See the Market Clearly

Test the Waters

So far, you’ve circled an idea that excites you, checked the competition, and mapped out demand. But knowing the market is one thing. Seeing if your version of the idea clicks with real people is another. That’s where testing the waters comes in.

Testing doesn’t mean investing thousands in inventory. It means running small, low-risk experiments to see if people respond. You can:

Put up a landing page with photos or mockups (made in Figma or Canva) and a simple email signup form.
Run a tiny ad campaign (as little as $20–50) on Instagram or TikTok to see if anyone clicks.
Offer a limited pre-order on Etsy with a long ship date, just to gauge interest.

The goal isn’t to make money yet. The goal is to answer: “Do people notice? Do they care enough to click, sign up, or even buy early?” If you get traction, you know you’re onto something. If not, you can adjust quickly without wasting resources.

Action

Pick one of the three methods above and test your idea this week. Measure how many signups, clicks, or pre-orders you get. Even a handful is a green light to keep moving. Zero response? That’s valuable too — it tells you to refine your product or story before going further.