Imagine launching a new expense-tracking app with a new feature only to discover users barely use it because it doesn't solve their core budgeting problems. This misstep highlights the importance of user validation.

Building something that aligns with actual user needs is where the true challenge lies for every product manager. 

This blog will delve deep into different methods to conduct user validation. Read on!

What is User Validation?

User validation is the process of ensuring that your product ideas and features address real user problems. It’s about testing your assumptions and collecting feedback from actual users. It can be for your product or feature and you can do it at different stages (ideation or development) or directly post-launch.

By validating with users, product managers align with market needs which is important for your users to become paying users of your product and stick around to use frequently.  You can do user validation testing for usability, design, validating the problem itself and more.

Why is User Validation Crucial?

Here are 4 reasons why you should consider user validation:

1. Build what is actually needed

Building a product or feature is expensive. User validation ensures you’re solving a problem that genuinely exists, reducing the risk of launching something that does not resonate with users.

2. Data-based decision making

User validation gives data-driven insights making it quantitative. This way you can also expect the impact quantitatively. User validation data will also help product managers prioritize features based on what the user needs the most.

3. Better UX

Understanding user pain points and behaviors especially by combining A/B testing and session replays of design elements lead to better UX decisions and an overall superior user experience.

4. Fosters stakeholder confidence

Convincing your leadership that you need to build a feature or make a change is not easy. Validation data reassures stakeholders that decisions are grounded in real-world user needs, not just your intuition or assumptions.

What are the Stages of User Validation

Here are the different stages where you can do user validation:

1. Problem validation

Confirm that the problem you’re solving is real and significant or confirm if enough users face the problem.

You can validate using the following methods:

• Conducting user interviews by choosing users in a random order from different segments.

• Use surveys to quantify the prevalence.

• Do a qualitative competitor analysis of how competitors address similar problems and identify gaps.

2. Solution validation

Verify that your proposed solution addresses the identified problem or the efficiency of the solution.

You can validate using the following methods:

• Prototyping: Build wireframes or low-fidelity prototypes to test the concept with limited users.

• A/B testing: Present different versions of the solution to users to see which performs better.

• User feedback sessions: Gather qualitative feedback on the proposed solution.

3. Usability validation

To find that users can interact with your product the way you want them to effectively.

• Usability testing: Observe users through recorded sessions interacting with your product to identify friction points.

• Heuristic evaluation: Use experts to evaluate the usability of your product.

• Clickstream analysis: Analyze user navigation patterns using tools such as HotJar. It will show heatmaps and give you insights.

4. Market validation

Confirm that your product has a viable market to get confidence in market readiness and demand.

• Landing Page Tests: Use a pre-launch landing page to gauge interest.

• Beta Testing: Launch a limited version of your product to gather user feedback.

• Pre-orders or Waitlists: Measure market demand through sign-ups or pre-orders.

Key Techniques for Effective User Validation

Here are some points to remember while doing user validation:

Empathy mapping

Visualize what users say, think, feel, and do to deeply understand their motivations and pain points. Sometimes you have to make decisions based on qualitative feedback.

Jobs-to-Be-Done (JTBD)

Focus on the outcomes users are trying to achieve rather than just the features they want.

Data triangulation

Users give qualitative feedback as that’s how they’d express. It is your responsibility to combine quantitative and qualitative methods to form a comprehensive view of user needs. Users may not always articulate their needs clearly. Combine direct feedback with observational methods to get insights.

Continuous validation

Treat validation as an ongoing process rather than a one-time activity. Regularly gather feedback as user needs and market conditions evolve.

Confirmation bias 

Product managers might unintentionally seek out validation that supports their existing assumptions. Mitigate this by involving diverse team members in the process.

User sample / recruitment 

Finding the right users to validate with can be challenging. Leverage user communities, panels, or third-party platforms for recruitment.

Balancing speed and rigor 

It’s tempting to skip validation, yes. Use lightweight methods like rapid prototyping to validate quickly without sacrificing quality.

Analytics is The Core of User Validation. Do it with Iterate AI.

Buying analytics tools like Mixpanel and Amplitude is easy. Setting it up is difficult. Not anymore for product managers with Iterate AI. 

With Iterate AI, you can set up product analytics yourself by just planning and creating events. Then the code gets generated to review and implement. We also set up reports so you can see the results and make the right business decisions. Schedule a demo to learn more.

By incorporating user validation based on product analytics at every stage of the product lifecycle, you’ll build products that solve meaningful problems.