The Smoke Test: Validating SaaS Demand Without a Product

The biggest mistake indie hackers make is building a "stealth" MVP for three months, only to launch to the sound of crickets.

The Smoke Test is the antidote to this. It’s a method to measure real-world demand by offering a solution that doesn't fully exist yet.

What is a Smoke Test?

A smoke test is a simple landing page that pitches your value proposition and asks for a "conversion" (usually an email signup or a pre-order click). If people are willing to give you their contact info or click "Buy" based on a headline and a few bullet points, you have a signal.

The 3-Step Smoke Test Framework

1. The "Coming Soon" Landing Page

Don't just say "Coming Soon." Pitch it as if it's already live.

• Headline: Focus on the outcome (e.g., "Automate your invoices in 10 seconds").
• Sub-headline: Explain how you do it.
• CTA: "Join the Beta" or "Get Early Access."

2. The Micro-Ad Spend

Post your link in relevant communities (Reddit, Indie Hackers, X) or spend small ($20-$50) on highly targeted Meta or Google ads. Your goal isn't profit; it's data.

3. Measuring the "Bite"

If your conversion rate (Signups / Visitors) is:

• < 2%: Your messaging or the problem itself isn't resonating.
• 5-10%: You’re onto something.
• > 15%: Stop reading this and start building.

Why This Works

It forces you to solve the distribution problem before the technical problem. If you can’t get 10 people to sign up for a waitlist, you won’t get 10 people to pay for a product.

Conclusion

Smoke testing is about being honest with yourself. It’s better to lose $50 on ads and a weekend on a landing page than 3 months on a product nobody wants.

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Ready to smoke test your actual pitch? Run it through Torrn to see what 10 AI personas think before you even buy the domain.