How would you scale an AI website builder to 1,000 clients?

I’m the founder of an AI website builder that helps small service-based businesses create professional websites for free. We make money through hosting, web management, and other monthly features. I’m focused on hitting 1,000 clients as fast as possible so I can scale sustainably with a team and consistent advertising. My background is in running social media ads, but I’m trying to figure out the most effective strategy to grow. Especially from people that have experience in similar areas. I’ve been considering partnerships, like working with companies that manage multiple small businesses (e.g., retail rental companies or agencies), but I’m not sure the best way to approach this. If you’ve scaled a SaaS or startup quickly, how did you do it? Should I focus on partnerships, go all-in on ads, or take another route entirely? I’d love to hear your insights or advice, especially if you’ve been here before.