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How to Validate Your Business Idea

05/05/2022 12:43:43 +0000
Coming up with an idea for a business is hard work. And unfortunately, not all ideas are good. Finding success in the business world means selling a product or service that people want and use.

Before starting a business, determine whether people want what you are planning to sell. This is called market validation. You must validate your business idea to ensure it will be financially successful over the long run. However, this can be tricky, especially if you're new.

So, this article will discuss how to validate your business ideas. You can take various steps to validate your business idea, and we'll cover them all.
What is Market Validation?
The simplest definition of market validation is determining whether there is a need for your product in your target market. It's about predicting if people will buy your service or a product.

Moreover, it will help you determine if your business will be profitable. You want to engage in market validation before launching your business, especially if you want startup funds from investors, crowdfunding, and banks.

Market validation will instill confidence in your investors and make them more likely to increase their investment. Furthermore, market validation will give you a good idea of your pain points and what needs improvement.
How to Validate Your Business Idea: 6 Steps
Here are six steps to follow that will enable you to effectively validate a business idea.

1. Write Down Your Business Concept, Goals, and Assumptions

The first step to validating a business idea is to write it down with all relevant points. We are discussing validating your business with yourself, and common sense will go a long way.

Ask yourself various questions. Moreover, you need to honestly answer these questions objectively.
 
These are a few questions you should ask yourself when validating a business idea.

• What is the value of your product? What value does your product bring to the target audience? Next, you should identify the problem your product solves. Your product should solve a specific problem in the market but does not yet have a good solution.

• What makes your products different from the others? If you are offering the same thing 10 other retailers offer, you should take appropriate steps to increase differentiation. Your product will not add value to a market if it doesn't provide anything different from your competitors.

• Who is your target audience? Is your target audience extremely vague, or do you have a clear target audience? What assumptions have you made about your target audience? For example, is your target audience old or young, male or female, rich or poor? Do you have a clear idea of who will buy this product or service?

2. Assess the Size of the Market and What Market Share May Look Like

The next step is to assess the market size and how many competitors you will have. You also need to estimate what share or portion of that market you could capture with your product or services.

You need to be sure enough people will buy your product or service to justify launching your business. In addition, ensure there isn't so much competition that you won't be able to capture a good market share.

Therefore, you need to do in-depth market research to size up the competition, what they are selling, and their prices. Then, determine how many customers on average buy that good or service.
If your business has the potential to capture a good market share, you are on the right track.
 
However, you can't justify launching your business if you can't imagine it capturing even a small market share percentage. You must be able to compete with the best and biggest competitors.

3. Do SEO Research for Keyword Search Volumes + Related Terms

One of the best ways to validate your business idea is to research the daily or monthly volume of searched terms related to your product or service.

In today's world, most shopping is done online. Therefore, when somebody is looking for a product or service, they typically use a search engine such as Google.

Many resources are available to research search volumes for specific terms. For example, you might be selling ride-on lawnmowers, so you will use a tool to analyze how often the term "ride-on lawnmowers" is searched per month.
 
You want to ensure a good deal of search volume for that term. This indicates that the public is interested in your product or service, and there is a demand for it.
If you see that a term you are using doesn't have great search volumes, you might want to change things up. For example, if "ride-on lawnmowers" doesn't have a good search volume, maybe "electric ride-on lawnmowers" does.
 
Something like the best electric ride-on lawnmower might have better search volumes. This informs you of consumer demands and wants in a particular market.
4. Interview People in Your Network

Interview people within your network, including family, friends, neighbors, and other associations you have and ask them questions relevant to your business.
For example, ask if they are interested in a specific market and what products or services most attract them. You should ask them what they think of your product regarding the look and functionality. Also, what do they think about your pricing structure?

You want feedback from other people to see what they think. But, of course, when you deal with people within your own network, they'll likely be biased. Therefore, you shouldn't rely exclusively on your own network.

5. Customer Interviews

You should also interview customers or potential customers to validate your business idea. Create a list of questions that are relevant to your business idea.
This includes asking if they need your product, if they think it solves a problem, if it looks good, if it works well, if the price is reasonable, etc.
 
Also, ask if they have a specific issue related to your product or service and what could be improved.

Then, ask if your product or service solves a problem that other companies are not solving. Finally, if other companies are already solving the problem, ask if your company solves that problem better and more efficiently.

Many customer interview and survey tools are available for you to use. Start with a list of questions, and then deviate as you gather more information. As potential or current customers answer your questions, new questions might arise.

6. Test Your Service or Product

The final step to validating your business idea is to test your service or product. This can be done in both alpha testing and beta testing.

Alpha testing involves using internal employees, friends, and family to test your service or product in a staged setting. This testing will see how well a product works and if it performs as it is designed to perform. This is a great way to work out any issues your service or products might have.

Beta testing is arguably more critical than alpha testing because you will use real-life and external users to test your products.
The aim is to get these people to identify specific problems with your product or service and how these issues could be overcome.
 
People usually aren't shy to voice their opinions, so this is a great strategy.
The Bottom Line
If you follow these six validation steps, you should be able to determine whether launching your company, product, or service is justifiable.
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About the Host
Sophie Howard is the founder of Aspiring Entrepreneurs, a community designed to help people develop the skills and confidence to build a business and a life that serves them. Sophie began online in 2013 with an Amazon firm, which she sold for more than $1 million in 2015.

Sophie has lectured on stages all around the world, encouraging and teaching other ambitious entrepreneurs. She has established instructional programs educating thousands of students how to sell online, in addition to releasing over 1000 products.

Sophie has also written a book titled "Aspiring Entrepreneurs: A Guide to Finding Your Best Path to Financial Freedom."
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