After a month of development, I had essentially no users for my SaaS. As it happened, nobody was in need of what I had created. I believe I’ve learnt my lesson, and I want to avoid making the same error twice.
I therefore wanted to know how you go about validating concepts. Which operating system do you employ? Where do you locate your initial clientele? How can you obtain comments?
Understand who your target market is. Determine how you stand out from the competition. Talk to and get to know others. Next, construct. Next comes ProductHunt.
Whenever someone brings up PH, I look it up. Never once have I seen a quality product there. For what reason is it advised?
It’s intended more for testing and feedback than for “good products.” OP want validation, and while they are unsure about their specific consumer, this provides some generic validation and visibility.
What marketing and distribution strategies have you tried so far?
One less common way to gauge if there’s demand for your idea is by checking how many people are searching for it on Google. This means analyzing the search volume of the main keywords related to your SaaS product.
However, the best form of validation is when people are willing to pay for what you’re building. You could even validate this through pre-sales.
To find customers, you can directly reach out to your target audience on platforms like X, Reddit, or Facebook groups that focus on your niche. Look for people who are:
- Seeking alternatives to your competitors.
- Complaining about your competitors.
- Asking for recommendations for a solution that your product addresses.
You can do this manually or use a tool like CustomerFinderBot to automate the process and save time.
From there, you can suggest your product as a solution. It’s a win-win because these people already need what you’re offering, making them more likely to convert into paying customers.
When verifying SaaS ideas, I’ve found the following to be helpful: begin modestly and privately. Feedback from direct outreach on sites like LinkedIn and specialized forums can be extremely helpful. A clever technique is to create a basic landing page and monitor if users sign up or express interest. This serves as a kind of mini-validation without requiring the product to be fully developed. I’ve used Google Keyword Planner to gauge demand, but I should also mention that Pulse Reddit monitoring has been really helpful in identifying prospective clients who are discussing common problems in the business. Just by paying great attention, you can gain an incredible amount of insight! LinkedIn searches and the previously mentioned CustomerFinderBot are also effective tools for contacting potential users directly.
Reading Alberto Savoia’s book “The Right It” on the subject of prototyping—testing a product’s viability before launching it—is required reading for everyone who views and comments on this post. It completely altered the way I view startups. Extremely highly advised
I totally get your frustration—spending a month building something only to find no users is tough. I’ve been through that too!
Here are a few strategies that I’ve found helpful for validating ideas:
- Start with surveys or interviews in relevant online communities. Platforms like Reddit or industry-specific forums can provide valuable insights.
- Create a simple landing page that explains your idea and allows you to collect email signups. This helps gauge initial interest before investing in full development.
- Build a basic prototype or MVP and share it with potential users as soon as possible. Their feedback is essential.
- Use tools like Google Trends or social media listening to understand the level of demand.
The key is to gather feedback early and often—don’t wait until you have a finished product. What specific idea are you working on now? Maybe we can brainstorm some validation strategies together!