What are the most common mistakes entrepreneurs make when testing their MVP?

2 Testing the wrong thing

Another common mistake entrepreneurs make is testing the wrong thing. They may focus on testing features that are not essential to their value proposition, or metrics that are not relevant to their goals. For example, they may test how many users sign up for their app, instead of how many users actually use it to solve their problem. Or they may test how many clicks their landing page gets, instead of how many leads they generate. Testing the wrong thing can lead to false positives, false negatives, or misleading conclusions. To avoid this, you need to test the right thing. You need to identify the key problem you are solving, the main benefit you are offering, and the core action you want your users to take. Then you need to design experiments that test these aspects of your MVP, and measure metrics that reflect your desired outcomes.

3 Testing without a plan

A third common mistake entrepreneurs make is testing without a plan. They may launch their MVP without a clear idea of what they want to learn, how they will collect feedback, or how they will analyze the results. They may rely on gut feelings, anecdotes, or opinions, instead of data, evidence, or facts. Testing without a plan can lead to confusion, bias, or inconsistency. To avoid this, you need to test with a plan. You need to define your hypotheses, your success criteria, and your testing methods. You need to collect feedback in a systematic and structured way, using surveys, interviews, or analytics tools. And you need to analyze the results in an objective and rigorous way, using statistical methods, frameworks, or models.

4 Testing with the wrong people

A fourth common mistake entrepreneurs make is testing with the wrong people. They may test their MVP with people who are not their target customers, who are not representative of their market, or who are not honest about their needs, preferences, or behaviors. For example, they may test their MVP with their friends, family, or colleagues, instead of with strangers, potential buyers, or influencers. Or they may test their MVP with people who are too polite, too enthusiastic, or too familiar, instead of with people who are critical, skeptical, or unbiased. Testing with the wrong people can lead to false validation, false rejection, or false feedback. To avoid this, you need to test with the right people. You need to segment your market, identify your early adopters, and recruit your testers. You need to test your MVP with people who have the problem you are solving, who are willing to pay for your solution, and who can give you honest and constructive feedback.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?