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Wawi

How to know if a problem is worth building a product around?

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Ever been so annoyed by a problem you thought “someone needs to fix this”? That’s where a ton of great products start. However… how do you really know whether this frustration is worth building a product around, or if it's just a personal annoyance?

This was the first question @mwamedacen and I asked ourselves when we considered launching 1Stroke - an AI tool that generates and rephrases smart replies anywhere on the web with just a right-click.

Our pain point? We used to spend hours writing and rewriting professional emails and social media content, only for them to be read in mere seconds.

Here's the process that convinced us to give it a try, and that we can recommend to anyone at this stage:

  1. Validate that you’re not alone
    Ask friends, family, or colleagues if they face the same issue.

  2. Hunt for workarounds or existing alternatives
    If people are hacking together scripts or paying for costly solutions, that’s a strong sign.

  3. Assess “Hair on Fire” vs “Nice to Have”
    Is this problem a daily annoyance or just an occasional inconvenience?
    If your solution saves time, money, or sanity, you’re onto something.

  4. Talk to 10 strangers

    Seek out strangers and listen to how they describe the problem. If their eyes light up, you’re on the right track!

  5. Test the interest

    Create a mockup or landing page to assess if people will sign up, share, or pay for it. This helps distinguish real interest from polite applause.

  6. Launch the solution

    Share your product in engaged communities to get authentic feedback. Product Hunt is a great platform to launch and receive constructive input from a supportive audience.

  7. Turn frustration into excitement!

    Be passionate about your problem, enjoy your journey, and always seek to improve your solution.

What frustration have you solved – or want to solve?

👇 Share your own stories of turning frustration into creation! Let’s get inspired.

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Aayaz Gul

I built a simple tool that organizes all your job applications in one place because I was constantly losing track of who I applied to. I asked around and realized many of my friends had the same issue. That gave me the confidence to build it further.

Hossein Yazdi

I think point #4 is the most important one. Reaching out to other makers, whether here or on social media, can be super helpful. It’s not just useful for building online products, but for starting any kind of business. That’s basically what market research is all about.

Edward Michaelson

Strongly agree with points 3-5. In my experience, the single most important metric for whether a problem is worth solving is frequency. How OFTEN does the problem happen. Even if the pain isn't that high, if it happens A LOT, people will usually pay to fix it.

I wish more founders created super simple landing pages and ran paid traffic to see if the messaging resonates. Fastest way to validate and cheaper than "hustling" in the long run.

Harold Gary

We have a Mac software called iBoysoft MagicMenu, which helps users manage files quickly with a single right-click, significantly improving office efficiency. For example, you can choose options like "New File," "Quick Access," "Copy/Move To," "Copy File Path," "Screen Capture," and more. ( Learn more about it: https://www.producthunt.com/products/iboysoft-magicmenu-lite)

Before developing this software, our developers found the steps for copying file paths, creating new files, and cutting files on Mac to be cumbersome, requiring more steps than on Windows computers. Marketing personnel also noticed similar feedback from real users in discussions on Apple-related forums, YouTube, Reddit, and other communities, and they felt there was a need for a lightweight tool to address these issues. This software is especially useful for content creators, people who are transitioning from Windows to Mac, and those using both Windows and Mac systems.

Anthony Cai

Thanks for sharing this thoughtful framework, Wawi! I love how you emphasize validating the problem beyond personal frustration — that’s such a crucial step that many founders overlook. Talking to strangers and testing real interest through mockups or landing pages really helps separate a “nice to have” from a “must have.” Your journey with 1Stroke is a great example of turning a common pain point into a practical tool. Looking forward to seeing how it evolves and inspires others to tackle their own frustrations with a structured approach!