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Should I test a product idea by building a list?

by Zander Boon
6 replies
Hi there,
I've been affiliate marketing for a couple of years, made a few $k, not enouigh to quit the day job though!

Anyway, I've had an idea for a product, not in the IM/MMO area at all. There's no competing product on CB, and virtually no competition for any of the keywords I would use.

Search volumes for my keywords according to Google and Free Wordtracker are low at best, non-existent at worst.

This suggests that nobody would want my product! However, gut feeling tells me that there WOULD be a very small but focussed niche market - and I would be the only product.

However, as most people here know, creating a product is a lot of work, and I don't want to waste my time. So I'm thinking of creating a small free teaser product, setting up a squeeze page, writing a few articles etc, maybe some PPC, and seeing if many people bite. IF they do, then a) I get an idea of the potential for the product, and b) I get a list I can sell it too!

Is this a perfectly sensible, obvious and standard thing to do? Or are there flaws in my plan? Or indeed, is there a much simpler way of achieving the same result?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

Take care
Zander
#building #idea #list #product
  • Profile picture of the author Sooner
    If you build a list be sure to have value for your subscribers. Don't just use them as virtual 'guinea pigs'.

    I would suggest running a couple campaigns on MediaTraffic. They have plenty of traffic to test a new project.

    Just be sure to bid on URL's not keywords.
    Signature

    William Noel
    www.SocialMarketingInc.com

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  • Profile picture of the author cameronlaw
    sounds like a good idea - just make sure people do want your product
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  • Profile picture of the author KenThompson
    Hello Zander,

    Is this a perfectly sensible, obvious and standard thing to do? Or are there flaws in my plan? Or indeed, is there a much simpler way of achieving the same result?
    It's certainly a plan and sounds like your cpc's would be low. I'd maybe
    suggest relying more on hard numbers than your gut. Although sometimes
    the gut leads to cool things.

    There was an expensive product that came out some years ago. The
    gist of it was to use ppc to find out what people wanted in whatever
    niche. Then you just created the product based on real-world feedback.

    There are different ways for you to test your product idea. And of
    course it's a good idea to test small to verify interest.

    Your plan is sound and probably is as good as any other. Only one way
    to find out, eh?

    The important thing is you're taking some action.

    So I'd say to do it and see what you discover.

    Good luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author Melodican
    Definitely a good idea.

    Most people do it the wrong way round, they spend ages building a product, getting graphics, a site etc and realise that noone wants it when they come to sell the damn thing.

    Good luck man
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  • Profile picture of the author Mr.Daydream
    Some people might say it's not a good idea..but I would recommend that you do the testing first because that might save you from wasting your time and give you an idea about where there is a viable market or not
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  • Profile picture of the author Rob Ainge
    Testing the market first is an absolute must! My suggestion is to get your subscribers to give you some feedback about what they are looking for in your chosen niche, then make sure your product provides a solution/benefit to your customers.

    Make sure though that you don't "lead" your subscribers into giving you the answers you want though, try to step back and get a less biased opinion on what you are trying to do.

    The companies who have the best product launches test the market first, they never just create something in the hope it will sell! I have seen companies literally lose hundreds of thousands of dollars on failed products because "someone" thought it was a good idea and they didn't really test the end users to see if they actually wanted it. Crazy, but true.

    Good luck!

    Rob
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