Want to save a huge chunk of money on website development?
Looking for a way to launch your business website quickly?
If your answer to both questions is “YES,” you should go for MVP websites!
We usually link Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) with online apps, but lots of MVPs are actually websites introducing new stuff to the market.
MVP websites help test new product ideas and let software teams collect feedback to make the website better in the future.
Did you know? Airbnb started with a basic MVP website. It allowed users to easily book rooms for events. And now, it is one of the most successful companies in the world.
If you are planning to develop an MVP website, keep reading. In this article, we are going to share a success formula with you along with 6 practical tips to build, launch, and improve your site.
What is an MVP Website?
An MVP website is a basic version of a new online service or software. It has the main features that show what the company offers, helping them check if people want it. After getting feedback from users, the team makes the website better with each update, giving users more of what they want.
The big advantage of making an MVP website is that you don’t waste time making a perfect website that might not do what you want. An MVP website is made quickly and cheaply, and changes are based on what users like. This is different from the usual way of making a website, launching it, and not changing it until much later.
Now, you can easily build, launch, and improve MVP websites using AI website builder tools like Hocoos. It helps you create any type of website from scratch in just 5 minutes without any coding. What’s best is that you can easily make changes in the website structure, design, content, and features as and when you want.
Understanding the Lean Methodology
Are you wondering where the concept of the MVP website came from? It all started with “the lean methodology.”
The lean startup method was led by Eric Ries. Inspired by efficient manufacturing, it focuses on doing things quickly, reducing waste, and improving fast.
Eric says that launching a basic version of your product is best to match what people want. By showing this simple version to users and getting their thoughts, startups can,
- Develop their ideas
- Test them with early users
- See if there’s a real market without taking big risks
This method helps startups plan product launches well and make products that people actually want, even with limited money.
But the MVP idea isn’t just for products. Web designers also use it, making basic website versions, seeing how users use them, and changing designs based on real feedback. This flexible design process follows important principles like focusing on what users need, finding key features, and giving value quickly.
MVP websites work well for startups, especially in fast-changing industries with limited resources. They can adjust their websites easily as they grow and change.
Benefits of an MVP Website
MVPs have many benefits that can help you succeed when launching a new website and product. Here are six.
- Faster launch: They get your product to market quickly without spending time on features that might not matter later.
- Saves money: These sites let you use your resources wisely, saving money during development.
- Idea validation: MVPs help you find out early if your idea is good. If few people are interested, it’s important to move on to something better quickly.
- Less risk: MVPs reduce the chances of your project failing before it even starts by improving based on feedback.
- Building a fanbase: Early users who help improve the product can become loyal fans if you offer them value.
- Better fit for the market: By listening to real users, you can make a product that fits the market well.
Basic Features of MVP Websites
The basic features of an MVP website should focus on simplicity and functionality to provide a good user experience.
- Clear value proposition: Make sure users understand what the site offers and what they can do as soon as they arrive. Use clear language and engaging prompts to encourage actions like signing up or filling out contact forms.
- Quality content: Even with limited content, make sure it’s top-notch to build trust. Work with marketers to create authentic content that matches the brand’s voice.
- Feedback collection: Use tools to get feedback from visitors. This helps you improve your MVP and see if your idea is good.
- Easy navigation: Plan out how users will move through the site early on and adjust as needed based on feedback.
- Lead generation tools: Many MVP websites need to capture leads. Use methods like contact forms or surveys to gather information and confirm there’s demand for your product.
- A/B testing: This lets you try out different things, like different buttons or headings, to see what users like best. Google Optimize is one tool for this.
- Analytics: Integrating tools like Google Analytics helps you understand how users behave on your site. Use this data to improve the user experience, boost conversions, and meet user needs better.
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The Success Formula
The MVP website formula for success is as follows:
- Build: Put together the essential elements of your website in a rudimentary form.
- Launch: Make your website accessible to the public for use and viewing.
- Improve: Keep making your website better based on feedback and data.
6 Tips to Build an MVP Website
So, how do you make an MVP website that works for you? Here are 6 important tips to follow.
1. Set clear goals
Establish specific objectives for your website first. Make a list of all the functions you would like your website to have, then prioritize them. When you’re constructing the site, these objectives will help you keep on task.
For example, concentrate on developing an easy-to-use booking system if you want students to arrange tutoring sessions with ease. Ensure that students can book sessions and view available timeslots without difficulty.
2. Focus on core features
When you’re making an MVP, focus on the most important features that match what your site needs to do and what users want.
Finding and saving recipes may be the primary task for visitors on your website, for instance, if it serves as a platform for sharing recipes. This ensures that users may save their favorite recipes to their profiles and that the search function is user-friendly.
On the other hand, visitors who are using your website as a social networking platform might like to interact and exchange updates. In this instance, concentrate on creating user accounts and sharing capabilities that are easy to use.
3. Set up channels to collect data
You must get user feedback if you want your MVP to function successfully. This entails putting mechanisms in place to collect various kinds of input.
It’s important to gather quantitative data, such as the number of visitors and their duration of stay, as well as qualitative data, such as user reviews and usage logs.
While quantitative feedback reveals precisely what someone is doing, qualitative feedback explains why they do things. You can make site modifications that are based on what users need and want by utilizing both forms of input.
Make sure people can easily get in touch with you in order to encourage them to offer their opinions. To acquire firsthand input on their experience, you may also include a brief poll on the website.
4. Keep the design simple
Avoid using complex icons, illustrations, animations, or fancy fonts. Focus on creating a clean and simple design that matches the vibe you want.
You don’t need to spend a lot of time making the website look perfect right now. The main goal of an MVP is to test how well it works and get feedback.
Spending too much time on fancy design can distract from this goal, make development take longer, and cost more. You can make the design better later on once you have more feedback and know your concept works.
5. Make changes when needed
As you get feedback, you’ll see what your site does well and where it needs improvement. If something isn’t working, decide if small changes can fix it or if you need to make big changes.
MVPs expect some things might not work perfectly, so don’t worry if you find problems. Instead, see it as a chance to fix things and try something new if needed.
6. Continuous improvement
Keep making small changes based on feedback. Look at the data, make adjustments, and see how they affect things. Use what you’ve learned from past versions to make the next one better. For example, if lots of people leave your site quickly, improve the first page they see.
You can also try testing different versions at the same time to get feedback faster. Just make sure you have enough users to get useful results.
Wrapping Up
When making an MVP website, it’s good to use an easy-to-use web development platform that makes it easy to make changes. You can also use AI website builder tools. It helps you edit the website and easily make changes whenever you want. This way, you don’t have to worry about fixing code when you make changes.
