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Ask HN: How do you validate demand for your side-project?

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Ask HN: How do you validate demand for your side-project?

#1
There is an awesome thread here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29673707

But reading between the lines it's obvious that the major problem in most cases was lack of demand or inability to market the product.

So I'd be interested hear what and how you do early demand validation for your side project or idea, if any?

Share your story.

Re: Ask HN: How do you validate demand for your side-project?

#2
For a side project? I build it if I want to use it. There is a totally different goal for a business, but side projects are hobbies. They bring value to my own life regardless of what other people think of them. It is a great bonus if other people also get value of it and are willing to pay something, but there is nothing wrong with writing a project that simply helps me in my own life.

Re: Ask HN: How do you validate demand for your side-project?

#3

For a side project? I build it if I want to use it. There is a totally different goal for a business, but side projects are hobbies. They bring value to my own life regardless of what other people think of them. It is a great bonus if other people also get value of it and are willing to pay something, but there is nothing wrong with writing a project that simply helps me in my own life.

You're right. I meant a side project that you build for profit. I totally didn't imply it's bad to build something for your own use without making profits of it :) How would you formulate this question?

Re: Ask HN: How do you validate demand for your side-project?

#4
I think it depends on the audience. In my case, I built my side project to try and solve a real problem that my accountant had. It worked, and several other businesses — mostly accountancy firms but certainly not exclusively — have paid for premium subscriptions. Some businesses have been paying me every month for years.

I think my audience is the type that prefers it if you pick up the phone and have a conversation with them, or email them, or write them a letter. So that’s what I did. I had lots of conversations with lots of people. I tried to build relationships to make sales, and the validation part only came when the customer actually paid money.

I tried the build almost nothing and throw up a fake credit card form like some people suggest, but it didn’t work. I know it works for some people, but it didn’t work for me.

Re: Ask HN: How do you validate demand for your side-project?

#5
post #3

For a side project? I build it if I want to use it. There is a totally different goal for a business, but side projects are hobbies. They bring value to my own life regardless of what other people think of them. It is a great bonus if other people also get value of it and are willing to pay something, but there is nothing wrong with writing a project that simply helps me in my own life.

You're right. I meant a side project that you build for profit. I totally didn't imply it's bad to build something for your own use without making profits of it :) How would you formulate this question?

In that case, I wouldn't call it a side project at all. Whether it is your full-time job, or something you are building as a part-time business, the validation of the demand doesn't change -- Make a prototype and ask people if they'd pay for it. If they say yes, move on to an MVP. If not, ask for feedback and either try an updated prototype or try something else.

Re: Ask HN: How do you validate demand for your side-project?

#10

Fake door testing. Create a marketing page and see the reaction you get.

This. Have done this for my own and in some cases friends' potential startups: a fake door landing page and a couple hours of posting to discussion groups (don't spam, do it where communities allow) or a small Google ads advertising budget.

There's been a couple cases where that simple amount of initiative plus about a half day of work, the resulting feedback was enough of a push to overcome hesitations my friends' had in starting a company.

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