Things i Learned By creating a product that nobody wants?

As an entrepreneur, building a product that nobody wants is a difficult but humbling experience.
I had the opportunity to learn this first-hand when I decided to create a marketplace to simplify the process of adopting a dog from animal shelters in Cyprus. The idea for my product came to me as I was crawling through the animal shelters in Cyprus, searching for a furry companion to adopt. I was struck by how difficult and time-consuming the adoption process was, and I knew there had to be a better way.
That's when the idea hit me - why not create a marketplace that simplifies the process of adopting a dog? The platform would allow shelters to register and upload their listings, while users could easily browse through the available dogs and find the perfect match.
Unfortunately, despite my efforts, the product failed to gain traction. In this article, I want to share the valuable lessons I learned through this experience.

Lesson 1 : Do not Skip the Validation Phase

Validation of your product is the key to save you time and money , on an idea that people want (or may not).As indie developers we have the tendency to building products without validating it can lead to wasted resources if the product does not meet the market's needs or preferences.The validation phase can also help you understand the problem you're trying to solve much better, providing clarity and new ideas about the important features you need to build in order to bridge the gap and solve the problem effectively.
In my case i validated the product only from one side of my users who were the adopters .The adopters were interested in such a product, but I didn't validate it with shelters and skipped their concerns.After the launch, I tried to present the idea and the app to the shelters, but they were really concerned about the 'donations.' They were afraid that the company would 'steal' their fans' donations. But that wasn't the case. The app had only one purpose: to connect adopters and dog lovers with their favorite shelters in a more convenient way

Lesson 2 : Presentation of the app REALLY Matters

Presenting your application and idea in a clear and understandable way is crucial for the success of It is essential to make sure that users can easily grasp the purpose of your application and how to use it to achieve their goals . If users find it difficult to understand the functionality of an application, they are likely to abandon it, leading to a high rate of user churn.On the other hand, if you can clearly articulate the benefits and functionality of your application, users are more likely to adopt it and become loyal customers.
A well-designed landing page can be an effective way to present your application and idea in a clear and easy-to-follow manner. Here are some tips for creating a landing page that is easy for users to understand and engage with:

1.Keep it simple: Your landing page should be visually appealing and easy to navigate. Use clean design and avoid cluttering the page with too much information.
2. Coherence/Concise : Use clear, concise language: Use plain language to describe the benefits and features of your application. Avoid using technical jargon or buzzwords that may confuse users.
3.Highlight key benefits: Clearly highlight the key benefits of your application and how it can solve users' problems or improve their lives.

3.Use visuals: Incorporate visuals, such as images, screenshots, or videos, to help users understand how the application works

Lesson 3 : Understanding the Core Purpose of Your App

As an indie hacker Having a clear understanding of your application's core purpose can help you to make informed decisions about the features and functionality that you should prioritise during the development process. By understanding the problem your application solves, you can better identify the needs and pain points of your target users, allowing you to create a solution that meets their needs and adds value to their lives. Additionally, having a clear understanding of your application's core purpose can help you to effectively market and position your application to potential users, making it easier to communicate its benefits and features.