User interviews have become a popular technique for getting user feedback, mainly because they are fast and easy. Use them to learn about users’ perceptions of your design, not about its usability.
Interviews
User Interviews: How, When, and Why to Conduct Them — NN/g
Knowledge
Some of the Basic Websites & Technical SEO Checklists
Proof of concept in software development is a controversial topic. The person that came up with a software idea is usually convinced of its relevance. And stakeholders usually don't want to spend time on something that is not even going to be included in the final product.