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Product-Market Fit (PMF) is essential for any business striving to grow sustainably and resonate with its target audience. One of the most recognized tools to gauge PMF is the PMF survey, commonly referred to as the "Sean Ellis Test" or the "40% Test." This survey provides insights into how dependent users are on your product, offering data-driven direction on product development and strategy.
A PMF survey is designed to help businesses understand whether their product is indispensable to users. It’s simple yet powerful: if over 40% of respondents say they would be “very disappointed” if they could no longer use your product, it’s a strong signal of Product-Market Fit.
The core question of a PMF survey is:
“How would you feel if you could no longer use [this product]?”
The responses are typically:
By asking this question and aiming for the 40% “very disappointed” threshold, businesses can measure how much users value their product. This approach was developed by Sean Ellis, who discovered that companies reaching this benchmark often achieve higher traction and growth.
The PMF survey can validate desirability—a key component of Product-Market Fit. However, it’s not a definitive measure. High scores indicate that users appreciate the product, but they don’t confirm whether the product will succeed long-term. That’s why it’s important to follow up with open-ended questions to gather more context about the user experience and what could make the product even more valuable.
Besides the main question, consider adding open-ended follow-ups to gain deeper insights. Sample questions could include:
These questions help reveal not just user opinions but actual user behavior—critical for building a product that truly resonates with the market.
While reaching the 40% “very disappointed” benchmark is a key goal, understanding why users feel that way offers a deeper layer of insight. By asking open-ended follow-up questions, you can capture specific pain points, desires, and unmet needs that drive this sentiment. For example, some users might rely on your product due to unique features, while others may value the customer service or the way it integrates into their workflows. Knowing why allows you to make informed product tweaks and prioritize improvements that will have the most impact on customer loyalty and satisfaction.
Understanding why also helps prevent the risk of “false positives” that can arise when users express high attachment without clearly understanding what sets your product apart. This knowledge is vital for companies looking to refine their value proposition and adapt to evolving user expectations.
Segmenting responses by user behavior is equally important. Not all users interact with your product in the same way or with the same frequency, so treating all responses equally can lead to skewed insights. By segmenting respondents—such as by usage frequency, engagement level, or even customer type—you gain clarity on which groups are most dependent on your product. This segmentation allows you to:
By understanding user behavior and targeting follow-up questions to different segments, you can adapt your PMF survey to capture a holistic view of user satisfaction. This method of detailed segmentation provides not just a snapshot of product desirability but also a roadmap for targeted, impactful improvements.
Timing is key for PMF surveys. Ideal times to send one include:
According to Buffer, about 40-50 responses can be sufficient if they come from diverse users who actively engage with your product. Focus on gathering responses from people who:
This ensures feedback reflects genuine, recent usage and minimizes the risk of skewed results.
Once you’ve reached Product-Market Fit, continue monitoring it as a Key Performance Indicator (KPI). Similar to the Net Promoter Score (NPS), the PMF survey can track user sentiment over time. Conduct surveys across different stages in the customer journey (e.g., onboarding, active usage, exit) to understand how sentiment changes.
As your product grows, maintaining focus on user-centric metrics like PMF helps prioritize feature development and avoid assumptions based solely on marketing feedback. PMF surveys can provide early signals about whether new features resonate, allowing teams to iterate before a full-scale launch.
After conducting the PMF survey, record the insights and determine actionable steps. Tools like a “Learning Sheet” can help document insights, making it easier to align on improvements and track progress.
In conclusion, the PMF survey is a powerful tool for businesses looking to find and maintain Product-Market Fit. While reaching a 40% “very disappointed” score indicates strong user dependency, it's essential to continuously validate and improve the product based on user insights, particularly through understanding why users value the product and by segmenting respondents for more targeted improvements.