How to validate startup ideas and pre-sell? No really how?

Question

I have read around the subject fairly extensively, lean startup, running lean, the mom test ect.

Set up a landing page, do not focus on the solution, only focus on the problem. Find out where your audience hangs out online, ask questions like "Has anyone experienced xyz problem or is it just me ......", "does anyone here use any software for abc ......."

Try and redirect them to your email list. Build up a list of 100 interested customers..... launched product, while still building your list and refining the product. Still do interviews whilst building the product, you have to nail the product/solution, problem/market fit.

However....... It never really works for me. I usually get banned or my post removed. No self-promotion allowed on Reddit, Facebook groups ect. And you can't start the post with.... I have an app idea.....Or the users catch on, sounds like you are launching an app? I have tried paid advertising using Facebook lead gen. This just burns through cash.

If I go direct add 100 people on LinkedIn I am lucky if I get 2 or 3 feedback, never mind scaling to 100s of pre-sale signups.

How do you actually validate and grow to your first 1000 email sign ups. No really?

Yes, you could launch here on Product Hunt, however, that is not a sustainable marketing channel, its a one off hit and run. Besides this most product hunt launches I see are beyond this point already have a small userbase with the product somewhat validated and built.

How do you actually do it, has anyone got real examples? Especially those people who get 1567 signs in their first week.... Please do share.

SS M · Accepted Answer

Well, I am assuming you already spent all the articles on these topics by the "rant", that I empathize with. I have bumped into a quote sometime ago that said "The first rule of initial growth is to never talk about it". The theory was that most people manipulate their way to the first users.

Assuming we do not have large (or useful) networks, it seems you have been trying all the right channels. How long have you spent doing them though? Weeks or months? Are you getting banned because you openly promote the product or are subtle about it?

Your product has a two-sided market. Have you tried getting some freelancers first for interviews with a promise of early access to less competitive market? Have you tried getting initial job posters who post on these free lancing sites or even craigslist for an interview? Have you identified who are the primary users of slack with an intersection of who of those provide freelancing services and who of those have needs that you may be initially targeting? Just throwing out some ideas. Theory from the articles is all fine, but it's all trial and error based on some probability I would think.