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Guide: I use this prompt stack to kill weak SaaS ideas in under 30 minutes
r/SaaS
8/15/2025
Content Summary
This post presents a structured approach to evaluating SaaS ideas using a series of prompts designed to challenge assumptions, validate market demand, and define a clear positioning strategy. The author emphasizes the importance of avoiding the sunk cost fallacy by thoroughly analyzing the market, competitors, and customer needs before investing in development. They also suggest combining AI-driven analysis with real user feedback and low-cost testing methods like ad campaigns and landing pages. Several commenters shared their own experiences and tools they use for market validation, such as Treendly, Similarweb, and Pulse for Reddit.
Opinion Analysis
Mainstream opinion among commenters is highly supportive of the author's approach, with many expressing appreciation for the structured method of validating SaaS ideas before building. There's a general consensus that early-stage market research and customer feedback are crucial for success. Some commenters suggest adding more user interviews and real-time data collection to enhance the process. A few mention the importance of differentiating from competitors and focusing on unique value propositions. While there's no major controversy, some users emphasize the need for practical tools like Treendly and Pulse for Reddit to supplement the prompt-based analysis.
SAAS TOOLS
| SaaS | URL | Category | Features/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treendly | https://www.treendly.com | Trend Analysis | Tracks emerging trends across industries for market validation |
| Carrd | https://carrd.co | Landing Page Tool | Quick and simple landing page creation for A/B testing |
| Similarweb | https://www.similarweb.com | Website Traffic Analysis | Reveals search gaps and competitor traffic data |
| SparkToro | https://www.sparktoro.com | Social Media Analytics | Analyzes social media presence and engagement |
| Pulse for Reddit | https://usepulse.ai | Community Monitoring | Surfaces raw objections in target subreddits |
| Miro | https://miro.com | Collaboration Tool | Used for mapping killer features and competitive analysis |
| AppSumo | https://www.appsumo.com | SaaS Deals | Offers validation kits for pre-sales testing |
| Notion | https://www.notion.so | Project Management | Used for tracking cost-per-email metrics |
| Google Trends | https://trends.google.com | Trend Analysis | Helps identify consistent growth or interest in a niche |
USER NEEDS
Pain Points:
- Fear of sunk cost fallacy and investing in weak SaaS ideas
- Difficulty validating market demand before building
- Need for efficient, structured methods to assess business viability
- Challenges in identifying unique market positioning and differentiation
- Lack of tools to quickly test and refine SaaS concepts
Problems to Solve:
- Determining whether a SaaS idea is worth pursuing
- Identifying the right audience and value proposition
- Evaluating market saturation and competition
- Building a clear and defensible product positioning
- Validating pricing models and customer acquisition strategies
Potential Solutions:
- Using prompt stacks to evaluate market feasibility
- Conducting user interviews and feedback sessions
- Testing with small-scale ad campaigns and landing pages
- Leveraging tools like Treendly, Similarweb, and Pulse for real-time market insights
- Using frameworks like Jobs to Be Done (JTBD) and Awareness Levels for customer profiling
GROWTH FACTORS
Effective Strategies:
- Using structured prompt stacks to validate SaaS ideas early
- Combining AI-driven analysis with real user feedback
- Focusing on clear, differentiated positioning in crowded markets
- Testing with low-cost ad campaigns and landing pages
- Leveraging community insights from platforms like Reddit and IndieHackers
Marketing & Acquisition:
- Utilizing Google Trends and Treendly for trend analysis
- Running small-scale paid ad tests (e.g., $50 Google Ads) to gauge interest
- Engaging directly with potential users through Zoom calls or surveys
- Using tools like Similarweb and SparkToro for competitor analysis
Monetization & Product:
- Emphasizing the importance of pricing models that align with market expectations
- Highlighting the need for a strong value proposition that addresses core pain points
- Stressing the importance of product-market fit before scaling
- Encouraging the use of tools like Notion to track key metrics such as cost-per-email
User Engagement:
- Encouraging direct user interaction through interviews and calls
- Building communities around SaaS ideas on platforms like Reddit
- Using tools like Pulse for Reddit to monitor real-time feedback and objections
- Creating engaging content based on validated strategic frameworks