How do you get potential end users to help me validate my idea?
I've had an idea for a SAAS type product for a while now. I've even started down the road of implementation. But I haven't validated much outside of the fact that there are potential customers in existence.
So, I'm trying to take the advice given by @csallen and @robwalling and many of the guests of the IH podcast. That I should take the time to validate that a market exists for my product. And if so, are the people in this market are willing to pay for what I would be creating before devoting months to it.
Things I do know:
- There are potential customers in the US at least 5 but up to 10 thousand.
- There is not a lot of competition, if any, for these potential customers.
- They are typically visible to the world through a Facebook group or simple website if they are online at all.
- They have really been doing fine without SAAS services like the one I would hope to provide(as far as I can tell).
Things I don't know but need to:
- If they would even consider using a SAAS over Facebook or their own Website.
- Are the features that I think they would benefit from the ones they actually need and want.
- Would they pay money for the software I have in mind, and how much.
- Other things I have yet to think of.
Finally, I recently found a data set with a few thousand Facebook groups and domains for these potential customers. And I can definitely reach out to them over Facebook and many of their websites have contact forms.
So given all that, Here is my questions are:
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How should I reach out to these people to get a better understanding of the things listed in "Things I don't know but need to"?
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More specifically how can get them to respond? I'm not really providing them with anything but I'm asking for a modest amount of time and effort from them.
TLDR: How do I validate my ideas when the people I'm reaching out to don't know me and don't have a reason to help me.
#ask-ih
Another IHer built a tool I recently used called Scoopio. It's a paid service but at least you get results. I find it pretty hard to also to get replies to surveys from people you don't know. I hear stories about people getting tons of replies from Twitter, Reddit, FB, etc. but it never seems to work for me.
A couple of thoughts.
If you have a data set with a few thousand Facebook groups that these potential customers are part of, that is where I'd start.
Join a few of the larger groups and start researching what they are talking about. A lot of people in FB groups use the group to vent or share stuff that the others will find useful. If your product falls into either of those types of communication, then you'll find ways to join the conversation.
One thing that jumps out is your comment "They have really been doing fine without SAAS services like the one I would hope to provide(as far as I can tell)"
If they've been doing fine, what made you want to provide your solution? Are you solving a problem or enhancing an existing solution?
Since you know that you can reach out to them via FB or their own contact forms, then do that. You seemed to have verified that this is where they are online, if at all. Go to them where they are.
Regarding how best to contact them, just be transparent that you are planning a "solution" and you'd like to speak to them to better understand their day to day and how your solution could help.
You have a data set of a few thousand leads. That's a pretty good amount of people to hone in on the proper message.
I second that!
I recently went trough that process with Facebook groups.
Some groups would not let me join them. While on others I would get significant feedback. Some people would even give their phone number in private.
If you are approaching this with a friendly « I need you to better help you! » attitude and if you are solving a real problem for these people, you’d be surprise to see how some people will jump in to talk :)
Be transparent and deliberate, keep your post concise and friendly. You can try different messages in different groups and see how that goes!
Good luck and keep us posted :)
Thanks for the reply!
That is pretty much what I was assuming I would have to do. I guess there will never be a way to guarantee someone's response. So all I can do is be nice and honest in the hopes that some people will respond to that! Also, get better at this specific sort of communication.
I'm starting to reach out to people today and I'll be tracking all my interactions. Maybe I can make a good post about the results and what I learned whenever I collect enough information.