How To Build A Minimum Viable Product?
“An MVP is not just a minimal product. It’s a strategy and process directed toward making and selling a product to customers in the fastest way possible.”
– Frank Robinson, founder of SyncDev Inc
Understanding a Minimum Viable Product:
A Minimum Viable Product or MVP is a basic launchable version of the product that supports minimal yet must-have features. In other words, it is a product with just enough functions to be operational by early adopter customers to collect enough feedback to validate a product idea for future developments and improvements.
In industries such as software development, the MVP helps the product team receive feedback as fast as possible to improve and upgrade the product. Using an MVP, the developers are able to understand and learn about the product market, therefore are able to add features that will contribute to the further success of the product.
In addition, MVP also plays an important role in Agile development, which is founded on validating and iterating products based on user inputs.
How does Agile Development Method work?
Agile development is a way of working that helps teams create software more quickly and efficiently. It’s like playing a game where you have to build a tower out of blocks as fast as you can. Instead of building the whole tower at once, you build it one block at a time and test each block as you go along. This way, if there’s a problem with one block, you can fix it before you build the next one.
In agile development, teams work together in short periods of time called “sprints.” During each sprint, they focus on building a small part of the software and testing it to make sure it works correctly. Then they move on to the next part.
This way of working helps teams be more flexible and respond quickly to changes. It also helps them ensure they’re building software that people want to use.
What is the purpose of creating a Minimum Viable Product?
As an entrepreneur, building an app is an exciting venture. But with so many ideas floating around, it can be difficult to know which direction to take. That’s where building an MVP comes in. An MVP is a basic version of your app that includes only the most essential features. The purpose of building an MVP is to test your idea, get feedback from users, and validate whether your app has the potential to succeed.
In the early stages of app development, it’s crucial to keep your costs and resources in check. Building a full-fledged app with all the bells and whistles is expensive and time-consuming. Plus, it’s risky to invest a lot of resources into an idea that hasn’t been tested in the market. That’s why building an MVP is a great way to minimize risk and maximize your chances of success.
An MVP allows you to test the viability of your app idea with real users. By building only the most essential features, you can get your app in the hands of users quickly and get feedback on what works and what doesn’t. This feedback is invaluable in helping you make informed decisions about what to prioritize in future versions of your app.
Additionally, an MVP can help you identify the most important features of your app. By focusing on the core functionality of your app, you can ensure that your product meets the needs of your users without overwhelming them with unnecessary features. This approach can help you build a lean and efficient product that users will love.
Most importantly, an MVP can also help you attract investors or secure funding. When pitching your app idea to investors, having a working prototype can make all the difference. It shows that you’ve done your homework and that you’re committed to making your idea a reality. in.
Why building an MVP is the best thing for your start-up?
- According to CB Insights, the number one reason startups fail is that there’s no market need for their product.
- Building an MVP allows you to test your idea in the market and validate whether there’s demand for your product before investing significant time and resources.
- A survey by Statista found that 43% of app developers cited “testing and validation” as the main reason for building an MVP.
- This suggests that app developers recognize the importance of testing their ideas and getting feedback from users.
- In a study by the Standish Group, only 2% of software projects were deemed successful. One of the reasons for this low success rate is that many software projects fail to meet user needs.
- Building an MVP can help you identify the most important features of your app and ensure that you’re building something that users actually want.
- The Lean Startup, a popular book on startup methodology, advocates for building an MVP as a way to “get out of the building” and test your idea in the market. The book has sold over a million copies and has been credited with inspiring a new wave of startups focused on lean methodology.
- According to a survey by Harvard Business Review, 75% of startups that scale too quickly fail.
- Building an MVP allows you to start small and scale your product gradually based on user feedback. This can help you avoid the pitfalls of scaling too quickly and burning through your resources.
How To Build A Minimum Viable Product In 6 Easy Steps:
Step 1: Identify the problem
The first step is to identify the problem you are trying to solve with your app. This will help you determine the core features that need to be included in your MVP.
Step 2: Define the target audience
Next, you need to define your target audience. Who are the people that will benefit the most from your app? Understanding your target audience will help you design a user experience that meets their needs and expectations.
Step 3: Prioritize features
Based on the problem you are trying to solve and your target audience, prioritize the core features that are necessary for your MVP. Avoid feature creep by only including features that are essential for the core value proposition of your app.
Step 4: Create a prototype
Once you have identified the core features, create a prototype that demonstrates how the app will work. This could be a paper prototype, wireframe, or clickable prototype. The goal is to create a visual representation of the app that can be tested with potential users.
Step 5: Test with users
Test your prototype with potential users to gather feedback and validate your assumptions. This will help you identify any usability issues or areas for improvement before investing more time and resources into building the actual app.
Step 6: Build the MVP
Based on the feedback you received from testing your prototype, build the MVP. Remember to focus on delivering the core value proposition of your app and avoid adding unnecessary features.
Step 7: Launch and Iterate
Launch your MVP and gather feedback from users. Use this feedback to iterate and improve the app over time. This process should be ongoing, with each iteration building upon the last until you have a fully-featured app that meets the needs of your target audience.
What are examples of the Successful Minimum Viable Product?
Here are some examples of successful MVPs:
- Airbnb:
Airbnb started as a simple MVP in 2007, where the founders rented out air mattresses in their apartments during a design conference.
Their MVP helped them validate the concept and test the market. Today, Airbnb is a massive platform for booking accommodations around the world.
- Amazon:
Amazon is another great example of a company that started with an MVP. When Jeff Bezos launched Amazon in 1995, it was a simple online bookstore that offered a limited selection of books to customers. The MVP was designed to test the concept of selling books online and gauge interest from potential customers.
Today, Amazon is one of the largest e-commerce platforms in the world, with a market capitalization of over $1 trillion.
Conclusion:
In summary, the purpose of building an MVP is to test your idea, validate your assumptions, and get feedback from users. By focusing on the most essential features, you can build a lean and efficient product that meets the needs of your users.
A minimum viable product (MVP) is your way into the market as it is created with the intention of fast launching a product based on a proven concept. An MVP can help you reach the right audience, come up with new ideas with experience and save a lot of time.
One important thing to remember is to always keep your MVP lean and simple, later you can keep iterating your app based on user needs and preferences as much as you want.
By following the steps outlined in this blog carefully, you can easily create an MVP that meets the needs of your target audience and sets your app up for long-term success.