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Have you ever spent hours, or let’s be honest, days or weeks, building out an offer you were sure people would love, only to launch it and be met with… crickets?
Oh, I’ve been there.
I’ve poured my heart into crafting the landing page, recording the content, setting up the funnel… all of it. And then? Barely a click. Maybe one or two sales.
And in those moments, it’s not just discouraging, it makes you question everything.
- Was this a total waste of time?
- Did I miss something?
- Do I even know what my audience wants anymore?
Here’s what I’ve learned over the years: the problem isn’t always the offer. Sometimes it’s the timing. Sometimes it’s the messaging. And sometimes it’s that I didn’t validate the idea before building it.
The truth is, 42% of business and product failures happen because there was no market need. That’s nearly half!
And I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to spend my energy and time creating something no one asked for.
So in today’s episode, I’m walking you through the five-step process I use to validate my ideas before I create. Whether it’s a new course, a digital product, a freebie, or a full-blown offer, these steps help me move forward with confidence and clarity.
And if you’ve already launched something that flopped? Stick around. I’ve got a bonus section just for you with ways to revive that offer instead of scrapping it altogether. Let’s dig in!
The 5-Step Framework to Validate Your Next Offer
Step 1: Listen Before You Lead
I used to think that creating great offers meant locking myself away with a notebook and brainstorming the “perfect” idea. But I’ve learned that the best ideas don’t start in isolation… They begin with listening.
Nielsen Consumer Insights recently found that Listening and adjusting based on audience needs can increase product-market fit by up to 38%!
My audience is always telling me what they need if I slow down enough to hear it. The questions in my DMs, the comments on social, the recurring struggles they voice, those are the clues.
Years ago, I almost launched a course about hiring a virtual assistant. It was something that changed my business, so I assumed others needed it too. But before building it out, I tested the idea with a freebie, a podcast episode, and a blog post.
The response was… well, underwhelming. That little test saved me weeks of work and gave me clarity: just because something helped me doesn’t mean my audience is ready for it.
Step 2: Ask First, Build Second
Instead of assuming what people want, I ask them. Sometimes it’s a poll on Instagram Stories, other times it’s an open-ended question in my newsletter or Facebook group. Even Pinterest can be a goldmine for testing interest.
I once helped my husband test two freebies for his business idea: one around at-home workouts, the other around meal prep. Meal prep won by a landslide, and that insight shaped his entire brand.
When we ask real questions and pay attention to the words people use, we’re handed the language that will eventually become our sales copy.
Companies that regularly collect audience feedback see conversion rates increase by up to 30%, according to research done by Forrester.
It’s not just about knowing what your audience wants, it’s about knowing how they describe their pain points and desires.
THAT’S the difference between a message that connects and one that falls flat.
Step 3: Pre-Sell or Soft Launch
This step has saved me more than once. Pre-selling is simply offering something before it’s fully built, often at a discount or in beta form. It allows me to test interest before investing time and resources into creating the full offer.
When I was first getting started with courses, I offered a beta version to a small group and collected feedback in exchange. I even did 75 one-on-one calls (yes, really) to deeply understand my clients’ challenges.
It was exhausting, but it shaped the entire direction of my course and made the final launch so much more effective.
According to Harvard Business Review, pre-selling can increase the success rate of a product by up to 60%.
When people are willing to invest before your offer is fully built, that’s a powerful signal that there’s demand. And if they’re not? That’s a gift too! It means you can pivot before you spend months creating something no one is ready for.
Step 4: Start Small Before You Scale
One of the biggest shifts in my business came when I stopped trying to launch massive programs right out of the gate. These days, I like to test ideas with smaller offers, something low-cost but high-value to gauge interest.
Take my Pinterest Bootcamp, for example. It’s a five-day, $27 live experience that introduces people to the power of Pinterest. It’s a great way to help people get results quickly while warming them up for my full Pinterest Lab course.
It’s been incredibly successful, and it all started with the question: what’s a smaller step people can take before the big leap?
Small offers help you gather feedback, validate your process, and build excitement without the overwhelm of building an entire course upfront.
Pssssst, want to check it out? Take my Pinterest Bootcamp here!
Step 5: Pause Before You Push
This final step might be the most powerful of all. When inspiration strikes, it’s tempting to sprint. I’ve always been someone who moves quickly when I’m excited about an idea.
But I’ve learned the value of pausing and giving myself space to check in, let the idea breathe, and make sure it still aligns after a few days.
Sometimes, what feels brilliant in the moment loses its shine. Other times, it holds up, and the pause gives me even more clarity!
I keep a notebook filled with ideas, and I revisit them regularly. That simple act of giving myself space has saved me from chasing too many things that aren’t aligned with my bigger vision.
What to Do If Your Offer Flopped
So, what if you already built the thing and it didn’t sell? Don’t scrap it just yet. Here’s what I suggest instead:
- Revisit the messaging. Is it crystal clear what problem your offer solves? Are you using language your audience actually understands? Sometimes a few tweaks in positioning can completely change the way an offer is received.
- Consider building a nurture runway. Your audience might not be aware that they need your offer yet. Supporting content—a blog post, podcast episode, email sequence, or even a Pinterest strategy—can warm them up and move them closer to a “yes.”
- Think about relaunching with a fresh twist. Could you turn the offer into a challenge? Add a bonus? Reposition it with new energy and urgency? You don’t need to throw the whole thing away—sometimes all it takes is a new approach.
Final Thoughts
Here’s what I’ve learned over the years: You don’t always need a new offer, you might just need a new message, better timing, or a more intentional path to help people say yes.
So if something flopped? Don’t beat yourself up. Let’s rework it, reframe it, and revive it. You’ve already done the hard work… Now it’s time to give it another chance to shine!
Before I move forward with any new offer, I now ask myself:
- Have I listened to what my people are asking for?
- Have I tested the idea with real feedback? Have I seen signs they’re ready to act?
- Can I start smaller before building something big?
- And most importantly, do I still feel aligned after I pause?
This process has brought more clarity, more peace, and more success to my business than any strategy I’ve ever used. If this episode sparked some a-ha moments for you, I’d love it if you shared it with a biz friend or took a screenshot and tagged me so I can cheer you on!
And if you’re in the middle of testing a new idea right now? I’m cheering you on. Let this five-step process be your guide, your filter, and your permission slip to stop creating things that no one’s asking for and start building offers your people can’t wait to buy!
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