WTF is an MVP?
An MVP (Minimum Viable Product) is basically a stripped-back version of your product or service – just enough to get it out there and into the hands of early customers. The idea is to launch quickly, keep costs low, and get real feedback to see if you’re onto something before going all in.
For start-ups, entrepreneurs, and small businesses, an MVP is a smart way to test the waters without spending a fortune. If you’re thinking about launching a website MVP, here are a few key steps to help you get started – and why they matter.
How to get an MVP started
1. Figure out the main problem
Before you start building an MVP, make sure you’re clear on the problem you’re trying to solve. What’s the big issue your product or service tackles? And, more importantly, is it something people will actually pay to fix?
For a website MVP, focus on the bare minimum you’ll need. A basic one-pager might do the trick – just enough to introduce your business, share your contact details, link to your socials, and give a quick rundown of what you offer. Maybe throw in a couple of images too, to bring it to life.
2. Know your audience
Once you’ve nailed down the problem, it’s time to figure out who actually needs your solution. Understanding your target audience helps you focus on the must-have features for your MVP – it’s the minimum viable product, remember. It’s not meant to be fancy; just in the early stages of being useful.
It’s unlikely that you’re immediately going to be able to generate new business and organic visitors right off the bat. So focus on getting your name out there and extending your reach, i.e. establish your online presence. Your actual website visitors in the early days will likely be referrals from the likes of networking and social media.
3. Decide on your must-have features
Now that you know who you’re targeting, it’s time to figure out the bare minimum your MVP needs to work. The goal isn’t to build a fully polished product – it’s just about getting something usable out there so you can test the waters and get feedback. Keep it lean, and keep it simple.
This is an easy one for website MVPs – you want your business name, an introduction, an overview of what you do, contact details, and links to your social media.
4. Build it, test it
With your problem, audience, and core features sorted, it’s go time. The key here is speed – get your MVP up and running quickly, without spending a fortune. The sooner it’s out there, the sooner you’ll know if people actually want it, and you can tweak things based on real feedback. This should also help with sales – if your target audience is involved in the development, they should be more likely to buy the finished product.
This one can be a tad trickier if you’re not comfortable with putting a website together. A good base theme can be a great place to start – just fill out your content and then launch! If WordPress (which we’re big fans of) is too terrifying for you, then Wix or Squarespace could be a good place to start.
5. Get feedback and tweak things
Once your MVP is live, start gathering feedback from early users. This is your chance to see what’s working, what’s not, and what needs a bit of fine-tuning.
Ask for feedback from anyone and everyone! If someone enquires through your site, find out how they found you. Take notes on what people like and what they’re not so keen on. And don’t forget to step into your customer’s shoes and ask yourself, “am I getting what I’d need from this site?”
Why starting simple with a website MVP is the smart move
Launching a full-blown website or product can be pricey and time-consuming, especially for small businesses. An MVP lets you test the waters without pouring in loads of time and money upfront. If things go well, you can build on it bit by bit. Platforms like Wix, Squarespace, or even Canva are great low-cost ways to get started. (Don’t forget we’ve got a blog on how to get a website for free, in case you need some info on that.)
An MVP also helps you figure out if there’s real demand for what you’re offering before you go all-in. If you’re a new business, keeping costs down is important, especially in those early days – so keep it simple. You can always tweak or rebuild your site later, but having something live now is better than nothing. Plus, what you learn along the way will make your next version even better. We freely admit we scrapped and rebuilt our own website about five times over before we were eventually (sort of) happy with what we’ve got.
Getting an MVP out there quickly also gives you a head start. While others are stuck overthinking, you’ll already be live, building your audience and refining your offering. Instead of waiting until everything’s perfect, start with a simple, functional site that does the job – then improve it over time based on real feedback, and what work you actually end up enjoying.
If you’re stuck with how to make a start on your own website MVP, do drop us a line. Our advice is free, and we don’t bite. You can reach us on hello@soxdigital.co.uk