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Eric Ries, pioneer of the Lean Startup movement, describes a minimum viable product as: “[the] version of a new product which allows a team to collect the maximum amount of validated learning about customers with the least effort.”

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What is an MVP?

Simply put, an MVP is the most basic version of your product that can still provide value for customers. It should focus on just one or two features that solve customer problems and is usually developed quickly. The goal is not only to save time but also money; by launching an MVP, you can test out your idea before investing too much into it.

Think of minimum viable products like doughnuts without sprinkles, icing, or fancy packaging. Customers can sample the basic version and give valid and valuable feedback on the essential qualities: freshness, flavour, and texture. Once those have been nailed, you can turn your attention to the frills – if necessary.

5 key benefits of a minimum viable product

1. The biggest benefit of launching an MVP is that it allows you to connect with customers sooner and gather information to improve your product quickly. This means you don’t have to wait until the end of the development cycle to confirm whether customers approve of the core features. Instead, you can adjust and tweak your product as needed based on customer feedback.
2. Developing an MVP makes it easier to pivot to Plan B quickly if needed. Rather than investing months or years developing a complex product that doesn’t work out in the long run, you can simply move on and start working on something else without wasting too much time or money.
3. Having an MVP makes it easier to attract investors – especially if you’re looking to secure early-stage funding for your product idea. An MVP allows investors to see your product in action, understand the brilliance of your vision, and be convinced of the market demand for it.
4. Minimum viable products help ensure your product is design-led and user-centric. 35% of startups fail because there is no market need for their products, run out of cash, or fail to raise new capital. Launching an MVP and validating it thoroughly could prevent this.
5. MVPs help you maintain the brand identity you’re building. One of the last things your brand needs is to have a product recalled or fail soon after launch because it was poorly designed, tested, or validated.

5 MVP best practices

When creating your MVP, there are several best practices to follow.

1. Identify your target audience. Who are you developing the product for? Is there a specific region or target you’re marketing? What are the interests of the people you’re targeting? What motivations or values do they have in common?
2. Make sure your MVP focuses on solving customer problems. This will help ensure that customers actually use your product and don’t abandon it after their first experience.
3. Include analytics to track user behaviour and gather feedback quickly. This will help ensure that any future changes are based on actual customer needs rather than assumptions.
4. Make sure your MVP has room for further development. You can maximise efficiency and scalability by keeping things simple now and allowing yourself room for expansion later on.
5. Save your MVP test users’ details for your future launch. Not only will this help you get their feedback on the final result, but it is also an excellent way to nurture a user base and build relationships with customers who will help develop your brand.

A-Z guide to impactful minimum viable products

Analyse the Market: Research your target audience and their pain points. Identify competitors and potential gaps in the market.

Brainstorm Ideas: Generate and evaluate multiple product ideas with your team, and select those that align with your goals but also solve a real problem.

Conceptualise: Define the core problem your MVP will address, and then create a vision and a clear value proposition around it

Design User Flows:
Develop user journeys and flowcharts.
Design wireframes and mockups for your product.

Engineer the MVP: Build a basic version of your product with essential features. Choose the right technology stack and tools.

Feedback Loop: Launch the MVP to a select group of users. Collect user feedback and analyse their usage patterns.

Gather Data: Track key metrics like user engagement, conversion rates, and user feedback. Use analytics tools to gather data.

Hypothesise Improvements: Formulate hypotheses about how to improve the MVP. Prioritise features and changes based on user feedback.

Iterate: Implement changes and improvements based on user feedback and hypotheses.
Continuously iterate and refine the MVP.

Just Enough Features: Include only the essential features required to solve the core problem. Avoid feature bloat to keep development time and costs low.

Key Metrics: Define and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs). Measure the MVP’s success against these metrics.

Launch: Prepare for a controlled or limited launch to a broader audience. Promote your MVP through appropriate channels.

Measure Results: Assess the impact of the wider launch. Collect user feedback from a more extensive user base.

Nurture User Base: Engage with users, provide support, and gather ongoing feedback.
Build a community around your MVP.

Optimise: Continuously optimise your product for performance and user experience. Address any technical issues or bottlenecks.

Pivot or Persist: Based on the results and feedback, decide whether to pivot (change direction) or persist (keep improving).

Quality Assurance: Ensure the MVP is free of critical bugs and usability issues. Conduct rigorous testing before each release.

Resources: Manage your budget and allocate resources wisely. Consider outsourcing or hiring experts if necessary.

Scale: If the MVP proves successful, plan for scalability. Prepare for increased traffic, users, and data.

Timeline: Set realistic timelines for MVP development and iterations. Stick to a development roadmap.

User-Centred Design: Keep user needs and preferences at the centre of your MVP development. Continuously validate your assumptions with user feedback.

Validate Assumptions: Challenge your assumptions about the market, user behaviour, and the problem you’re solving. Adjust your strategy based on validation results.

Work with a Team: Collaborate with a skilled team of developers, designers, and marketers. Leverage their expertise to create a successful MVP.

X(e)amine Results: Conduct in-depth analysis of user data and feedback. Look for patterns and insights that can inform future development.

Yes to Feedback: Embrace feedback, both positive and negative. Use it as a guide to refine your MVP.

Zero in on Success: Stay focused on your MVP’s success metrics. Continually strive to improve and achieve your goals.

A final thought on MVPs

At its core, an MVP is about getting something out quickly while still providing value for customers—but there’s more to it than that. By following best practices such as focusing on customer problems and including analytics from the get-go, engineers and entrepreneurs can ensure their products are successful from day one and continue to be so long after launch day has come and gone.

Understanding how minimum viable products work is essential for anyone looking to successfully launch their products in today’s competitive market. If you found this guide helpful, please share it, and don’t forget to check out our templates page – especially our free product risk assessment template download, which you’ll ideally want to put into play as soon as possible!