You’ve been thinking about an idea that you think can be the next Uber for weeks. So what do you do? Here are three steps you can take that will help you develop your idea.
1. Research Your Idea
The first thing you want to do with your idea is to research it. I had a client that spent a considerable amount of time having me do an NDA dance before speaking with me. Once we finally started talking, I quickly did a search on the Apple App Store and found there were over 25 similar apps listed; he quickly lost interest in pursuing this project.
Keep in mind that it’s not the end of the world if you find another app that does what you’re trying to accomplish. You just have to figure out how to make your app better. Remember, before Google there was Yahoo; Before Facebook, there was MySpace. It’s not so much who goes to market first, but rather who executes best.
In doing your research, you need to also look at the market potential. For example, let’s say you had an app that was geared for veterinarians. A quick Google search shows that there are 90,000 veterinarians in the U.S. Now, you just identified your market potential.
2. Create a Storyboard
Now it’s time to put your idea down on paper and develop a storyboard (or wireframe). This is where the rubber hits the road and you put yourself in the shoes of the user. For instance, what’s the first thing they see once they launch your app? The first screen takes you to the main menu; the user taps the top button, where does it take the user? And so on.
To create our wireframes, our designers use a design tool called Balsamiq. I send our clients a PowerPoint template where they can either use PowerPoint’s drawing tools or they can even print it out and hand draw it.
The advantage of creating a storyboard are:
- It helps develop your idea
- You have something to show as you try to recruit people or investors
- Provides direction for your development team
3. Get Feedback
Once you get your wireframe done, get honest feedback from potential users. This is probably the most important step. I see a lot of entrepreneurs develop a solution that nobody wants. This is essentially early market research. After you get feedback, you may need to
- Reiterate and take the feedback you’ve received and update your wireframe
- Pivot and take the feedback you’ve received and work on another idea
- Scrap your idea all together. This is okay. Better to scrap a bad idea now that pour your blood, sweat, and tears to an unsuccessful venture.
If you get positive feedback, go on to the next stop.
4. Develop a Business Plan
After you get positive feedback from your wireframe, if you decide you have something viable, you need to put together a business plan. After you’ve followed these 5 steps diligently, I suggest reading the 5 Challenges of a Startup Appreneur to know what you’re up against and strategize accordingly. Good luck on your start up journey as you recruit co-founders, get funding, etc.
