Instagram Founders’ Simple Tip: Find the Problem First

Kevin Systrom, the former CEO of Instagram, revolutionized the way we share photos by first identifying a key issue that needed solving: how to make mobile photos more social. Systrom’s approach to building successful products highlights a crucial lesson for entrepreneurs—find the problem before you create the solution.

Here’s how you can apply Systrom’s philosophy to your own business to ensure your product hits the mark and serves a real need.

Problem First, Product Second

For Systrom, the hardest part wasn’t coming up with the Instagram concept—it was identifying the problem users faced when taking mobile photos. By first understanding what was missing from existing photo apps, Systrom and his team created a product that resonated with users from the start.

How:

• Identify real user problems: Start by observing how your target audience uses existing products and pinpoint the gaps.

• Ask the right questions: What frustrations do users face? What do they need that isn’t currently available?

• Understand the “why”: Before developing a solution, make sure you deeply understand the root cause of the problem.

Example: Instagram wasn’t just a photo-sharing app—it solved the problem of mobile photos looking bad and being difficult to share easily. By focusing on this problem, Systrom was able to create an app that people loved.

Validate Quickly

Once you’ve identified the problem, don’t wait to start testing your solution. Systrom’s success was in getting the app into users’ hands early, even before it had all the features you might expect from a social platform today.

How:

• Test early and often: Get your product in front of users as quickly as possible, even if it’s not fully developed.

• Gather feedback: Use surveys, interviews, or simple usage tracking to see if the product is solving the problem.

• Iterate fast: Make changes based on the feedback you receive to align with user expectations.

Example: Instagram’s early version was simple, focusing on photo-sharing and filters. It wasn’t perfect, but it solved a real problem for users. The rapid feedback from early adopters allowed Instagram to grow and evolve quickly.

Avoid Over-Building

While it’s tempting to add more features and refine every detail, Systrom cautions against the danger of over-building. The longer you wait to launch, the more you risk losing touch with your users’ needs.

How:

• Launch with a minimum viable product (MVP): Build the simplest version of your product that solves the problem and get it into the hands of real users.

• Don’t wait for perfection: Aim for progress, not perfection. Get feedback and iterate on your product over time.

• Focus on what matters most: Avoid getting distracted by features that aren’t essential to solving the core problem.

Example: Instagram didn’t wait for complex features like stories or direct messaging to launch. They focused on the core functionality of photo sharing and filters, which was exactly what their users needed at the time.

Key Takeaways

1. Problem First, Product Second: Always start by identifying the real issues your users face before diving into product development.

2. Validate Quickly: Get your product in front of users as early as possible to ensure you’re solving the right problem.

3. Avoid Over-Building: Launch with the simplest version that solves the core problem, and build from there based on user feedback.

Kevin Systrom’s success is a testament to the power of starting with the problem and testing your ideas early. By following this approach, you can create products that truly resonate with your audience and avoid the common pitfall of building solutions that don’t meet real needs.