Why Validation Matters
Most startups fail not because they build the wrong product, but because they build something nobody wants. Validation helps you test your assumptions before investing months of time and thousands of dollars into development.
The Validation Trinity
Successful validation relies on three key metrics that work together to tell you if your idea has potential:
1. Page Views - Measuring Interest
Page views tell you how many people are interested enough to learn more. This metric shows you if:
- •Your marketing channels are working
- •Your messaging resonates with the target audience
- •There's general awareness about your problem space
What's good: 100+ views in the first week shows healthy interest.
2. Button Clicks - Gauging Intent
When someone clicks your call-to-action button, they're signaling serious interest. They want to take the next step. This is a much stronger signal than a passive page view.
What's good: A 20%+ click rate means one in five visitors is interested enough to engage.
3. Click-Through Rate - The Validation Metric
This is your north star metric. CTR shows what percentage of visitors are compelled enough by your value proposition to take action. It combines both traffic quality and messaging effectiveness.
15-25% CTR: Strong validation - people want this
10-15% CTR: Moderate interest - refine your messaging
Below 10%: Weak validation - rethink your approach
Step-by-Step Validation Process
Create Your Validation Landing Page
Your landing page should clearly communicate:
- →The problem you're solving
- →Your solution in one sentence
- →Key benefits (3 features max)
- →A clear call-to-action (join waitlist, early access, etc.)
Drive Targeted Traffic
Get your landing page in front of your target audience:
- →Share in relevant online communities (Reddit, Discord, Slack groups)
- →Post on social media where your audience hangs out
- →Run small paid ad campaigns ($50-100 budget)
- →Reach out directly to potential customers
Analyze Your Results
After collecting 100+ page views, look at your metrics:
- →Are people clicking your CTA?
- →What's your click-through rate?
- →Which traffic sources convert best?
Iterate or Pivot
Based on your results:
- →Strong validation (15%+ CTR): Move forward with confidence
- →Moderate validation (10-15% CTR): Refine your messaging and test again
- →Weak validation (under 10% CTR): Consider pivoting or finding a different problem
See how others are validating ideas
Common Validation Mistakes
1. Testing Too Many Things at Once
Focus on validating one core hypothesis at a time. If you test multiple ideas simultaneously, you won't know which one resonates.
2. Ignoring Quality Traffic
1,000 random visitors is worth less than 50 highly targeted ones. Focus on reaching people who actually have the problem you're solving.
3. Giving Up Too Early
Wait until you have at least 100 page views before drawing conclusions. Earlier than that, your data isn't statistically significant.
4. Confusing Interest with Commitment
Email signups are good, but they're not purchases. The ultimate validation is when someone is willing to pay for your solution.
Ready to Validate Your Idea?
Start by creating a simple landing page that tests your core value proposition. With Validating It, you can have a professional validation page live in minutes - no coding required.
Create Your Validation Page Now →