The Power of Talking to Users: Turning Ideas into Impact
It all started with communication, which is the key to determining the issue, finding the answers, and discovering the long-awaited solutions. Communication helps in seeking answers to problems. I am going to share with you what I have understood based on what I’ve watched, entitled "How to Talk to Users and Validating Your Ideas" by Ms. Cherish Delight Mahinay. This will provide ideas for those who aspire to become entrepreneurs or business professionals someday. Talking to users really helps us gain insights and feedback that can be useful in refining our ideas. However, not all answers from users are necessarily helpful, as some might not be entirely honest. Therefore, we need a process or technique to obtain accurate and reliable information based on users' experiences. This ensures we understand real demand and avoid creating products that nobody wants. This is my first time learning about the Mom Test, and I find it extremely helpful for those starting a business. The idea behind this framework is that even your mom cannot lie when you ask the right questions. By conducting interviews properly, we avoid misleading results. Secondly, the video also teaches us five great questions to ask in every user interview. These questions serve as a guide to uncover the real needs of consumers. Thirdly, since we are conducting interviews, we must also be mindful of how we do them. Talking less and listening more, taking notes, asking open-ended questions, avoiding asking for opinions, and following up with why—these are some important tips to remember. Fourth, constructing a value hypothesis is crucial. If our value hypothesis is correct, consumers will seek and pay for our solution; otherwise, it will lead to an opposite result. Fifth, this is where we validate our ideas by following a structured process. It begins with identifying the problem, finding the target market, asking the right questions to target users, analyzing feedback, proposing a solution, testing it with real users, and finally, improving the solution based on real-world data. While this may sound simple, we all know that challenges will arise along the way. However, I am confident that, in the end, taking the risk will be worth it. To put it simply, it is a process with no shortcuts. We must communicate effectively and remember these tips to succeed in our goals. By doing so, we can develop solutions that may turn into innovations that solve real-world problems. Let us not forget that our ideas have the potential to create a significant impact, improving society and benefiting many people.
