How I use Reddit to find and validate problems worth building

You've heard it all, right?

"Create a landing page first!"
"No, talk to people first!"
"Collect emails!"
"Get pre-bookings!"
"Build an MVP first!"

It feels like everyone shouts different advice, leaving you stuck asking, "What are some of the best tried and tested ways to validate?"

You know it's possible to do all of this, but not all of them together.

So you're trying to figure out a sequence, maybe feeling "lazy in validation," and wondering, "At what point should I even start building the MVP?"

Nobody wants to spit out solutions that are only useful in their head or spend months building only to find out they're reinventing the wheel for a problem that isn't painful enough.

Let's cut through that noise. Validation isn't a random checklist; it's a process of systematically reducing risk before you invest serious build time.

Forget the confusing cloud of tactics for a moment and think in stages.

Here's a sequence that prioritizes the biggest risks first, using Reddit as your research and validation playground:

1. Validate the PAIN

Before anything else, confirm the problem is real and painful.

Reddit offers a ton of authentic conversations where people openly discuss their struggles.

Here's how to validate pain:

1. Use Reddit's Question Search to find repeated problem patterns
2. Look for emotional language and frustration in comments
3. Note mentions of current workarounds people are using

What indicates real pain:

• People asking "Does anyone else struggle with..."
• Comments describing failed attempts to solve the problem
• Multiple threads about the same issue over time
• Users sharing DIY solutions or manual workarounds
• Discussions about paying for existing (but inadequate) solutions

2. Validate the MARKET

After finding pain points, you need data to prove there's a real market. Reddit gives you this data for free:

1. Map related subreddits where your problem appears
   1. Use Reddit Question Search by entering keywords that your target audience commonly uses into the keyword field at the bottom (no need to specify a subreddit). This will let Google pull up relevant results and show you which communities discuss that topic most frequently.
2. Look at subscriber counts and engagement levels
3. Track competing solutions mentioned in discussions

Key signals to measure:

• Size of relevant subreddits
• Frequency of problem-related posts
• Cross-posting patterns between communities
• Different user segments discussing the same problem
• Mentions of existing tools and what sucks about them

3. Validate WILLINGNESS TO PAY

Reddit reveals how much people value solutions through natural conversations. Here's what to look for:

1. Comments mentioning "I would pay for..."
2. Discussions about pricing of existing solutions
3. Posts asking "Is X tool worth the money?"
4. Complaints about paying for inadequate solutions

Key validation methods:

• Track threads where people discuss budgets for solving the problem
• Note price points mentioned in competitor discussions
• Monitor subscription/pricing complaints about existing tools
• Analyze discussions about DIY solutions vs paid alternatives

4. Validate the SOLUTION (MVP)

Before building your MVP, use Reddit to pre-validate your solution approach:

1. Share your concept in relevant subreddits (following community rules)
2. Create a "manual MVP" by helping people in comment threads
3. Test messaging by answering related questions (check how many people upvote or comment on your comment).
4. Build an audience through helpful contributions

Your Reddit-first MVP approach should:

1. Start by manually solving problems in comments
2. Graduate to a simple landing page with waitlist
3. Use subreddit-specific language in your messaging
4. Build relationships with active community members
5. Test different value propositions in your responses

This way, you're building with a pre-engaged audience who's already validated their interest.

What to do next

Start with Reddit research before jumping to landing pages or MVPs.

Your first goal: Validate the PAIN.

1. Pick 3-5 subreddits where your target users might hang out
2. Use Reddit's Question Search to find problem-related discussions
3. Save threads showing strong emotional responses
4. Map out common patterns in how people describe their struggles
5. Note specific language they use to describe their pain points

This gives you real evidence of pain and market size before you invest time in building anything.

Remember: You're not being lazy by validating first. You're being smart by reducing risk before investing months of build time. The sequence matters because each step builds confidence for the next, creating a stronger foundation for your SaaS.

Now go find those subreddits!

P.S. If you want a more in-depth guide, read this.