How to find an audience for Customer Discovery?👀

All product launch experts emphasize the importance of conducting interviews with potential users.

Insights from Customer Discovery will allow you to more accurately position your product or protect yourself from losses if demand turns out to be lower than anticipated.

The question is: how to secure interviews when it's needed by YOU but not your target audience🥱?

✅Below are some of my recommendations :

0) Start with those you already know, then ask them to introduce you to others.

1) 'Polish' your LinkedIn profile to make adding you as a connection 'prestigious'.

2) Choose words that precisely address the problem you are solving. It's CRUCIAL that your potential client speaks and thinks about the problem in this exact terminology.

3) Send a connection request to your target audience (I do it without a message if step 1 is done), then send your message.

4) In your message, mention that YOU ARE NOT SELLING ANYTHING but seeking expert opinions on how you are trying to solve the client's problem. People enjoy feeling like experts and often agree to help.

5) Motivation in the form of a gift certificate (like Amazon) may work for middle management and below. Try mentioning that the client's business will receive exclusive access or special conditions after the product is fully developed.

6) Some senior executives are inspired by the idea of becoming co-authors of an ambitious startup idea. Try offering this. It's also a great way to get them into your advisory board.

7) Post about the problem in relevant communities. In the comments, people will surely be willing to criticize you - you need these insights.

😍 Remember, depth is more important than quantity of interviews. 10 quality conversations are more valuable than 50 superficial surveys.

Getting respondents for Customer Discovery requires significant effort, so don't expect a mass response.

If you've sent out 100 requests and received no responses, it could be because:

- The problem isn't urgent.

- The solution seems impossible.

- You're not using the right words.

- Your profile isn't inspiring.

- You're talking to the wrong person.

Best of luck in this challenging yet crucial endeavor! 💪