Spotting The Problem Early

I launched the private alpha version of my newest app, Perligo, a few weeks ago. The app is designed for writers and works to give them digital critique groups that are easy to use. I kept the alpha private just to protect my time, but I think it was a good decision.

I have onboarded about 20 users during the alpha, 4 of which are from my old MFA cohort. Those 4 from my old cohort and myself make up the only active group on the platform. We are enjoying it, which is fine, but there isn’t a single other group on the platform that has more than one member.

This tells me one of three things:

1. Alpha testers don’t find value in the app
2. Alpha testers don’t understand how to use the app
3. Alpha testers don’t have existing critique groups to invite

I’ll be continuing to reach out to people and get additional feedback that will help me understand which of the above three issues is true (or if there are other issues), but I think it’s a good thing that I am already recognizing a problem before I’ve launched publicly.

In the past, I would have ignored this and launched anyway. I would have banked on a good Product Hunt showing or a good response on Show HN. The problem with that approach, of course, is that it just kicks the can down the road.

So, here’s to identifying and solving problems early and often!