Validate Before You Build
Building a product is exciting, but diving in without validation is one of the most expensive mistakes creators make. Ideas might sound great in your head, but if they don’t solve a real problem for real people, they won’t go far.
The Trap: Solving Problems That Don’t Exist
Too many creators fall in love with their idea before confirming if anyone actually needs it. This leads to building tools, courses, or templates that no one buys.
Ask yourself:
- Who is this product for?
- What specific problem does it solve?
- Is there proof that people are actively seeking a solution for this?
Fast Validation Is Smart Validation
You don’t need to build the full product to get feedback. You just need to test the core concept.
Quick ways to validate include:
- Posting about the solution on social media and watching engagement
- Creating a simple landing page and measuring signups or interest
- Pre-selling an offer or opening a waitlist
- Talking directly to potential customers and listening to their pain points
These early tests can save you weeks—or even months—of wasted effort.
Assumptions vs. Evidence
The difference between a good guess and a winning product is evidence. Many creators assume people want what they’re building, but assumptions are not the same as proof.
- Assumption: “People will pay for this template.”
- Evidence: “10 people paid for a pre-order after seeing a sample.”
Before scaling, gather real evidence. Let your audience tell you what they want—and prove it with action, not compliments.
Validating early is not just smart. It’s how successful creators move fast without burning out.
Introduction
Vlogging has seen platforms rise and fall, but it hasn’t lost its grip. Through algorithm tweaks and audience migration, vlogging held on by doing what it’s always done best: staying personal, flexible, and fast to adapt. In a world where attention spans shrink and tech evolves weekly, that adaptability has kept creators not just surviving but growing.
Now we’re in 2024, and things are shifting again. This isn’t just about chasing trends—it’s about understanding why the rules are changing and how creators can stay in the game. Algorithms are tougher, viewers are sharper, and tools like AI are rewriting how content is made. Vlogging isn’t dying, but it is mutating. If creators want to stay relevant, they’ll need to move with these changes—not after them.
The question isn’t whether vlogging still matters. It does. The real question is whether creators are ready for what comes next.
Validate Before You Scale
Before diving headfirst into gear upgrades or full-on production, smart creators test. MVPs, landing pages, and mockups aren’t just for startups. They’re lean, fast ways to see if your idea sticks. Whether you’re launching a new vlogging series, a paid community, or a digital product—validate it first.
Watch for early signals. Clicks on a teaser link. Email sign-ups. People replying in comments or DMs asking for more. These little signs matter. If nobody’s biting, you may need to rethink before investing real time or money.
Use tools that keep things simple. Carrd is perfect for quick landing pages. Typeform helps gauge interest with short surveys. Figma or Canva can mock up thumbnails or creator dashboards in a day. Stay lean, stay fast. Test first, build later.
From Evidence to Action: What Comes Next?
Once you’ve gathered initial data from your vlogging strategy—whether it’s from a new content format, monetization experiment, or audience engagement push—the next step is making sense of that information. It’s not enough to collect metrics; what matters is what you do with them.
Does the Evidence Confirm (or Challenge) Your Assumptions?
Take a close look at your expectations versus results:
- Did your target audience engage at the rate you anticipated?
- Were viewers converting—subscribing, purchasing, or clicking—like you hoped?
- Was the feedback positive, lukewarm, or indifferent?
This stage is about honesty and objectivity. What worked, and what needs rethinking?
Learn, Pivot, Kill, or Scale
Not all ideas deserve infinite effort. Once you’ve reviewed the evidence, use the Learn > Pivot > Kill > Scale decision process to guide your next move:
- Learn: If early results are unclear but promising, gather more data.
- Pivot: Tweak your delivery, format, or positioning if something feels off.
- Kill: If an idea consistently falls flat, let it go and redirect your energy.
- Scale: When something works, double down. Develop a content series, invest in promo, or expand the approach across channels.
This framework helps creators stay agile and focused, reducing wasted time and effort.
Metrics That Matter at This Stage
At this point in your process, these are the most critical metrics to evaluate:
- Conversion Rate: Are viewers taking the desired action (subscribing, buying, clicking)?
- Cost per Lead: If you’re running ads, how much are you paying for each potential customer?
- Qualitative Feedback: Reviews, comments, DMs, and survey data can reveal valuable insights that numbers alone miss.
Use these metrics to make informed, strategic decisions about what to move forward with and what to leave behind. The smartest vloggers iterate fast but also know when it’s time to commit.
Before you start throwing videos into the void, you need to get clear about what you believe. What do you think your viewers actually care about? What problem are you solving for them? And what makes you think your content is the solution?
Maybe you believe your audience is tired of overproduced content and craves raw, behind-the-scenes moments. Cool—but don’t stop there. Turn that into a testable assumption, like: “People will watch unedited daily vlogs because they feel more authentic.”
Or maybe your angle is niche knowledge. Then your assumption could be: “People will pay $5/month for exclusive productivity tips because it saves them time.”
The key is to break your beliefs into small, testable chunks. Each one should be simple: a specific audience, a clear problem, a measurable outcome. Run small experiments. Watch the data. You’ll learn quickly what’s hype and what actually hits.
This isn’t guesswork—it’s a system. Don’t assume until you’ve tested. And when the numbers tell you something, listen.
Common Pitfalls That Stall Early-Stage Creators
Turning a creative spark into a thriving channel requires more than just great ideas. Many new vloggers stumble not because of a lack of passion, but because of preventable missteps. Here’s how to avoid three common traps early on.
Falling in Love with the Solution, Not the Viewer
It’s easy to get attached to an idea—a new video series, a specific editing style, a niche you’re excited about—but if it’s not resonating with viewers, it may be time to pivot.
- Focus on solving a real problem your audience has
- Prioritize feedback and engagement over personal attachment
- Be willing to refine or drop ideas based on performance
Validating Through the Wrong Audience
Relying on friends and family for feedback may feel safe, but it doesn’t provide the data you need. Their support is valuable, but they’re not always your target demographic.
- Seek feedback from actual viewers or followers in your niche
- Use analytics and comments as primary validation tools
- Join creator communities to get honest, constructive input
Moving Too Slow to Learn
The creators who grow the fastest are the ones who iterate quickly. Waiting for everything to be perfect slows down your learning curve and delays meaningful growth.
- Publish imperfectly but consistently
- Treat every upload as data, not a final product
- Reflect and adjust based on real-world results
Acting on feedback and staying flexible is more important than getting things ‘right’ on the first try. The sooner you adapt, the faster you grow.
Forget waiting until everything is polished. If you’re testing a new vlog format, channel idea, or niche topic, speed beats perfection every time. Set a goal: 5 to 10 targeted conversations this week with people who either watch similar content or fit your audience profile. These chats don’t need to be formal. Call a friend, fire off DMs, drop into a subreddit—just get the input.
Who should you talk to? Start with your existing viewers. Message your most active commenters. Tap into niche communities related to your vlogging theme. You want people who care, not just random internet traffic.
And here’s a hard rule: never ask, “Would you use this?” or “Do you think it’s a good idea?” Those questions lead to vague answers and false yeses. Instead, ask things like: “What do you watch when you’re trying to unwind after work?” or “What’s one creator you always come back to—and why?” You want behavior, not opinions. Patterns, not compliments. That’s what will actually help you dial in your direction.
Build Stronger Signals Through Collaboration
When launching a new product, idea, or startup, collaboration with the right people can significantly elevate your chances of success. Especially in the early stages, having a sounding board isn’t just helpful — it’s critical.
Partner With Co-Founders or Advisors
Forming a team around your vision strengthens your strategic direction and elevates your pitch to investors, partners, and early adopters.
- Co-founders bring accountability, complementary skills, and shared vision
- Advisors provide guidance, credibility, and offer perspective from experience
- Stronger signals come from alignment and clarity across the leadership group
Spot Weak Points Early
A single founder can develop blind spots. Diverse, skilled collaborators help you identify weaknesses before they turn into roadblocks.
- Broader viewpoints help pressure-test your assumptions
- Technical and business-minded minds working together lead to more holistic decisions
- Potential pitfalls can be resolved sooner with more than one lens on the problem
Recommended Read: Importance of Building a Founding Team with Diverse Skills
Great founders don’t assume—they test. They don’t waste time guessing what people might want. Instead, they put ideas into the real world early, gather feedback fast, and adjust. The goal isn’t perfection out of the gate—it’s traction.
Validation isn’t a checkbox you tick once and move on. It’s messy, ongoing, and honestly, kind of exhausting. But it’s how you make sure you’re building something people actually care about. Talk to users constantly. Let their pain points punch holes in your roadmap. You’ll learn more from five hard conversations than fifty likes.
Maybe the hardest part? Detaching from your first idea. Founders who treat their startup like a fixed vision usually burn out or stall. Great ones treat it more like a lab. You run experiments, keep what works, discard what doesn’t. That’s how real progress looks. It’s not romantic. It’s just doing the work.