Developers love working on new ideas and building something no one else has ever made. But more often they forget about what people would actually want, and thus their product has no real user. If you think you made a cool project that no one is using, this article is for you.
During the COVID-19 lock-down, research from digital transformation firm BoxBoat suggests that around one in four people spent time learning coding languages during the lock-down. The most learnt language being Python. This only means that Developing is on the rise! But this also implies further increase in competition to get a job. What if you don’t have to get a job and instead you could distribute them? Cool, right? For doing so you would have to think about the product you’re developing. Developers have a lot of entrepreneurial spirit as they develop new ideas but that is the only similarity between those two roles. You have to learn from the entrepreneurs around you or the social media to make your product shine.
I cannot cover all of the aspects of this crucial transition but here are a few insights into the process.
Don’t shy away from learning Marketing and UI/UX
You don’t need to have a degree to learn these things, they just come from either your own experiences or of others ( always a smarter way!) . Read Business Review documents of other companies and startups , and learn from their mistakes.
Coming to UI/UX , your user should feel absolutely comfortable and delighted by the smooth flowing UI of your product. To get to that stage ( taking baby steps ) ask your friends what they don’t like about the UI and then conduct a few tests to see how easy it is to use your product. You can use those results and make suitable changes as your users demand. The easiest way to do this is to use other apps yourself and question yourself what you like in them and would want something similar in your own product.
Most importantly ask yourself if you like using your own product and if you aren’t satisfied, improvise!
It’s not all about YOU
Building something that holds value for you might not hold value for others. Everyone has a different preference, it doesn’t mean they are wrong.
Conduct a simple google form survey and circulate it, asking people about if they would want the product you’re developing. If they aren’t interested it will save you some time and you can come up with a better idea that the market actually requires.
Well it is still a little about YOU
What changes you want to make with your ideas, and what vision you have for your product really matters a lot! (Have some backbone!) Do not be afraid to share your opinions and do what you think is right! Customers aren’t going to describe their problems to you clearly, so you would need to either put yourself in their situations or conduct meetings with focus groups.
Your Customers don’t care about Technology
Not everyone understands technology the way you do, that’s why you’re so good at what you do! Customers want results, they relish using state of the art technology, but that’s it, just “using” technology.
Just try to simplify the technical jargon as much as you can and focus on the functionality of the product.
Little Knowledge is deadly
Cliche but very true. If you do not know a skill entirely do not count on it. Take help from a professional. For example, if you need to develop terms and conditions of use, please hire a lawyer to help you with them. If you don’t you might lose a lawsuit in future.
Do not judge critiques
If a few customers now and then do not agree about the usefulness of your product, please don’t engage in a duel with them ( it isn’t a good option if you aren’t a master of some kind of a genjutsu).
As an entrepreneur you should rise above what some people ( out of so many users who are satisfied with your product ) have to say about you or your product. Welcome criticisms ( if they do make sense and make your product better ), and keep yourself motivated.
Lastly
There are no definitive ways to succeed for sure ( that’s the only guarantee ). But the process will make you learn so much ( thousand times more than video tutorials and earning certificates for them which is the harsh truth ). Don’t worry your skills would improve, load and evolve if you train harder.
In this era of the Internet where every piece of information is at your fingertips, skills learnt by practice surpass theoretical knowledge.
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