Concept Testing

Minimize product failure risk with concept testing

Avoid costly development cycles and uncertain outcomes. Use concept testing to identify high-potential ideas early and maximize your returns.

Reduce the risk of going in the wrong direction

Validate your ideas early with concept testing. Get user feedback to identify issues and make adjustments, saving time and money on costly redesigns.

Create a superior user experience

Understand user preferences and pain points. Use this insight to make data-driven design decisions, increasing customer satisfaction and retention.

Bring new features and products to market faster

Make quicker decisions and prioritize promising concepts. Align your teams for agility, stay ahead of the competition, and meet customer demands swiftly.

Map to UX Metrics

Comprehension

Ensure users grasp how to use products, leading to increased satisfaction.

Sentiment

Measure users’ emotional responses, guiding improvements and influencing overall brand perception.

Usability

Ensure that users can efficiently and effectively achieve their goals, leading to higher satisfaction.

Reaction

Directly influence product adoption, user satisfaction, and long-term success by providing critical feedback that drives improvements and innovation.

Explore a Relevant Case Study

IU Concept Testing

Walk through how Indiana University leveraged concept testing with Helio to increase degree page engagement.

How to Conduct Your Concept Testing

1

Get Started

Get the pre-designed template that will guide you through the entire concept testing process, ensuring a structured and efficient approach.

2

Define Your Research Objectives and Methods

Identify specific objectives such as evaluating initial reactions, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and gathering suggestions for improvements.

Depending on your objectives, methods like surveys, focus groups, and in-depth interviews will help you gather comprehensive feedback on your concept.

 

3

Prepare Your Concept and Design Your Questionairre

Ensure that participants understand the concept fully by providing necessary details, visuals, and context.

Include sections such as screening questions, evaluation questions on appeal and understanding, comparative questions, and open-ended questions. Use different question types like multiple choice, Likert scale, and follow-ups to capture a wide range of insights.

 

4

Analyze Your Findings

Use quantitative and qualitative analysis methods to interpret the feedback. Visualize the data using graphs and charts to identify key findings related to the concept’s strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.

 

5

Implement Changes

Make necessary adjustments to your concept based on the feedback. This could involve modifying features, improving clarity, or addressing any identified issues.

Business questions that can be addressed with concept testing

Here are some common questions product or marketing leaders ask that can be addressed with concept testing:


1.
Will our target audience find this new product concept appealing?
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To find out if your target audience will like your new product concept, concept testing is essential. Helio lets you present your idea to potential users and gather their feedback. Identify reactions and pinpoint areas for improvement before launching.

With Helio, you can create targeted surveys and quickly collect feedback from your specific audience. Refine your concept based on real user insights to ensure it meets their needs and expectations.

report view from feedback on a concept test.

Make informed decisions about your product concept to increase its chances of success and save time and resources by addressing potential issues early.



2.
Which design elements resonate most with our potential customers?
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Concept testing determines which design elements resonate most with potential customers. Helio uses this approach to refine product designs by presenting various design options, such as color schemes and layouts, to real users.

Gather feedback on what users find most appealing and intuitive. This process helps identify preferences and make data-driven design decisions.

concept test validation with click mapping.

Helio ensures your design choices align with customer expectations, leading to more user-friendly and engaging products that enhance user satisfaction and loyalty.



3.
Are there any usability issues or pain points in our product concept?
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Concept testing helps identify usability issues and pain points in your product concept. Helio enables you to present different aspects of a product to potential users and collect their feedback.

Create tests that simulate real-world usage scenarios, asking users to interact with the product concept and gather detailed feedback on their experience. Highlight any confusing elements, difficult navigation paths, or other usability issues.

concept testing results.

Addressing usability issues early in the design process with Helio leads to a more polished, user-friendly product that meets the needs and expectations of your target audience. 



4.
What are the key features or functionalities users expect from our product?
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Concept testing uncovers the key features or functionalities users expect from a product. Helio presents various product concepts to potential users and gathers their feedback to refine products based on real user insights.

Set up tests where users interact with different features and provide feedback on their experiences. Identify which functionalities are most desired and which might need improvement, such as ease of use, specific tools, or seamless integration with other platforms.

results from concept testing.

Building products that meet user expectations and needs with Helio’s feedback-driven approach increases their likelihood of success in the market.


I make it a point to share the data we gather because it plays a key role in guiding our decisions and justifying our recommendations. It’s more than just choosing our favorite ad; it’s about making informed choices.

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Kevin Dunn, LevLane 

Test Template Example

Rapid Concept Testing Template

Test outcomes:

  • Evaluate the level of comprehension with your concepts
  • Establish user interest in each of your team’s ideas
  • Measure possible long-term engagement with your idea
Use Template

FAQs

What is concept testing?
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Concept testing is a research method used to evaluate and validate new product or service ideas, design concepts, or marketing strategies before they are fully developed or launched. It involves presenting these concepts to a target audience and collecting feedback to determine their viability and potential for success.


Why is concept testing important for product development?
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Concept testing is crucial for product development as it helps businesses reduce the risk of investing time and resources into concepts that may not resonate with their target audience. It provides valuable insights early in the development process, helping companies make informed decisions and refine concepts for maximum market success.


What are the different methods and approaches to concept testing?
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Concept testing can be conducted through various methods, including surveys, focus groups, in-depth interviews, online questionnaires, A/B testing, and usability testing. The choice of method depends on the nature of the concept and the target audience.


When in the product development process should concept testing be conducted?
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Concept testing should ideally occur in the early stages of product development, before significant resources are allocated to design and development. This allows for timely adjustments and avoids costly rework.


How do I select an appropriate sample size for concept testing?
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Sample size selection depends on the research objectives, the level of precision required, and the diversity of your target audience. Generally, larger sample sizes provide more statistically reliable results, but they can be more costly and time-consuming


What types of concepts can be tested using concept testing?
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Concept testing can be applied to a wide range of concepts, including new product ideas, feature enhancements, branding concepts, marketing campaigns, and even business models.


What are the key benefits of using concept testing for marketing and product development?
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The key benefits of concept testing include risk reduction, informed decision-making, improved concept refinement, better resource allocation, and the ability to identify and address potential issues early in the development process.


What are some common mistakes to avoid in concept testing?
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Common mistakes in concept testing include not defining clear research objectives, using biased survey questions, failing to engage with a representative target audience, and not adjusting concepts based on feedback.


How can I effectively gather and analyze feedback from concept testers?
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Effective feedback gathering involves using structured and unbiased survey or interview questions, analyzing responses systematically, and using feedback to make data-driven decisions. This can be done in-house or by collaborating with research experts.