In 2004, an MVP displaying the key elements of a universal directory was launched for Harvard students. It was released only with the basic key elements that contained the required functions. Quickly, this MVP became popular among Harvard students and spread to other universities. The creator of this MVP was Mark Zuckerberg—owner of Facebook, the most popular social media platform in the world. By December 2024, Facebook had 3.35 billion active users. This could be your business too…
MVPs raise the chances of success for any project. Without testing, you can’t be sure if users will like your idea. More than 81% of businesses believe that when they build an MVP, it helps them test the possibility of an idea. In this guide, we’ll learn how to build an MVP.
What is an MVP?
MVP stands for a Minimum Viable Product; it is the simplified version of your final product. Whether it’s an app, website, or even offers and new features, the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) allows you to test the worth of your idea.
What does an MVP do?
MVPs are experiments that validate your idea, gather insights, and make improvements. Imagine baking a cake with a recipe that came to your mind, but after eating it, you discover that it isn’t so good. Writing your recipe down could have helped you avoid this. This is why you build an MVP. More than 81% of businesses believe that MVPs help test the possibility of their idea.
Benefits of building an MVP
Here are a few benefits you gain when you build an MVP:
Save time and cut costs
MVPs are much lighter and simpler versions of apps. This is why they are excellent when you want to test an idea quickly and effectively. You can also cut the extra costs of developing a product directly.
Test Business ideas
You can test and validate your business ideas and discover whether your targeted audience is interested. This can be done with the time advantage that a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) gives you to launch your product.
Gather useful feedback
When you build an MVP, it allows you to gather useful and beneficial feedback to identify areas for improvement.
Types of MVPs
Planning to build an MVP? There are two main types of MVPs. Let’s decide the one you need:
Low-Fidelity MVP
A low-fidelity MVP refers to a simple version of a product’s concept used to test and validate the idea with potential customers quickly. Here are a few types of low-fidelity MVPs:
Landing page MVP
Thinking about adding a new page on your website but not sure about it? Build an MVP with minimal features and details to test whether your targeted users are interested!
Fake Door MVP
A fake door MVP lets you test if users are interested in your new product or feature. It’s there to check the demand of user interest in a new feature.
Demo Video MVP
Demo video MVPs or explainer video MVPs explain what your software development product will do before launch.
High-fidelity MVP
If you’ve ever created wireframes, you’ll know that you want to test whether your project works for users. High-fidelity MVPs involve building a working prototype closely resembling the final product, with attention to the UX and design. You may hire dedicated developers to build these.
Single-feature MVP
Single-feature MVPs allow developers to test a few basic features or a core feature to validate the idea of a software product development process.
Concierge MVP
Concierge MVPs demand time and effort. These MVPs involve manually managing core commands to gather first-hand feedback from users.
Wizard of Oz MVP
Wizard of Oz MVPs involve a fully functional product in which a manual operator manages the functions while the user is unaware.
How to build an MVP
Now that we’ve learned the types of MVPs, let’s start developing:
Step 1: Decide the type of MVP you want
Based on your product, decide the type of MVP you want to test your app or website. You can hire web developers to build it. The type of MVP you choose will also determine the feedback you will gather. You will improve according to these insights.
Step 2: Proceed with market research
Market research is an important step that can be costly to skip. Market research allows you to gather insights about what you need for your product. Start with:
- Competitor analysis: Analyze what your competitors are doing and where they are lacking to target user needs.
- Areas to create a difference: Spot the areas where you can create a difference. Where you can introduce something new and make your MVP stand out.
Through detailed market research and identified areas for improvement, you will be able to add some uniqueness in your MVP.
Step 3: Create a wireframe with the necessary features
Once you have a layout in mind, proceed to create a wireframe. A wireframe is a simple and basic sketch of your product idea. This can be done with the help of tools like:
- Figma: a wireframing tool that allows users to visualize and collaborate on their product design.
- Balsamiq: a basic wireframing tool that allows users to create simple sketches to see their designs on display.
Wireframes can even be created with a pen and paper.
Step 4: Choose a software
Let’s choose a software to code with:
- React Js: perfect for building a dynamic and responsive UI, crucial for a successful MVP.
- Java: a popular programming language for building MVPs; it will allow you to build an MVP and test it effectively.
- Python: Python will let you develop an MVP rapidly with its extensive libraries and test it easily.
- C++: C++ is a diverse and versatile programming language that will let you build an MVP and test and refine it.
- Flutter: Flutter is an open-source, cross-platform framework that allows quick MVP development and testing.
Hire dedicated web developers to build an MVP with these frameworks or tools.
Step 5: Develop your MVP
If you’ve followed the steps so far, you already know which features to prioritize. This is where you’ll begin the development, but make sure to keep it balanced between delivering the core features and making it a light version of your final product.
The Software product development will involve developing bug-free code and a high-quality nature of your MVP features. This initial version will allow your users to experience the core value of your app or website. It will lay a strong foundation for its further development and improvement.
Step 6: Launch it
Once you’re done developing your MVP, its time to launch it. Remember that just because your MVP is a lighter version of your final product doesn’t mean it deserves lesser effort. Put the time, effort, and money that your MVP demands to ensure that it satisfies your user’s needs. After the launch, you’ll move on to testing and gathering feedback.
Step 7: Gather User Feedback
Now comes the step where you fulfill your MVP’s true purpose: gathering feedback. After you build an MVP and launch it, it will be handed over to your targeted users, who will use and test your platform for you. Here are the two most beneficial ways to collect insights:
- A/B testing: Do you have more than one version of your MVP and don’t know which one will be better? A/B testing can help. It will randomly redirect a user to either the A or B version of your MVP. Whichever gets more reviews will be the winner.
- QA testing/surveys: Have you ever opened a platform that asked you basic multiple-choice questions? Your answers and those of other users help the creators improve and iterate their products based on your feedback.
These tests will allow you to gain user feedback firsthand and improve your MVP based on these insights.
Step 8: Update and refine constantly
Feedback equals improvement. When you have the required insights, update your MVP to the point where you get little to no negative feedback. Keep testing the different and improved versions of your MVP. You’ll know when to move on to your final app or website development when your feedback is good.
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Now you know how to build an MVP effectively!
What to avoid while building an MVP?
MVPs sound like a great solution to test your business ideas before going all in. However, there are a few things you should avoid:
Adding too many features
As an initial, lighter version of your final product, your MVP does not need too many features. This goes against the purpose of your MVP. Remember to prioritize only the necessary components and elements.
Skipping the wireframing phase
This may be the most common mistake many businesses have made. Wireframes seem too basic, simple, and skippable. But they shouldn’t be skipped. Creating a wireframe only takes a few minutes. This will allow you to map out your user flow and visualize your design before your development begins.
Ignoring feedback
An MVP’s purpose is to run tests and gather feedback. Ignoring it will do no good. It’s essential to gather and monitor the feedback if you really want results from your MVP.
Not improving or updating
Do not hold back on your iterations to improve your MVP. After you build an MVP and enhance it, it will soon be time to launch your final product.
It’s vital to avoid these mistakes to ensure your MVP’s success. You can hire web developers to avoid these mistakes.
How do you measure MVP success?
You’ve launched your MVP; now, how will you measure your MVP success? Here’s how
User Engagement
User engagement rates are classified by the amount of time spent, log-ins, and interactions with your MVP. The higher your user engagement rates, the higher your chance for MVP success.
Churn rate
This is a rate that is better the lower it is. How so? This is because the Churn rate shows how many users have stopped using your MVP. So the lower churn rates you have, the better it will be for your final product!
Retention rates
Retention rates show the rate of users who use your MVP after their first use. If your MVP’s retention rate is high, it means your users like your MVP’s features and are coming back.
Feedback results
Feedback from surveys and A/B tests lets you gather user feed back first hand. The more positive the feedback results, the higher your MVP’s success.
Conclusion
MVPs are valuable projects that let businesses test and validate their ideas. More than 70% of companies used an MVP to gain better user insights, allowing better product development decisions. These businesses gained success due to their wise MVP approach. Your business can also be in those 70%.
So, are you planning to hire dedicated developers to help build an MVP? Linkitsoft is here to deliver its MVP services to aid you in creating the perfect MVP! Test and validate your business idea with us. Don’t miss out- the quicker you launch your MVP, the higher your chances for success. Contact Linkitsoft today and allow your MVP to do wonders.
