Recipe
Sean Ellis PMF Survey
The single-question benchmark that tells you whether your product is a must-have or a nice-to-have.
The Question
“How would you feel if you could no longer use [product]?”
- A.Very disappointed
- B.Somewhat disappointed
- C.Not disappointed (it isn’t that useful)
- D.N/A — I no longer use it
The Benchmark
If 40% or more of respondents say they would be “very disappointed” without your product, you have found product-market fit. Below that threshold, you still have work to do.
How to Run It
- Target the right users. Survey people who have used your product at least twice in the last two weeks and experienced your core value prop.
- Keep it short. The four-option multiple-choice question above, plus one open-ended follow-up: “What is the primary benefit you get from [product]?”
- Segment ruthlessly. Break results down by persona, plan tier, tenure, and acquisition channel. PMF often hides in a specific cohort.
- Act on the verbatim. The open-ended responses reveal your actual value proposition — often different from what you think it is.
Pro tip: Run this survey quarterly. PMF is not a one-time achievement — it decays as your market shifts and competitors emerge.