What methods do you use to understand customer needs in a new market?

Interviews, user tests, and surveys. I think you can't use analytics if you're just entering a new market because you have no data.

To understand customer needs in a new market, we go all in with interviews, surveys, and a touch of analytics—because who doesn’t love data, right? Accuracy is key, so we cross-verify insights to keep them actionable. Kind of like how "Her Ideal Match" helps men decode dating profiles using data science.

When entering a new market, start with in-depth customer interviews to get qualitative insights directly from potential users. These help understand their pain points, daily workflows, and what they value most. Then, layer this with surveys to capture trends across a broader audience, ensuring you're not overly influenced by individual opinions. Analytics come next, especially once you have a prototype or MVP. By tracking how users actually engage with the product, we can validate or adjust our initial insights. We also like to connect with local partners who know the market well—they offer valuable context and can highlight cultural or industry-specific nuances that may not come up in interviews or surveys.