How to talk to customers as a student founder with no business experiences

[alec_dou]

My team and I are at the very beginning of building a SaaS product targeted as SMEs and we want to talk to customers. However, none of us has experiences building relationship with customers, and we fear we may not appear credible since we do not have experiences nor a product to show yet.

Any advice on how to approach customers as student founders? And convince them to share their pain points to help us shape the product?

[leros]

One of the best ways to talk to customers, even if you think you're an expert, is to assume you know nothing and ask dumb questions. It ensures you don't make a mistake assuming something false and it gives your customer the opportunity to provide the most unbiased and broadest answer.

So point being, don't let your lack of experience scare you from talking to customers. In a lot of ways, it a strength for you.

And do a Google search for how to conduct a non-biased customer interview. It's very easy to accidentally ask leading questions and taint the feedback you receive.

[alec_dou]

Thanks for sharing this insight. I was indeed making the mistake of conducting "biased customer interview" (but with friends not customers). Will definitely take note.

[priyankanath]

Check out this article: https://medium.com/swlh/how-to-get-real-feedback-on-your-sta...

[brudgers]

You just talk to them.

"Them" are only potential customers until they pay you money.

Since "them" are not giving you money, you've got nothing to lose from rejection.

Good luck.

[iman453]

The book ‘The Mom Test’ is a really good one to read on this topic.

[alec_dou]

Thanks for recommending! I was reading it today. In the book, the author actually had the very same problem as I am facing right now: “It’s also a big time commitment to ask from the customer before you’re in a position to show them anything in return. In the early days, asking for the first conversation was simply impossible for me. I wasn’t credible enough, so nobody wanted to take a meeting just to talk to me about their day.”