James G
Founder
October 2, 202510 min read
What is Product Discovery?
Product discovery is the process of validating that you're building the right thing before you build it. It answers:
- Is this problem worth solving?
- Will our solution work?
- Can we build this successfully?
Technique 1: Customer Interviews
Talk to 10+ potential users before building anything.
Interview Tips
- Ask about problems, not solutions
- Focus on past behavior, not future intentions
- Listen more than you talk
- Record and transcribe for later analysis
Questions to Ask
- "Tell me about the last time you experienced [problem]"
- "How are you solving this today?"
- "What's the most frustrating part of that?"
Technique 2: Competitive Analysis
Understand what already exists:
- What features do competitors offer?
- What are users complaining about?
- Where are the gaps?
Tools like reBacklog can automate competitive analysis.
Technique 3: Search Demand Analysis
What are people actively looking for?
- Google Search Console (your site)
- Keyword research tools
- Question sites (Quora, Reddit)
Technique 4: Prototype Testing
Build fake versions before real ones:
- Paper prototypes: Sketch on paper
- Wireframes: Low-fidelity digital mockups
- Clickable prototypes: Figma/Framer mockups
Test with 5 users to find 80% of issues.
Technique 5: Landing Page Tests
Create a landing page for a feature that doesn't exist:
Technique 6: Wizard of Oz
Manually deliver what will eventually be automated:
- Appear automated to users
- You do the work behind the scenes
- Validate demand before building
Technique 7: Fake Door Tests
Add buttons/features that don't work yet:
- Measure click rate
- Show "coming soon" message
- Gauge interest before building
Choosing the Right Technique
| Technique | Best For | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Interviews | Understanding problems | Medium |
| Competitive analysis | Market understanding | Low |
| Search analysis | Demand validation | Low |
| Prototypes | UX validation | Medium |
| Landing pages | Value prop testing | Medium |
| Wizard of Oz | Complex feature validation | High |
| Fake doors | Quick interest gauging | Low |
Combining Techniques
A solid discovery process might include:
This article was generated by SeoMate - AI-powered SEO content generation.



