Fun_Ostrich_5521 SaaS Founders: Stop Asking Users the Wrong Things
Early-stage SaaS founders often miss this >> a small book that changed how I talk to users.
Not a founder myself; I’m from the marketing side. But after watching dozens of SaaS teams, I see the same trap: they think they’re validating, but they’re actually collecting polite lies. Family says *wow.* Friends say *cool idea.* Even early users nod and say **yeah I’d use that.** Then ghost. It’s a pattern: polite praise, vague feedback, no follow-through.
The Mom Test captures this trap better than anything else I’ve read. It’s about how asking the wrong questions makes people lie to you>>not because they’re bad, but because you made it easy (or awkward) to lie.
Key Takeaways That Hit Me
Don’t ask Would you use this?
Ask When’s the last time you dealt with this problem?
Don’t explain your app in the question.
Just ask what they actually do today.
People saying *that sounds cool* is worthless.
But someone describing a workaround they already use? That’s gold.
I’ve watched founders burn months building what people said they wanted. Then no one uses it. The truth is: most of us suck at asking honest questions. This book won’t magically fix your startup idea, but it will fix how you ask questions and talk to users>>and that alone can save months of wasted effort. Worth a read. It’s short. Honest. Zero fluff. Just real advice that makes sense once you’ve seen people get burned.
Visual Summary
Below are three images that capture the essence of *The Mom Test* and its practical application for SaaS founders:
1. Applying The Mom Test in Customer Conversations
2. Effective Customer Discovery Framework
3. The Problem vs. The Solution
Why It Matters for SaaS
The Mom Test is a must-read for anyone in SaaS, not just founders. It teaches you to ask questions that reveal real customer needs, even from supportive people who want to be nice. The core principle: talk about their life, not your idea; ask about the past, not the future; and listen more than you talk.
If you want to stop building products nobody uses, start by changing how you talk to users. This book is the cheat code.
Would love to hear how others in SaaS have applied these principles>>or where you’ve seen user interviews go off the rails!