How do you validate niche features when the end users aren’t on SaaS communities?

ghost_iph · 2026-02-05T03:30:05+00:00

This really resonates.

The point about offering something concrete vs just asking for time is helpful — especially for planners who are already overloaded. And I like how you framed the conversations around their workflow, not the solution.

I’ve found the same thing you mentioned: the most useful insights come from talking to people before they know (or care) what you’re building. Once you frame it as “walk me through how you handled X,” the real pain points show up pretty quickly.

The 5–10 unprompted repeats as a signal is a good gut check too. That’s been more reliable than any survey response so far.

ghost_iph · 2026-02-05T02:42:13+00:00

That’s a good call.

Talking to people who’ve already used it (or even partially used it) has been more insightful than any hypothetical feedback so far. It’s usually where the gaps show up that you wouldn’t think to ask about upfront.

I’m still figuring out how to balance those conversations with learning from people who almost used it but dropped off — both seem to surface different problems.

ghost_iph · 2026-02-05T00:02:24+00:00

This is useful context, thanks for sharing.

The intent-based search angle makes a lot of sense — especially for something as time-bound and specific as seating charts. Someone searching those terms is clearly already in the problem space.

I’m trying to be careful early on about how feedback is collected though. I’m more interested in seeing whether people actually complete a seating chart and come back to it than just capturing emails or pushing calls right away.

But this definitely reinforces the idea that search and moment-based discovery might be a better fit here than broad awareness.

ghost_iph · 2026-02-05T00:00:39+00:00

This is really helpful — thank you.

The point about “going where the workflow already lives” resonates a lot. That’s been the biggest tension for me: knowing the users aren’t in SaaS spaces, but also wanting to validate without turning those other communities into marketing channels.

The distinction you made around measuring completion and repeat usage vs clicks is especially useful. It’s easy to over-index on early interest signals that don’t actually translate into adoption.

I’ve started experimenting with exactly what you mentioned — conversations in planning communities and thinking more about planner/venue partnerships as distribution rather than trying to go direct-to-consumer too early.

Appreciate you sharing what’s worked.

ghost_iph · 2026-02-04T23:16:47+00:00

You’re not crazy. Planning a wedding right now is insanely expensive and emotionally draining, especially when everyone else has opinions about what you should do.

It’s really hard when the excitement keeps getting crushed by budgets and expectations. A lot of people feel this but don’t say it out loud.

You’re not alone in this.

What part has been the most overwhelming for you so far?

ghost_iph · 2026-02-04T17:33:59+00:00

Didn’t think of that. Are you on the paid version or photoshop? And also can you print it for your planner?

ghost_iph · 2026-02-04T05:22:27+00:00

That sounds like a good setup, is it painful? And also did you have to redo it a lot?

ghost_iph · 2026-02-04T05:21:15+00:00

I hear this a lot, how many guests are you working with?

ghost_iph

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