EP56: How to Validate Your eCommerce Product Idea Without Spending a Dime

In this episode of the ASOM Pod, hosts Jimmy Kim (CEO of eCom Email Marketer, formally Founder of Sendlane), John Roman (CEO of BattlBox), Amer Grozdanic (CEO of Praella), and Bryan MacDonald (Direct of eCommerce at Oma’s Pride) get into how today’s best founders validate ideas fast and effectively without relying on biased feedback from friends or family. Whether you're pre-launch or post-launch, this episode will help you stay sharp, curious, and customer-first.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Validate or Vaporize: Why skipping validation is the fastest route to building a product no one buys.
• Google Knows Best: How to use Google Trends, search volume, and keyword data to back up your gut feeling.
• Talk to Strangers: Why your inner circle isn’t the best place to source honest feedback (and who is).
• Smoke 'Em if You Got 'Em: How to run smoke tests and pre-sell to gauge real market demand.
• Social Listening 101: The underrated art of eavesdropping on the internet to spot pain points and product gaps.
• Validation Never Ends: How to keep testing, learning, and iterating, even after launch.
  

This episode is packed with practical advice, real-life examples, and a few spicy takes on the myths of overnight success. If you’ve ever said “I think people want this,” this one’s for you.

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Big shoutout to our sponsors who make this podcast possible!

Omnisend — With 125,000+ eCommerce merchants, Omnisend is the all-in-one email & SMS marketing platform built to deliver seamless, personalized experiences via email and sms with ease. Learn more at https://www.omnisend.com/

LiveRecover — Live Agents for eCommerce — Get more out of your revenue strategy with real-time SMS engagement and sales recovery for higher ROI. Learn more at https://www.LiveRecover.com

Kintsugi — AI that monitors, files, and optimizes sales tax for you. Eliminate your tax headaches forever. Mention ASOM for 3 months free at https://www.TryKintsugi.com

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00:00 Teaser Trailer

03:06 Intro to the ASOM Pod

06:30 Deep Dive into Product Validation

15:49 Competitive Research and Market Analysis

24:57 Leveraging Social Media for Product Research

26:09 Distinguishing Trends from Sustainable Markets

27:31 The Rise and Fall of Trend-Based Businesses

29:01 Using Data and Tools for Market Analysis

32:49 The Importance of Social Listening

40:45 Pre-Selling and Validating New Products

51:10 Common Mistakes in Product Validation

52:42 Final Thoughts

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Follow Jimmy Kim at:

X: https://www.twitter.com/yojimmykim

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yojimmykim

IG: https://www.instagram.com/@yojimmykim

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yojimmykim

Follow Bryan MacDonald at:

X: https://www.twitter.com/bryanomaspride

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-macdonald-ct

IG: https://www.instagram.com/@anythingbutasalad

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@anythingbutasalad

Follow John Roman at:

X: https://www.twitter.com/@JohnMRoman

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-roman/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/@johnnyromes

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@johnmroman

Follow Amer Grozdanic at:

X: https://www.twitter.com/@AmerGrozdanic

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amer-grozdanic

IG: https://www.instagram.com/@amergrozdanic

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amergrozdanic

Contact us at hello@asompod.com for sponsorships, appearance requests, interviews, or general information!

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