Understanding Customer Language Before Building

The Vocabulary Gap

When we build software, we naturally adopt the technical and industry jargon associated with our tech stack. We describe our product as a 'real-time collaborative workspace utilizing state-of-the-art vector search.'

But what does the customer write when searching for a solution? 'How to share meeting notes with team instantly without copy-pasting.'

If there is a gap between how you describe your product and how your customers describe their pain, they will never find you. Even if they land on your website, they'll leave because they don't see themselves in your copy.

Building a Customer Vocabulary Spreadsheet

Before writing a single line of code, spend 10 hours browsing communities (Reddit, X, Quora, industry forums). Create a spreadsheet with three columns:

Use this spreadsheet to write your copy. Your hero headline shouldn't be 'Omnipresent Input Console'. It should be 'Log bugs in one click—no screen hopping required.'

Language is Your Best Feature

The best founders aren't just great engineers; they are great listeners. By adopting the precise vocabulary of your users, you instantly resonate with them. They feel understood, and when a user feels understood, they buy.