How to Conduct User Research for MVP Planning

You’ve got a game-changing idea. Maybe it’s a mobile app, a SaaS platform, or a new tool for remote teams. You’re excited to build a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and get it into users’ hands. But how do you ensure that your MVP actually solves a real problem? The answer lies in user research.

Before diving into development, MVP planning must begin with understanding your target audience. Without clear insights into users’ pain points, behaviors, and needs, even the most polished MVP can fall flat.

User research is the process of gathering insights about your potential users to guide product decisions. In the context of MVP planning, this research helps you validate whether your idea solves a real problem, discover your ideal customer profile (ICP), define core MVP features that matter most to users, and avoid building unnecessary or unwanted features. As Harvard Business Review points out, companies that conduct ongoing user research significantly outperform their peers (source).

To get started, define clear research goals. Before jumping into surveys or interviews, identify what you want to learn. Ask yourself: What problem is my product solving? Who is the target user? What assumptions am I making? What features are critical to solving the core problem? This clarity will shape your entire MVP planning process.

Next, identify your target audience. You don’t need to target “everyone.” Focus on a specific segment with a clear problem. Use tools like Google Analytics or social media insights to study existing behavior. Online forums such as Reddit and Quora are also great places to understand how people talk about their challenges. A great tip here is to create user personas to visualize your audience's needs, goals, and pain points.

Choosing the right research methods is critical. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Mix qualitative and quantitative techniques for best results.

Qualitative methods include user interviews, which are one-on-one chats to understand emotions, habits, and frustrations, and contextual inquiry, which involves observing users in their natural environment (like watching how remote teams collaborate). Quantitative methods include surveys—using tools like Google Forms or Typeform to gather data at scale—and analytics to identify behavioral trends if you already have access to product usage data.

Make sure you’re asking the right questions. Craft open-ended, non-leading questions that reveal insights. Good examples include: “Can you walk me through how you currently solve this problem?”, “What’s the most frustrating part of your current workflow?”, and “What tools do you use, and why?” Try to avoid yes/no questions unless you're using surveys to measure trends.

Once you’ve gathered data, it’s time to analyze and synthesize findings. Group your insights into themes such as common pain points, feature requests, unmet needs, and behavioral patterns. You can use affinity diagrams or customer journey maps to visualize this information. The key here is prioritization—focus on features that frequently arise, solve serious problems, and align with your product vision.

Now it’s time to turn those insights into actionable steps. Define core features that solve the most pressing user problems. Ask yourself: “If we build only this, will users still get value?” Create user stories to guide development—like “As a remote team manager, I want to assign tasks easily so that I can streamline team workflows.” Once you’ve outlined these core features, build wireframes or clickable prototypes and test them with users. Tools like Figma or InVision help you gather feedback early before writing a single line of code.

There are a few common mistakes to avoid during user research in MVP planning. Don’t skip qualitative insights—quantitative data alone won’t tell you why users behave a certain way. Avoid talking to the wrong people—get input from your actual target users, not friends or colleagues. Watch out for confirmation bias—challenge your assumptions instead of looking for validation. And finally, don’t treat research as a one-time task—iterate and refine based on ongoing feedback.

If you’re not sure where to begin or want expert support, Riemote can help. At Riemote, we specialize in helping startups and entrepreneurs build lean, user-focused MVPs backed by real research. Our team can assist with user interviews and analysis, creating user personas and journey maps, rapid prototyping, and full-stack MVP development tailored to validated user needs. Whether you’re in ideation or need to pivot your MVP, Riemote makes your MVP planning smarter and faster.

If you’d like to deepen your skills in this area, check out these helpful external resources. The Nielsen Norman Group offers an excellent primer on user research methods. Additionally, Usability.gov provides .gov-backed templates and guides for effective user research.

User research isn’t optional—it’s essential for smart MVP planning. By understanding your users’ needs, frustrations, and goals, you can create a lean, focused product that delivers real value. It reduces guesswork, saves time, and sets your product up for long-term success. Whether you’re just starting or refining an existing MVP, user research will guide your decisions and increase your chances of market success.

Ready to build an MVP your users will love? Partner with Riemote and get started today.

FAQ

Why is user research important in MVP planning?
User research helps validate whether your idea solves a real problem, ensuring your MVP is aligned with actual user needs.

How many users should I talk to during MVP research?
Start with 5–10 in-depth interviews. Patterns tend to emerge quickly. Scale up for surveys and usability testing as needed.

What tools can help with MVP user research?
Popular tools include Google Forms, Typeform (for surveys), Figma or InVision (for prototypes), and Lookback or Zoom (for interviews).

How often should I conduct user research during MVP planning?
Continuously! Begin early and repeat during each development phase to refine your MVP.

Can Riemote help with MVP research and development?
Yes! Riemote offers full-service MVP planning, user research, and agile development tailored to your startup's needs.