Looking At Demand First Could Be Killing Your Business
I have been working on something new. It has been taking up so much of my time that I have been neglecting other things again. Most of my free time has been taken up with trying to determine if I want to move forward with this idea or not.
Well, that and working my day job, which is getting a tad scary lately.
Anyway, there are many times that you will see Internet marketers and bloggers suggesting that finding a niche that is ‘in demand’ is key to success. And that is probably true if you are looking for the fastest way to market some known product.
There really is no reason to market a product that no one wants, after all. But, what about those products that are not yet known?
Would someone do a Google search for something if they believed that it did not exist?
Probably not, so looking at existing demand is not always going to be the best first step. Companies like Facebook, Microsoft, and Apple have created new products, revenue streams, and cultural expectations all because someone in each of those companies chose to look for something new.
Perhaps that new thing even solved an old problem. Perhaps most people did not even think it was a problem until someone said “hey, this sucks!”
When I was in grade school, saying that something “sucks” could have landed me in detention. But I am talking to you today about this because I noticed something that sucked. That is, I would never have started blogging had I not recognized something that I thought could be better.
Designing a keyword research tool, starting a community like Triberr, and creating a Gig on Fiverr.com are all things likely to have been done by people looking for a new way to do things, or perhaps a better way.
So, throw caution to the wind (one of my favorite cliches) and take a chance.
Make Something That YOU Love!
An Idea For A Better Way Of Life
You see ideas everywhere, and most of them are presented as a way to improve YOUR life. Or, you see ideas posing as being for the betterment of people. It does seem that many of them are really just a way to sell a product. Having been raised on steady diet of advertising media, many of us are getting a tad jaded and spiteful when it comes to being offered new things.
Even on this blog. I posted a while back about three email lists that I am happy to be on. There were many commentators who said things like “I have been on lists and it sucked! Most of them are just people wanting to sell you something.”
Well, I can’t argue there. That is, ultimately, the function of most email lists. That is not true of the list on this site, but I do build them on a few of my niche sites for the express purpose of selling.
But, I do think that the argument misses the point. There are many things that are not sold in order to hurt the purchaser. Specifically, the three lists I mentioned in that post were incredible examples where the list owner was NOT out to just get people’s money. There was real value in what they provide.
That is the point. In Internet marketing and in blogging, offering real value is everything. But, what if what you have to offer is not already looked upon as valuable?
So, What’s The Big Idea?
Really, it does not sound like much. Not even to me. And, I am not yet sure if it is legal.
That’s right. It could be that I have spent a couple of weeks worth of free time developing something that would hurt me if I actually executed it, and it has been worth every second.
But don’t worry. It would not hurt anyone, and it would not likely make me a millionaire. It would help so many people though. People who currently suffer because of communities and their inabilities to fit within them.
The idea is based on using the greed of consumers and businesses alike to benefit both of them. It aims at a better society and would not only benefit the users.
I don’t mean that my idea is another niche site, or a new platform, or even a new blog. There may be a blog at some point, but certainly, it will only be used for content delivery (i.e., no sales).
Sometimes you just need to work on something because you care about it.
A Little Bit Extra
Another thing that I looked into recently. Really, this is not directly related to the subject of this post, but it does describe another situation where I tried something when I only a vague idea of it’s potential.
I heard about Fiverr a while ago; probably 6 months or a year ago, actually. Yesterday I purchased a ‘Gig’ and today I started one of my own. I am offering to create social bookmarking accounts (about 90 of them) for 5 dollars. We’ll see if anyone likes the idea.
Have a great day!
Your Turn
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SEO and Link Building Photo Credits
photo credits:
All photos: kevindooley
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Twitter: lavenderuses
said:
Hi Mark
A few of my friends are now doing fiverr gigs and seem to be enjoying it. Hope yours goes well too.
Yes, I am working on a project at the moment. Completely different to my lavender blog. Will be interesting to see how many people it will help and I’m looking forward to it getting up and started….hopefully in a few weeks if I keep working at it.
Patricia Perth Australia
Patricia@lavender oil´s last [type] ..To buy or not to buy…that is the question
That is incredible Patricia. I hope that it works out well for you!
I have found that working on several different projects allows me to fulfill several goals at a time.
Obvious, I know, but simple things like this get lost so easily given the complexities of business and life.
Have a great day!
Twitter: pizaazz
said:
Good idea on the Fiverr gig man. People hate the tedious tasks, and doing 90 social network accounts for $5 will get some good attention.
Brandon@Healthcare News´s last [type] ..Peter Thiel’s Take on Education
Ha. Thanks for the encouragement Brandon.
Have a good day!
I think the idea is how to create the demand — not follow the current demand. Good tips.
Dana @ Android Tablet PC´s last [type] ..Yet Another Apple iOS Update- iOS 432
That is kind of what I was thinking. Thanks for visiting Dana!
Hi Mark – Long time, no speak! You really will have to come back and tell us how the Fiverr gig is working out! I ought to look into it myself. Does the mass social bookmarking really help? Let me know.
I think this is only loosely related to the subject of your post, but I too believe in bringing something new and creative to the table. I also believe, though, that if you really look and wants and needs, they are somewhat primitive, and much of what’s out there fulfills very basic wants and needs that we all have. They just fulfill them in very different ways.
So, there aren’t really any new demands. There are only old demands expressed in new ways. And because of that, new products and services have a place in the market.
Look at what I do for a living. I help corporations launch blogs. Blogging isn’t really the want or need. The real want or need is profit – that’s it in its most basic form. My service only exists because of the many mutations of the desire for profit and the products services that have been created and recreated over thousands of years to fulfill that very basic need.
Sorry if that’s super philosophical.
Cheers,
Tia
Tia Peterson´s last [type] ..Blogging Makes Your Website Worth the Money
Ha! Hi Tia.
Not too philosophical at all. I agree with you. At our core, we really only need a few things, and it does seem that all of our desires are linked to them.
As for my first Fiverr gig, so far there have been no takers. We will see as the week goes on.
Really great of you to visit. Have a great day!
Twitter: adriennesmith40
said:
Hey Mark,
Good luck with that project and hope the Fiverr gig works out well. Man that sure does sound like a lot of work for just $5. But it’s a step in the right direction.
I don’t really have any outstanding projects right now in the works that hasn’t already been done but I did create a training site for people who are beginning in this industry. A place for them to go and learn for free where I show them how to do so much here online that they may find hard to come across. I find it very rewarding.
Enjoyed the post and let us know how that gig turned out. Be interested in hearing about that too.
Adrienne
Adrienne´s last [type] ..My First Guest Post is LIVE!!!
Hey Adrienne,
I have read some of your training site (I think) and enjoyed it quite a bit. I will, of course, be talking about my first Fiverr gig at some point in the future here.
Congrats on your first guest post!
Have a good day.
Twitter: AboriginalMama
said:
Hi Mark,
Wow, looks like a few people already had the same thought I did: $5 for all of that social bookmarking seems like a lot. But a really good deal!
Dang. I might be your first taker. That’s a lot of tedium gone from my life!
Delena
Delena Silverfox´s last [type] ..Carbonite offer code
Ha. Well, that is the goal. Nice to see you Delena.
Twitter: rdempsey
said:
I’m most curious to find out how scary your job is becoming, based on what I know so far
Good luck with the Fiverr gig Mark. I found that as with most things it won’t market itself so get people to like your gig (which I will do after this comment) and ask for the feedback from the people that buy it.
Good luck with your project, which I’m assuming isn’t the Fiverr gig
Robert Dempsey@Strategic Marketing´s last [type] ..The Greatest Failure Of The Autoresponder For Empire Builders
Ha. Yeah, it is not the Fiverr gig. I actually have a meeting set up to talk about some potential issues with my idea for next week. I am kind of scared of that potential just now.
Good point about marketing gigs – I started it and then tried to find it. Not easy.
It seems like the Fiverr people did a great job finding a way to build a site that would get people talking about it. Quite smart.
Oh, my job is hilarious lately. You know, in a not-fun way. I’ve been working just under twice as many hours as I should be. But that should be over fairly soon.
Anyway, I need to stop complaining. Have a great day!
hi Mark,your post is interesting and I must say your photo selection is also awesome.well I must say gook luck with the project and hope fiverr gig will be successful.
waterpearls´s last [type] ..Norton PC Jump Start Discount Coupon
Thank you very much, and thank you for commenting. It is good to meet you.
Twitter: Bomb_hipster
said:
Hey Mark,
This is great stuff!
What I find value in is what my readers find value in. I try to only promote what I value.
God bless,
William Veasley
William Tha Great´s last [type] ..Living One Day at a Time!
Great answer William. Thanks for your contribution.
Have a great day!
Twitter: bigfishtopdogs
said:
Hi Mark –
I completely agree that looking at demand does not necessarily have to be your first step. Kind of removes new ideas and innovation from the picture entirely, doesn’t it?
I’d much rather start with, “What rules can I break?” or, “How can I make this better?”
We can do things like combine services or products that have never been paired before. Or create new systems that work better. Just as you said, we can solve existing problems in ways they’ve never been solved before. I think it’s wonderful that you’ve spent your time working on something you care about and will offer real value.
Loved your post Mark. I hope you are wildly successful in your new project!
~Theresa
Theresa Bradley-Banta´s last [type] ..You Can Be Anything You Want
Hi Theresa,
I like the way you look at things. That’s the funny thing about problem solving – we will never run out of things to fix. Thanks for the well wishes.
Have a great day!
Hi mark,
Very nice,formal and informative article.The points you took to prove were excellently taken and well explained.
Twitter: stevescott1
said:
I am tempted to swing by and grab one of your fiverr gigs myself. I think it is a great idea.
I love that you are trying to do ‘different’ things. So much today is just people copying what others have done. The sad thing is that it is the people who strike out on their own and blaze paths that are the ones who are REALLY successful.
ANyhow good luck with the fiverr gig and good luck with your new idea
Steve@Internet Lifestyle´s last [type] ..A Beginner’s Guide to Internet Marketing Success
Hi Steve,
Yeah, actually, trying to do some different things is slowing me down a bit. Not that I think it is a bad thing. Really, it will probably be a benefit in the long run, but it can be kind of discouraging.
The fiverr gig has prompted a bunch of emails and some tweets, but so far no takers. We’ll see. I have not really tried to get it ranked yet. That is next.
Have a great day!
Hey Mark,
Well written, it’ll be a great pleasure to read more of your articles and explore your blog. And the points about demand stressed in this article applies to every profession and not only the bloggers. It’s scary to think about creating a product and people not wanting it but what would be even more beautifully innovative will be to think about products that are not yet known and which people will respond to.
Michael Paul@Homes in Eau Claire´s last [type] ..Please Welcome Ben Galecki!
Hi Micheal,
Really great point. I think that it is beneficial to always start at zero when you can. I always hear the phrase “don’t recreate the wheel”, and it makes sense if you don’t really care all that much about your final product. If ‘good enough’ is, well, good enough, then by all means, use an existing wheel.
But, if you want to make something that really matters, and that will have an impact on the world around you, then it seems likely that you will need to begin at the beginning.
Thank you for the comment & have a great day!
Really nice one Mark! I also don’t agree on following what’s in demand. I just believe in doing what you want because if you are passionate on things, you can’t get tired on them. Besides, following a different path, different from most people,increases your chance of being known as your competition are less.
I agree Charlene.
Thanks for visiting. Have a great day!
I’ve been a member of Fiverr for months now & I believe that Fiverr is the best place to obtain all types of services. It’s a great place to get someone and pay them to build backlinks for you as well as to get articles written for you.
Adie@small business internet marketing´s last [type] ..Does Twitter drive traffic to a website
Ha. Well, in addition to a million other things. I have some ideas to add a few more services to it in the next week or so.
Have a good day!
No specific projects that I can share at the moment, but….someone close to me always says—I mean always—-”nothing ventured, nothing gained.” Then she follows it up with you may fail, you may not, but you don’t know until it happens. So who knows? It may turn out to be the next “in” thing that we all have to have.
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