Use This PROVEN Formula to Validate Your Next Startup Idea

If you're an aspiring founder with a startup idea, learn the precise steps to validate your product effectively and avoid wasting time on the wrong things. By following this proven startup validation framework, you'll ensure that your efforts are focused on building a SaaS product that meets market needs and resonates with your target audience.

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Let’s Connect...

[JC-jzrx]

curse of the audience is spot on, you see it so often in game development and devlogs. where often the audience is very supportive and encouraging. The dev then continues building their game and getting wishlists only to see maybe 5% of actual sales. as people we want to support others. we arent generally evil. but this can backfire when trying to find product market fit.

Edit: btw rob do seats run out for premium options for micoconf connect? ive been following your work for a while and own a couple of your books and like your no BS approach to things. Your books have value and so do your recommendations.

extra edit: too late i applied : )

[sid]

Definitely a video I will be coming back to. Thank you for compiling all the details into a single piece.

[teweraijanda]

Rob I have to tell you, you are doing God's work.. Thank you.

[leadgenjay]

When validating, founders should also analyze the sales cycle length of their SaaS product. Shorter sales cycles can indicate a quicker path to revenue, which is crucial for bootstrapped startups.

[RyanHemlock]

Incredible content! And I loved the book recommendations at the end. Keep the recommendations coming!

[edh]

Thanks for clear details and valuable action points. Glad I found your content.

[FilledStacks]

this is really awesome. I've been looking for good definition of validation.

I like the idea that validation is the process of understanding how you'll acquire all future customers.

Very well put.

[sioncamara]

2 hours: 5P.M. framework and SEO research
20 hours: conversations and/or building landing pages
200 hours: building MVP

[A..]

Amazing! Have u ever offered a survey right on the landing page to accomplish what u would in the follow up contact? Some great AI tools out there to mimic interviewing, though of course never as good as contact.

[Greg_Chase]

Having coded new products before talking to customers, and found low acceptance after months of coding, Rob's method and advice are much more important than any part at the beginning of a new venture.

The wasted time and frustration of 'this is such good code, we've created such a great product' then finding out we lack the marketing chops to rescue it - really disheartening. It's emotionally destructive. It's like when your favorite family dog passes. Or your grandmother.

If you have deep knowledge of marketing and you create a MASSIVE number of leads, and you can convert a percentage (1%, 2%, 3%) to sales, then MAYBE you can salvage a product that really isn't a "MUST-HAVE" product.

But you're far better off NOT BUILDING a product that takes too much effort to sell. The Apple Lisa computer was a dud.

The Apple Newton was a horrific failure. Don't do that. What Rob is saying will help you keep sane. Make sure before you start working that people are gonna BUY it. You can run a small ad online, meet people in person, go to a conference attended by people in that industry, etc.

"Don't code. Talk first."
.

[danieltannor]

Any good resources to learn keyword research for validation?

[Ankathete-Marc]

Hey. Thank you so much for your insights. I have been building my MVP now for 3 months, since I love building products. It is exactly what you are saying but I validated far too little. What would you recommend doing now since I already have the MVP?

[qutaibabs]

Rob you should show us a to implementation this

[nat.serrano]

What do you use for keyword research? Trends? Similarweb? Ahref?

[frenches]

Can you do a Video about your 5PM validation strategy?

[deborahrose]

Can you do a video about your fiancial models, ie how much to reinvest, how much to pay staff, how to take money out of the business

[Bestirons]

How can I target podcasters? People with their own podcast? All the ad experts are telling me it's not possible. Should I just mail a bulk of them?

[artech]

Couldn't be more timely. I am always thinking of ideas, but lose steam quickly. I recently had an idea since my sister was having a very acute problem as a product marketer (one I also have faced around competitor analysis) We briefly discussed an idea but I realized I was slowing down. I was trying to build it in one platform, then another, or code manually. I realized the reason I'm jumping around: I don't actually know what I'm building. Instead it's worth the time to actually talk to her, and people in our mutual networks to actually validate the idea first.

[denizcirpan]

Currently, do you invest early stage SaaS companies which has enough MRR?

[MrLucky-wydb]

Hi Rob, I bought your book and signed up for MicroConf but haven’t heard anything for over a month.