The best proof that an idea works is not « I quite like it », but a real commitment: time, an email address, or better still, money. Here is how to test without a big outlay.
From weak signal to strong signal
- Survey / conversation: useful, but saying yes costs nothing (weak signal).
- Signing up to a waiting list: the person hands over their email (medium signal).
- Pre-order or deposit: they pay before the product exists (strong signal).
Pre-selling in practice
Create a simple page describing the offer, the price and a pre-order button (or a booking form). Send targeted traffic to it (a small ad budget, relevant groups, word of mouth) and watch the conversion rate.
A worked example: 200 visitors, 6 pre-orders at 79 € = 3% conversion and 474 € collected before you have produced anything. A rate above 2 to 3% on a cold audience is an excellent sign. Zero sales from 200 targeted visitors is an answer too: a clear and inexpensive one.
Key takeaway: test with strong signals (pre-order, deposit) rather than polite opinions; a pre-sale page measures real demand at low cost.