I Tried Paid Ads. I Tried Organic. Here’s What Actually Worked (and When)
When we launched our first blockchain product, we went all in on paid ads.
Big spend. Big expectations.
We targeted wallets holding certain tokens, ran campaigns on Web3-native platforms, and watched the impressions roll in. Within 48 hours, we had thousands of clicks. Our Discord numbers spiked. For a moment, it felt like we’d cracked it.
But then… silence.
People showed up. Few stuck around. We had traffic, but not traction.
That’s when we slowed down and asked:
Were we just paying for attention… or actually earning trust?
We pivoted.
We started posting on Twitter regularly. Joined Reddit discussions. Wrote breakdowns of our tech stack. Hosted low-key AMAs. It was slower, way less flashy, but over time, something shifted.
People began to engage. Our Telegram felt like a community instead of a crowd. Feedback started shaping the product. A few builders even reached out asking to collaborate.
That’s when it hit me:
Paid ads buy attention.
Organic builds belonging.
So what works best?
Honestly? Both. But at different times.
- Paid ads helped us launch fast and loud.
- Organic marketing helped us grow with intention.
The projects that thrive, like MetaMask, blend the two. They use paid ads to kick things off, then go full steam on content, community, and conversations.
Have you tried either (or both)?
- If you had to spend $10K today, would you go for ads or organic?