Hello, wary builder! 👷
One of the most frequently asked questions I get at Loop is - how do I set up user interviews with my own customers? Response rates are low, no show rates are astronomical - and really we’re all struggling to get those calls set up before the end of a sprint.
After much iteration on my own methods, co-solutioning with teams like InVideo and advice from industry experts like Nathan Lippi, I’ve come up with the ultimate guide to help you find and recruit existing users of your product for user interviews & usability tests.
Don’t worry - this isn’t a high-level, 30,000 ft view. This is a deep-in-the-weeds, play-by-play of all the things you need to know to get those calls set up & get user insights to your team in days (not weeks!).
Ready? Let’s jump in 🚀
The first step in any project is defining your goals. In this case, the key question to answer is - who are you trying to interview?
Broadly, there are 2 types of audiences:
New users: If you’re building a product or feature for a completely new user base that isn’t served by your product at all today, you fall into this bucket. You have to go out and recruit users from ecosystems like LinkedIn / Slack / Discord / Reddit, or go through a paid panel or recruiting agency that can source candidates for you.
Existing users: If you already have a product, 80% of the time you’re looking to speak with folks already using it. In fact, you often need to speak to a very specific segment of existing users, such as: