Phantom Feature

Overview
A Phantom Feature test is one of the fastest ways we measure real customer interest before anything is built. Instead of relying on surveys or feedback, this experiment captures actual user behaviour by placing a call-to-action (CTA) button on a website that appears real—but, when clicked, leads to an error page. By tracking how many people attempt to access the feature or service, we gauge whether there’s actual demand. This method works particularly well when there is internal debate about whether a feature or proposition is worth pursuing. If customers actively try to engage with something that doesn’t yet exist, it’s a strong signal to move forward. If there’s little to no engagement, it tells us to rework the positioning—or drop the idea entirely.
Process
Requirements
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