Funny you mention SEO. SEO is good example how network impacts your reach. SEO ranking is all about the network. You can't have good SEO ranking without network

Funny you mention SEO. SEO is good example how network impacts your reach. SEO ranking is all about the network. You can't have good SEO ranking without network (other people and websites referencing to you). So network wins, again. More people you know and share your product in early phase, the better. They will mention it in social, on their blogs etc. If you knew few people, fewer people will knew for you too.