How to Litmus Test a product before a Launch

Without being ‘salesy’ and even if you have no following

First things first; when it comes to selling something you need to validate your product. This enables you to know that you actually have potential customers and that all the potential time and money you are about to use isn’t for nothing.

The most effective way of doing this is actually getting people to spend money on it. You may wonder how and why would anyone use their hard-earned cash on something not complete. Well here’s how:

You create an MVP

No this is not the ‘Most Valuable Player’, instead this is a ‘Minimum Viable Product’. A definition for this is:

“a minimum viable product is a version of a new product which allows an entrepreneur to collect the maximum amount of validated learning about customers with the least effort”.

So practically this is creating a prototype of sorts or having a staggered start with your launch. The most well-known use of this is a Pilot in a TV show. It enables studios to save a lot of time, money, and effort as they can get a lot of feedback relatively easily.

Three different MVP tests which are relatively easy are:

№1: Social Media

Put your concept online and see the response. You will always get the odd negative comment, however, public opinion online is often a solid indicator of the success of your product.

№2: Interview call

Have a call with potential clients/ customers. See their intentions and really work out would they put their money where their mouth is and purchase your product. How many times do you know someone who has said they will do something and they won’t. Make sure they follow through.

№3: Digital product sale

Today we have an abundance of sites to work to test out whether your project may work; popular ones include:

• Kickstarter

• IndieGoGo

• Crowdfunder

• Patreon

• Go Fund Me

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If you're not sure whether your product has longevity, this is a great way to go. If you are in the service industry; offer a taster of your offerings. If you are wanting to sell a course; provide a lesson for people. If you are wanting to write a book; write a short story. If you are wanting to make a film; make a Youtube channel.

These are lower-risk products and don’t cost you nearly as much energy and prevent you from releasing a very expensive and time-consuming product. They also give you guidance for pricing. With a test, you can show what value you provide, and then down the line, people aren’t surprised with a big-ticket item.

T.B.P- Transformation Based Pricing

With people seeing the transformation and value in your MVP offering they connect in an emotional way. They will want more. This is a successful litmus test- next up is taking on the world with your full product launch, don’t worry you’ll smash it!

The Success Equation

We’ve had it wrong for so long

You may look at the word ‘Success’ and wince a bit. I know I definitely do. But let’s look at it practically with this equation:

value x scale = success

You can be the most talented surgeon in the world (bringing a lot of value), however, what is your scale? You are probably interacting with a limited amount of people; a few operations a day, very draining, and hard work.

Don’t get me wrong; I believe high-value workers like people in healthcare are amazing and they’re arguably providing the peak of value within a work sphere, however, people aim to chase the value side of the equation too much then get upset over their lack of success.

Here’s where technology comes in. We are gifted to be a generation where we can have such an incredible reach and influence. Really delving deep into working out how we can utilise this digital age to scale our business means that we don’t necessarily need to provide lots of value (although the more the better) to be successful.

You may be thinking, 

“That’s all well and good but I’ve got nothing to offer”

Do you know what that mindset is, it’s your traditional academic mind speaking. We were all brought upon it in the education system. We want to believe that with more degrees and education we can provide more value. 

Let me burst your bubble, ‘being an expert is a myth’.

Maybe you’ll gain marginally more income in a traditional job scenario but with an increase in workplace unhappiness, we must recognise this mentality is wrong. If we want a different end result thinking innovatively is required. We need to combine doing something we are passionate about and is personal to us.

So look to your life and think, ‘what transformation has occurred’

Then specify how you can help someone. If you can answer this formula you can start a business:

I help [specific person] get [transformation] without [common obstacle] by [method]

Developing a brand that is orientated around being personal allows natural progression into digital products. Your [digital product] helps them execute the [method]. You are simply being a helping hand, providing value to enable them to overcome an obstacle. You’ll be passionate about the project as it's something you’ve been through, people will like your relational nature so you can curate a community, over the years you’ll gain more knowledge and with technology, you’ll naturally scale.

“I think I have an idea of who to help and what with but I don’t know where to start”

At the end of the day, ‘money follows attention’, it’s a sad reality but once known it can be utilised. Therefore, starting out you need to create this personal brand. This can be:

• blogging

• podcasting

• filming youtube videos

• using any online venture to gain attention

You don’t need a big following at all, arguably 1000 true fans are more than enough. This doesn’t come easy though. You must be consistent with your craft, engaged in your community, and learn more about yourself and what you do. 

The more developed your personal brand, your community, and your craft, the simpler the process of working out and eventually selling your digital product will be. 

an example of all of this put into action

Imagine a University student who has good habits and documents his personal story studying and working well. He curates a community of like-minded students or young professionals. They want to work hard but simply can’t seem to achieve the same amount of focus as this entrepreneur. 

A good idea could be to create a digital product/ course that helps them. The formula would look like this:

I help [University students] get [10 hours a week back] without [pulling all nighters] by [high-performance strategies]

This person would simply teach the high-performance strategies using his own personal experiences and learnings from going through it. Simple enough right?

You don’t need to be certified or trained in any way, there is little to no cost, and it allows you to delve deeper into something you are passionate about.

So what are you waiting for, get after it and make your first digital product!

How I fell back in love with reading

Practical steps to keep the magical artform from disappearing from your everyday.

I look back fondly on the years as a kid when I used to reach for a book with ease. No phones, no games consoles, limited tv time. Sitting on my beanbag and read for hours. Pure bliss. This was of course short-lived. The older I got, the less I read. Life got busy, I was studying more, I couldn’t find books I liked… sound familiar to your own story?

After talking to lots of my peers around my age I realised very few of them actually read. Being a Generation Zer, I recognise this is an increasingly normalised thing. We have the biggest amount of access to knowledge but we are lacking the focus. Often known as ‘The Paradox of Choice’, we have too many options compared to previous generations and therefore often go for the easiest one that brings the most short-term pleasure. Reading rarely fits in there due to the lack of dopamine it provides compared to something like scrolling on Instagram.

Coming to understand this I spent the last year delving deep into trying to get back into reading. I had to move from reading to being a chore and something completely foreign in my every day to implement it into my day-to-day routine.

Not going to lie it was tough, but now I believe I have formed some good habits. I’m not the quickest reader but can quite comfortably finish around 2 books a month which to me feels like a great accomplishment. Here are my learnings from the process:

№1: You need to pick something you actually want to read

This is easily the most critical step. Books are a long commitment. You can easily be reading one book for 10+ hours. Don’t just pick something everyone says you have to read. Feel free to drop a comment with some of your favourite books or let me know if you need a recommendation.

Most of us are probably guilty of stubborn reader syndrome. We pick a bad book and then end up never picking it up or reading one or two pages every so often. This stops us from reading the stuff we really want and ultimately prevents us from falling in love with reading as a whole.

№2: Stop reading books if you aren’t enjoying them

If a book is hard work to get through just stop it. Simple.

№3: Bring a book with you everywhere

You wonder why you have 6 hours on your phone screen time. It’s because it's on you 24/7. Switch that habit for reading and you’ve easily got yourself some time to read. I love myself a little read in a coffee shop, bus, or just as a break from work. It definitely takes some time to get used to and you may get self-conscious about pulling out a book in public but after a while, it will become second nature. If I don’t have a book at hand I tend to just reach for my phone. Get used to always having a book.

№4: Set aside time to read

Despite reading at short intervals through the day as I mentioned in the previous point, this doesn’t allow you to really get into a book.

Everyone always inevitably tries to get into reading or doing more at some point in their life. The myth is that you’ll naturally just go to do it but as it is so much slower than most things in our bustling life it just doesn’t seem appealing.

To start with you’ll read slowly, you’ll find it hard to concentrate and you definitely won’t do it naturally.

Start with just 10 minutes each day. Commit to that for a week. You can do more but you have to do it for at least 10 minutes each day. That’s not hard right?

The more you put time aside consistently in your day. The more you’ll get into the various stories and narratives. The quicker you’ll get through books and you’ll enjoy the process more.

№5: Work out how your books can go further

What I mean by this is to do something with that knowledge or story that you spent time taking in. Books are often years or lifetimes of hard work and effort so don’t think you can remember it all. Write books down.

Notetaking is a great motivator for me reading books, it allows me to keep all my knowledge and have a blog post too. This is one of the main reasons I don’t enjoy kindles. I love engaging with the book- doodling, highlighting, and making notes. This is all a really fun part of the reading process.

But if writing isn’t your thing no worries, maybe start a book club or just chat to your friends about a book. This allows you to fully appreciate the art form and think about the book beyond just the time looking at the words.

When you don’t feel like picking up the book you’ve also got some external pressure to do it. If you want someone to give you a bit of accountability to finish that book collecting dust, feel free to reach out in the comments. Tough love is never a bad thing!

№6: Understand the benefits of reading

Reading of course is good. You're doing it now! But in comparison to doing other things, it is often not prioritised. I looked deep into the benefits of reading and it shocked me.

Reading reduces stress, anxiety, and diseases. It also builds intelligence, communication skills, and memory. Additionally, it helps with sleep too.

When recognising these I felt more of an urge to read and contributes to my wanting to better myself. Now it’s a habit I now feel better about myself and enjoy the process of reading a lot more.

№7: Challenge yourself

When you have completed your first book or two reading then becomes this sort of game (Maybe that’s just me?). I love setting myself challenges to read a certain amount of pages, books and write notes about them.

Similarly, I love pushing the boat out and reading something completely random every so often. So recently I’ve gotten really into Japanese authors, so every month or two order a random book I know nothing about and read it. I may not love it but it brings excitement to the reading process.

If you don’t like putting pressure on yourself like that just mixing up where you read can be good, maybe you can join Goodreads and challenge yourself to do a short review, or who knows even start a book community.

Spice up the reading experience and challenge yourself.

№8: Get inspired

I often feel inspired or excited to read when I’m around fellow readers. I love visiting bookshops for this reason. You’re surrounded by an abundance of books and it motivates you simply due to the fact you want to justify the 5 new books you’ve just purchased.

A cost-effective equivalent of this is reading book reviews, blogs, or watching book Youtubers. I find myself gaining insights I never knew before and get excited to read again and see whether I agree/ disagree with the blogger.

The more you understand the benefits and see fellow people regularly reading the more it normalises the habit. I look forward to chatting about books with friends, sharing insights, and lending books. It’s a brilliant cycle.

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Ultimately we are in an age where content is getting faster and attention spans are getting shorter so books may seem outdated. If you’ve got it this far you are probably part of the elite few who thinks that’s nonsense. I’d love to hear if you agree with my takeaways and maybe hear some of your own ways you stay excited and motivated to read.

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by, I’ve got to go now though- I’ll be in my reading chair if you need me.

“It is what you read when you don’t have to that determines what you will be when you can’t help it.” — Oscar Wilde