User Research & Validation Plan
Key Assumptions to Validate
| Assumption | Risk | Validation Method | Target Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Users frequently experience issues due to API changes. | High | Interviews, surveys, observation | 80% of users confirm this pain point. |
| Current solutions are inadequate due to scattered information. | High | Competitive analysis + user interviews | Specific complaints documented. |
| Users will adopt automated tracking of API changes. | High | Prototype testing, landing page | 50+ signups or expressions of interest. |
| Users will pay $49/month for API monitoring. | Critical | Pricing tests, pre-orders | 10+ paying customers at target price. |
| Customer acquisition cost (CAC) will be <$30. | High | Ad tests, channel experiments | Proven CAC in test campaigns. |
Customer Discovery Interview Guide
Interview Framework (60-90 minutes):
Part 1: Background & Context (10 min)
- Tell me about your role and what you do day-to-day.
- How long have you been doing this?
- What are your biggest challenges right now?
Part 2: Problem Exploration (20 min)
- Walk me through the last time you faced an API-related problem.
- How often does this happen?
- What triggers this situation?
- How does it make you feel when this happens?
- What have you tried to solve it?
- How much time/money do you spend on this currently?
Part 3: Current Solutions (15 min)
- What tools or methods do you currently use for monitoring API changes?
- What do you like about them?
- What do you wish was different?
Part 4: Solution Exploration (15 min)
- If I told you there was a tool that tracks API changes...
- What would be most valuable about that?
- What concerns would you have?
Part 5: Wrap-up (10 min)
- On a scale of 1-10, how painful is this problem for you?
- Would you be interested in being a beta tester?
Validation Experiment Timeline
8-Week Validation Plan
| Week | Tasks |
|---|---|
| 1-2 | Conduct 10-15 customer discovery interviews, send screening survey. |
| 3-4 | Create landing page, run A/B test with $500 ad spend. |
| 5-6 | Conduct pricing interviews, test fake door with pricing tiers. |
| 7-8 | Build Wizard of Oz MVP, deliver to early users. |
Go/No-Go Decision Criteria
| Metric | Target | Actual | Pass? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interview problem validation | 80%+ confirm pain | ☐ | |
| Landing page signup rate | >5% | ☐ | |
| Price acceptance | 60%+ at target price | ☐ | |
| Pre-orders | 10+ customers | ☐ | |
| Prototype NPS | >40 | ☐ |
User Research Synthesis Template
After completing validation, document:
- Problem Validation Summary: Top 3 validated pain points, evidence quotes, unexpected findings.
- Solution Validation Summary: Most compelling features, UX concerns raised.
- Pricing Validation Summary: Optimal price point, pricing model preferences.
- Go-to-Market Insights: Where users hang out, decision-making process.