3 Honest Questions to Evaluate Product Market Fit (PMF)
Silicon Valley Best Practices & My 2 Cents 😊
Read Time: 2.5 mins
Happy Wednesday! Sera here with your Conscious Tech Essential Bytes. Today we are continuing the theme of PMF with 3 questions to evaluate whether or not you have it.
🎙️ Scroll to bottom for my audio reading.👇🏽
1. The Devastation Test
How would your customers feel if your product disappeared tomorrow?
True PMF means your product has become an essential part of your customers workflow. If 40%+ of users are "very disappointed" by the thought of your product vanishing, you're likely on the right track. 60% is great signal. This question, pioneered by Sean Ellis, is a reliable indicator of PMF.
How would you feel if you could no longer use [x]?
Very disappointed
Somewhat disappointed
Not disappointed
2. The Organic Growth Question
Are people finding and adopting your product without significant marketing spend?
When you have true PMF, your customer acquisition cost decreases as word-of-mouth and referrals drive growth. If you're seeing a steady stream of organic signups or have a viral coefficient greater than 1, you've likely achieved PMF.
3. The Value Extraction Check
Is your business model capturing a fair portion of the value you create?
This question ensures you're not just creating value but capturing enough to build a sustainable business. Look at:
retention
expanding customer usage
willingness to pay
Don’t give it away up front. If customers are happily paying, upgrading, or expanding their usage over time, your PMF leads to a viable business model.
📣 PSA: YOU MUST HAVE PAYING CUSTOMERS.
The Essential Bytes
Product Market Fit as a Foundation for Growth
Finding PMF isn't just about surviving the 90% failure rate—it's about building a business that provides tangible value. By integrating design principles into your PMF journey, you can find the right market that allows for both growth and positive impact on the right problem area.
Your Next Steps
I'd love to hear where you are in your journey:
How are you finding PMF?
Do you have a formal PMF questionnaire for research?
Share your experience in the comments below – I'll personally respond to questions and insights.
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