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Many founders and entrepreneurs always think they don't need marketing until they launch their product. When they near the launch date, they start to scramble and look for ways to market their product.
Others believe that they should start marketing as soon as possible. They think that by starting early, they will be able to create an audience before launch and have a captive group of people who are interested in their product.
Some entrepreneurs and founders also think that with the right social media and PR strategy, they will be able to create enough of a buzz that will carry them through launch. There are many different ways to think about marketing and when the best time to start is.
In this article, we will explore the idea of starting to market your product before you launch. We will look at why it is important to create an audience first and some tips for building an audience before launch.
Why is it important to build an audience first?
There are a few reasons why building an audience before launch is important. We will discuss some of the main reasons below.
Boosts your confidence
When you make sales before you launch, it gives you a boost of confidence. It is validating to know that people are interested in what you are offering and are willing to pay for it.
This can help you question whether your product is good enough or if there is a need for it.
Many founders and business owners need that extra boost of confidence. If you question your product, getting sales before launch can help confirm that you are on the right track.
It gives you an idea of what is working and what isn't
When you promote your product before launch, you will quickly learn what is working and what isn't. You can use this information to change your product or marketing strategy before launch.
It is better to make these changes before launching because it can be challenging to change course once you are already in the market.
You will also get feedback from your customers on what they like and don't like about your product. This feedback can be invaluable as you make changes and improvements before launch.
Helps with funding
If you are looking for funding, having sales before launch can be helpful. When you are trying to raise money, investors will want to see that there is a market for your product and that people are willing to pay for it. Raising money will be much easier if you have made sales before launch.
You can put more money into marketing and product development with the extra cash to ensure your product is the best before launch.
Less costly to acquire customers
It is always cheaper to sell to a current or past customer than acquire a new customer. If you have built an audience before launch, you will already have people interested in your product and are more likely to buy it.
You won't have to spend as much time and money on acquiring new clients because you will already have a group of people interested in what you are offering.
It helps you choose the right platform
One of the most complex decisions for small business owners is choosing which platform to launch their product.
If you have built an audience before launch, this can help you decide which platform is best for your product ideas.
You will know where your audience hangs out online and which platforms they are using. This information can help you choose the right platform to launch your product.
How to Build an Audience Before Launch
Now that we have discussed why it is important to build an audience before launch let's see how you can do it.
1. Social media marketing
These days, social media marketing is a powerful tool that one can use to reach a wide audience. If you want to build an audience before launch, you need to start growing your social media following.
You can create interesting and engaging content, use the right hashtags, and promote your account on other platforms. It would help if you also considered running ads on social media to reach a wider audience.
Social media channels such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook are a great way to connect with potential clients and build an audience before launch.
You can also join the right online communities and forums related to your product or industry. This can help you get in front of potential customers and answer any questions they might have.
2. Collect Emails and Grow an Email List
Email is still one of the most effective ways to reach your clients. If you want to build an audience before launch, start collecting emails from potential customers.
To effectively collect emails, you need to offer something of value in exchange. This could be a free e-book, an exclusive discount, or access to beta testing.
Once you have collected a list of email addresses, you can send out regular updates about your product or launch. This will help keep your audience informed and engaged.
3. Start a Blog
Content marketing is a great way to reach potential customers and build an audience before launch. If you don't have a blog, now is to start one and create valuable content.
You should create high-quality content that is related to your product or industry. This will help you attract readers interested in what you have to offer. Once you have built up a following, you can promote your product on your blog.
To start a compelling blog post, you need to:
- Choose a catchy and right name
- Find a niche audience
- Create content that is of high quality, great value, and a landing page.
- Promote your blog on social media and other platforms.
You can blog on different platforms, and not a must to own blog. You can also use medium, quora, or any other site that provides a platform to write compelling content as a guest author, which will help build the audience.
4. Use Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing is a great way to reach a large audience and build buzz around your product. You can identify influencers in your industry and collaborate with them to promote your product.
It will help if you are looking for influencers who have a large following and are related to your product or industry.
You can reach out to them and offer them a free sample of your product in exchange for a review or mention on their platform.
This is one of the latest forms that are effective compared to traditional marketing.
5. Run Ads
If you want to reach a large audience quickly, you should consider paid advertising. You can use platforms such as Google AdWords or Facebook Ads to get tens of thousands of customers.
When running ads, you need to make sure that you spend money and target the right audience.
You should also create interesting and engaging ad copy that will grab attention.
Ads are a great way to reach a large audience and generate interest in your product before launch.
6. Use other peoples' audiences'
You can also use other people's audiences to reach tens of thousands of customers. For example, if you launch a new product, you can collaborate with a similar brand with a large following.
This can help you tap into their audience and reach potential customers that might be looking for your product.
Guest posting is another way to use other people's audiences to reach prospective customers. You can write a guest post for popular blogs in your industry and include a link to your product.
Creating content on other people's platforms can help you get in front of a large audience and generate interest in your product before launch.
7. Make an Offer They Can't Refuse
Another way to build an audience before launch is to make an offer they can't refuse. This could be a free trial, a discount, or a unique bonus.
Whatever you offer, make sure it is something that will appeal to your target audience and encourage them to sign up for your product.
People are more likely to take action if they get something in return. So, make sure you offer something valuable and relevant to your target audience.
8. Create videos
These days, everyone is consuming more video content than ever before. So, if you want to reach future customers, you need to create videos.
You can use platforms such as YouTube or Vimeo to host your videos. You should create videos that are relevant to your product or industry.
You can use video to promote your product, show off its features, or give prospective customers a behind-the-scenes look at your business.
9. Interview your target audience
The best way to understand your target customers is to interview them. You can reach out to your customers and ask them about their needs and wants.
You can also ask them about their pain points and what they would like to see from your product. This research will help you create a product that meets the needs of your target customers.
10. Pre-launch marketing
Pre-launch marketing is a great way to have a successful product and find customers. You can use Kickstarter or Indiegogo to run a pre-launch campaign.
This will help you generate interest in your product and reach your first customers. You can also offer rewards for people who pledge to your campaign.
Pre-launch marketing is a great way to build an audience and generate interest in your product before launching.
11. Combine all the above
Bonus point: The best way to build an audience before launch is to combine all of the above tactics. By using a mix of strategies, you will be able to reach the widest audience possible.
You can begin by creating great content and promoting it on social media. You can then reach out to influencers and collaborate with other brands.
It would help if you also considered running ads and making an offer they can't refuse. And finally, you can use pre-launch marketing to generate interest in your product.
By using a mix of these strategies, you will be able to reach the widest audience possible and build an audience before launch.
How to choose an audience
Now that you know what to do to reach potential clients and build an audience before launch, you need to know how to choose your target audience.
You can ask yourself the following questions to help you narrow down your target clients.
Is there a market?
One of the most important factors to consider when choosing your target clients is whether or not there is a market for your product.
It would help if you made sure that there are people out there interested in what you have to offer. Otherwise, you won't be able to sell your product.
The target clients will also help you determine the best way to reach potential clients.
For example, if you are selling a product geared towards women, you will need to use different marketing strategies than if you were selling a product geared towards men.
Who is your competition?
It's also important to consider who your competition is when choosing your target audience.
You need to make sure that you target a different audience than your competition. Otherwise, you will be competing for the same clients.
Are the problem and the niche important to you?
Another important factor to consider is whether or not the problem and the niche are important to you.
You need to make sure that you are solving a problem that is important to you. Otherwise, you won't be motivated to put in the work required to succeed.
The same goes for the niche. You need to make sure that you are passionate about your niche. Otherwise, you won't be able to build a successful business.
Do you know the average visitor behavior?
Your target audience's behavior is another important factor to consider.
You need to make sure that you know how your target audience behaves. Otherwise, you won't be able to reach them with your promotion efforts.
For example, if you target stay-at-home moms, you need to know where they spend their time online. Are they on social media? Do they read blogs?
The above questions will help you determine whether to target a certain audience and how to reach them.
Does the product provide value?
The final factor to consider is whether or not your product provides value.
You need to make sure that your product is valuable to your target audience. Otherwise, they won't be interested in it.
It would help if you also considered the price of your product. You need to make sure that your product is priced correctly for your target audience.
If you're not sure how to price your product, you can use the following formula:
(The value of your product) - (The cost of your product) = The price of your product
By using this formula, you will be able to ensure that your product is priced correctly for your target audience.
Conclusion
With all of these strategies, you will be able to reach potential clients and generate interest in your product before launch.
By using a mix of these tactics, you will get the widest audience possible. So, don't wait until launch day to start promoting your product. Use these strategies to build an audience before launch and get a head start on your selling efforts.