Idea validation: How to find users to talk to?
The best way to validate your idea is to talk to your potential users. Where do I find them and how do I approach them?
2 comments
This sounds simple, and in theory it is, but go to where your potential users are. A lot harder to execute than to do, to be honest. So what do I mean by that - I mean if your product is B2C then go to where those consumers are. But wait - segment your target users first. What demographics are they? Where can you find them when they're in their idle time? Is it a park? Is it a pet store? Is it in at the gym?
If you're looking for tips in how to approach, I like to reference http://www.designkit.org/ for practical steps and directions. If you're nervous about finding users still, and want them to come to you, you'll probably have to pay for that privilege but luckily you can use something like (https://www.userinterviews.com/signup/MTI3Ni0x) Full disclosure - if you sign up for that link you'll get 3 free user interview sessions (but you'll still have to pay the users themselves) and I'll get 3 free participants too for referral.
End of the day though, you've got to just suck it up and just walk to someone and put yourself out there. I like to think of it as you're acting like you're a confident, approachable person who's got a really interesting thing to talk to them about. It helps me overcome my shyness that's my "normal" self.
Also, a must do though, is think through beforehand what you want to ask them. Create a script that way you can standardize what you want to cover. You can do some test runs of these scripts with friends who would most resemble your users. That way you can build up confidence in your delivery and content.
Best of luck!
If you're looking for tips in how to approach, I like to reference http://www.designkit.org/ for practical steps and directions. If you're nervous about finding users still, and want them to come to you, you'll probably have to pay for that privilege but luckily you can use something like (https://www.userinterviews.com/signup/MTI3Ni0x) Full disclosure - if you sign up for that link you'll get 3 free user interview sessions (but you'll still have to pay the users themselves) and I'll get 3 free participants too for referral.
End of the day though, you've got to just suck it up and just walk to someone and put yourself out there. I like to think of it as you're acting like you're a confident, approachable person who's got a really interesting thing to talk to them about. It helps me overcome my shyness that's my "normal" self.
Also, a must do though, is think through beforehand what you want to ask them. Create a script that way you can standardize what you want to cover. You can do some test runs of these scripts with friends who would most resemble your users. That way you can build up confidence in your delivery and content.
Best of luck!
any insights?