I’ve built 2 startups & tens of products and I am often asked this question - “How do you validate your startup idea?”
So, in this thread, I share:
- What a realistic expectation of "validating an idea" is
- 9 ways to a validate your idea
Thread 🧵
So, in this thread, I share:
- What a realistic expectation of "validating an idea" is
- 9 ways to a validate your idea
Thread 🧵
Disclaimer: This isn't magic!
Let's be clear from the outset: **No method validates your idea a 100% other than actually just going for it**.
If there were a way to do that, there would be no failed startups. Don't fool yourself to think otherwise.
Let's be clear from the outset: **No method validates your idea a 100% other than actually just going for it**.
If there were a way to do that, there would be no failed startups. Don't fool yourself to think otherwise.
So, what's this about then?
The goal is to:
- Get a better sense of market demand
- Acquire a first group of users for your startup
- *Improve* your odds of success
- Do all of this affordably & quickly
With this context out of the way, let's start with the 9 methods!
The goal is to:
- Get a better sense of market demand
- Acquire a first group of users for your startup
- *Improve* your odds of success
- Do all of this affordably & quickly
With this context out of the way, let's start with the 9 methods!
Method 1: SEO
When anyone wants something, they "Google" it. So, the problem your idea is trying to solve should also be visible on Google.
People might not always search exactly for your startup offering. So, think from the perspective of the problem and NOT your solution.
When anyone wants something, they "Google" it. So, the problem your idea is trying to solve should also be visible on Google.
People might not always search exactly for your startup offering. So, think from the perspective of the problem and NOT your solution.
Method 1: SEO - the process
1. List the search phrases potential customers could search on Google to find your startup
2. Use a keyword research tool to find their monthly volume
3. A good monthly volume shows people do look for solutions to the problem you're trying to solve
1. List the search phrases potential customers could search on Google to find your startup
2. Use a keyword research tool to find their monthly volume
3. A good monthly volume shows people do look for solutions to the problem you're trying to solve
Method 1: SEO - important points
If you don't find much volume for search phrases:
1. You aren't searching for the right phrases
OR
2. Google SEO isn't the best channel to acquire your customers
OR
3. Maybe, it isn't a true problem for people
If you don't find much volume for search phrases:
1. You aren't searching for the right phrases
OR
2. Google SEO isn't the best channel to acquire your customers
OR
3. Maybe, it isn't a true problem for people
Method 2: Relevant forums
To get a good understanding of your market, you need to be around your customers and just LISTEN to them.
If people have problems, they talk to others who might be facing that problem too. This is where online communities & forums can be super useful.
To get a good understanding of your market, you need to be around your customers and just LISTEN to them.
If people have problems, they talk to others who might be facing that problem too. This is where online communities & forums can be super useful.
Method 2: Relevant forums - example
For e.g. If you are target customers are developers, try to find different places developers hangout. This could be:
- HackerNews
- Subreddits
- Dev.to
and many more.
For e.g. If you are target customers are developers, try to find different places developers hangout. This could be:
- HackerNews
- Subreddits
- Dev.to
and many more.
Method 2: Relevant forums - example (contd.)
On these forums:
1. Browse through and see which problem(s) they are consistently unhappy about.
2. Check the top performing posts and observe what excites them the most.
On these forums:
1. Browse through and see which problem(s) they are consistently unhappy about.
2. Check the top performing posts and observe what excites them the most.
Method 2: Relevant forums - live example
@csallen got the idea for @IndieHackers from observing that on HackerNews people loved getting detailed numbers of startups and especially around side hustles!
@csallen got the idea for @IndieHackers from observing that on HackerNews people loved getting detailed numbers of startups and especially around side hustles!
Method 3: Competitors & their forums
It is VERY likely that your startup idea already has competitors. Don't worry, it is good news.
The presence of competitors confirms the existence of customers and gives you wealth of information to learn from.
It is VERY likely that your startup idea already has competitors. Don't worry, it is good news.
The presence of competitors confirms the existence of customers and gives you wealth of information to learn from.
Method 3: Using competitor's public info
- Their website and copy tells you what they think customers want
- Read any of their interviews to understand their view of the market
However, take all of this with a fistful of salt - it is a guiding direction NOT the sole truth.
- Their website and copy tells you what they think customers want
- Read any of their interviews to understand their view of the market
However, take all of this with a fistful of salt - it is a guiding direction NOT the sole truth.
Method 3: Competitor forums
Support forums, review websites, etc. are really useful - you are hearing from your competitor's customers directly!
1. Observe what the customers are appreciating and also unhappy about.
2. Highly unhappy customers could be your first customers.
Support forums, review websites, etc. are really useful - you are hearing from your competitor's customers directly!
1. Observe what the customers are appreciating and also unhappy about.
2. Highly unhappy customers could be your first customers.
Method 4: Dropbox way
Dropbox, a $10bn company, started as a simple video to depict the concept that @drewhouston had for the company. No complex product - beta or otherwise.
At the bottom, he added a form to join the waiting list. He shared on HN and it grew to 75k overnight!
Dropbox, a $10bn company, started as a simple video to depict the concept that @drewhouston had for the company. No complex product - beta or otherwise.
At the bottom, he added a form to join the waiting list. He shared on HN and it grew to 75k overnight!
Method 4: Dropbox learning
Don't assume you need a complex product to establish whether people would want it or not. Even a simple video can be an "MVP".
Sure, you won't get such instant success every time. But, you could get some momentum to build on top of!
Don't assume you need a complex product to establish whether people would want it or not. Even a simple video can be an "MVP".
Sure, you won't get such instant success every time. But, you could get some momentum to build on top of!
Method 5: Start a Newsletter
Are passionate about a certain market, but don't know what to build in that? Begin by writing a newsletter.
This helps in:
- Showcasing your expertise
- Allowing you to get subscribers whom you can later sell to
- Learn what to build in the process
Are passionate about a certain market, but don't know what to build in that? Begin by writing a newsletter.
This helps in:
- Showcasing your expertise
- Allowing you to get subscribers whom you can later sell to
- Learn what to build in the process
Method 5: Newsletter - easy to kick-off
A newsletter can be started quickly & cheaply with little infrastructure.
For e.g. @rrhoover started @ProductHunt as a side-hustle using a simple newsletter which then gained a lot of interest and also gave him a clear direction for PH.
A newsletter can be started quickly & cheaply with little infrastructure.
For e.g. @rrhoover started @ProductHunt as a side-hustle using a simple newsletter which then gained a lot of interest and also gave him a clear direction for PH.
Method 6: Relevant social channel
Similar to a newsletter, you can build a presence on social media by showcasing your expertise on the topic of your interest.
A relevant social channel is one which is:
- Frequented by your target customers
- Suits the content you will share
Similar to a newsletter, you can build a presence on social media by showcasing your expertise on the topic of your interest.
A relevant social channel is one which is:
- Frequented by your target customers
- Suits the content you will share
Method 6: Why social media?
The advantages of social media over a newsletter:
- Even lesser tools required to kick off
- Greater network effect
- Content frequency can be much higher
You can then:
- Learn what to build from your "audience"
- Get them as your first customers
The advantages of social media over a newsletter:
- Even lesser tools required to kick off
- Greater network effect
- Content frequency can be much higher
You can then:
- Learn what to build from your "audience"
- Get them as your first customers
Method 6: Real example
@anthilemoon had a great newsletter and a brilliant social presence, which then enabled her to build a vibrant community around the same idea!
@anthilemoon had a great newsletter and a brilliant social presence, which then enabled her to build a vibrant community around the same idea!
Method 7: White-label
This is a bit tricky but also out of the box. Here's a real example:
When Dave started @Hubstaff, he wasn't sure how easy it would be capture demand for the product.
So, he bought a white-label product, off-the-shelf, and started directing traffic to it.
This is a bit tricky but also out of the box. Here's a real example:
When Dave started @Hubstaff, he wasn't sure how easy it would be capture demand for the product.
So, he bought a white-label product, off-the-shelf, and started directing traffic to it.
Method 7: White-label example
He was able to:
- Get REAL customers for the product
AND
- Understand what problems they had with the product
All this without ever building a product! It allowed him to then pitch the idea to his co-founder and start building the real product.
He was able to:
- Get REAL customers for the product
AND
- Understand what problems they had with the product
All this without ever building a product! It allowed him to then pitch the idea to his co-founder and start building the real product.
Method 8: Google Ads
While SEO allows you to gauge the volume of searches, Google Ads enables you to get those users to your website instantly!
So, as early as possible, drive actual potential customers to your website and see if they would be interested in your offering.
While SEO allows you to gauge the volume of searches, Google Ads enables you to get those users to your website instantly!
So, as early as possible, drive actual potential customers to your website and see if they would be interested in your offering.
Method 8: Google Ads usage
For e.g., Foti of @GrowthMentorHQ set up a simple marketing page targeting a few keywords.
Each click cost him $2 at an 18% conversion rate - overall, of 250 clicks about ~45 filled his form!
He now had actual interest that he could further build on!
For e.g., Foti of @GrowthMentorHQ set up a simple marketing page targeting a few keywords.
Each click cost him $2 at an 18% conversion rate - overall, of 250 clicks about ~45 filled his form!
He now had actual interest that he could further build on!
Method 9: Just start with something small
Well, finally it is important to remember that you are in this to build a business NOT a product.
So, focus on what is the path of least friction to getting you customers. You can always build a product later to scale.
Well, finally it is important to remember that you are in this to build a business NOT a product.
So, focus on what is the path of least friction to getting you customers. You can always build a product later to scale.
Method 9: Start small example
Not every idea needs a product. This is what we painfully realised at @Flexipletweets.
After spending tens of thousands on a complex product, we generated our first $100k through GoogleSheets.
Read our mistake here 👇🏼
Not every idea needs a product. This is what we painfully realised at @Flexipletweets.
After spending tens of thousands on a complex product, we generated our first $100k through GoogleSheets.
Read our mistake here 👇🏼
https://twitter.com/KarthikS2206/status/1363753880849317888
That's it for this thread!
I regularly write on startups, so, if you would like more such threads, consider retweeting the first tweet & following me :)
I regularly write on startups, so, if you would like more such threads, consider retweeting the first tweet & following me :)
https://twitter.com/KarthikS2206/status/1395249741873565699
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