When is it too early to ask the community for product feedback?

Question

We all know that when it comes to product development, feedback is the most precious gift. Communicating on what you are building and allowing people to test it and comment on it is a great way to make sure you're on the right track.

But when is it too early to do so? Is there a risk that you'll alienate potential users by sharing something that you don't consider completely "finished"?

Bill Flitter · Accepted Answer

It's never too early.

Build. 
Get feedback from a small group
Iterate
Get Feedback from +1 from the original group
Iterate
Get Feedback from +2 from group 2
Iterate
Get Feedback from +4 from the original group 3
Repeat and continue to ask for feedback when you have thousands of customers.

Bob · Answer

yesterday

T · Answer

Yes, iterate , step by step

Patrick Joubert · Answer

Try, iterate and do your best! ;)

Benedetta Dal Canton · Answer

@hannahsuyun Thanks Hannah! 
I tested PFPmaker by the way, so cool!

Iulian Stoian · Answer

It is never too early to ask for feedback, as Reid Hoffman said a couple of times: "If you're not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you've launched too late", so don't be afraid that you will alienate users, on the contrary you will gain many more if the idea is good even if the product still has kinks that need to be worked out. Also you might find that the feedback you receive from users might take you in different directions, that you might have not considered, allowing you to shift focus early and deliver to your users what they really need.

Hannah S Kim · Answer

@hannahsuyun @benedetta_dal_canton Yes, it is! I'm looking forward to see where Ponicode Dogstring goes in the future :)

Hannah S Kim · Answer

I agree with the others- it's never too early for feedback! In fact, getting feedback can help you find your product value sooner (the value may be different from what you originally planned!). If you are worried about alienating potential users, you can always communicate your future plans and upcoming features with them :).

Sergey Lazuka · Answer

@billflitter True!
Interviewing even a few people will be beneficial

Alejandro Cantarero · Answer

Couldn't agree more with everyone on this thread that it is basically never too early.

We started to test integrating feedback paths into our products very early.

1. If a customer reaches out to support (for us generally via chat), ask them for some feedback on the product separate from their specific question.  Usually since they are already talking to us we've found they are willing to share something about what they like or what they feel is missing.

2. As soon as we launched a self-service sign up for our product, we started emailing users who spend a decent amount of time with the product and abandoned.

Response rate on the email is low, not too surprising, but we've received back a couple of short, but very helpful notes that have given us ideas of how to do better.

Michael Wells · Answer

step by step

Masoud Fatemi · Answer

I think when you already know about some issues with your product, asking for feedback just reminds you of those obvious bugs or issues. So when you yourself had no other feedbacks about your product, ask others. That way you get valuable feedbacks without telling "oh I already know about that"

Benedetta Dal Canton · Answer

@masoudfatemi But don't you think that sometimes you *think* you know about issues in your product, but in reality you're biased by a perspective that is too close?

Benedetta Dal Canton · Answer

@iulian_stoian Thank you - refreshing to hear this kind of perspective!

Benedetta Dal Canton · Answer

@new_user_310adc9c2f always

When is it too early to ask the community for product feedback?

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