Finding Product-Market Fit
If you’re launching your first online business—or even your third—there’s a lot of pressure to come up with the right idea.
You might feel like you need to invent something bold, new, original.
But here’s the truth: you don’t need to create a brand new category to build a profitable business.
You just need to solve a real problem for real people—preferably a problem they’re already looking to fix.
Let’s break this down.
Start With the Market, Not the Product
Most people get stuck because they start with the wrong question:
“What should I sell?”
But that’s not where you start.
The smarter question is:
“What are people already struggling with—and willing to pay for a solution to?”
If you can find a need in the marketplace that’s not being fully met, your job becomes easier. You’re not trying to create demand from scratch. You’re tapping into what’s already there.
Every real problem is a potential product.
Your job is to spot the frustration—then create something that relieves it.
Where to Look for That Demand
You don’t need fancy tools or an MBA to figure this out. Here’s where to start:
Amazon and E-commerce Reviews
Look at what people are already buying—and what they’re complaining about.
Pay attention to reviews. What’s missing? What features do they wish the product had?
Google Search + Keyword Tools
Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest to see what people are actively searching for.
If people are typing a question into Google every day, that’s a signal.
3. Forums, Reddit, and Facebook Groups
Search for your niche and read what people are posting about.
What do they vent about? What do they wish existed?
4. TikTok, Instagram, YouTube Comments
Sometimes, your next idea is hiding in the comments section.
Look for problems that get repeated, or videos that go viral because they hit a nerve.
Follow the Demand, Don’t Invent It (Yet)
If you’re early in your journey, don’t try to invent something totally new.
Instead, find a wave that’s already building—and ride it.
You don’t have to create the iPhone.
You can build a solid business selling iPhone cases.
The market for iPhones already exists. It’s huge. Instead of competing with Apple, you can serve that audience with accessories, upgrades, or complementary offers.
It’s less risky. And more realistic when you’re just starting out.
What "Riding the Wave" Looks Like
Let’s say someone else already created the course, product, or app idea you were thinking of.
That’s a good sign.
That means there’s demand—and it’s your job to figure out how to serve that demand better, faster, cheaper, or in a way that fits a specific kind of person.
Someone created the yoga mat. You create one with posture guides printed on it.
Someone made a course on Notion. You make one just for overwhelmed creatives.
Someone built an app for freelancers. You build a template library that supports it.
There’s always a way to attach to the big thing—like a small fish swimming alongside a whale.
Want Less Risk? Be a "Chicken Entrepreneur"
This isn’t about playing small.
It’s about making smart, conservative moves that get you in the game fast.
It’s okay to be cautious when you’re starting.
Don’t waste time building something nobody wants.
Start where demand is already proven.
Start where people are actively looking for solutions.
And once you’ve made your first few sales? That’s when you can start to take bigger risks.
Final Thought
You don’t have to be Elon Musk to build a real business.
You just have to solve something that’s already bothering real people.
So instead of guessing your way to product-market fit, go find it.
It’s out there. And it’s probably hiding in plain sight.
