Test Marketing a New Product - Before You Create It
by Jim Green
Crazy notion perhaps but I've forged ahead and done it anyway: slung up a temporary site with a sales pitch for a product which I have yet to create - and cheekily signed off with a visitor survey request.
But why you might reasonably ask.
It's this way: I've launched dozens of self-generated information products over the years; some became winners when I doubted they would, others bombed and disappeared without a trace when I was sure they would prove successful.
So I decided on a different approach for this embryo innovation in an endeavour to establish what the market will bear.
You see, the optimist in me is 100 percent convinced about this yet-to-be-created merchandise and I'd buy it for sure as it stands in limbo (but then I'm a sucker for a good sales pitch).
Would anyone else buy it though?
Hence the test before the tweaks…
Testing and tweaking are the operative words because before I press the button on production this time I want to elicit an indication of prospective consumer reaction to…
1) The concept
2) The timing
3) The perceived benefits
4) The sales pitch
5) The price
I could use more specialized methodology to find out what I need to know but at this stage in development a piece of wacky marketing won't hurt.
Call it what you will but I reckon it's a form of inverted thinking: turning the project upside down and starting back to front; first sales pitch coupled with research, then product creation.
And an amazing thing happened as I was crafting the web copy…
My project began to take off in disparate directions, adding new dimensions I hadn't even considered before, and presenting me with additional challenges to devise an even better product.
Will my wacky marketing work?
I can't be certain - but you know what they say - nothing ventured, nothing gained.
You may view my idiosyncrasy if you wish at the website featured in the resource box below.
http://howtobecomefamousonline.howtoproducts-xl.com
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