I helped 10+ projects validate their product. Happy to share my framework.

Hey there, PHers! As a product management consultant, I've had the opportunity to assist numerous projects in launching and validating their products. Along the way, I've noticed some recurring patterns in customer validation. I'd be delighted to share my framework with you. Step 1 - Ideation: Let's start by hypothesizing the pain point and identifying the ideal customer profile. We need to consider the various ways in which we can address the customer's pain point while keeping an open mind about the solution. It's crucial to be as specific as possible when defining the pain point and customer profile. Step 2 - Problem fit: Now, it's time to reach out to individuals who fit our ideal customer profile and engage in conversations with them. We want to find out if they indeed face the problem we identified. Additionally, we should dive deeper into understanding the problem. How frequently do they encounter it? How do they currently resolve it? Do they spend money to address it? Ultimately, we want to determine the significance of the problem for them. This can be done through casual conversations with friends or by conducting proper focus groups. Remember, a sample size of 6-8 people will suffice. Step 3 - Customer fit: Having found customers who experience the problem, I recommend conducting fake door experiments. This involves running advertisements on your landing page, but instead of offering a live product, prompt users to sign up for a mailing list. You can then conduct user interviews to validate their fit as customers. Step 4 - Product fit: The objective here is to ensure that you're providing the right product to the right customers, effectively addressing the identified problem. In steps 1-3, we avoided discussing the product extensively because customers often struggle to visualize how it works without seeing it. At this stage, I recommend running usability tests. Sit alongside your customers and observe how they use the product. Provide minimal guidance and assistance, intervening only when necessary. Finally, ask them if they believe the product can solve their problem. Step 5 - Market fit: You need to determine if the market is sizable enough for you to dedicate your time and effort to it. It's important to conduct a market sizing exercise. This topic can be complex, so I suggest checking out this content for a guide: https://pear.vc/market-sizing-gu... What other aspects do you consider important for product validation? I'd love to discuss them with you!