How to Create Products Your Audience Actually Wants

Hey friend,

Building a product for your audience is one of the most powerful moves a creator can make.
But if the product doesn’t match what they truly want, it doesn’t matter how good it is. It won’t move.

I learned this firsthand.
When I launched my own product, Kamuy dry bags, I realized that while it was high-quality and mission-driven, my audience wasn’t aligned with it yet.
They weren’t ready for that product.
Not because it wasn’t valuable, but because it wasn’t tightly connected to their immediate needs or desires at that moment.

Here’s what I wish I had done differently:
Focus less on building the perfect product first...and more on deeply validating what people would actually get excited about.

Let’s break down how to do this the right way:

Step 1: Start with True Product Ideation

Good product ideas don't start with "what do I want to make?"
They start with "what does my audience want, need, or dream about?"

Ask yourself:

• What real frustration are they facing right now?

• What aspiration or goal are they chasing?

• What would actually make their life easier, better, or more fun?

Reality check:
The best ideas solve meaningful problems or fulfill deep desires, better or differently than what’s already out there.

Tip:
Patience is part of the process.
Around 40% of manufacturers say it takes 6–12 months to bring a new product from idea to actual sales.
If you rush ideation, you risk building something that misses the mark (like me a few years ago).

Step 2: Validate Before You Build

Here’s the hard truth:
Lack of product-market fit is one of the top reasons small businesses fail.
35% of failures happen because the product didn’t actually meet real demand.

Creators aren’t immune. Even with an engaged audience, you still have to validate before investing time, money, and energy into a full launch.

Here’s how to validate smartly:

• Talk to your audience:
  Polls, surveys, live streams, DMs. Don’t guess JUST ask. Direct questions like "Would you buy this? What features would matter most to you?" are your superpower.

• Competitive analysis:
  Look at similar products or substitutes. Read the reviews.
  What do people complain about? What’s missing?
  Differentiation doesn’t always mean inventing something new, often it’s just fixing what’s broken.

• Pre-sales:
  Set up a landing page or simple checkout option for early pre-orders.
  The ultimate validation isn’t clicks or compliments, it’s someone pulling out their card.

• Landing pages and waitlists:
  Tools like Klaviyo & Beehive make it easy to collect emails from interested buyers (I use both, for different use cases).
  If people join a waitlist without being pushed hard, that’s a green light.

• Crowdfunding:
  Platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo allow you to not only raise funding but measure real interest.
  A funded campaign is the market telling you "yes, we want this."

• Prototype testing:
  Create a basic version of the product — even handmade — and get real feedback.
  Better to refine early than regret later.

• Social media teasers:
  Post concept images, demos, or early sketches.
  If a teaser post gets above-average engagement (comments like "how do I buy this?" or "take my money"), it’s a sign you're on the right track.

Step 3: Don't Skip the Early Diligence

It’s tempting to move fast when you’re excited about an idea.
But investing in validation upfront saves you massive headaches later.

Validation isn't about being negative or second-guessing yourself.
It’s about stacking enough real signals that you’re making an informed, strategic move, not just an emotional one.

Key mindset:

• Your first audience is your sounding board.

• Your first buyers are your co-creators.

• Your early data is your insurance policy. 😛 (this is not legal or insurance advice)

Final Thoughts

If you're planning to launch a product this year, remember:
The quality of your idea matters. But the quality of your validation matters even more.

Create alongside your audience, not just for them.

That’s how you build products people are excited to buy, not just once, but over and over again.

Talk soon,
Kayla

(add me on linkedin?)