#5 – MVN – Improve Your MVP Using Feedback

Hello there 🙌🏻

It's Sunday. And it's time for the Minimum Viable Newsletter.

Developing a minimum viable product (MVP) is a common approach to testing and validating a new product or service.

It involves creating a basic version of the product that has enough features to satisfy early customers and provide valuable feedback for future development.

But how exactly do you get user feedback & how you use it to build better MVPs?

To adapt your MVP based on user feedback, there are lots of ways you can do this. In this issue I'd like to share with you the 5 core steps I take with my customers:

Gather feedback from users

It's important to get a wide range of feedback from different types of users to get a full understanding of their needs and preferences. This can be done through surveys, focus groups, user testing, or other methods.

Let me explain.

1. Surveys: Surveys can be an effective way to gather feedback from a large number of users quickly. They can be conducted online, through email, or in person. Make sure to ask specific questions and provide space for open-ended responses to gather detailed feedback.
2. Focus groups: Focus groups are small, moderated discussions with a group of users about a specific topic. They can be a great way to gather more in-depth feedback and get a better understanding of user attitudes and behaviors.
3. User testing: User testing involves observing users interacting with a product and asking them for feedback. This can be done in a lab setting or remotely. User testing can help identify usability issues and gather detailed feedback on the user experience.
4. Online reviews and ratings: Users can provide feedback through online reviews and ratings on platforms like app stores, e-commerce sites, or social media. This can be a quick and easy way to gather feedback, but it may not be as detailed as other methods.
5. In-person or phone interviews: One-on-one interviews with users can provide more in-depth and personalized feedback. These can be conducted in person or over the phone and can be a great way to gather more detailed feedback.

It's important to gather feedback from a diverse group of users to get a full understanding of their needs and preferences. Consider using a combination of these methods to get a well-rounded view of user feedback.

Analyze the feedback

Look for patterns and trends in the feedback to identify common themes and areas for improvement. Consider the feasibility and impact of each suggestion, as well as how it fits with your overall product vision.

Here's how I do this:

1. Read through the feedback carefully: Take the time to read through all the feedback you have collected, paying attention to the specific comments and suggestions made by users.
2. Look for patterns and trends: As you read through the feedback, look for common themes or patterns. This can help you identify the most pressing issues or areas for improvement.
3. Categorize the feedback: Organize the feedback into categories based on the type of feedback or the topic being discussed. This can help you see the bigger picture and make it easier to identify trends and patterns.
4. Identify key takeaways: From the patterns and trends you have identified, identify the key takeaways or main points that users are trying to convey. This could include common complaints, suggestions for improvement, or positive feedback about specific features.
5. Assess the feasibility and impact of each suggestion: Consider the feasibility and impact of each suggestion made by users. Some suggestions may be easy to implement and have a significant impact, while others may be more difficult to implement or have a smaller impact.
6. Prioritize the feedback: Based on the feasibility and impact of each suggestion, prioritize the most important improvements to focus on first. Keep in mind that it may not be possible to implement all the suggestions, so it's important to focus on the ones that will have the biggest impact.

It's not simple – Taking informed decisions needs great data. So your job as a start-up owner is to make sure you get qualitative data every time you can.

Prioritize improvements

Based on the feedback and your own goals, prioritize the most important improvements and decide which ones to implement first.

Keep in mind that it may not be possible to implement all the suggestions, so it's important to focus on the ones that will have the biggest impact.

Implement the improvements

Use the feedback to iterate on your MVP and make the necessary changes. Test the updated version with users to validate the improvements and gather more feedback.

Continuously gather and analyze feedback

It's important to continue gathering and analyzing feedback as you continue to develop and refine your product.

This will help you stay aligned with user needs and ensure that you are creating a product that meets their expectations.

See you next week

Whenever you feel ready, there are three ways I can help you:

1. Transform Your Idea Into a Digital Product with Me in a Maven Workshop (27+ Workshops conducted so far)
2. Work With Me 1:1 and get over 15+ years of Product Development Experience & Strategy in 90 minutes.
3. Hire My Team at CODESILK to build your digital product