Comments on: How to Figure Out What People Want http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2008/10/09/how-to-figure-out-what-people-want/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:53:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jennifer http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2008/10/09/how-to-figure-out-what-people-want/comment-page-1/#comment-723036 Jennifer Thu, 24 Mar 2011 18:41:28 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2008/10/09/how-to-figure-out-what-people-want/#comment-723036 I really enjoyed this article. One of the reasons why it's so easy to bend towards inward thinking, is because people "assume" others want what they would buy for themselves. People have different tastes and needs. I really enjoyed this article. One of the reasons why it’s so easy to bend towards inward thinking, is because people “assume” others want what they would buy for themselves. People have different tastes and needs.

]]> By: Scott Young http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2008/10/09/how-to-figure-out-what-people-want/comment-page-1/#comment-251182 Scott Young Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:34:17 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2008/10/09/how-to-figure-out-what-people-want/#comment-251182 sandy, That's another option. Many good companies were formed when a large group of people finally said "Enough" and one person set up the alternative. The difference is this lies in the end (the people) not the start (the product). -Scott sandy,

That’s another option. Many good companies were formed when a large group of people finally said “Enough” and one person set up the alternative. The difference is this lies in the end (the people) not the start (the product).

-Scott

]]> By: sandy http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2008/10/09/how-to-figure-out-what-people-want/comment-page-1/#comment-250843 sandy Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:57:39 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2008/10/09/how-to-figure-out-what-people-want/#comment-250843 How aout this outer marketing? Find a group that has lots of issues, which you can personally identify with. An example: baby boomers with beauty issues. Then research some of their questions and concerns. Check out forums, read boomer related magazines and articles. See if some of the issues which you, being a boomer yourself, hopefully, have similar concerns. Write down your own issues and concerns. Then, Develop products around these issues. This way you deal with issues you can relate to personally and solve problems for your peers. How aout this outer marketing? Find a group that has lots of issues, which you can personally identify with. An example: baby boomers with beauty issues.

Then research some of their questions and concerns. Check out forums, read boomer related magazines and articles.

See if some of the issues which you, being a boomer yourself, hopefully, have similar concerns. Write down your own issues and concerns.

Then, Develop products around these issues. This way you deal with issues you can relate to personally and solve problems for your peers.

]]> By: Scott Young http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2008/10/09/how-to-figure-out-what-people-want/comment-page-1/#comment-250614 Scott Young Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:39:10 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2008/10/09/how-to-figure-out-what-people-want/#comment-250614 Chris, Even with a market focus, you still need marketing for your product. Sometimes this is advertising (which is actually a very expensive and sometimes ineffective form of marketing), but it is usually something. The "build it and they will come" mantra just doesn't apply to business. A really large company might be able to push a somewhat unwanted product into the market with a huge advertising budget. But in almost all cases, you can't buy advertising to make up for a product nobody wants in the first place. Pete, Yep. Just look in the "Get More" section of the website and scroll to the bottom. Chris,

Even with a market focus, you still need marketing for your product. Sometimes this is advertising (which is actually a very expensive and sometimes ineffective form of marketing), but it is usually something. The “build it and they will come” mantra just doesn’t apply to business.

A really large company might be able to push a somewhat unwanted product into the market with a huge advertising budget. But in almost all cases, you can’t buy advertising to make up for a product nobody wants in the first place.

Pete,

Yep. Just look in the “Get More” section of the website and scroll to the bottom.

]]> By: Thor http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2008/10/09/how-to-figure-out-what-people-want/comment-page-1/#comment-250355 Thor Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:01:05 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2008/10/09/how-to-figure-out-what-people-want/#comment-250355 How about this type of market strategy: 1. What have I ever spent money on online? 2. Why did I buy any particular product, what sold me? 3. Could I do that better? How about this type of market strategy:

1. What have I ever spent money on online?
2. Why did I buy any particular product, what sold me?
3. Could I do that better?

]]> By: Tim http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2008/10/09/how-to-figure-out-what-people-want/comment-page-1/#comment-250283 Tim Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:34:07 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2008/10/09/how-to-figure-out-what-people-want/#comment-250283 Thanks for describing my inward/product focus so succinctly. It's a constant battle for me to avoid assuming that my personal view is not the worldview ... Thanks for describing my inward/product focus so succinctly. It’s a constant battle for me to avoid assuming that my personal view is not the worldview …

]]> By: Pete http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2008/10/09/how-to-figure-out-what-people-want/comment-page-1/#comment-250264 Pete Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:18:35 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2008/10/09/how-to-figure-out-what-people-want/#comment-250264 did you ever finish the goal-setting game? did you ever finish the goal-setting game?

]]> By: Chris Emrick http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2008/10/09/how-to-figure-out-what-people-want/comment-page-1/#comment-250240 Chris Emrick Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:26:39 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2008/10/09/how-to-figure-out-what-people-want/#comment-250240 Actually, this mind set is the difference between effective long-term business and short-term business. Look at it this way. How many products brought to market require a massive ad campaign to generate demand? Pretty much every tech device in the last 50 years. How many last more than a few years at most. But how often have you seen a can opener advertised? It solves a straight problem with a solution that has options (powered, manual, etc.). As long as the inward perspective dominates, you have to create a demand for what you offer. Try doing that when people have limited resources (time, money, attention, etc.) and you spend twice as much as you wanted to. This is often why businesses can go bankrupt with the "wrong" product. When you shift to filling actual needs, people are willing to find you. Word of mouth marketing, etc. is the basis of this. And when you fill other's needs, they are willing to fill your needs. Barter, trade in kind, etc. all is the basis of this. If you want a much better description of this, believe it or not, look into the Piers Anthony book "The Source of Magic" from the Xanth series. Yes, I just recommended a SF book as a business book. The strategy described by the hero at the end of the book shows the benefits of the outward focus of strategy. Actually, this mind set is the difference between effective long-term business and short-term business. Look at it this way. How many products brought to market require a massive ad campaign to generate demand? Pretty much every tech device in the last 50 years. How many last more than a few years at most. But how often have you seen a can opener advertised? It solves a straight problem with a solution that has options (powered, manual, etc.). As long as the inward perspective dominates, you have to create a demand for what you offer. Try doing that when people have limited resources (time, money, attention, etc.) and you spend twice as much as you wanted to. This is often why businesses can go bankrupt with the “wrong” product. When you shift to filling actual needs, people are willing to find you. Word of mouth marketing, etc. is the basis of this. And when you fill other’s needs, they are willing to fill your needs. Barter, trade in kind, etc. all is the basis of this. If you want a much better description of this, believe it or not, look into the Piers Anthony book “The Source of Magic” from the Xanth series. Yes, I just recommended a SF book as a business book. The strategy described by the hero at the end of the book shows the benefits of the outward focus of strategy.

]]> By: Scott Young http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2008/10/09/how-to-figure-out-what-people-want/comment-page-1/#comment-250235 Scott Young Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:02:09 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2008/10/09/how-to-figure-out-what-people-want/#comment-250235 Kali, Yes. I focused on businesses because that's a clear-cut case where outward thinking is a more successful approach. I think in other cases it can become murkier. I think it depends on that you're moving from the limited/specific end of a problem towards the general. In some cases this might be the opposite. If the world was filled with tons of opportunities for say, a career, but only a very limited and specific amount interested you, starting from an inward perspective would make sense. -Scott Kali,

Yes. I focused on businesses because that’s a clear-cut case where outward thinking is a more successful approach. I think in other cases it can become murkier.

I think it depends on that you’re moving from the limited/specific end of a problem towards the general. In some cases this might be the opposite. If the world was filled with tons of opportunities for say, a career, but only a very limited and specific amount interested you, starting from an inward perspective would make sense.

-Scott

]]> By: J.D. Meier http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2008/10/09/how-to-figure-out-what-people-want/comment-page-1/#comment-250111 J.D. Meier Fri, 10 Oct 2008 07:26:08 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2008/10/09/how-to-figure-out-what-people-want/#comment-250111 I agree. The value of the solution is always gated by the value of the problem solved. I agree. The value of the solution is always gated by the value of the problem solved.

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