Re:Ask HN: How to validate a SaaS product?
by sathishmanohar on Sunday August 28, 2016 @12:25PM
(#12377131)
Thanks for your feedback. Added a description and internal prototype to the question.
> Step 1: Stop coding
Sorry mate. Damage already done.
> You need to find a niche.
I have found some niches and I am in the process of reaching out to them.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment. I am checking out indiehackers right now.
EVERYONE has different needs, EVERYONE hangs out in different places, EVERYONE has their own budget, and therefore EVERYONE is a nearly impossible market to target. There's no leverage there, no foothold for your idea to find purchase -- only an amorphous blob of people. Even Facebook, a product truly built for EVERYONE, started off by targeting a small group of people (Harvard students).
Step 1: Stop coding. The #1 mistake programmers make is that they ignore marketing and prioritize development. (Read a few interviews on https://www.indiehackers.com and you'll see the pattern.)* You need to do the opposite. Every line of code you write without understanding your market is time wasted.
You need to find a niche. Identify a small group of people who are related in some way, and who would absolutely rave about what you're building. If at all possible, target businesses, not consumers. The majority of revenue generated comes from B2B sales. Consumers are fickle and are terrible at valuing their time. Businesses generate revenue and are quite used to paying for services that increase their bottom line.
If you can't think of a niche that likes your product, you need to build something else. If you can find a niche of potential customers, however, then you need to start talking to them. What do they need? What are their biggest problems? What do they love/hate? How technical are they? What are they spending money on now? Where do they hang out online? Who are their celebrities and leaders? The more you learn about them, the more likely you are to build something they love. You'll also know a hell of a lot more about how to market a solution to them.
*Disclaimer: I'm the creator of Indie Hackers. The site is made specifically for people like you, so you can learn from others' mistakes instead of making your own, and hopefully go on to build a successful business. I highly recommend giving some of the interviews a read.