Last week I ran an experiment: I set up keyword monitors across 5 subreddits (r/SaaS, r/smallbusiness, r/startups, r/webdev, r/Entrepreneur) to track posts where people express unmet needs.
437 posts matched. Here's what the data says.
The Keywords That Signal Real Demand
I tracked phrases people use when they're actively looking for solutions:
| Keyword | Occurrences |
|---|---|
| "tool" | 118 |
| "need" | 92 |
| "help" | 65 |
| "alternative to" | 59 |
| "tired of" | 53 |
| "looking for" | 44 |
| "switching from" | 25 |
| "I wish" | 21 |
| "recommend" | 15 |
"Alternative to" is the most actionable signal. When someone says "alternative to X", they've already validated the problem — they just hate the current solution. That's a customer waiting to happen.
Where the Demand Lives
Not all subreddits are equal:
| Subreddit | Posts | Profile |
|---|---|---|
| r/SaaS | 151 | Founders comparing notes, sharing launches |
| r/smallbusiness | 143 | Owners actively looking for tools to buy |
| r/startups | 74 | Early-stage founders discussing strategy |
| r/webdev | 54 | Developers evaluating technical alternatives |
| r/Entrepreneur | 15 | Business-minded, less tool-specific |
r/smallbusiness is the sleeper. These aren't founders building tools — they're people who buy tools. When they say "I need a scheduling app" or "what's a good invoicing tool", they're ready to pay. Most SaaS founders only hang out in r/SaaS, which means r/smallbusiness is underserved.
The GummySearch Vacuum
GummySearch (a Reddit research tool for finding business ideas) shut down recently. The aftermath is visible in the data: multiple posts across r/SomebodyMakeThis, r/microsaas, and r/SaaS asking for alternatives.
This is a pattern worth watching — when a popular tool dies, the demand doesn't disappear. It fragments across Reddit threads where people ask "what do I use now?"
If you're building in a space where a competitor just shut down, search for "[competitor name] alternative" on Reddit. Those threads are full of potential customers.
What I Built With This Data
I got tired of doing this manually, so I built SubWatch — it monitors subreddits for keywords you set and surfaces matching posts automatically. Every few hours, new matches appear in a dashboard.
The core insight: don't wait for customers to find you. Find the conversations where they're already asking for what you built.
$29/mo. No free tier — I want signal from paying users, not noise from tire-kickers. If you're a SaaS founder doing Reddit outreach manually, it might save you a few hours a week.
TL;DR
- Track "alternative to" — it's the highest-intent signal on Reddit
- Don't sleep on r/smallbusiness — those people buy tools
- When a competitor dies, search for "[name] alternative" threads
- Automate the monitoring if you're doing it more than once a week
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