Any company that has tried to launch
a new product will know just how difficult the process can
be, and just how
many pitfalls there are. For the inexperienced, opportunities to make mistakes
are limitless and once you have cleared one hurdle, you can be sure there will
be another around the corner that you can trip over if you take your eye off
the ball. In certain situations you only get the one business opportunity, and if you
don't get the marketing message right then you'll have wasted it.
Know your target audience
If you invite the wrong people to
your product launch then regardless of whether they love your product, they're
unlikely to want to sign a deal with you. They might be more than happy to come
along and have a glass or two of champagne, but they're not going to help your
company's bottom line. Making sure you're talking to the right people is
essential.
Research
The importance of market research cannot be
underestimated. If you do your homework then the chances of being in a position
to launch a successful product are far higher. That's not to say you'll
definitely be on to a winner, but you'll give yourself a fighting chance. Make
sure you know your target market, know who your competitors are likely to be
and what similar products are already on the shelves. You also need to know
what's going to make your brand stand out from the crowd, because if you don't
then no one else will.
Get the tone right
Don't try to launch a new type of
business stationery by bringing on a troop of scantily-clad dancers and don't
try to launch a new type of beer with a PowerPoint presentation. Understanding
your target market and getting the tone right is essential and can have a
massive impact on the people you're talking to right from the get-go. Again, market research is the key here and will serve you well.
Sloppy spelling
No matter whether we're talking about
a leaflet, a business card, a presentation or a banner, making spelling
mistakes is unforgivable. Take the time to check all your promotional products and don't
make the simple mistake of losing business because of a spelling error. It
screams that you've failed to be thorough and that's not a trait experienced
business people will admire. Make sure you personally check spellings, and then
check them again.
Wow people
Fluffing a product launch could be as
simple as boring your audience to death. No one wants to sit in a room for two
hours to be bored. A product launch is your one chance to share your passion for
your product or idea and so make sure that you grab people's attention, get
them by the scruff of the neck and then ensure they're on-board with the idea.
Most of the time, passion alone will not win you business, but even if you are
somewhat deficient in other areas, if you clearly believe in your brand then it
might just make some other failings seem insignificant.
Today is a guest blog post as my way of supporting students who are trying to forge a successful freelance career
Lauren Belfield is a 26 year old graduate from the University of Manchester. Lauren is a freelance writer with a love of Online Marketing & Recruitment. Lauren also works part time for Owl Live Events.
Recent Comments