Validate the Idea with Real Users

Validate the Idea with Real Users

The biggest mistake founders make is assuming their idea is great without checking whether anyone actually wants it. You might think your product is a must-have, but unless real people say they need it, use it, or pay for it, you’re just guessing. Validation is not a checkbox, it’s the first real signal of demand. This guide will walk you through how to validate your idea with actual users using three powerful approaches: interviews, surveys, and landing pages.

Step 1: Define What You Need to Learn

Start by listing the biggest assumptions behind your idea. These are usually:

  • Who the target customer is
  • What specific problem they have
  • How they are solving it today
  • Why they would choose your solution
  • Whether they would pay for it

You’re not trying to confirm your idea, you’re trying to test if your assumptions are wrong before you waste time building.

Tool Tip:
Use the Validation Board by Lean Startup Machine: https://leanstartupmachine.com/validationboard/

Step 2: Talk to Real People (Customer Interviews)

Talking to users is the most powerful form of validation. Here’s how to do it well:

How to recruit:

  • Post in relevant Reddit threads or Facebook groups
  • Message people on LinkedIn with a short note
  • Email newsletter lists if you have them
  • Ask friends to intro you to people in your target group

What to ask:
Avoid asking “Would you use this?” or “Is this a good idea?” Instead, ask:

  • What’s the last time you faced [problem]?
  • What did you do to solve it?
  • What was hard or frustrating about it?
  • What do you wish existed?

Don’t pitch your idea yet, just listen. You’ll learn more from their stories than from their opinions.

Best resource:
The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick is the best book on how to talk to users without getting false positives.

Step 3: Run a Quick Survey to Get Directional Data

Surveys can help you spot patterns, segment responses, and prioritize features. Keep it short and focused.

What to include:

  • Ask about their current solution
  • Rank their top problems in your domain
  • Ask what they spend money on related to this
  • Include an optional email capture field to follow up

Use Typeform or Google Forms to set this up quickly.

Distribute it where your audience hangs out:

  • Online communities (Discord, Reddit, Slack groups)
  • Twitter/X and LinkedIn posts
  • Cold emails if you have a list

Try to get at least 30 to 50 responses to start seeing patterns.

Step 4: Launch a Landing Page to Measure Interest

If your idea is more defined, you can create a one-page website describing it and ask people to sign up.

What to include on the page:

  • Headline with the problem
  • Short explanation of your solution
  • Call-to-action (e.g., “Join waitlist,” “Get early access,” “Pre-order”)
  • Optional pricing or plan tiers
  • Social proof if available (logos, testimonials, etc.)

Use Carrd, Typedream, or Webflow to launch fast. You don’t need a product yet. Your goal is to measure clicks, signups, and shares.

Pro Tip:
Track traffic and conversions using Google Analytics or Plausible.

If 100 people visit and only 1 signs up, that’s not good. If 25 sign up, you’re onto something.

Step 5: Optional – Run a Smoke Test with Ads

If you want more signal fast, run small paid ad campaigns driving traffic to your landing page.

Use Google Ads or Meta Ads with a tiny budget ($10 to $20 per day for 3 to 5 days). Test 2 or 3 variations of messaging. Measure:

  • Click-through rate (CTR)
  • Conversion rate (signups or interest form)
  • Which message gets more engagement

This helps validate not just the idea, but which pitch resonates.

Tool Tip:
Use Unbounce or Tally for simple pages with built-in A/B testing.

Step 6: Analyze What You Learned

Bring all your findings into one document or board. Look for:

  • Patterns in what users are saying
  • Repeated pain points or phrases
  • Positive reactions or curiosity signals
  • Pushback or confusion

Use this insight to pivot, refine your messaging, or drop the idea if nobody cares. That’s a win too because it saves you months of wasted effort.

Final Advice

Validating doesn’t mean you have to build a full MVP. The goal is to get the fastest, clearest signal of demand with the least effort.

Talk to 10 people. Get 50 survey responses. Launch a 1-page site. If users are interested, you’ll feel the pull. If not, keep iterating.

Most failed startups don’t fail because they couldn’t build the product. They failed because nobody wanted it. Validating early is how you avoid that.