Surveys tell you what people think they want. Public threads show what they actually complain about, compare, and budget for. Use Trending Problems for category momentum and Search for niche validation before you commit engineering time.
See rising pain themes across communities - no account required. Useful when you do not yet know which keywords to search.
Once you have a wedge, search how people describe the problem on Reddit, HN, Stack Overflow, and GitHub in one pass.
Community evidence complements interviews - it does not replace them. Use threads for language; use calls for depth.
| Approach | Best for | Intent | Free |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surveys only | Stated preferences | N/A | Cheap |
| SEO keyword tools | Search demand | Indirect | Limited |
| Needle | Live conversation demand | Direct | Trending Problems |
Preview from your URL, then search communities with buying intent on paid plans.
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