How can you validate customers without sacrificing quality?

The best way I've learned is to ask; How disappointed/miserable would you be if we discontinued? - Very disappointed/miserable - I'll manage - Not disappointed/miserable at all Most founders ask "are you happy", "does this solve your problem" or some version of the above. People generally want to be nice so will tell you what you want to hear. The ultimate goal of an MVP is to validate if people are willing to pay you. Not solving the problems is also a solution in some situations and/or customer segments.

An MVP doesn't always have to be a fully coded, working application. Many founders often leap from idea to hiring engineers and constructing an MVP, which is the slowest and most expensive method to validate their hypothesis. Instead, consider hiring a skilled designer and collaborating on iterations in Figma with both the designer and early potential customers, using a prototype design. Once you have something you perceive as valuable and useful, then proceed with the actual development.

☁️ Should you validate a minimum viable product (MVP) before completing the full scope? "I want it to be perfect" "I want to give my clients everything" "I want to completely solve the problem" It used to be that we built software mostly using what’s called a Waterfall approach - all requirements up front, heads down coding, then voila the grand reveal! We have since come to learn that using an "Agile" approach to create a minimum viable product (MVP) is the better way to go because it’s: - faster to market - more cost effective - responsive to changing client needs k market conditions - better meets stakeholder expectations Next time you start to build, keep it simple & validate it with your clients early. 👍 Like to support this

Starting with an MVP is way too late, to really validate an idea you need to go much sooner to make sure you don't build or offer the wrong thing. Selling an idea is possible and will make you a better founder and can save a lot of time and money in the long run.

The only validation is when you have customers willing to pay for the product/service. If people start paying for the first version of the MVP its a high probability situation that your offering is trying solve a pain point. If not you have not identified the correct pain point. Most founders fall in love with the offering on some technology charateristics and then try to find a problem to stick to the offering.

An MVP is your startup's first reality check. It's lean but functional, designed to solve a core issue for a niche audience. The beauty of an MVP is its efficiency; you get to test the waters without sinking too much time or capital into development. Early adopters are your goldmine here. They'll give you the unfiltered feedback you need to refine your product. Listen to them. Are they finding value? Is the pricing right? Use this data to iterate, whether that means tweaking features or adjusting your pricing model. In essence, an MVP is your minimal investment for maximum learning. It's the quickest way to find out if you're on the right track or need a course correction.

Validating customers is an important process for businesses to ensure the legitimacy of transactions and protect against fraudulent activities. However, it's equally important to balance the need for validation with providing a seamless and positive customer experience. Here are some strategies to validate customers without sacrificing quality: Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Use a combination of factors such as passwords, SMS codes, biometrics, or authentication apps to verify customer identity. Leverage Data Verification Services: Utilize third-party data verification services to cross-check customer information against reliable databases.

MVPs should showcase the most important expected features. These are the features that should draw the customers in, making them want more. If the MVP doesn't stir the interest you expect, you can always pivot and modify features based on initial feedback.

As the author of LEAN AI, I'm a big advocate of embracing Lean Startup principles for effective customer validation while maintaining product quality with an MVP. Prioritize essential features aligned with customer pain points for maximum value. Implement robust feedback loops for rapid iteration and continuous improvement. You can balance speed to market with quality assurance, validating customer demand effectively. Ask: "How can we ensure our MVP captures the core value proposition while maintaining simplicity?" Build a scalable foundation within the MVP to accommodate future iterations without sacrificing quality. Defining the "minimum," "viable," and "product" aspects is always a challenge and requires making tradeoffs.

In order to validate customers effectively without compromising on quality, I implement strict criteria and processes. I ensure transparent communication and provide excellent service. We use technology, such as automated verification tools, to improve efficiency, maintain accuracy, and streamline operations. By continuously refining our methods based on feedback and industry standards, we ensure that our validation processes evolve to meet customer needs and regulatory requirements.

Customer validation is a multi-tool operation. Surveys are quick and can give you a broad view, but they're not foolproof. Poorly designed questions can lead you astray. Interviews offer depth that surveys can't. You get to dive into the 'why' behind customer behavior. But they're resource-intensive. Experiments are your real-world litmus tests. Whether it's A/B testing or a pilot program, they show you how customers actually behave. But be cautious; poorly designed experiments can give misleading results. The key is to mix and match these methods based on your specific needs. Each has its pros and cons, but together they offer a 360-degree view of what your customer really wants.

Conduct A/B testing to compare variations of a product or service among different user groups. This method helps identify which version performs better based on user behavior, preferences, and engagement metrics. Implement controlled experiments with distinct features or designs, allowing for data-driven decisions and iterative improvements while minimizing the impact on the overall user experience.

In the quest to understand customers, novel approaches can provide profound insights: 1. Ethnographic Observation: Immerse in their environment, capturing unspoken needs. 2. User Diaries: Let them chronicle experiences, unveiling patterns. 3. Netnography: Explore online communities and social media to gauge sentiments. 4. Prototype Testing: Use rudimentary versions to collect reactions. 5. Feedback Loops: Embed mechanisms in your product for continuous input. 6. Collaborative Workshops: Blend their insights with your expertise. Deep understanding emerges when we truly connect, aligning our visions with their lived experiences.

PRETOTYPE AND TEST LIKE TESLA As innovation facilitator I like to share how Tesla interested buyers for their first car. In 2003, the founders of Tesla had an ambitious idea (an all-electric 2-door sports car). In order to convince potential buyers to order its car, Tesla created a pretotype of what the car would look like. Lotus supplied Tesla with a ‘glider’ Elise - which was filled with models of key components. This was not a prototype, because the vehicle didn’t function. Tesla was able to show buyers a close proxy for the final design. Tesla asked “Will you put down a $5,000 deposit to have it built to order?” From this test Tesla secured several hundred deposits, a non-trivial result to reassure their Investors.

Here's what else you need to do. Try grouping your customers (or potential customers) based on segments and analyse your cohort performance. Especially in the beginning, you need to be super niche. You achieve stickiness by learning to say 'no' This is why it's important to do things that don't scale. You see how different customer segments interact with your product/service. The sooner you identify your niche the faster you can launch a Product-led Growth strategy and a Marketing-led Growth strategy. This helps you avoid throwing the kitchen sink and allows you to reduce your burn.

Interviews can not only be time consuming but also sometimes a pain for the customers who are being contacted and asked to provide such detailed feedback. Conversely, the data they provide is valuable but forming a general picture and analysing this data is more difficult than surveys with clicks. Start with surveys, move to interviews when you see the engagement is high.

The most important thing to validate is value. Make sure you're not just verifying an idea but also that your idea is valuable. Someone should be willing to pay for your idea or service and not just be excited by it.

I've tried every validation tactic in the book, from lengthy surveys to hour-long interviews. While each technique yielded some insights, I realized that just trying different methods wasted time for minimal return. Now I'm laser-focused on the right validation for each unique situation. If I need quantitative data on usage and satisfaction, nothing beats in-product analytics. When exploring new ideas, 5-minute user tests prevent over-engineering. For branding and positioning, I run messaging tests before designing flashy websites. The key is aligning the method with the specific question you need answered. Don't use every tool in your toolbox. Instead, select the exact validation technique for each job and get cleaner results.

When validating customers, choosing the right method is crucial. A/B testing compares product versions, surveys offer demographic data, and interviews provide qualitative insights. Direct interactions, like meetups or home visits, gather valuable feedback, especially for products like recipe-sharing apps aimed at home makers. Combining these methods ensures thorough validation of customer needs, vital for successful product development.

Selecting the optimal customer validation method requires careful consideration of several factors: accuracy, efficiency, user experience, and security. This document outlines common validation methods and the key aspects to ponder when choosing the most suitable one. Validation Methods and Considerations: • Email Verification • Phone Number Verification • Identity Verification Services • Social Media Verification • Manual Review When selecting a validation method, prioritize the balance between accuracy, efficiency, user experience, and security based on your specific needs and the sensitivity of the data involved. In some scenarios, a combination of methods or a tiered approach based on risk levels might be the most effective solution.

Customer validation is an ongoing dialogue, not a one-off conversation. Start early, even before your product exists, to shape its development. Keep the conversation going, particularly when you update your product or pivot your market focus. The benefits are twofold: you sidestep the pitfall of building something no one wants, and you stay nimble enough to adapt to shifting customer needs. In a fast-paced market, continuous validation isn't just smart; it's survival. It keeps you aligned with customer needs and one step ahead of competitors.

Market and User Validation stands out as the most important way to test a product. One of the most apt ways is to check out with the users, about how will they solve the problem in case your product closes out. This valuation is a pivotal moment in the journey of a product, which helps the founders understand: - if the product has achieved PMF - competitive landscape - if the product is a Delta-4 (as per the famous Kunal Shah’s theory) It is crucial how to tackle this validation technique, but the results may be worth the efforts.

Continuous test and validate your product at each stage of development with real users to gather feedback early and frequently, ensuring that the product evolves in alignment with user needs and maintains high quality. Also, Establish ongoing communication channels with users to collect their insights and opinions regularly, allowing for prompt adjustments and improvements that keep the product relevant and valuable.

Validating our product with customers is crucial for the success-time task but a continuous process. Early valid of our startup. It is not a oneation helps us to understand the genuine needs of our customers and align our product accordingly, which saves resources. Regular validation enables us to adapt to changing market dynamics and customer preferences, ensuring that we stay ahead. Additionally, it fosters a customer-centric culture within our organization, which allows us to provide solutions that truly add value.

Validating customers without compromising quality involves an iterative process of continuous validation. Start by validating customer needs even before product development. Regularly reassess and validate as you refine your product or market. This approach minimizes resource wastage on unwanted solutions and enables agility in responding to evolving customer demands, keeping you competitive and aligned with market needs.

Customer validation is a cornerstone of successful product development, and it should be viewed as an ongoing process rather than a singular event. Early and frequent validation offers several key benefits: • Resource Optimization • Adaptability • Risk Mitigation • Competitive Advantage • Customer Loyalty In conclusion, adopting a continuous customer validation mindset empowers businesses to operate with agility, minimize risk, and develop products or services that resonate deeply with their target audience. This approach ultimately leads to long-term success and a sustainable competitive advantage.

Fail fast - this is an approach to embrace and use flawlessly. Building a startup is a road of unknown unknowns, therefore founders are bound to fail again and again. So be it - master the craft of failing fast and cheap in order to move to another idea or approach.

My last startup aimed to simplify trip planning, but we learned the hard way that revolutionary ideas don't always resonate. Instead of building a slick app with every bell and whistle without confirming real travelers saw the value, we validated early with a Telegram bot to simulate our core experience. No (much) code was required and we could easily tweak flows based on instant user feedback. We complemented this with targeted ads to attract our ideal globetrotter demographic. The DIY mockups felt rough but provided priceless insight from real potential customers. By validating concepts frequently before writing real software, we prevented wasted dev time and gained confidence we were building the right features.

Consistency is key. Never assume anything without good cause. Iterate and iterate again. Speak to your customers, find out why they need something like your MVP

Customer validation is important and can be achieved in an easier way by establishing a group of early adopters. Early adopters are a subset of target customers who have agreed to join in initial stages and validate the business flows, user experience and functionality of a product in exchange for cost or timeline benefits. They can truly provide great insights into the functionality and issues in a product which the engineering, product teams can incorporate before making the product available to a larger set of customers.

Facing hurdles in customer validation is par for the course. Negative feedback, low engagement, or mixed signals aren't setbacks; they're learning opportunities. Dive into the 'why' behind these challenges. Is your value proposition unclear? Are you targeting the wrong audience? Use these insights to refine your assumptions and product strategy. In the startup world, failure isn't the opposite of success; it's a stepping stone to it. Each hiccup is a chance to fine-tune your offering and deliver a product that truly resonates with your audience.

It may sound counterintuitive, but failure is more valuable for progress than success. When something is wrong, it motivates us to look for reasons, explore insights, and find solutions. Embrace the art of using failures as fuel for growth.

Los resultados negativos o decepcionantes en las validaciones con clientes son increíblemente valiosos para startups, aún cuando sea difícil aceptarlos. Por ejemplo: Un emprendimiento peruano de chocolates artesanales asumió que extranjeros estarían dispuestos a pagar primas altas; pero experimentos en ferias demostraron que pocos repetirían compras tras probar muestras gratis. Este doloroso aprendizaje los forzó a pivotar hacia el mercado local. En lugar de rechazar evidencia contradictoria, las startups deben analizar fallas para reformular soluciones y experiencias posta deseadas por clientes reales. La validación es una conversación para co-crear.

Embracing failure and rejection as opportunities for growth is a crucial skill for any startup founder. Failing fast and learning from those failures are essential steps toward improvement. For example, in recipe-sharing app, we initially added a complex meal planning feature. However, user feedback showed they wanted personalized recipe recommendations instead. So, we pivoted quickly, refining this feature. By offering tailored suggestions, we boosted user engagement, showing the importance of adapting to user needs swiftly.

Failure is great because it is a completion of something. Much better than being stuck between potential success and potential failure. The pendulum can only swing one way from the current situation.

Negative feedback and low response rates happen. Analyze reasons behind failures. Identify gaps in assumptions or data. Make necessary adjustments.

At Vertocity, learning from failures is as crucial as celebrating successes. Each setback is dissected to understand the mismatch between our offerings and market expectations. It's a process that sharpens our focus and refines our strategies, ensuring that every failure is a stepping stone towards a more resilient and user-centric service. This mindset has been instrumental in our journey towards scaling our educational services business.

A qualidade só é alcançada depois de muitos testes. Você vai perceber que ao longo da sua jornada, você vai acertar muito, mas também vai errar muito. Esses erros devem ser o seu ponto focal, onde você vai colocar o seu maior esforço para que não se repitam.

You've raised a critical point about the entrepreneurial journey. Customer validation is a process with inherent challenges. Negative feedback or low response rates are common occurrences.However, as you've mentioned, these experiences can be valuable learning opportunities.Here's how to effectively handle setbacks in customer validation: • Analyse Feedback Objectively • Identify Assumptions and Gaps • Iterate and Adjust • Embrace Agility • Continuous Improvement • Persistence and Perseverance By embracing failures as learning opportunities and approaching customer validation with a growth mindset, you'll be better equipped to navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship and ultimately build a stronger & more successful product or business.

Aceptar que la validación del cliente puede fallar no es fácil, pero es esencial. Analiza los fracasos para encontrar las verdaderas razones: ¿Mala ejecución o hipótesis equivocada? Si ignoras estas señales, estás cavando la tumba de tu startup. Usa esos fracasos como un mapa que te guía hacia un producto mejor y una experiencia de cliente más sólida. Recuerda, cada falla es un paso más cerca del éxito, pero solo si aprendes de ella.

Team and stakeholder involvement is essential as innovation sprouts from the grassroot level and not just flowing from top to bottom. Understanding customer needs and observing them through various perspectives across the organisation can deem effective to innovate in a wholesome manner. Although, something to be cautious about are the challenges of group biases. As team members and stakeholders belong from the same group (i.e. company); group biases shall be prevalent. An external expertise or observational consultant, who can bring objectivity and facilitate the collaboration between the team and customers is essential to mitigate any biases that might be projected by the team to solve customer jobs to be done!

I encourage my teams to validate everything they build even before they build it. Inside knowledge is very biased, and there is always a risk of spending time and resources on creating a feature or product users don't want at all.

In the journey of MVP development, involving your team and stakeholders can be transformative beyond just validation. It's an opportunity to democratize innovation, where diverse viewpoints intersect to refine the product. By embracing a culture of inclusivity, you validate ideas and nurture a sense of ownership among stakeholders. This shared responsibility fosters empathy towards end-users and instills a collective drive to deliver value. In essence, involving your team and stakeholders transcends mere validation; it's about co-creating a solution that resonates deeply with the market while fostering internal cohesion and purpose.

Validar supuestos sobre clientes no debe ser una tarea aislada del fundador, sino un esfuerzo colaborativo de todo el equipo junto a inversionistas; por ejemplo, una fintech que asesoré involucró a sus developers y asesores financieros para cocrear experimentos ágiles que probaran disposición a pagar y frecuencia de uso de potenciales usuarios. Esta retroalimentación multicapa les permitió pivotar oportunamente a un nuevo segmento, alineando expectativas internas sobre la propuesta de valor más relevante. Abordar validación como un proceso colectivo e iterativo fortalece la orientación al cliente y la capacidad innovadora.

Collaboration is important in every aspect of your business and this is no exception. Diversity of thought is key to success. Fostering this attitude in customer validation will be useful in analysing data and providing viewpoints to help improve the business performance. Innovation in a startup is normally out of collaboration and a great team environment. The smaller the startup, the easier it will be to have this environment. The more you practice this, the easier it will become to maintain this as you become a larger organisation.

Validating your customer base is crucial, but it requires a balance between including your team and stakeholders while maintaining data quality. Here's how to achieve this balance: • Define Clear Goals • Identify Stakeholders • Build a Cross-Functional Team • Assign Roles and Responsibilities • Collaborative Planning • Select Appropriate Methods • Invest in Training • Communication and Feedback • Iterative Process • Quality Assurance By effectively involving your team and stakeholders while maintaining a focus on quality assurance, you can gather robust and actionable customer insights, ultimately leading to the development of products and services that truly meet your customers' needs.

Uma equipe envolvida e alinhada com os propósitos do negocio e escutando os feedbacks do mercado, tendem a desenvolver soluções mais eficazes e personalizadas, melhorando a satisfação do cliente e tendo como consequência uma maior aderência do cliente atual e de novos leads.

PRETOTYPE AND TEST LIKE TESLA As innovation facilitator of 100 projects, I like to share how Tesla interested buyers for their first car. In 2003, the founders of Tesla had an ambitious idea (an all-electric 2-door sports car). In order to convince potential buyers to order its car, Tesla created a pretotype of what the car would look like. Lotus supplied Tesla with a ‘glider’ Elise - which was filled with models of key components. This was not a prototype, because the vehicle didn’t function. Tesla was able to show buyers a close proxy for the final design. Tesla asked “Will you put down a $5,000 deposit to have it built to order? From this test Tesla secured several hundred deposits, a non-trivial result to reassure their Investors

When you hit a rough patch, it's a solid chance to grow. I always dive into what went wrong. But here's the key: don't do it alone. Involve your team, get their take. Bring in stakeholders too. This way, you're not just learning solo; you're getting a full 360 view on what to improve. My tip? Make this a group effort. It's like crowd-sourcing wisdom from those who are in it with you. That's how you turn setbacks into comebacks, as a team.

Prioritize Core Customer Needs: Focus on validating the features and functionalities that address the most critical needs of your target customers. This ensures that you're delivering value and addressing their pain points effectively. Balance Speed and Quality: While speed to market is important, don't compromise quality in the pursuit of validation. Ensure that your MVP and subsequent iterations meet basic quality standards to maintain a positive customer experience. Customer Advisory Board: Establish a customer advisory board to provide ongoing feedback and guidance. This group can offer valuable insights from a customer perspective, helping you validate your product or service over time.

Consider the timing and context of your validation efforts. Market conditions, seasonal trends, or external events can influence customer behavior and feedback. Factor these into your analysis to avoid skewed results. Also, diversify your validation sources. Don't rely solely on early adopters; their needs may not represent your broader target market. And don't forget to validate internally. Your team's insights can be invaluable, especially if they interact directly with customers. Lastly, be prepared to go back to the drawing board. Validation might reveal that a pivot is necessary. Being flexible and open to major changes is crucial for long-term success.

Not all customers are cut from the same cloth. Every product follows the Product Adoption Curve. Hence you need to identify the qualities that are attributed to Innovators. If you seek feedback from the Early Majority, Late Majority or Laggards, you might receive feedback that's good but expensive and time consuming to implement. Hence, focus on customer segments. Pay attention to both demographic and psychographic elements.

To validate customers effectively without compromising quality beyond using MVPs, choosing the right methods, validating early and often, learning from failures, and involving stakeholders, one can conduct A/B testing, offer free trials, engage in customer co-creation, leverage early adopters, and establish customer advisory boards. These approaches ensure informed decisions, customer-centric solutions, and sustainable business growth.

Please look at the importance of resilience and adaptability when developing your MVP. Challenges are inevitable, but they offer valuable insights into your product's viability. Embrace failures as opportunities to iterate and improve your MVP. Stay agile, pivot when necessary, and foster a culture of innovation within your team. Every obstacle encountered during MVP development is a chance to refine your product and strengthen your startup's foundation.

I think quality is inherently the wrong framing. Early on you are optimizing for learning and speed to learning. Quality is only valuable when it helps you get to the right answer more quickly or more certainly

To validate customers without losing quality, start by digging into market research and shaping a detailed customer persona. Talk directly to folks through surveys, interviews, or even pilot programs to gather their feedback. Testing out early versions of your product or service (you know, like the basic version) can give you real-life feedback, thanks to methods like MVPs. Also, use social media, landing pages, or teasers before your big launch to see how much interest you can drum up. This way, you’re figuring out what works without sacrificing the top-notch quality you’re aiming for.

Iterative Improvement: The feedback received from the MVP can be used to make iterative improvements to the product. This ensures that the quality of the product improves over time based on real user feedback. Risk Reduction: An MVP is a way to test an idea with minimal resources and risk. This means you can validate your customers and ideas without a significant upfront investment.

Define your target audience. Select your validation methods. Gather and organise. Analyse the feedback. Iterate and improve. Validate your product can enable you to reasonably predict whether people will buy it, as well as your business will be profitable. While it is impossible to ensure 100percent success of your product before it’s actual launch , the process of product validation can considerably increase your chance.

In today's digital landscape, verifying customer identities is crucial for businesses of all sizes. This process ensures you are dealing with legitimate customers and safeguards against fraudulent activity. However, achieving effective validation shouldn't come at the expense of a positive customer experience. This document outlines ten key strategies businesses can utilize to validate customers while maintaining a seamless and secure user journey. Strategies: • Multi-Factor Authentication • Identity Verification Services • Data Analytics and Machine Learning • Transactional Behavior Monitoring • Balancing Security and User Experience • Customer Education • Self-Service Options • Staying Updated • Exception Handling • Regulatory Compliance

Navigating the tightrope between quality and customer validation is delicate yet pivotal. For startups, marrying the two involves releasing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) – an iteration encompassing just enough features to satisfy early adopters and garner feedback. This minimalistic approach mitigates resource drain, allowing for agile pivoting based on authentic user insights without deeply investing in full-scale production. Thus, blend the meticulous craft of quality with the enlightening path of customer feedback, sculpting a product that's not only refined but also resonates with market desires, shaping a symbiotic foundation for growth and evolution.