The landing-page-first move sounds gimmicky and isn't. It's the cheapest way to find out if your positioning, audience, and price are right — before you've spent a single hour building something nobody asked for.
What goes on the page
- One headline that names the user and the outcome ("Stop chasing invoices — for solo bookkeepers").
- One subhead that names the wedge.
- 3–5 bullet outcomes (not features).
- One screenshot or short video, even if mocked.
- Real pricing (see Pricing from Day One).
- One CTA: "Get early access" or "Reserve your spot for $X."
The two valid CTAs
- Email capture: easier, weaker signal. ~2–5% conversion is meaningful.
- Pre-payment: harder, much stronger signal. Even a $1 deposit filters tire-kickers.
If you can stomach it, do option 2. One paid pre-order is worth 50 emails.
Where to send traffic
- Direct DMs to your interview list.
- One on-topic post in the niche subreddit / Slack / forum.
- $50–$200 of targeted Reddit or LinkedIn ads if you want a clean conversion-rate read.
You only need ~200 visitors for a meaningful signal.
What a "yes" looks like
- 3%+ email signup rate from cold traffic.
- Or 1+ pre-payment per 100 visitors.
- Bonus: unsolicited DMs asking when it'll be ready.
What a "no" looks like
Sub-1% conversion, polite "looks cool" replies, no organic shares. Don't argue with the result — change the headline, niche, or wedge and re-test in 48 hours.
Why founders skip this step
Because building feels like work and a landing page feels like cheating. It isn't. It's the single highest-leverage day of work in the entire founding journey.