Previously, I shared three effective strategies for testing the viability of your product idea: hosting a live event, running online quizzes, and creating social media groups.
However, by “effective,” I didn’t mean these methods always succeed. Like any strategy, results depend on proper execution and a well-thought-out plan.
To illustrate, if you want reliable feedback, you need a large enough audience. Five to ten people can’t give you robust data. Especially in competitive niches—like fitness or beauty—relying on a handful of opinions simply won’t cut it.
According to a 2023 survey by BigCommerce, over 60% of new online brands fail to make data-driven decisions due to insufficient sample sizes in their market research. This shows how crucial it is to engage a meaningful number of participants when validating product ideas.
If your product idea is compelling, you’ll naturally attract some interest—but don’t count on its uniqueness alone. Your invitation or hook must catch people’s attention and make them eager to participate.
For instance, when creating a WhatsApp or Facebook group to introduce a workout kit, choose an engaging group name and description that resonates with gym enthusiasts and individuals struggling with consistency.
As Neil Patel, a renowned digital marketer, puts it: “Deliver real value from the start, and your audience will grow itself through word-of-mouth.”
Once you’ve gathered a decent group, introduce your product idea and let them try it.
But remember that people who joined your event or social media group want a simple, straightforward solution. They’re not looking for extra features or flashy design. They just want to see how the product addresses their problem.
That’s why you should present them with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)—a stripped-down version that focuses on solving one main issue.
According to Eric Ries, author of The Lean Startup, “The MVP is the fastest way to get through the Build-Measure-Learn feedback loop with the minimum amount of effort.”
But here’s the challenge: your early testers might assume your MVP is the final product. Even if you tell them it’s just a prototype, they may still judge it as if it’s the polished, finished version.
My team has faced this dilemma every time we brainstormed a new product concept, and after multiple trials, we found that the best way to handle this is by using a scorecard.
A scorecard is a framework for measuring performance, progress, or outcomes against specific goals or benchmarks. It bundles key metrics in one place, making it easier to see patterns, spot weak areas, and ensure everyone is aligned with the ultimate objectives.
But this doesn’t have to be a dull form your audience dreads filling out. The scorecard we use offers tangible value to participants—helping them assess their own performance, health, or other relevant factors, depending on the product.
For instance, if we want to offer a new supplement package but aren’t sure which supplements our audience truly needs or wants, we build an app that evaluates each user’s dietary gaps.
This approach benefits both our team and the users: we gain valuable insights into who is genuinely interested in our concept and what specific concerns they have, while users discover aspects of their own health they may not have realized.
Shopify reports that personalized product recommendations can increase sales by up to 20%, which underscores the value of tailoring your offerings to match real customer needs.
From here, we show our MVP—say, a simplified version of the supplement package—and use the scorecard to gather targeted data.
Does the MVP address the user’s main deficiency or health concern? How do they rate its effectiveness on a scale of 1 to 10? Are there any side effects or difficulties in using the product daily?
We compile these metrics into a straightforward dashboard that our test group can also view. This transparency creates trust.
When participants see how the product is personalized and beneficial, they’re more willing to engage and offer candid feedback. It also reassures them that this prototype isn’t the final product—rather, it’s a key step in refining the solution to perfectly match their needs.
Once we collect enough data—ideally from at least 50 to 100 users for better statistical relevance—we analyze the patterns. Maybe we find that 40% of testers need more Vitamin D, while 30% need iron supplements.
Armed with these insights, we can tailor our MVP to focus on the most demanded nutrients first, ensuring it tackles the biggest pain points effectively.
We then release an updated version of the MVP, integrating user feedback and gradually adding or refining features.
This iterative process is vital: Baymard Institute found that nearly 69% of customers abandon their shopping carts due to issues that could have been solved by user testing and simple product improvements.
With each iteration, we inch closer to an optimal solution that resonates with our audience, proving the value of collecting real-world feedback early on.
Ultimately, the scorecard acts as a continuous feedback loop: you gather data, refine your MVP, share updates, then gather more data. This cyclical approach is the backbone of many successful e-commerce businesses—constantly aligning product features with evolving customer needs.
As your audience grows, so does the depth and accuracy of your data, allowing you to roll out more advanced features and functionalities with greater confidence.
By combining the concept of an MVP with a well-designed scorecard, you create a powerful one-two punch for product validation. You not only show users a clear, targeted solution but also involve them in fine-tuning it, turning your early adopters into passionate advocates.
And the best part? This process guards against wasted effort, large-scale production missteps, and the common pitfall of falling in love with your own idea before proving its true market fit.
So the next time you have a product idea you want to test, consider how you can make your audience an active part of the process, not just passive observers. People love being involved in shaping something new, especially when it feels tailored to their needs.
By giving them a voice and showing them their input directly impacts the product’s development, you’re creating a better MVP and building a loyal community that feels invested in your success. After all, a great product is built primarily for loyal customers.