Innovation vs. Audience Needs: What’s More Crucial?

Natalia Demianenko
14 replies
When launching a new product, what do you think is more important: focusing on groundbreaking innovation or precisely tailoring the product to the needs of your target audience? Do you prioritize coming up with unique features or ensuring that your product directly addresses the specific pain points of your users? I’m curious about your thoughts and experiences!

Replies

James Chappel
I think audience needs are fundamental because they drive what kind of innovations will be successful in the market.
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Natalia Demianenko
@james_chappel Exactly, audience needs guide which innovations will succeed. It’s all about relevance in the market
Alexander William Hawkins
True, innovation is great but audience needs should drive the product. Gotta nail that product-market fit first. Focus on the end result and value to the customer over just stuffing in features. Build something people actually want and need.
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Natalia Demianenko
@alexanderwilliamhawkins agree, understanding and meeting audience needs is the foundation. Innovation should enhance that, not overshadow it
Noora Mccluskey
Audience needs should come first. You can innovate all you want, but if it’s not what your target users are looking for, it’s unlikely to succeed. I always start by deeply understanding user pain points.
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Julia Watson
Balancing is both is key Innovation can set your product apart, but if it doesn’t address user needs, it won’t gain traction. I focus on solving real problems while incorporating unique features.
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Natalia Demianenko
@julia_watsonn I like your approach. combining innovation with problem-solving ensures that your product stands out while still being relevant
Nelson Martin
We definitely need to innovate, but if we don’t consider what the audience actually wants or needs, our efforts might miss the mark.
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Bailey Dotson
For me, understanding the audience’s needs comes first. Innovation is important, but if it doesn’t solve a real problem, it might not be as impactful.
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Natalia Demianenko
@bailey_dotson Well said! Solving a real problem should always be the priority, with innovation supporting that goal
Katerina Dedyulya
of cource PMF. At YC we were told that you gotta do first things , even by your hands (not website or whatever), to test market, to get to know all problems of your clients. then you scale
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Natalia Demianenko
@katerina_mirrart Absolutely, starting with a hands-on approach to understand the market is invaluable. Scaling comes naturally after that
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