The Art of Getting Good Feedback: 7 Questions to Ask Your Early Users

Most founders know they should get user feedback, but not all feedback is useful. Asking vague questions like “Do you like it?” or “Would you buy it?” often leads to polite answers that don’t help you build a better product.

Good feedback is clear, honest, and actionable. It helps you spot hidden flaws, discover real needs, and make smarter decisions before you waste time or money.

So what should you actually ask?

1️⃣ What problem were you hoping this would solve?

Helps you see if your product matches their real need — or if there’s a disconnect.

2️⃣ How were you solving this problem before?

Gives you context about their alternatives and competitors you might overlook.

3️⃣ What’s the most confusing part of using this?

Points you to friction, poor UX, or unclear messaging that you can fix early.

4️⃣ What’s missing that you expected to see?

Reveals gaps in your offer or must-have features you might have missed.

5️⃣ What would make you stop using this?

Uncovers deal-breakers that could lead to churn later.

6️⃣ How much would you pay for this?

A reality check on pricing — vague yes/no “Would you pay?” won’t cut it.

7️⃣ Who else do you think would love this?

Opens doors to referral loops and new audience insights you hadn’t considered.

Bonus Tips to Maximize Feedback Effectiveness

• Keep it open-ended instead of asking leading questions.

• Listen more than you talk.

• Take notes and look for repeated themes, not one-off opinions.

• Close the loop: thank people and show how their input shaped your next step.

The earlier you build a habit of asking the right questions, the faster you’ll learn what works, what doesn’t, and where you should focus next.

To build a great product, you must listen to what you need to know instead of focusing on what you want to hear. At TBD, we can help you figure out the questions you need to be asking your customers to take your business to the next stage.

Get in touch at hello@truebusinessdesign.com.

P.S. Want more tips on marketing and growing your startup? Follow our Linkedin page for weekly insights and real stories from businesses making it work!