5k User signup goal. Why just choose one Validation/Lead gen strategy on your page?

Straight to it.

For the most part, we can narrow down the best course of action with your product/project is to do these few things (not necessarily in this order.).

1. Validate the idea
2. See who's interested
3. Build MVP
4. Aquire users
5. Get them to use it.
6. Get them to pay for it.
7. Drill your users for feedback
8. Improve
   -Then go back to 3 and repeat.

I've been thinking why can't I just do 1,3,4,6,7,& 8 all without even building the MVP?

Which brings me to the simple Validation, lead generator, customer interview, feedback loop,non-pricing pricing page, funnel thing outlined above.

I don't think that I'm by any means the first to think of this, but I don't see why it's not standard for new products. Everyone puts a landing page up already knowing they need someone to test the product, knowing they plan on selling it, and knowing that they need a list to reach out to when it's ready. Yet the majority just provide an email signup box. That's it, why wait?

Just as you would put much effort into a quality pricing page and pricing strategy, I believe that the same effort should start with your leads before you even have a price, or in this case even a product.

If you're typically going to have a 3 plan pricing structure with one being the goal one is the bare minimum, and one is the stretch goal. Do that with your validation, save yourself some time and use the same psychology.

-The mailing list is the bare minimum - They're just curious
-The Early adopter is the goal - They're hopeful that you're going to solve their problem
-The Beta tester is the stretch goal. -They're ready to take a risk on your solution

Many people don't want to sign up for yet another email list. But if the beta tester is too much of a commitment, then it should create the same anchoring feeling as the enterprise plan, and now the mailing list doesn't seem so bad. Plus remember all 3 of them can be "upsold" to the next option. So it doesn't matter as long as they pick-one.

The newsletter option just gets you people that you can contact and try to sell to later. But the other two give you insight on who's the most excited, and because the early adopters & Beta-testers have to apply by filling out your survey you get the data that you need to make the product that they need. Allowing you to not just validate but also improve your idea before you get started on it, or being able to pivot before you even duct tape a bunch of things together for your MVP.

Welp, this is already too long so I'll leave the rest for the conversation if there is one. I'm going to give this a shot and document here or on my not yet existing blog about its progress or failure. I'm all for feedback.

What am building?
I'm currently working on a Saas product targeted at the restaurant industry. With a problem that is griped about a lot but there is no solution out there just yet. Not because it's enough of a problem, but because they people that see it don't want it to go away. I happened to be in a unique position to see it, and used to be on the side that contributed to the problem. Now I want in on the solution. Wish me luck.