How to Validate an App Idea (Before You Spend Time & Money Building It)

Last Updated: July 25th, 2024

Written by Kristen Youngs

ON THIS PAGE:

  1. Problem Validation
  2. Idea Validation
  3. Product Validation

Step 1: Problem Validation

There are actually multiple phases of validation every app should go through, starting with problem validation.

Start by asking these questions:

1. Is this problem severe?
Think about the consequences your target market experiences due to this specific problem not being solved... Do those consequences cause people to lose money, waste time, or experience frustration and inconvenience?

2. Is the problem urgent?
The higher the level of urgency people experience related to the problem, the more validation you have.

3. Do people know they have this problem?
There's nothing worse than the launch of a product or solution that people don't know they need.

4. Do people pay for a solution to this problem?
Plenty of problems exist that simply aren't severe or urgent enough to warrant people paying for solutions.

Step 2: Idea Validation

Validating your app idea itself is actually a bit more complicated. You need to balance using your own experience with feedback from your target market.

Consider asking questions like:

  1. How are you currently solving [problem]?
  2. In what ways does that solution frustrate you?
  3. What keeps you from switching to a different solution?

Step 3: Product Validation

Once you’ve established problem validation, the next step is to build the first version of that solution.
Bring a closed group of pilot test users on board.

Reasons to Question Your App Idea

1. You Don’t Have Personal Experience
If you have no personal experience related to the problem your app will be solving, it doesn’t matter how good the idea itself is.

2. You Haven’t Talked to Your Market
If you haven’t yet had real conversations with people in your target market, think twice about moving forward.

3. You’re Not Passionate About the Problem
You should focus your efforts on solving a problem you’re passionate about.

4. You Have No Day-to-Day Commitment
If you don’t have an unrelenting day-to-day commitment to see your app through, you’ll struggle.

Characteristics of Successful App Ideas

1. Your app will solve a very specific problem
If you can’t answer that in one sentence, try picking one problem.

2. You have a personal connection to your target market
Know your future users well to create an app they'll resonate with.

3. You have simplicity and ease in mind
Successful apps are uncomplicated and easy to use.

Conclusion

  1. Start with problem validation to make sure you're on the right track.
  2. Move into idea validation afterwards.
  3. Confirm product validation with actual users.