How to Get Started Creating a New Product That ACTUALLY Works as a Scrappy Entrepreneur!
Turning Ideas into Reality: A Practical Guide for Founders
As an entrepreneur, there comes a time when you need to turn your ideas into actual products. But where do you start? Often, founders either jump into building a product too quickly without proper planning or get stuck because they don’t know how to begin.
Today, we’re tackling the latter: how to effectively start creating a new product from scratch. If you already have a product idea, make sure you’ve conducted thorough market research to confirm there’s demand for what you’re making—something people truly want.
Creating a product isn't just about “making” it. Whether it’s a tech product, a physical item, or a new service, there is a structured process you can follow to minimize hassle and maximize your chances of success.
Step 1: Start with the End in Mind
Every product should be created with a clear goal in mind, whether it's a new service, a core offering, or an addition to a larger catalogue. Start by writing down the goals you want to achieve by launching this product. Even if you’re unsure of the exact product idea, define the purpose and the desired outcome.
Define Your "Why": If you have a product idea in mind, write it down and connect it to the reasons why you want to create it. If you don’t have a specific idea, start brainstorming the “why” to guide your thinking.
Blue Sky Thinking: Imagine an ideal world without any constraints. What would you create? This type of unrestricted brainstorming helps you clarify what you really want to achieve. Then, bring those ideas down to reality by considering practical constraints like budget, resources, and market conditions. For example, “No, we don’t have the budget to do X, but we can do Y, which achieves a similar result.”
Step 2: Assemble Your Team and Stakeholders
Who should be part of this product development process?
Ideally, gather as many relevant team members, customers, advisors, experts, or stakeholders as possible to collaborate on your idea. These individuals are essential because they will either be directly involved in creating the product or impacted by its launch.
Validate Your Ideas: Engaging a diverse group allows for different perspectives, helping to validate your ideas and ensure you're not wasting time on a product that won't succeed. Include customers in these discussions—they’re your ultimate stakeholders!
Step 3: Make Decisions with Clear Criteria
After brainstorming, the next step is to make decisions. Here’s how:
Document Your Discussions: Keep track of all ideas, the “whys,” pros, and cons during brainstorming sessions. Use mind maps or other visual tools to organize these thoughts.
Analyze Against Key Criteria:
Mission and Purpose: Does the product align with your organization's mission?
Product Goal: What is the specific objective of this product?
Opportunity: Will this product generate enough revenue, open new market opportunities, or provide significant benefits?
Customer Impact: How will your customers feel about this product? How will you market it to them?
Evaluate these factors to decide the best course of action and determine the next steps.
Step 4: Create a Mock-Up
Now that you have a product idea, the next step is to visualize it. This can be done through a simple sketch, digital design, or any form that allows you to communicate the concept clearly.
Why Create a Mock-Up?
A mock-up helps ensure everyone is on the same page about what you’re creating. It also allows you to present the concept to developers, manufacturers, or stakeholders for feedback, aligning it with your initial goals and constraints.How to Make a Mock-Up:
Start with basic sketches, either on paper or using digital tools like an online whiteboard.
Focus on clarity: annotate sketches, add descriptions, and ensure it’s understandable to others.
Tailor the mock-up to your product type (e.g., UI designs for software, physical prototypes for tangible products).
Step 5: Validate Your Product Idea
Idea validation is crucial to avoid building a product no one wants. This step differs from market research; it involves testing a prototype to understand if people will actually use or buy it and what changes might make it more appealing.
Gather Direct Feedback: Set up structured interviews or feedback sessions with at least five people who are not familiar with your product. Ask them questions like:
What are your thoughts about this prototype/mock-up?
Do you like the design, feel, or functionality?
Can you imagine yourself using this? How often?
Organize Your Research: Document all feedback in a clear, detailed way so you can analyze it later. This data will help you refine your product before investing further in development.
Step 6: Begin Building Your Product
Once you've validated your idea, it’s time to start building. Here’s a breakdown of your options:
Find a Technical Co-Founder or Team Member: Depending on your needs, recruit someone with the technical skills required to build your product.
Secure Funding to Hire Developers: If you need to hire professionals, you’ll likely require a validated mock-up and some initial traction.
Learn to Build It Yourself: Many founders start by learning the necessary skills to create an early version of their product.
Remember: Don’t start building the final product until you've tested the concept thoroughly. Use a mock-up to gain feedback and prove there's a demand for your product. A validated idea is the foundation for sustainable growth.
Additional Resources
Here are some helpful tools and resources to assist you in building your product:
Startup Stash: A comprehensive directory of tools for founders.
Bravo Studio: A no-code platform for building apps.
Figma: A powerful design tool for creating mockups, UI/UX designs, and prototypes.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Skip the Validation Phase
How you start building your product is a critical decision that no one else can make for you. But remember this: don’t invest heavily in the final product until you’ve validated that people actually want it. Start with a simple mock-up, gather feedback, and build traction before committing significant resources.
Finally, here’s an interesting infographic that might help give you an overview of everything we’ve discussed in this article. Hope it helps!
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About Seven
Hey friends! I’m Seven - I write about challenges and opportunities affecting leaders across business. I release a weekly newsletter and a podcast, helping folks understand the leadership journeys and challenges out there, so we can better understand our purpose, place, and potential. The goal: to learn about what it means to be a leader, to support leaders, to find leaders, and to discover the leader within.
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