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Idea validation is one of the most important steps when starting a new business. No doubt about it. But why exactly?
We live in an age where information and data are nearly infinite – but time? Very, very limited. And for that simple reason, you can’t let emotions drive you into launching a business or startup without a clear indication that there’s a market need. Imagine investing 10 years into something that never turns a profit. That would be a huge mistake, right?
Yet, many people fall into this trap – especially in the startup world. They’re aiming to build the next Facebook or Amazon. Sometimes they even have the technical chops to do it. But what’s missing? Business sense. They overlook the basics of market research, customer validation, and actual demand.
So, how do you validate an idea?
The best way is simple: listen to your potential customers.
Where to Find Your Customers?
Chances are, you already have a rough idea of where your ideal customers are “hanging out.” Maybe it’s on Reddit, niche Facebook groups, Twitter/X threads, product forums, or even YouTube comment sections. Go there. Listen. Try to understand them.
Start reading. Pay attention to what they’re saying, how they’re saying it, and why. After going through 100 posts or conversations, you’ll start seeing patterns. You’ll get a clearer sense of what they really want – and how they talk about their problems.
Focus especially on the language they use. Is the problem really painful for them? Are they desperate for a solution? What specific words or phrases keep popping up? That’s the gold.
Now, a fair question you might ask: Who has time to read 100 posts and come to a meaningful conclusion?
Well, that’s where tools can help. There are AI tools that can speed up this process – summarize discussions, detect sentiment, highlight pain points, and more.
But here’s a big warning: don’t rely entirely on the tool’s output. Even if you’re using AI to analyze data, make sure you are the one drawing the conclusions. Use your brain. Understand what was said. Context is everything – and no tool understands your specific goals better than you do.
How I do this?
To speed things up, I built an automation that analyzes posts from potential customers. These posts are pure gold – you won’t find this kind of insight in market reports or trend forecasts. It’s raw, real, and unfiltered. People are literally telling you what they need, what frustrates them, and what they’re looking for. That’s a goldmine – whether you’re improving a product or building a brand-new business from scratch.
In the YouTube video below, I’ll show you exactly how I set up this automation: → how I collect the data → how it gets processed → and how I extract insights that actually matter.
This isn’t just about saving time. It’s about making better decisions based on real conversations from real people.
What to do with the information?
Once you’ve collected insights from your potential customers, the next big step is to group and analyze the data. Personally, I like to organize everything into three simple categories:
- Pains – What are the obstacles stopping them from reaching their goals?
- Gains – What would success look like for them?
- Jobs to Be Done – What are they actually trying to achieve?
When you’ve grouped your data like this, you’re basically holding a gold bar. But don’t stop there – use that gold to shape your product ideas, your messaging, your offers.
One tool I recommend for this is the Value Proposition Canvas. It helps you align your offers with the needs of a specific customer segment. I wrote more about how to use it in this post, if you’re interested.
With all this insight, you can now start to sketch out your potential offerings. And here’s something a lot of people get wrong: you don’t need to have a product built to start validating it. In fact, you probably shouldn’t.
Instead, consider doing a presale promotion, like they do on Kickstarter. Let people vote with their wallets before you even start doing anything. If no one’s interested? That’s useful information too.
Write a sales page
Running a presale promotion is one of the most effective ways to validate an idea. If you truly understand your customers, your offer will feel valuable – maybe even irresistible – to them.
Writing a sales page isn’t just about selling. It’s also a powerful exercise for yourself. It forces you to clarify your message, understand your customer’s pain points even better, and spot any gaps in your offer. You’ll quickly notice if something’s missing or unclear.
Think of it as a reality check. Can you communicate your value clearly? Does it resonate with what your audience actually wants?
If you’re not sure where to start, I’ve wrote an article about this as well: Sales Copywriting Guide.
Don’t Be Shy – Test It
I get it – perfectionism is real. But just this once, be a little “YOLO” and let your audience decide.
Take your sales page or offer and put it out there. Share it on forums, social media, communities – anywhere your potential customers are hanging out. Let people know it’s still experimental, maybe even in beta, and that you’re genuinely looking for feedback.
Be honest. Say something like:
“Hey, I’m working on this idea. It’s still early, but I’d love your thoughts. Am I on the right track?”
People respect that. And more importantly, you’ll get real, valuable input that can save you months of guesswork.
Conclusion
You’ve probably heard it before: “The idea is only 10%, the rest is execution.” And yeah – that’s true.
But here’s the thing: that 10% can still make or break everything.
Choosing the right idea doesn’t just increase your chances of success – it can save you years of building something no one really needs. That’s the point.
Validate early. Listen hard. Test fast. And let your future self thank you for not wasting time on the wrong thing.