Before your build, Ask the Right Questions...

You don’t build the right thing by guessing. You build it by listening.

Yesterday morning, I had a really helpful discovery call with Vicki Baumann,  a passionate and experienced yoga teacher. I'm currently developing a new virtual tour brand tailored for yoga, pilates, dance studios and gyms - www.yourstudiotour.co.uk - and I reached out to Vicki to better understand the reality behind the studio doors.

She shared real-world insight about the mindset of studio owners — the delicate balance between passion and profit, the emotional connection they have with their communities and the need for marketing tools that feel authentic.

This wasn’t just useful — it was vital. Because when you’re building something new, it’s easy to assume you know what your audience wants. But assumptions are dangerous shortcuts.

The truth?

You don’t know unless you ask.

It was also a reminder that expertise doesn’t always come from Google searches, ChatGPT or desk research. Sometimes the gold lies in a 30-minute conversation with someone who’s in the space you're trying to market to.

It’s connections like this — conversations with people who’ve been there and done it — that turn a good idea into a great solution.

So remember this...

If you’re building something — a product, a brand, a business — get into conversations early.

Not to pitch. To learn and to ask better questions.

The clarity you gain will shape everything that follows.