Stuck between validation and building
Hi all,
I have spent the past 2 months toying around with a concept for a Marketing-Tech project. Most of the time was spent validating the product through identifying and talking with potential clients.
Following the client interviews, I believe the product has demand and have a general idea about how to articulate the value proposition.
Since I'm not 100% sure in my current understanding, I'm not clear on what my next step should be, should I:
- Research more - keep interviewing customers to get more conviction (before anyone asks - I did read the mom test)
- Next level validation - build a landing page, drive traffic and measure interest
- Go all in - build a product MVP and start selling
I'm really stuck on this, what do you folks think?
The method we're trying to follow with TwistMetrics.com is option 2 from your list. We had the idea but there was a lot of questions marks on how to actually pull it off (from a tech point of view) that we put together a proof of concept first but putting up a landing page or talking to anyone. We didn't want to get people excited but then find we couldn't build it!
But I'd say, go with option 2. You've spoken to people and it definitely sounds like it's something that people in the industry will want but possibly you need to confirm it's validity with people outside of your circle. Talking face-to-face with clients that you know is one thing as they may be kind or just say those things because you are face-to-face. Getting actually interest in the form of newsletter sign ups or something similar will given an even bigger indication of whether it's something to proceed with!
Idea validation through user interviews is just the first step. If your idea fails at that step, it's almost guaranteed that it will fail later too. It sounds like your idea passed and now you have a foundation to work on. I assume you also have some potential customers and you know what they need. Congrats! Most people don't get there.
What's your next milestone or obstacle that could kill your idea? Is it getting your first customer? Is it getting enough customers? Is it some technological uncertainty? Something else? If an MVP or a landing page can help reach that next step, go for it. If not, try to identify how you can achieve it fastest and cheapest.
Just don't get stuck. Focus on the low hanging fruits that move you closer to your vision, that don't paint you in a corner.
Validation is important, if you want to lower your risk, but still, your idea could be good and grow without validation, it'just like hit or miss.
Validation is just here to lower your risk, if you are ok with assuming higher risk of failing thats fine, but higher risk of failing doesnt mean 0 success.
Anyway, Validation helps, but you will never know 100% if your idea is good not even with a lot of validations.
My take from the mom test:
"You will never know if your idea is good or not, but by talking to your customers (validating) you will be able to make more educated guesses"
So, you already validated, and you have some market knowledge, I would go for point 2, I would even recommend that point without validation. And if you are ok with high risk of loosing your time, go with 3.
But it all depends, if you could build a MVP in 1-5 days, I would even do it without any validation. If its more than 1 month or so I wouldn't recommend not doing any validation, only if you are ok with high risk.
You articulated it perfectly, this is exactly what I needed to sort out the noise in my head!
There's a quote I love from George Orwell's 1984 - "The best books, are those that tell you what you know already."