platform-Backed" Winner: Threads enters the arena with 50% fewer features than its competitor. But because it sits on top of a massive distribution engine (Instagram), it survives the "hype cycle" and carves out a permanent space.
The lesson? Distribution beats Innovation nearly every time.
Conclusion: The Heart of the Machine
The hard truth is that while we love to obsess over our tech stack and unique features, the heart of a SaaS is its distribution and positioning. Innovation should serve your distribution.
Ask yourself: "Does this new feature make it easier for my target audience to find me? Does it make my positioning clearer?" Threads didn't win by being a "better X"; it won by being a "more accessible Instagram extension."
Stop trying to build something "unique" and start building something "distributed." Because at the end of the day, a product that is found always beats a product that is simply better.