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He does discuss "Is it clear why people should use it?" and whether the product is personal compelling.

by ALee 19y ago

edw519 19y ago
"Is it clear why people should use it?" DOES NOT EQUAL "Is it what people want?" This is not an argument in semantics. This is the ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY, MOST FUNDAMENTAL question in business. If there is no demand, you are dead. Making something that creates demand is about as likely as winning the lottery (albeit as lucrative). I'll stand by my original post. You must satisfy a demand. The best way to identify that demand is to ask. The best way to ask is to know your prospects. None of this is ever mentioned in the original article. Whoever downmodded my original post still doesn't get it. I am interested in using technology to build a sustainable business, not a hobby. So I care about my customer first. That's the whole point.
- pchristensen 19y ago
  The good news is, you don't have to know about the demand and neither do the demanders! As was mentioned a couple times in the "Will there always be more room for web startups" discussion last week (http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=89055 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=89055), customers often don't know what they want until they see it or use it. That unknown demand is why the trial and error of the marketplace always tolerates "crazy" ideas. I agree with your comment that you should ask and find out what customers want, but you can definitely succeed if your instinct matches an unexpressed demand (Twitter, Facebook) or if you can envision a product better than customers can express it (Apple)
  - edw519 19y ago
    "customers often don't know what they want until they see it or use it" Absolutely. And I want to be the one who gets to know them, understands their pain, asks the right questions, and prototypes. I want to be the one who is told, "Yes! That's what I want!" instead of those who depend on trial and error or instinct. And sometimes, I just have to get up off my butt and away from my screen to get that done.

He does discuss "Is it clear why people should use it?" and whether the product is personal compelling.

by ALee 19y ago

He does discuss "Is it clear why people should use it?" and whether the product is personal compelling.

"Is it clear why people should use it?" DOES NOT EQUAL "Is it what people want?" This is not an argument in semantics. This is the ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY, MOST FUNDAMENTAL question in business. If there is no demand, you are dead. Making something that creates demand is about as likely as winning the lottery (albeit as lucrative). I'll stand by my original post. You must satisfy a demand. The best way to identify that demand is to ask. The best way to ask is to know your prospects. None of this is ever mentioned in the original article. Whoever downmodded my original post still doesn't get it. I am interested in using technology to build a sustainable business, not a hobby. So I care about my customer first. That's the whole point.

pchristensen 19y ago
The good news is, you don't have to know about the demand and neither do the demanders! As was mentioned a couple times in the "Will there always be more room for web startups" discussion last week (http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=89055 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=89055), customers often don't know what they want until they see it or use it. That unknown demand is why the trial and error of the marketplace always tolerates "crazy" ideas. I agree with your comment that you should ask and find out what customers want, but you can definitely succeed if your instinct matches an unexpressed demand (Twitter, Facebook) or if you can envision a product better than customers can express it (Apple)
- edw519 19y ago
  "customers often don't know what they want until they see it or use it" Absolutely. And I want to be the one who gets to know them, understands their pain, asks the right questions, and prototypes. I want to be the one who is told, "Yes! That's what I want!" instead of those who depend on trial and error or instinct. And sometimes, I just have to get up off my butt and away from my screen to get that done.