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How do I create a product for this 'tough' market?

by iamchrisgreen
12 replies
Hey guys

I've been looking at creating a product for the 'freelance creatives' market. I spent a LOT of time in that world so I kind of know what frustrates them.

The problem is that not many of them spend money... apart from when they need to buy the expensive software like Photoshop.

So... how would you guys approach this market? How can I work out what would make a great product?

Thanks
#create #market #product #tough
  • Profile picture of the author MagicAce
    The Only thing I can think about is a software that makes their job easier or an ebook about how to outsource their jobs to other people and still make money. Something like the middle man!
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  • Profile picture of the author Fun to Write
    I think a need in this market could be how to obtain more clients. Without a constant stream of clients, they don't make any money.

    If you have a strategy that helps them get more clients, this may be something they'd be interested in.
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  • Profile picture of the author Vincenzo Oliva
    It's all about training, put together or promote training courses/videos. Otherwise maybe upgraded software with more capabilities. Like someone into photoshop may be interested in an advanced program like After Effects.
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    • Profile picture of the author Oxbloom
      I'm not sure QUITE what the "tough market" you're speaking of specifically *is*. But my best guess is that you mean something like freelance photographers?

      I don't think that would be too difficult to shoehorn into, given the huge numbers of forums and social groups dedicated to such things.

      As with EVERY forum dedicated to some high-fallutin' professional discipline, the huge majority of the readers will be dabbling amateurs who want to be among the pros.

      A little "Ten Easy Ways to Start Making Money with Your Photographs...By Tomorrow!" book as a giveaway to get people onto a list would go a long way to building up a readership.

      I don't know how hard the SEO would be in that field, but there'd be tons of opportunities to promote it through forum marketing, social media marketing, blog posting, and press releases.

      Idea: set aside $50 or $100 and PR announce a contest for best photo of some particular style. Opt-in to your list to submit entry. Choose a winner. Everybody else is on your list.

      Anyway, all you need to conceive at that point is a back end product to an already captivated audience.

      - Interviews with successful freelance photographers. How they do it, and how you can too.
      - "How one stay at home mom turned her passion for photography into a $106,500 per year cash cow...and why ANYONE can do it..." (You know, if you find such a story while interviewing.)
      - Like someone above said, getting clients...or selling your stuff.
      - "If you can operate a mouse, you can start a simple 'artist blog' that can earn you as much as ______ per month, in your spare time, without spending a cent."
      - How to profit off Ebay, kiss your day job goodbye, and live the life of your artistic dreams...

      There are as many angles as there are hobbyists and creative types. These things might be hard to market in a vacuum, but you don't need to. Get people interested, and you've got them hooked.

      GL with it.
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      • Profile picture of the author iamchrisgreen
        Originally Posted by Oxbloom View Post

        I'm not sure QUITE what the "tough market" you're speaking of specifically *is*. But my best guess is that you mean something like freelance photographers?
        I was mainly thinking Freelance Designers. But the same applies I guess.
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  • Profile picture of the author blogmarketer
    I used to work in graphic arts, and I can tell you the things I would have spent money on are specialty training that showed me how to do things in my arena that I didn't know.

    I can think of examples where I purchased Adobe Freehand and Photoshop tutorials in order to learn better / faster ways of producing certain types of effects or images.

    That market (the one I was in) is mostly young-ish professionals, and is very competitive. We were always trying to improve our capabilities.

    Hope that helps~

    Kim
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  • Profile picture of the author Greenwarrior
    Create an ebook as a guide and market it online.
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
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    Originally Posted by freelance4money View Post

    So... how would you guys approach this market? How can I work out what would make a great product?
    It's not a niche I know much about, but I'd instinctively be looking at it as a "make money" product along the lines of "how to sell your work; how to get clients" and so on, because that angle, at least, is going to attract the more "desperate buyers" among them.
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  • Profile picture of the author deertrail
    Originally Posted by freelance4money View Post

    Hey guys

    The problem is that not many of them spend money... apart from when they need to buy the expensive software like Photoshop.

    Thanks
    If you can make it very clear in your copy that your product will show them exactly how to make more money with their skillset, then you've effectively removed that objection. Position the product as an investment, not an expense.

    -Bryan
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  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    Honestly, the same way you create a product for any market.

    Find out what people want and give it to them. But step up the quality so people can recommend your product to others.

    Those recommendations are the social proof necessary to drive your sales ever forward.
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  • Profile picture of the author paulie888
    Originally Posted by freelance4money View Post

    Hey guys

    I've been looking at creating a product for the 'freelance creatives' market. I spent a LOT of time in that world so I kind of know what frustrates them.

    The problem is that not many of them spend money... apart from when they need to buy the expensive software like Photoshop.

    So... how would you guys approach this market? How can I work out what would make a great product?

    Thanks
    As the others mentioned, position it as something that will enable them to make money quickly/easily (make sure that it actually delivers on that promise). Another angle to approach this from would be as a guide that dramatically cuts down on the time needed to do some type of popular and specific designing job (tool/software/graphics package).

    I think that for this "tough" market, you need to approach it in a very specific manner, as a solution that solves a specific issue or problem in the marketplace. If you aren't familiar with what that could be, perhaps you could do some research in the forums to see what issues continually crop up again and again?

    Once you've identified that issue, try to create a product which addresses that specific need.

    Paul
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    • Profile picture of the author AnthonyKrese
      I'm a part-time freelancer (web design / development). I've got a sales technique / sales process I use that makes selling websites to brick and mortar businesses A LOT easier.

      Seems like it would be a good product for your niche. Maybe we could work something out. If you're interested, PM me your e-mail. Sorry I can't PM you, I haven't posted enough yet.
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