1. The Build Trap
TL;DR > Building a product is the most expensive way to validate an idea. You should validate demand using zero-code experiments before writing a single line of code.
Founders love building. It feels like progress. But building a product without validating the idea is like building a bridge without checking if there's a road on the other side. You will likely end up with a beautiful product that nobody wants.
$50,000+
Average Wasted Capital
The amount the average founder wastes building an MVP for a product that has no market demand.
2. The Smoke Test
A smoke test is an experiment that tests whether people are willing to use or buy your product, before the product actually exists. The most common form of a smoke test is a landing page.
Smoke Test Conversion Funnel
Typical conversion rates for a successful B2B SaaS smoke test.
3. How to Run a Landing Page Test
- The Value Proposition: State exactly what you do in one clear sentence.
- The Fake Door: Add a "Buy Now" or "Sign Up" button.
- The Pivot: When they click it, show a message: "We are currently in private beta. Enter your email for early access."
If 1,000 people visit the site and 0 click the button, you just saved yourself 6 months of coding.