Is your niche ready for your product?

Just about everyone has had a great idea for a new product. They have identified a real need, some have even designed the product or service, but most have left the idea on the shelf while they go about their lives. The idea goes to the 'too hard' basket.

With online research so easy nowadays, it is easy to find out what products are on the market, how much they sell for, and how your 'idea for a product' might compare. If you are thinking about launching a product or service, it is so important to know all about the niche to which you will be selling it. Make sure that there is a need for your product, or that with your marketing techniques, you can create a perceived need!

A good idea is to look for websites that cater to your niche. If they have a forum, register and spend some time there. Note what questions are being asked, and really pay attention when you detect a theme emerging. Begin to participate in discussions that relate to your product - this will help to position yourself as an 'expert' in the area, and will lend credibility to any product launch your embark on.

Jeff Walker, through his Product Launch Formula program, emphasizes the pre-launch phase as one of great importance to any product launch. As well as knowing your niche well, Jeff advises that marketers (of one home-grown product or big companies!) look closely at their calendars to see if any special occasions will impact (positively as well as negatively) a product launch. For instance, if your product would make a wonderful gift for a mother, launching a month out from Mothers' Day is perfect. Special holidays can be a great time to launch with a bonus offer, e.g. Halloween or Thanksgiving.

Look at event calendars on websites relating to your niche - is a convention planned, a seminar being held, or an e-book being released. Riding in the wake of any well-publicized events can help bring customers to you as well. There are many variations on proven strategies that can be tailored to your product launch. Product Launch Formula has some great resources to help make the job easier - recorded interviews with experts who provide priceless information on their successful product launches.

One of the best features of the program though is the video file on case studies. These are real people with real stories of how they took a simple product they produced, and used strong and proven techniques to run a very worthwhile launch campaign. What they all have in common though, is that they all took the time to learn about their prospects, and how to create anticipation prior to the product going on sale.