What is the best way to test your MVP using lean startup methods?

1 Define your hypotheses

The first step to test your MVP is to define your hypotheses, which are the assumptions you have about your product, your market, and your value proposition. You need to be clear about what problem you are solving, who you are solving it for, and how you are solving it better than others. You also need to identify the key metrics that will measure your success and the criteria that will validate or invalidate your hypotheses. For example, you can use the lean canvas template to map out your hypotheses and metrics.

3 Find your testers

The third step is to find your testers, who will use your MVP and provide feedback and data. It's important to find testers who are representative of your target market and have the problem that your product solves. Additionally, they must be willing to try your MVP and give honest and constructive feedback. You can find testers through various channels, such as your existing network, online platforms, offline events, or paid ads. Your existing network could include friends, family, colleagues, or acquaintances who fit your target market or can refer you to someone who does. Online platforms may include websites, forums, social media, or communities where your target market hangs out or searches for solutions. Offline events could be meetups, workshops, conferences, or trade shows where you can meet your target market face-to-face and pitch your MVP. Finally, you could use online or offline advertisements that target your market segment and direct them to your landing page or prototype.

4 Run your tests

The fourth step is to run your tests, which is the process of exposing your MVP to your testers and collecting feedback and data. Structure and consistency are key for comparing and analyzing the results, while a lean and iterative approach helps to learn and improve quickly. To run your tests, first set up your testing environment by preparing your MVP, tools, communication channels, and consent forms. Then invite your testers by explaining your MVP and its purpose, asking for their participation and permission. Next, conduct the tests by showing or delivering the MVP to them, observing their behavior and reactions, and asking for their feedback. Record the data using surveys, interviews, analytics, or other methods. Finally, thank your testers with incentives or rewards, and ask for referrals or testimonials.

5 Analyze your results

The fifth step is to analyze your results, which involves interpreting and evaluating the feedback and data you have gathered. This will help you determine the viability and value of your MVP for your customers, as well as whether or not your hypotheses are validated or invalidated. Additionally, analyzing your results will give you insights into what works and what doesn't work in your MVP, as well as what can be improved or changed. To do this, you can use quantitative analysis to measure key metrics and compare them to criteria, qualitative analysis to understand customer needs, preferences, and pain points, SWOT analysis to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of your MVP and market, and a decision-making process to decide if you should pivot or persevere.

6 Repeat the cycle

The sixth and final step is to repeat the cycle, which is the practice of testing your MVP again and again until you achieve product-market fit. Product-market fit is the state where your product satisfies a strong market demand and creates loyal and happy customers. You need to repeat the cycle of testing your MVP using lean startup methods to continuously learn from your customers and adapt to their changing needs and expectations. You also need to repeat the cycle to optimize your product features, performance, and design and to grow your customer base, revenue, and impact.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?