EM

Eric Migicovsky

07/26/19

@ Y Combinator

The best founders maintain a direct connection to their users throughout the lifespan of their company to extract valuable information at all stages.

EM

Eric Migicovsky

07/26/19

@ Y Combinator

The best founders maintain a direct connection to their users.

EM

Eric Migicovsky

07/26/19

@ Y Combinator

As a CEO, it's your responsibility to talk to customers, so take the time to learn how to do it well.

EM

Eric Migicovsky

07/26/19

@ Y Combinator

Founders and core team members should develop the skills to talk to users instead of relying on others to be the go-between.

EM

Eric Migicovsky

07/26/19

@ Y Combinator

Writing code and talking to users should go hand in hand.

EM

Eric Migicovsky

07/26/19

@ Y Combinator

To succeed, you must code or build your product and talk to users; both are essential.

EM

Eric Migicovsky

07/26/19

@ Y Combinator

When conducting user interviews, avoid these three common errors: 1. Discuss their life, not your idea; 2. Focus on specifics, not hypotheticals; 3. Listen more than you talk.

EM

Eric Migicovsky

07/26/19

@ Y Combinator

When conducting user interviews, avoid pitching your product; instead, focus on extracting information about the user's life and specific problems.

EM

Eric Migicovsky

07/26/19

@ Y Combinator

Ask users about their past experiences with problems rather than hypotheticals to gain better insights.

EM

Eric Migicovsky

07/26/19

@ Y Combinator

During user interviews, listen more than you talk to gather as much information as possible.

EM

Eric Migicovsky

07/26/19

@ Y Combinator

Five great questions to ask during early customer interviews include: What is the hardest part about doing this thing? When is the last time you encountered this problem? Why was this hard? What have you done to solve this problem? What don’t you love about the solution you already tried?

EM

Eric Migicovsky

07/26/19

@ Y Combinator

Ask users, 'What is the hardest part about doing this thing?' to uncover their pain points.

EM

Eric Migicovsky

07/26/19

@ Y Combinator

Inquire, 'When is the last time you encountered this problem?' to understand the frequency of their issues.

EM

Eric Migicovsky

07/26/19

@ Y Combinator

Ask, 'Why was this hard?' to gain insights into the challenges users face.

EM

Eric Migicovsky

07/26/19

@ Y Combinator

Ask, 'What don’t you love about the solution you already tried?' to identify shortcomings in existing solutions.

EM

Eric Migicovsky

07/26/19

@ Y Combinator

Find out, 'What, if anything, have you done to solve this problem?' to learn about their attempts at solutions.

EM

Eric Migicovsky

07/26/19

@ Y Combinator

In the idea stage, find your first users by talking to people who have encountered the problem you're trying to solve.

EM

Eric Migicovsky

07/26/19

@ Y Combinator

During the idea stage, it's crucial to find your first users who have a specific problem.

EM

Eric Migicovsky

07/26/19

@ Y Combinator

Start user interviews with yourself and then talk to friends or co-workers for warm introductions to potential users.

EM

Eric Migicovsky

07/26/19

@ Y Combinator

When testing your prototype, ensure you understand who your best first customer is to avoid being constrained by the wrong choice.

EM

Eric Migicovsky

07/26/19

@ Y Combinator

It's important to ask how much the problem costs them today to gauge the financial impact.

EM

Eric Migicovsky

07/26/19

@ Y Combinator

In the prototype stage, focus on identifying your best first customer.

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Eric Migicovsky

07/26/19

@ Y Combinator

Determine how frequently they encounter the problem, as more frequent issues indicate a higher likelihood of needing a solution.

EM

Eric Migicovsky

07/26/19

@ Y Combinator

Understand the size of their budget for solving the problem to ensure they have the means to pay for a solution.

EM

Eric Migicovsky

07/26/19

@ Y Combinator

Avoid designing by committee; instead, focus on understanding which features will truly enhance your product's value.

EM

Eric Migicovsky

07/26/19

@ Y Combinator

During user interviews, discard vague compliments and focus on specific, actionable feedback.

EM

Eric Migicovsky

07/26/19

@ Y Combinator

Steer conversations away from hypotheticals and back to specific user experiences to gather useful insights.

Eric Migicovsky - How to Talk to Users

Takeaways