The other day I was at a networking meeting and a point was made that you need to market for a product, class, service, etc., before you create it. I agree with that assessment. You have to know what your market needs and wants in order to put together something that addresses their needs. Without that knowledge you might create a beautiful product or service, but people won’t come to you if they don’t perceive a need for it.
How I figure out what my market wants is I pay attention to what they are telling me or telling each other. When someone tells me s/he has fears about money, I come up with a class dealing with financial fears, or if s/he has problems presenting a coherent statement of what s/he does, then I come up with a class that explains how to tell a story. I figure if a few people are talking about a problem, even more of them are thinking about it.
That kind of market research is what directs me to create a product I can sell to them. I know they need it, and chances are they’ll go for it if its presented to them. If I create something without doing that research, I’m taking a shot in the dark. I’ve got no direction, no focus, and no way of knowing if I’m meeting someone’s needs.
I’ve heard stories where someone decided to create a piece of technology because it was something s/he wanted. That usually doesn’t work out, beyond meeting the need of the person who wants it. You’ve got to find out if more people want it. Talk to them. Find out what they’re worried about and then develop you’re class or product and market it to them. Market research doesn’t have to be hard. After you do the research start talking about your service or product Make sure people find out about it. Give them something to think about so that when they see your product or they know they can rsvp they make the choice. It will make business much easier for you if you prep them before you create the product.
