One of the biggest mistakes new creators make is falling in love with an idea — and spending weeks (or months) building it — only to discover that no one wants it.
Validation is your superpower.
It saves you time, money, and sanity by proving there’s real demand before you go all-in.
Whether you’re launching a course, SaaS, template pack, or info product, here’s how to validate your digital product idea — fast.
Step 1: Start With a Problem, Not a Product
The most successful digital products solve real problems.
❌ Don’t start with “I want to build a Notion template.”
✅ Start with “Busy creators are overwhelmed with content planning. Can I help them simplify it?”
Ask yourself:
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What pain point does this solve?
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Who is already feeling that pain?
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Are they actively searching for solutions?
A product without a clear problem is just noise.
Step 2: Find Proof in the Wild
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel — just improve it.
🔍 Look for existing products solving similar problems. This is good news. It means people are spending money in that space.
Check:
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Gumroad, Etsy, AppSumo
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Udemy, Teachable, Kajabi
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Reddit, Facebook groups, Subreddits
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YouTube comments or blog forums
If people are asking questions or buying similar solutions, you’re onto something.
Step 3: Talk to Real Humans
Nothing beats actual conversations.
Set up short chats or send surveys to your audience. Ask:
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What’s your biggest challenge with [topic]?
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Have you tried any solutions?
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What worked? What didn’t?
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Would you pay to solve this problem?
Use their exact language. Their words = your future marketing copy.
Step 4: Create a Minimum Test Offer
You don’t need a full-blown product to validate.
Try these lightweight MVPs:
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Landing page with a waitlist
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Pre-sale with early-bird pricing
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Free lead magnet to measure interest
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Live webinar or workshop teaching the core concept
Even a simple email saying, “Would you be interested in a tool that solves X?” can validate faster than building in silence.
Validation = action + response.
Put something in front of people and measure the reaction.
Step 5: Collect Signals, Not Just Opinions
Be careful — “This sounds awesome!” is not validation.
✅ Validation is:
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Someone signing up for your waitlist
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Someone replying “YES” to your email
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Someone paying you money
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Someone asking when it’s launching
📉 Nice words don’t pay bills.
📈 Commitments — even small ones — are real signals.
Step 6: Use Feedback to Shape the Product
Once you have interest, loop back with your audience.
Ask:
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What features do they need most?
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What would make this a “no-brainer” purchase?
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What outcomes are they looking for?
Co-create, don’t guess.
The more your audience feels heard, the more they’ll support the final product.
Bonus: My Go-To Validation Tools
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Tally.so – For simple, stylish surveys
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Carrd – Fast landing pages for MVPs
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ConvertKit – Email capture and sequences
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Gumroad – Sell and pre-sell digital products
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Calendly – Book quick customer discovery calls
Final Thoughts:
You don’t need a big audience, a complex funnel, or a finished product to start validating.
You just need: 👉 A problem worth solving
👉 A simple way to test it
👉 And a willingness to listen
Validation is the difference between building something people might want… and something they’re already waiting for.
If you’re serious about launching a successful digital product, start with validation. It’s the smartest first step you can take.
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🔥 Ready to launch & grow your digital biz like a pro?
Subscribe to the Launching Profits newsletter and I’ll send you my free 21 Creator Playbooks Bundle 🚀📚 — when you subscribe today! 👉 https://leighburke.kit.com/a99159c8c1
Let’s validate, launch, and grow.
– Leigh Burke
Founder, Launching Profits
Melbourne, Australia
