We are often afraid to ask people what they think, but doing exactly that is so important when we’re about to launch a big project, product, or a marketing venture. It’s key to make sure you’re on the right track before spending lots of time, money, effort, and hope on an endeavor. This is why it’s so important to take the pulse of what’s going on with your market. Here are a few quick (and largely free) strategies to do so:
Surveys – I think the most non-intrusive way to do this is via a quick survey using a tool like SurveyMonkey that your ideal clients can answer online. You can ask them to share what some of their problems and pain points are so you can develop an ideal solution for them. You could also see if there are issues and needs that you haven’t yet uncovered. And of course, you can ask for feedback on a new service offering or product and make sure it hits the target. Without asking, you won’t get the information you need to make your offerings the best they can be.
Keyword Alerts – You definitely want to know who is sharing the market space with you, what they’re about, what they’re offering, and how they are offering it. Gathering information about competitors has never been easier – you can use automated tools like Google Alerts to do the work for you. Just put in keywords for your industry, the names of your competitors, and so on, and Google will find results and send them back to you daily. You can then read up on them from there. You can also do this sort of searching with a social media management tool like Postling (http://sydnicraighart.wpengine.com/postling).
Interviews – Hearing your people’s stories, needs, and frustrations directly from them is incredibly fascinating and powerful. When you’re developing a new product or service, think of a few people already in your network who you could imagine benefitting from what you’re creating, and schedule 10 minutes to chat with them. Make sure you’re able to record the calls (and get permission from them to do so!), as you’ll want to refer to the recordings later. Tell them what you’re working on (be somewhat vague if it’s still in its formative stages), and get their feedback about what they think may and may not work for them. Find out what they’re looking for – they’ll tell you – and then develop solutions to meet their needs.
Joshua Zerkel, Productivity Strategist, is a Certified Professional Organizer® and the founder of Custom Living Solutions the San Francisco Bay Area’s premier productivity and organizing consulting firm, and he’s the creator of the Profitable Productivity System. Josh specializes in helping entrepreneurs and small businesses find easy ways to get control of their space, information, time, and technology so they can reduce stress and boost their productivity – and their profits. Visit Custom Living Solutions and get instant access to Josh’s exclusive Special Report “The 7 Must-Have Productivity Systems” and schedule your complimentary “Eliminate the Chaos” strategy session!
