Concept to Product
So you have a great idea or a concept to build a solution. What’s your next step? Talk to a developer? Let me tell you about my 3 step approach before the development stage.
Beware this may not be the 100% correct approach. This is what I have been practicing.
Step 1
Think, Read and Talk. Sit on the idea, think it through over and over again. Ideas sound super good at first, as you think about it you realize flows and things you missed.
While doing so, research about it. Who else is doing the same thing? Don’t worry if someone else is doing the same, it means it’s a good idea. Because someone’s business is surviving based on that idea. Get to know how others have done it. Who uses it. You will get to know different points of view.
Don’t feel shy, or afraid that someone will steal your idea. Talk to other people. Say it out loud. Get their feedback. Talk to people whom you think, that would use your solution.
After all this, if your solution is still convincing enough for you, proceed. If not don’t worry, this is just one of many ideas you would get. Keep being innovative.
Step 2
This is the real work. Write it, Sketch it. Put it into a paper or a document. This is how you are gonna explain exactly what you want to your developer. Start designing it yourself, the way you envisioned it.
Or as we developers call it, create wireframes. Don’t pay too much attention to minor details at this stage. Just sketch how user will use your solution. Then get feedback from your friends, colleagues. Do this few cycles until you are sure that this is it. Don’t proceed just because you have done it or you are lazy to go through again.
Step 3
Alright, exciting time begins. Now let’s talk to a developer. Not the cost, not the timeline. Discuss and figure out how feasible it is. There might be technical barriers, difficulties. Be aware of them and move to effort and cost. Be sure to invest right amount. Not too much which will unstabilize you and prevent from next steps like marketing. Consider below,
- It should be a working solution of core concept
- Invest on UI/ UX design
- Don’t build a solution that can scale to millions of users. It will cost you more. Start with practical target and build for that. Later when you have millions of users, you will have enough money to scale
- Try to utilize as much as free stuff out there. Free doesn’t mean they are not good. Ex: Firebase, AWS Free Tier, Google APIs
If possible start with MVP. If this is a B2B solution, you can probably start with a MVP. But be aware when you can have the full scale solution ready.
Good Luck! keep innovating…
