Market Research for Startup Projects

A hard truth about startup marketing... Most founders THINK they know their customers. Few actually do. Having run countless customer interviews as a Fractional CMO, here's what separates good marketing from great: 1. Stop guessing, start listening Stay away from: ❌ Making assumptions, or listening to the loudest voice internally  ❌ Relying on off the shelf market research reports ❌ Copying competitors What works: → Real customer conversations → Open-ended questions and deep probing → Looking for repeated patterns from customer conversations 2. Turn feedback into firepower Stay away from: ❌ Writing copy based on internal preferences ❌ Using industry jargon customers don't use ❌ Building messaging around features, not problems What works: → Use customer’s exact words → Steal their frustrations → Mirror their dreams 3. Run micro-tests, get macro-results Stay away from: ❌Betting big on untested campaigns ❌Relying on gut feel for what's working ❌Waiting too long to analyse results What works: → Test small message tweaks → Track in detail → Scale what works → Kill what doesn't The pattern I keep seeing? The best marketing doesn't come from clever copywriters. It comes from customers who feel heard. What customer insight changed your marketing game? Share below 👇 ♻️ Found this helpful? Repost to share with your network. ⚡ Want more content like this? Hit follow Maya Moufarek for more startup growth insights.

Primary market research (talking to real stakeholders) is still the most underrated, critical part of most startups for this simple reason: You don’t solely choose your customers and users. They also choose you. I still talk to many founders who come to me excited about the product and their imagined user/buyer. And I really get that half the excitement of starting a company is the feeling that you’re finally MAKING something new for the world that you strongly believe is needed. But anyone you seek feedback from who doesn’t push you on how deeply you understand which REAL PEOPLE would actually look for, let alone buy your idea, is either naive or should mainly be part of your cheer squad. It’s a different story if you’re saying, “I know I need to talk to more people in the market to find who’s best to sell to, but I only have a small window to do this and I’m going to just take a bet.” These entrepreneurs are consciously going after a small hill of support knowing there could be an Everest peak of customers next to it. While it’s possible to pivot later on or shift quickly enough to capture the better market, most of the time the technical debt and frankly, faith of all those involved (including funding sources), are strained. Including yourself. We only have so much energy to pour into one endeavor before we feel we need to escape uninspiring results. Now, it’s a philosophical question whether it’s better to start over fairly quickly and build a different venture, or to spend more time upfront wayfinding to the better product-market fit. Personally, I believe crossing better methods with higher energy levels (i.e. earlier in your career) can take you farther as an entrepreneur. So, how do you know if the primary market research is yielding fruit? You find that nugget of gold that customers and stakeholders will buy into in the space of what you can build. Then you focus on building just around that nugget. Primary market research is prospecting for the land that you are going to build a solid foundation on for your startup - a gold mine, if you stick with it. ------ * Share if you think others should read this! * Follow me for more posts about startup leadership, founders, scaling, performance, and personal growth #startups #customers #markets

Market research is the foundation of every successful DTC product. Here’s how I do it: 1. Start with customer surveys—ask your existing customers what they like, what they don’t, and what they wish you offered. 2. Analyze competitor products—identify gaps in the market and opportunities to differentiate your product. 3. Use social media listening—monitor relevant hashtags, comments, and discussions to see what your target audience is talking about. Read Reddit threads related to your customers and competing products—it'll help you understand what your audience is dealing with and what they're wishing for. 4. Leverage customer feedback—dig into reviews, support tickets, and product returns to identify pain points. 5. Test with small focus groups—get a hands-on understanding of how your product meets or misses customer expectations. 6. Run A/B tests—test different versions of your product or marketing approach to see what resonates best. Effective market research has helped my brands develop products that not only meet customer needs but also stand out in the DTC space. It's the closest thing you can get to a free CAC reduction.

Ah, the intoxicating allure of a new startup idea. It whispers promises of fortune and fame, but before you quit your day job and order a fleet of Teslas, hold on, cowboy! The first step on your founder's journey is validation, and let's face it, throwing spaghetti at the wall (metaphorical spaghetti, of course) and hoping it sticks isn't exactly a winning strategy. This guide is your roadmap to navigating the treacherous terrain from brainstorm to MVP, packed with practical tips, techniques, and tools to ensure your idea isn't just a flash in the pan, but a bona fide market darling. 1. Know Your Why (and Who): Don't fall victim to "shiny object syndrome." Before diving headfirst, define your problem clearly. What pain point are you solving? Who's your target audience? Be specific, delve deep, and remember, a well-defined problem leads to a well-defined solution (and ultimately, paying customers). 2. Research Like a Bloodhound: Don't reinvent the wheel. Scour the market for existing solutions, identify competitors, and analyze their strengths and weaknesses. Is there a gap you can fill? Are you bringing something truly unique to the table? Remember, research isn't just about competition, it's about understanding your target audience and their needs. 3. Talk It Out, Loud and Proud: Don't be afraid to share your idea!** Talk to potential customers, industry experts, even your grandma (her feedback might be brutal, but hey, honesty is key). Conduct interviews, surveys, and focus groups to gauge interest, gather feedback, and refine your concept based on real-world insights. 4. Get Lean and Mean: Skip the grand vision for now. Focus on building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) – the simplest version of your solution that demonstrates core functionality and value. Think scrappy, think efficient, think "can this be built in a weekend?". 5. Leverage the Power of Prototyping: Don't wait for the "perfect" product. Build low-fidelity prototypes – think paper sketches, wireframes, even mockups made of Legos (hey, if it works, it works!). Test them with real users, iterate based on their feedback, and remember, every iteration brings you closer to a product that resonates with your audience. Tools like InVision, Figma, or even good old-fashioned pen and paper are your allies here. ..... read the article for the rest. By following these tips and employing the right tools, you can navigate the exciting, and sometimes intimidating, journey from brainstorm to MVP. Remember, validation is an ongoing process, but with a clear focus, a scrappy spirit, and a willingness to learn and adapt, you can transform your idea into a reality that resonates with the market and sets you #FoundersJourney #IdeaValidation #MVPBuilding #MarketResearch #CustomerFeedback #DataDrivenDecisions #PrototypeIteration #PivotLikeAPro #CelebrateWins #ValueIsKey #StartupLife #ScrappySpirit

💡 𝟰 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗮 Optimism is the first asset you’ll need as an entrepreneur. And in the early stages, it’s normal to feel extremely optimistic about future success. But according to Wilbur Labs, 27% of startups fail because they built something the market didn’t buy. How can you avoid being misled by your biases and stay ahead of the curve ❓ You will have to test your assumptions through 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ✅ A good market validation process will tell you if your target market is willing to pay for your product or service (maybe even how much 💲) ❌ A bad market validation process is filled with vanity metrics and false positives  Here are 4 ways to successfully validate your startup idea against the market 👇      → Waitlists Set up a landing page for sign-ups and promote for early access. Once you’re ready to launch, you’ll have an existing customer base to reach out to. → Customer Development  Engage with potential customers for feedback. Once you identify your target audience, prepare questions and conduct interviews to gather as much feedback as you can. → Wizard of Oz Gather customer feedback and market demand through a mockup of your product. No need to wait for full development to gather customer insights. → Pre-sales  Try selling your product or service before it’s fully developed. Set up an attractive landing page and offer pre-sales to measure market demand. Founders, how have you validated your market? Use any strategies not mentioned above? Drop them in a comment below! Ready for more founder insights?  Follow The Pitch podcast to learn from the best startup founders and VCs in the world 👉 https://www.thepitch.show #startups #entrepreneurs #venturecapital #marketing

Startups often begin with a vision, a strong belief in an idea, and a gut feeling about the market. But scaling a startup requires more than intuition—it demands data-driven decisions that guide product development, customer retention, and revenue growth. 1. Finding Product-Market Fit with Data Instead of guessing what customers want, successful startups: ✅ Analyze user behavior—Which features get the most engagement? Where do users drop off? ✅ Use A/B testing—Test different versions of features, landing pages, or pricing models to see what resonates. ✅ Leverage surveys & feedback loops—Direct customer insights can validate assumptions and refine offerings. 2. Boosting Customer Retention with Data Analytics Acquiring new customers is expensive, but retaining them is key to sustainable growth. Data helps startups: 🔹 Segment customers—Identify high-value users and personalize their experiences. 🔹 Predict churn—Spot patterns that indicate when a customer is about to leave and intervene proactively. 🔹 Optimize onboarding—Track friction points in the user journey and improve the first-time experience. 3. Optimizing Revenue and Monetization Strategies Startups must experiment with revenue models to maximize profitability. Data helps by: 📊 Identifying profitable pricing strategies—Analyzing purchase behavior to adjust pricing tiers. 📈 Tracking customer lifetime value (LTV)—Ensuring the cost of acquiring a customer (CAC) is justified. 💡 Experimenting with revenue streams—Using insights to explore upsells, subscriptions, or partnerships. The Bottom Line? Data Wins. Relying solely on intuition can be risky. Combining gut instinct with real-world analytics creates a powerful engine for scalable, smart growth. 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒑 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒂 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔? 𝑫𝒓𝒐𝒑 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔! #DataDrivenDecisionMaking #StartupEcosystem #Startups #StartupScaling

How to Craft Solutions as a #Startup That Outshine Existing Solutions in Your Target Market by Dr. Joybert Javnyuy Over the years, through my work in startup business consulting, I have collaborated with numerous incubators and accelerators in #Cameroon, #Nigeria, #Ghana, #Kenya, #SouthAfrica, and other nations. At The Center for Entrepreneurship, Leadership & Business Management Development (CELBMD) Africa, which I founded in 2012 to provide startup and enterprise development training and solutions to African startups, I have gained practical experience working with diverse startups from various industries. One of the most critical phases every startup must go through and get right to a certain extent is validating the problem they aim to solve with their business. When leading problem validation and idea validation sessions with startup founders, one of the core questions I always want us to deliberate upon is, "Why are existing products or services (solutions) insufficient, and what makes you feel that your solution will stand out in the eyes of the target market?" Processing and understanding this question and being able to obtain real-time findings will bring a significant change in your startup process. Additionally, this step helps in refining the business model and ensures that the startup is addressing a genuine need, which is crucial for long-term success. Moreover, engaging with potential customers early on can provide invaluable feedback that can shape the product development and marketing strategies. The inadequacy of current solutions typically stems from their inability to fully address the evolving needs and pain points of consumers. This can manifest in various forms:  - Outdated technology - Lack of user-centric features - Poor customer service - Simply the failure to adapt to changing market trends. When it comes to building a startup, the foundation of a successful business often lies in identifying gaps within existing products or services and proposing innovative solutions. Understanding these insufficiencies involves deep market research and an empathetic approach to customer feedback. Entrepreneurs must immerse themselves in the experiences of their potential users to uncover these hidden gaps. Once these gaps are identified, the next step is to conceptualize a solution that not only fills these voids but also offers a distinct value proposition. Here is one truth, recognizing the shortcomings of existing products or services and addressing them with a novel, user-centric approach is key to standing out in a competitive market as a startup founder. Blessings Dr. Joybert Javnyuy #Innovation #Future #Entrepreneurship #Careers #Startups #India #20daylinkedinchallengewithhaoma #linkedinacceleratorwithlynn

“But we already know what our customer wants.” (Fedora Friday wisdom😎) I’ve heard that line more times than I can count. And every time, I brace for what’s coming next—because "assuming" you know what your customer wants is the fastest route to failure. Here’s a hard truth I’ve learned over 37+ years of market research and feasibility work: Nearly any business, brand, or service doesn’t fail because they aren't good. They fail because they are selling something to the wrong person—or the right person at the wrong time. - We think we know. - We hope we’re right. - We believe we understand. But hope and belief aren’t strategies. And guesswork isn’t research. When you: Do real research Listen without an ego Really dig through all the data Ask uncomfortable questions to folks Patterns will emerge and something magic and powerful happens: 📌 Your product or service evolves. 📌 Your messaging shifts. 📌 Your target audience sharpens. 📌 Your entire strategy changes Because now it’s real. I have a client who was convinced her audience wanted speed. But when we actually talked to her customers? They wanted reliability—even if it meant waiting an extra 3-4 days. That’s the kind of insight that saves entrepreneurs, small businesses and brands costly pivots, wasted ad spend, and disappointing launches or sales results. Market research isn’t a formality. It’s not about surveys and reviews. It’s should be the heartbeat of every type of business, product or service Want to position a product or service people actually want and need? I can help! (DM me and lets get started) I will start by helping you let go of what you think you know. 👉 Be curious. 👉 Be precise. 👉 Be willing to be wrong. Because: When you truly understand your customer—(not the idealized one in your head) The real, complex human out there in the world—your odds of success don’t just increase. They multiply. Perceptual Mapping is a thing! Follow me David R. for market insights you can actually use. ❓️What’s one surprising thing you learned from axtually talking to your audience? Let’s share some truths below. 👇 #MarketResearch #CustomerInsights #BusinessStrategy #FeasibilityStudies #VoiceOfTheCustomer #LeadershipWisdom #LinkedInThoughtLeadership