What does it mean to 'work backwards from demand' when developing new products or services?

Working backwards from demand means testing whether people actually want something before you invest time and resources creating it. Instead of spending months developing a course, product, or service and hoping people will buy it, first validate demand. Post about the concept on social media, ask your audience directly if they’d be interested, collect feedback, and gauge response. Only after confirming real interest should you invest in creation. This approach prevents you from wasting months on something nobody wants and ensures you’re building what your audience actually values.

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Asked by synthesized from teaching · Answered by Juan · Office Hours · 2026-04-09