In the ever-changing modern innovation field, today, building a product could be a big waste of money right at the outset. However, knowledgeable entrepreneurs have changed this concept.
They are doing so by using the concept of the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) to validate their assumptions, and gather and tell the story of their success while implementing critical user feedback in the beginning.
Nevertheless, not all MVPs are equal.
The most effective type of MVP depends on your available resources, target audience, and the complexity of your idea.
In this article, we will list nine of the most exciting MVP approaches and also guide you to see which one makes your unique idea the most powerful.
9 Powerful MVP Types to Test Your Big Idea
1. Landing Page MVP
Overview:
A landing page MVP is the process of developing a simple website or a page that identifies the product’s value proposition, features, and benefits. Usually, the target is to acquire email sign-ups or to count the click-through rates as an estimate for market interest.
Working with an experienced MVP development agency can streamline the transition from idea to execution, especially when navigating early-stage technical decisions and user validation.
When to Use:
- When establishing the need for the final verification process, before resorting to product development.
- For trying out different messaging and positioning strategies and seeing which one works best.
Pros:
- The process of setting up can be done in a few seconds and is affordable.
- Good tool for marketing and a way to get potential clients to sign up for email lists.
Cons:
- There will be no prompt, interactive thing that can ensure the full product experience.
- Feedback is not direct, as it is based mainly on the number of users who are involved with the site.
Example: Dropbox established a landing page that was designed to explain the main idea and got some email addresses to find out who was interested in the product, before they made it.
Like Dropbox, many early-stage teams use visual planning frameworks to align messaging with user pain points before building out their MVP landing pages.
2. Explainer/Video MVP
Overview:
An explainer video MVP, or a video MVP, is actually a short, engaging video that explains what the product is about and the issue it correctly addresses. With this approach, potential users can already see the end product they plan to use, even though it is not ready yet.
When to Use:
- When the product concept is complex or difficult to explain with text alone.
- To generate excitement and initial buzz.
Pros:
- You can spectacularly transmit your imagination and provoke the emanation of emotional points.
- It can also be easily shown on social media and other digital platforms.
Cons:
- It could be impacted by production quality perception; a poorly done video may not be taken seriously.
- When users do not have real human intervention, this can cause them to feel highly impressed, but they might still consider something too expensive if the value is not evident to them.
Example: The Airbnb founders launched a short video that demonstrated how people could rent out their homes, appealing to early users even before the platform had completely formed.
3. Concierge MVP
Overview:
A concierge MVP service provision demands that you start your business by providing the service manually to a small group of enthusiastic early users. This way, you get to have a clear, direct knowledge of your customer requirements and the troubles they face.
When to Use:
- When a service is custom-tailored or complex by nature.
- To create real connections and learn directly from users through in-depth interviews.
Pros:
- Feedback from users through face-to-face interactions is one of the most useful things you can get out of the process.
- It makes things more transparent, as you can watch customer behaviour before integrating technology.
Cons:
- This can be really labour-intensive and might not be scalable.
- The shift from manual processes to automation can be quite hectic.
Example: Personal trainers at the start-up manually develop fitness plans for the first users instead of relying on AI. They make the plan flexible after collecting feedback, and if it is successful, they will automate it next time.
4. Wizard of Oz MVP
Overview:
The Wizard of Oz MVP is a simple product that looks real, but the tasks are performed manually in the background. Users are under the impression that automated machinery is carrying out all tasks, despite the fact that humans are doing it behind the curtain.
When to Use:
- To try out difficult concepts or features in a small portion before developing the whole.
- If you want to be certain about a user experience outcome before you start planning the technology.
Pros:
- Allows faster progress on the front end without involving a lot of work on the back end.
- Shows how people interact and what their expectations are, which is vital information.
Cons:
- Ethical issues if a user were mistaken about the actuality could be hard to handle.
- Highly complicated to adapt and even make it autonomous.
Example: Zappos tested demand by offering the sale of shoes on their website without having the stock. When someone ordered, they would get the shoes from a store and ship them manually.
5. Single-Feature MVP
Overview:
A single-feature MVP involves giving attention only to the most significant of the product’s features. Through this product, you can reach the target audience and at the same time deal with the problem in the best possible way.
When to Use:
- When one of the main components of the product is perfectly contained in the most powerful feature of the product.
- When you need to verify a specific design criterion very quickly without doing a comprehensive user needs analysis and a UX design.
Pros:
- It simplifies the development process and, at the same time, reduces the time that will be spent in launching the product to the market.
- It reduces risks using concentrating on the validated and actual solution to the single case.
Cons:
- Anything else that you will create if your product is very simple in the beginning may decrease the customer’s interest because they are expecting a more comprehensive solution.
- Maybe at some point, you will indeed need additional input to further extend the potential of the application.
Example: At the start, Instagram was a simple photo-sharing app that had few filters. And then Stories and Reels stepped in…
6. Crowdfunding MVP
Overview:
Crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter or Indiegogo can serve as MVPs by validating your product concept through pre-orders. Success on these platforms indicates strong market demand.
When to Use:
- When you require a startup fund to develop the product
- When you are in the process of the product launch and you want to get feedback from the market and at the same time gather a community who will become your first-time users, you can use crowdfunding platforms.
But… but, other than that, it should be avoided
Pros:
- Indicates market interest and collects by pre-sale.
- Creates a buzz early and secures a community of supporters through crowd engagement.
Cons:
- High risk of meeting what was promised during the campaign.
- Most of the campaign’s success depends on a good story and marketing effort.
Example: Pebble, a smartwatch company, raised millions of dollars on Kickstarter
7. Piecemeal MVP
Overview:
A piecemeal MVP wants to be created by imitating the final product using existing tools, platforms, and services. Instead of creating each part of the product individually, you use third-party solutions to launch your concept quickly and easily.
When to Use:
- When you’re constrained by budget or time.
- To validate the market before investing in proprietary technology.
Pros:
- Cost-effective and quick to implement.
- Flexibility to test various configurations and integrations.
Cons:
- Reliance on third-party services can limit customization and scalability.
- It may not fully capture the unique value proposition of your idea.
Example: Groupon, in the beginning, used to manually email daily deals, and they also used simple PDFs instead of building a whole website.
8. Prototype MVP
Overview:
A prototype MVP is a tangible, often clickable, representation of your product. While not fully functional, it allows users to interact with the design and flow of the product.
When to Use:
- In the early stages of product design, collect usability feedback.
- To win the stakeholders’ support and get the first investment.
Pros:
- It shows clearly how the idea works and engages the audience in the demonstration.
- It facilitates the discovery of design errors and user experience problems early in the process.
Cons:
- It may not work in full, so the feedback may only concern the design and concept.
- It can create a false image of the end product among the potential users.
Example: Figma. A design tool developer revealed a design tool to a small group of designers to test it before they launched it to the public. (The previous sentence is unclear.)
9. API MVP
Overview:
An MVP API is essentially a tool that is used for developing the most essential parts of an application. It doesn’t necessarily matter if the application is front-end or back-end. This will help the developers to write the code for the core functionalities of the application.
When to Use:
- If the developers are your target users, and they are tech-savvy businesses.
- To check the technical feasibility of the service architecture and receive feedback from the pioneers.
Pros:
- Promotes spreading out innovations and opening up doors to other producers and services.
- The purpose is to build reliable and scalable back-end systems.
Cons:
- It is a must to have research skills about developers’ problems and the state of affairs in the IT sector for writing the application.
- Might not be able to reach end users who are engaging with the product interface directly.
Example: Some time ago, Twilio used an early API for SMS. This smaller product suite allowed the developers to integrate it and check its functionality.
Choosing the Right MVP for Your Ambitious Idea
Choosing the right MVP type mainly involves the following factors, which should be played off with each other:
- Complexity of the Idea: Request for a specifically crafted landing page or a single-feature MVP for streamlined ideas. For example, a Wizard of Oz or API MVP can serve you for a complex problem, if you want to make sure your underlying assumptions are right before a full-blown development phase.
- Target Audience: Who is your target audience, and the ideal MVP that needs to be employed for this specific group? A concierge MVP is ideal when customers demand high-touch personalization because of its closeness to them, while the API MVP goes well with the developer-centric product.
- Budget and Time Constraints: In case your resources are limited, a slow-and-steady MVP or a video about what your product is about may be the logical first steps to validate your idea with the minimum initial costs. In the opposite scenario, if you are not constrained in terms of resources, you can go for a prototype or full-feature MVP.
- Feedback Goals: Identify the essential information you want to know. Are you looking for user interaction plus qualitative feedback, or do you need quantitative data like conversion rates only? Your feedback goals should be the basis of your MVP choice.
While selecting the appropriate MVP type is crucial, it’s equally important to be aware of common development pitfalls. For insights into mistakes to avoid during your MVP journey, consider reading this guide on common MVP development mistakes.
Partnering with a good MVP development agency can simplify the journey from concept to launch, particularly when tackling early technical choices and gathering user insights.
Conclusion
Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) are more than a simple product launch strategy; they are actually a key vehicle for hearing, applying, and, in conclusion, creating a product that your target audience will find appealing.
Whether you decide on a quiet and simple imitation of a landing page that is used merely for testing the waters or a complex API that is expected to be your lead customer-managing platform, the MVP can be the right foot to start a journey to sustainability and innovation.
Evaluate your far-reaching idea using one of the nine minimum viable product types that directly suit your resources and the things you want to get done. The path from the pattern to production is hardly flat, but with the proper MVP, the victory is not far.
