Minimum Viable Product Planning Guide
So, you’ve thought of a great idea for new software or a phone application. Your company already has a cool name and people constantly ask questions about the release date. With so much interest in your idea, you know you need to get your product out there, and fast. You already know you need a minimum viable product (MVP), but how do you plan it before you start building it? This can be a tough question to answer if you don’t have a technical background. Before you choose the developer to bring your MVP to fruition, these are the things you must do first.
How to Plan Your MVP
Pinpoint and comprehend the business needs.
To do this, you must make goals the top priority. Select a long-term goal for the product with a detailed plan and include the reasons why you want to create the product. You must also set multi-level goals to determine the success of the product. Goals never amount to anything without a plan. Be sure to create a very specific and detailed step-by-step plan about the way to accomplish all of your goals and review it often to know if you are succeeding or failing.
Know the user’s experience very well.
You must identify who will use your product, all the actions necessary for the user to reach the end goal and what the end goal will be. You should know all the problems and benefits associated with each and every action when the product is utilized. Knowing these things will ultimately make your product better and prepare you for and reduce the number of future problems you may have with the product once it becomes a MVP.
Decide what features to build for the minimum viable product.
This can only be accomplished when you have followed through with the first two points. It is also important to prioritize features and decide what is mandatory and what can always be added on, removed, or expanded later. Remember, you need a minimum viable product. This will be the most basic, working model and the basis of the development as well as design for your future product.
It may take some time to learn everything and do the research for your minimal viable product, but it will save time, money, and make you more prepared when the development actually begins. In the end, it all gets down to having a clear-cut plan with lots of short-term and long-term goals. Knowing the users of your product, their journey using it, in addition to the negatives and positives of your product will always keep you ahead of the game.
If you would like more information or a free consultation with Dignitas Digital in Philadelphia to discuss how we can help you develop your minimum viable product, send us an email to hello@dignitas.digital.