New Prompting Techniques Urged for AI Analysis
As founders use AI for user discovery and analysis, experts are recommending new prompting techniques to ensure trustworthy results. To prevent common AI mistakes, a multi-step process is advised that involves clarifying, verifying, and cross-examining AI-generated insights, followed by manual validation of key findings before making decisions.
- YC Partner Michael Seibel advises founders to find their first 10 customers from their personal network, targeting people who have personally experienced the problem you are trying to solve. He suggests qualifying these early customers by asking 4-5 questions to gauge how intensely they feel the problem. - When conducting cold outreach, personalizing your message is critical; one study found that personalization can boost open rates from around 21% to over 30%. For B2B startups, Forum Ventures suggests focusing the email on the prospect's "TIM" problem (Time, Image, or Money) to increase the chances of booking a call. - To find users before you have a product, engage in niche online communities on platforms like Reddit, Discord, or specific forums where your target users are already discussing the problem you aim to solve. The key is to contribute to the community authentically before mentioning your product. - LinkedIn can be a powerful tool for B2B user discovery by using its search function to find people in your first or second-degree network who fit your target profile. One successful tactic is to post about the problem space and then send a direct message to anyone who engages with the post to ask for a brief interview. - YC's general advice is to launch your product immediately, as it's the only way to fully understand customer problems and whether your solution meets their needs. The core tasks for an early-stage company should be writing code and talking to users. - To build a consistent pipeline of discovery conversations, product teams should block off a set amount of time each week specifically for user interviews. Teresa Torres, a proponent of "continuous discovery," advocates for at least weekly touchpoints with customers by the team that is building the product. - Early adopters are often willing to engage with a startup even without a finished product because they want to help shape the development of a solution that adds value to their lives. This creates a valuable feedback loop as you build your MVP. - Garry Tan, President and CEO of Y Combinator, emphasizes that for a startup to succeed in a competitive market, its product must be significantly better, faster, or cheaper than the alternatives. This differentiation is crucial to attract initial users.
