Stop Asking For Opinions, Start Collecting Sales
Are you seeking feedback or just hunting for compliments? The truth might be holding you back.
Cover photo by Victor Garcia on Unsplash.
We've all been there. You create something new – a collection, a design, a service – and before releasing it to the world, you share it with friends and family for "feedback."
But let's be honest: Are we really looking for constructive input, or are we seeking validation? That warm, fuzzy feeling when someone says they love our work?
Here's the uncomfortable truth I've learned in my experience creating products and resources for Armonica Studio: the opinions that truly matter come from people who vote with their wallets.
The Feedback Trap
When we ask people close to us what they think about our creations, we face several potential pitfalls:
These people care about us too much. They want to support our dreams and protect our feelings. Their feedback is filtered through love, concern, and even politeness – not objectivity. Unconditional love is fantastic and we’re lucky to have it; yet, it’s not the best fuel for business.
These people don't care about our offering enough. Although they might care about us, that doesn't automatically translate to genuine interest in our work. Even when they are supportive and agree on testing our work for feedback, they might not feel interested, excited, or motivated enough to thoroughly test things. Obtaining a quick distracted look doesn't really help, and neither does waiting for weeks for them to "find the time" to do it.
These people often are not our ideal customers. Your college roommate or your cousin might genuinely admire your work, but would they actually buy it? Do they understand the market you're trying to reach?
A Better Approach
Instead of endless rounds of opinions that keep you stuck in the creation phase, try this:
Create your minimum viable offering
Put it in front of actual potential customers
See if they purchase it
Learn from both the sales and the rejections
Real market validation tells you something that no amount of friendly feedback ever will: whether people value your creations enough to exchange their hard-earned money for it.
When to Seek Feedback
So when is feedback actually helpful? Feedback is valuable at specific moments:
Early in development to catch major issues
From relevant experts in your field
From actual customers after they've purchased
But when you find yourself endlessly tweaking based on opinions from people who aren't your target market, chances are you're not refining your work – you may be procrastinating.
The next time you feel the urge to ask everyone what they think before launching something new, ask yourself: "Am I looking for ways to improve, or am I looking for validation?". Then put your work out there and let the market give you the most honest feedback of all.
Are you holding any creations back right now that could be earning both money and real-world feedback? Let me know, I look forward to hearing from you!
Francesca – Armonica Studio
Francesca is the creator of Armonica Studio, a marketing consultancy focusing on strategy and communication. She is a Brand Strategist, a Communication Consultant, and the creator of The Armonica Blog: Marketing Insights And Actionable Tips For Creators And Makers. She currently lives in Berlin, Germany.
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