I highly recommend the Mom Test book by Rob Fitzpatrick. But I know many tech founders are too busy and often don't want to read non-technical books. I am guilty of this but am trying harder to escape that habit. As I read the Mom Test, I quickly realized that asking the right questions to potential users/customers is a crucial way to validate the business idea or the product or service. The book spends considerable time on examples that teach the readers how to frame the questions in the correct tense and perspectives.

So, I had a bright idea: What if I ask ChatGPT to generate a user/customer interview question set based on this book? I did, and it was very good. So, I figured I should develop a generic prompt template that others can use to benefit from LLMs that have the core knowledge of the book and help the founder at least get a good sample of the questions in their niche.

So here is the prompt I generated:

Prompt:

I am a founder in the [insert niche market here] industry. I am developing a product/service called [insert product/service name here] that aims to [briefly describe the product/service and its intended benefits]. I aim to validate the need for this product/service, understand the potential customer's pain points, and assess the demand within this niche market.

Please generate a set of customer interview questions that will help me:

1. Understand the current practices and tools my potential customers use.
2. Identify the challenges and pain points they face related to [specific problem your product/service solves].
3. Explore their experiences and the impact of these challenges on their work/life.
4. Introduce my product/service concept without pitching, and gauge their interest and perceived value.
5. Determine their willingness to pay for a solution like mine.

The questions should follow the principles of The Mom Test, focusing on uncovering real problems and past behaviors rather than hypothetical scenarios. They should also be specific to the context of [insert niche market here] and relevant to professionals within this industry.

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As a founder, I'll continue researching this topic and sharing valuable insights to help mitigate such challenges in the future.  Here are some of my current thoughts on this.

Comprehensive Digital Presence

Maintaining a robust and consistent online presence is crucial in the age of AI-driven product discovery. Founders should ensure their product information is available across multiple platforms, including websites, social media, and product listings. Regularly updating digital content helps maintain relevance and accuracy, providing AI systems with current and reliable information to draw from.

Structured Data Markup

Implementing schema.org markup on your website is essential for providing clear, structured information about your product. This technical optimization helps search engines and AI models better understand and categorize your product information, improving its visibility and accuracy in AI-generated responses.

Content Quality and Depth

Producing high-quality, in-depth content about your product is more important than ever. This includes detailed specifications, use cases, and comparisons with similar products. Creating comprehensive FAQ sections addresses common questions and potential misconceptions, giving AI systems a rich source of accurate information to reference.

Third-party Validation

Encouraging customer reviews, seeking out independent product reviews, and participating in industry awards all contribute to building credibility. This third-party validation provides AI systems with diverse and trustworthy sources of information about your product, enhancing its representation in AI-generated content.

AI-friendly Content Creation

Adapting your content strategy for AI consumption involves using clear, concise language and organizing information in easily digestible formats. Including relevant keywords and phrases that AI models might use when discussing your product category can improve the accuracy of AI-generated product information.

Proactive Misinformation Management

Regularly monitoring mentions of your product across various platforms, including AI-powered ones, is crucial. Setting up alerts for your brand and product names allows for quick identification and addressing of any misinformation, helping maintain accurate representation in AI systems.

Engage with AI Companies

Proactively contacting major AI companies to provide accurate, up-to-date information about your product can significantly impact its representation. Exploring partnerships or collaborations with these companies ensures your product is accurately portrayed in their knowledge bases.

Create an AI Information Pack

Developing a comprehensive, easily accessible information pack about your product designed for AI consumption can be a game-changer. This pack should include key features, specifications, pricing, comparisons, and frequently asked questions, serving as a reliable source for AI systems.

Leverage Open-source Datasets

Contributing accurate information about your product to open-source datasets that AI models might use for training can improve the overall quality of AI-generated product information. This proactive approach helps ensure your product is represented accurately across various AI platforms.

Educational Content

Producing educational content about your product category establishes your brand as an industry authority. This can include how-to guides, industry insights, and trend analyses, providing AI systems with rich, contextual information about your product and its market placement.

By exploring these strategies, new product founders can effectively navigate the challenges posed by AI in product discovery and comparison. Remember, this field constantly evolves, and staying adaptable and informed will be crucial to success in the AI-driven marketplace.

So, you've decided to grow your X account and become a force to be reckoned with. Good call! Growing an account takes a mix of strategy, consistency, and a bit of finesse. Let's dive into how you can do it effectively without turning it into a full-time job.

First things first, you've got to optimize your profile. Think of it as dressing for success. Subscribe to X Blue for those extra perks, upload a sharp headshot, and create a cover that screams, "I'm here to make an impact." Don't forget to link your landing pages in your bio, but steer clear of linking your X business account directly – you want to keep it personal yet professional.

Now, let's talk about followers and the following ratios. The X algorithm loves to play matchmaker based on user behavior. Keep your follower list clean: unfollow anyone who doesn't follow you back and those who don't post content relevant to your niche. Follow accounts with a solid follower count but don't follow many themselves – these are the movers and shakers.

Engagement is your best friend on X. Make a list of followers who consistently engage with your content and reciprocate. Also, keep tabs on accounts of your size that post daily, and be bold in engaging with the big players in your field. But remember, focus less on new accounts and more on established ones that can boost your visibility.

Regarding time allocation, consider it a workout routine for your account. Dedicate 30-40 minutes daily, with a balanced split: 30% creating content, 20% engaging with big accounts, 20% replying to your followers, and 30% handling notifications. Always aim to give more than you take—it's the secret to building a loyal community.

Let's not forget the power of visual content. Images and videos are eye-catching, so use them whenever possible. Rename your files with relevant keywords before uploading. For example, if you're targeting startup founders, include those keywords in your file names. Content with numbers tends to perform better—it's all about that visual punch.

Your post structure should be a slippery slide that keeps readers hooked until the end. Keep it brief but impactful. Sprinkle in a few keywords naturally and focus on topics you're passionate about. Authenticity is critical; share your unique perspective and let your personality shine through.

When it comes to links and hashtags, tread carefully. External links can shadow-ban your post, so stick them in the comments instead. Limit yourself to one hashtag to train the algorithm to recognize and boost your content. For instance, using "buildinpublic" frequently can help you reach the right audience.

The first hour after posting is crucial. To prevent splitting your impressions, avoid engaging with other accounts' posts three hours before and after you post. After posting, reply to comments and add flair with gifs or images.

In the next 24 hours after posting, if your post is gaining traction, hold off on posting anything new. The algorithm likes to give your content some breathing room. If you must post again, ensure there's at least a six-hour gap.

Growing your X account is a marathon, not a sprint. With these strategies, you're increasing your numbers and building a community that values what you bring. Ready to take your X game to the next level? Let's get started!

I made a ShowNotes about how I am going about this for my account. You are welcome to check out the notes here:

https://shownotes.app/show/i68vv

Every startup guru, YouTube video, Product Hunt, and indie influencer tells you to build with validated ideas through social networks or other means. But what happened to building for fun or yourself?

Linus Torvalds created Linux only for himself. He didn't create Git to solve the world's software version control problem. He built it to manage Linux kernel development. Now, we have both Linux and Git.

I understand building for customers. That's consulting or work for hire. I know how to find and solve a big problem for the world market. I'm not opposed to any of that. That's the path of every startup today. But when I created my first software in my second year of college, it was for fun. It was to show a friend that Turbo Pascal was good enough to make something outside of academic use. We ended up selling this MS-DOS-based multi-user calendar and boot customization software via military FTP sites and CDROM.COM, funding our pizza parties every other week for months!

Building software for fun and personal use can be a great way to start entrepreneurship if you need help finding something big or marketable to solve or create. Getting started is the key. So many of my friends never got started. Some work for huge software companies and yet feel stuck or institutionalized.

I'm totally for solving problems that have marketability or customers. Please do. But if you can't find a problem that meets a startup's business requirements, consider a fun idea for yourself and get started. You never know what you'll end up making!

I never wanted to build the most boring franchise management software for multinational corporations. I had never known it was my calling to make money and have a niche presence for 22 years. I wanted to show other developers that a low-level framework-based object-oriented programming platform could be entertaining when starting to write code. Who knew that would lead to building a PCI-compliant web-based solution that replaced AS/400-based systems standard in a dull niche market?

In business, we don't often get to control our destinations, but we can enjoy the journey!