Low-Fidelity MVPs: The 8 Types You Need to Know
Have you ever heard of the term "Minimum Viable Product?" It's a popular concept in the startup world, and it refers to a product with just enough features to satisfy early customers. But what about when you're not starting a new business? What if you're trying to improve an existing one? That's where low-fidelity MVPs come in. In this blog post, we will discuss the 8 types of low-fidelity MVPs and how they can help you improve your business!
Type #1: The Smoke Test
The first type of low-fidelity MVP is the smoke test. This is a very simple MVP that is used to test whether or not there is interest in a certain product or feature. All you need to do for a smoke test is create a landing page that describes your product or feature, and then drive traffic to it. If people are interested, they will sign up or inquire about your product. If not, you can move on to something else!
Type #2: The A/B Test AKA Split Test
The second type of low-fidelity MVP is the A/B test. This is a slightly more complex MVP than the smoke test, but it can still be very useful in testing whether or not a certain change will be successful. For an A/B test, you simply create two versions of a landing page (or another element on your website) and then track which one performs better. This can be a great way to test things like new copy, new images, or even new functionality!
Type #3: The Concierge MVP
The third type of low-fidelity MVP is the concierge MVP. This type of MVP is used when you want to test a product or service but you don't have the resources to build it yourself. Instead, you find someone who is willing to provide the service manually. For example, if you wanted to test a new laundry service, you could find a local laundrymat and offer to do people's laundry for them. This would give you a chance to test your pricing, your marketing, and even your business model!
Type #4: The Wizard of Oz MVP
The fourth type of low-fidelity MVP is the Wizard of Oz MVP. This is similar to the concierge MVP, but it is named after the movie because it involves using technology to create the illusion of a fully functioning product. For example, if you wanted to test a new online store, you could create a landing page and then use PayPal to process orders manually. This would give you a chance to test your website design, your checkout process, and even your customer service!
Type #5: The Pilot Test
The fifth type of low-fidelity MVP is the pilot test. This MVP is used when you want to test a product or service in a real-world setting before committing to building it yourself. For example, if you wanted to test a new restaurant concept, you could open up a pop-up restaurant for a few weeks. This would give you a chance to test your menu, your pricing, and even your staff!
Type #6: The Minimum Viable Product
The sixth type of low-fidelity MVP is the minimum viable product. This MVP is exactly what it sounds like - a product with just enough features to be usable. For example, if you wanted to test a new mobile app, you could create a very basic version of the app with just the essential features. This would give you a chance to test the idea, the market, and even the technology!
Type #7: Beta Test
The seventh type of low-fidelity MVP is the beta test. This is when you release a product or service to a small group of users in order to get feedback and make sure there are no major issues before releasing it to the general public. For example, if you wanted to test a new premium course, you could create a Beta version and invite 12+ people to use it. This would give you a chance to collect data and feedback so that you can improve the course before making it live for everyone.
Type #8: The Prototype
The eighth and final type of low-fidelity MVP is the prototype. This MVP is used when you want to test the feasibility of a product or service. For example, if you wanted to test a new car, you could create a prototype that is just the shell of the car. This would give you a chance to test the design, the engineering, and even the manufacturing!
So there you have it - eight types of low-fidelity MVPs that can help you improve your business! That’s a lot of types of MVPs! But don’t worry, you don’t have to use them all at once. In fact, most startups will only need 2-3 types of MVPs. And the great thing is that you can start with the low-fidelity MVP and then move up to higher fidelity versions as you get more data and feedback from your customers. In the comments below, let us know which one you plan on trying first. And if you have any questions about how to get started, our team is always happy to help.
Additional Resources: Read this blog post “When and How to use Low-Fidelity Minimum Viable Products (MVPs)”
