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I'd like to share one of the methods that I use when coming up with a new product/service idea. If you're having trouble and you feel overwhelmed with where to start, I suggest doing this. The reason for doing it in such a manner is to gain a more "hands-on" type way of doing things. I find that, compared to sitting in front of a computer searching niches and keyword/phrases, (Which, don't get me wrong, also works) this technique helps you to SEE, in the real world, what problems, pain points or needs that people are actually experiencing. It's actually pretty fun and allows you to expand your ideas to infinite measures.
Keep in mind and take note that the premise of this exercise is based on WHAT, WHY, WHEN, WHERE, HOW (WWWWH). You learned this in grade school, one of the few things you can actually take from and apply to your business. When asking these questions you can elaborate on every point you need, to come to conclusions.
When addressing WHAT it is that affects ones life or WHAT problems one has we will use WWWWH.
WHAT affects peoples lives?
WHY does it affect their life?
WHEN does it affect their life?
WHERE does it affect their life?
HOW does it affect their life?
GET UP, GET OUT
I actually find that it's best to go outside, drive or take a walk downtown/anywhere that's populated. Take note of WHERE you are. This is important and will help you with specifically targeting your market later. Are you on the highway? Are you in a parking lot? Are you in a neighborhood? At the mall? A sporting event? The beach? Whatever it may be, the problems, pain points and needs will differ according to your targeted market/location of choice.
For example, you may see more problems/needs for dog collars/leashes arise if you're parked in a Petco parking lot. Be aware of your surroundings.
Some things to note,
What is the neighborhood/Town/City like? Lower/Middle/High class?
What time of the day is it?
What season are we in? (If applicable)
Are you on a highway? In a car? Out of a car? In a parking lot? At a park? Beach? Mall?
Is it mainly Men? Women? Boys? Girls?
Are the people parents? Kids? Groups? Friends?
Are the people business owners? Consumers? Employees?
If you could place them in a category, what would it be?
OBSERVE
As you begin to observe, you begin to notice minute details that you may have otherwise never noticed. Take note of these things. In addition to WHERE you are and weather you may or may not be targeting a specific crowd, take note of what the people are doing. Is there a common gesture/action? Is there something that could make what they're doing easier? Is there a better way to do what they're doing? It's really endless on how you can expand with this. Are they on there phone? In there car? Out of there car? With someone? Conversing? Taking things out of their car? Bringing things to their car? Walking? Running? With who/what? What are they wearing? Why? Is it sunny? Cold? Engage in conversation. Overhear conversations. This opens up to more problems that may not be directly visible. Listen to people. When you pick up any of these observations you will notice common problems or even annoyances. Solve them. In your head or on paper/phone, put together something that can help that person. You have to be constantly thinking how you can solve someones problem. How can you add value? How can you make something easier? Different? When you reframe your mindset to think this way, it will happen on a daily basis, but for now, this is how you can get the juices flowing. Doing this will practically force ideas into your head.
For example, that woman with a baby in her arms struggling to take a stroller out of her trunk has a problem. It can be solved and WILL be weather YOU think of a way how or not. It's up to you to even pinpoint THE problem. Is it the baby or the stroller? Maybe most would focus on a lightweight, easily collapsable, stroller idea. Maybe you'll focus on a way to hold a baby, hands free.
Some things to note,
What do you hear? Are people talking? About what? Dead phones? Feet hurt from walking? Problems?
Are the people happy? Angry? Sad?
What are they doing? What is an alternative? Anything easier?
Is there a common activity?
TAKE HOME, TAKE ACTION
Now it's time to take your notebook full of ideas, (worth nothing I might add) UNLESS you do this step, and do a bit of research and development. A great idea with action driving it can catapult your business. An okay idea with burning passion driving it can explode your business. HOWEVER, a great idea AND an okay idea with no driver are both equally worthless.
Take those ideas and research them. See how they do in their own given market. Is there a market for this idea? Is there a product out already that solves this problem? Can I make IT better? Can I make IT differently? Are there people talking about anything like this? How would something like this do? Yes, it's a problem but is there a NEED? Is it scalable?
Keep in mind, this is just the idea portion. You have a lot of work ahead of you to make your idea come to life.
IMPORTANT.
I recommend after doing this, that you also take your sculpted idea and run it through MJ's guidelines, specifically CENTS. Then test it of course.
Using WWWWH and GET UP, GET OUT/OBSERVE/TAKE HOME, TAKE ACTION as well as MJ's techniques we have put together a plan ready for MASSIVE ACTION. Doing this will guarantee you a crowd of starving zombies BEGGING for your business. You went straight to the problem and personally visualized how you can solve it.
I hope this helps or adds a little value to someones day! 😀
Keep in mind and take note that the premise of this exercise is based on WHAT, WHY, WHEN, WHERE, HOW (WWWWH). You learned this in grade school, one of the few things you can actually take from and apply to your business. When asking these questions you can elaborate on every point you need, to come to conclusions.
When addressing WHAT it is that affects ones life or WHAT problems one has we will use WWWWH.
WHAT affects peoples lives?
WHY does it affect their life?
WHEN does it affect their life?
WHERE does it affect their life?
HOW does it affect their life?
GET UP, GET OUT
I actually find that it's best to go outside, drive or take a walk downtown/anywhere that's populated. Take note of WHERE you are. This is important and will help you with specifically targeting your market later. Are you on the highway? Are you in a parking lot? Are you in a neighborhood? At the mall? A sporting event? The beach? Whatever it may be, the problems, pain points and needs will differ according to your targeted market/location of choice.
For example, you may see more problems/needs for dog collars/leashes arise if you're parked in a Petco parking lot. Be aware of your surroundings.
Some things to note,
What is the neighborhood/Town/City like? Lower/Middle/High class?
What time of the day is it?
What season are we in? (If applicable)
Are you on a highway? In a car? Out of a car? In a parking lot? At a park? Beach? Mall?
Is it mainly Men? Women? Boys? Girls?
Are the people parents? Kids? Groups? Friends?
Are the people business owners? Consumers? Employees?
If you could place them in a category, what would it be?
OBSERVE
As you begin to observe, you begin to notice minute details that you may have otherwise never noticed. Take note of these things. In addition to WHERE you are and weather you may or may not be targeting a specific crowd, take note of what the people are doing. Is there a common gesture/action? Is there something that could make what they're doing easier? Is there a better way to do what they're doing? It's really endless on how you can expand with this. Are they on there phone? In there car? Out of there car? With someone? Conversing? Taking things out of their car? Bringing things to their car? Walking? Running? With who/what? What are they wearing? Why? Is it sunny? Cold? Engage in conversation. Overhear conversations. This opens up to more problems that may not be directly visible. Listen to people. When you pick up any of these observations you will notice common problems or even annoyances. Solve them. In your head or on paper/phone, put together something that can help that person. You have to be constantly thinking how you can solve someones problem. How can you add value? How can you make something easier? Different? When you reframe your mindset to think this way, it will happen on a daily basis, but for now, this is how you can get the juices flowing. Doing this will practically force ideas into your head.
For example, that woman with a baby in her arms struggling to take a stroller out of her trunk has a problem. It can be solved and WILL be weather YOU think of a way how or not. It's up to you to even pinpoint THE problem. Is it the baby or the stroller? Maybe most would focus on a lightweight, easily collapsable, stroller idea. Maybe you'll focus on a way to hold a baby, hands free.
Some things to note,
What do you hear? Are people talking? About what? Dead phones? Feet hurt from walking? Problems?
Are the people happy? Angry? Sad?
What are they doing? What is an alternative? Anything easier?
Is there a common activity?
TAKE HOME, TAKE ACTION
Now it's time to take your notebook full of ideas, (worth nothing I might add) UNLESS you do this step, and do a bit of research and development. A great idea with action driving it can catapult your business. An okay idea with burning passion driving it can explode your business. HOWEVER, a great idea AND an okay idea with no driver are both equally worthless.
Take those ideas and research them. See how they do in their own given market. Is there a market for this idea? Is there a product out already that solves this problem? Can I make IT better? Can I make IT differently? Are there people talking about anything like this? How would something like this do? Yes, it's a problem but is there a NEED? Is it scalable?
Keep in mind, this is just the idea portion. You have a lot of work ahead of you to make your idea come to life.
IMPORTANT.
I recommend after doing this, that you also take your sculpted idea and run it through MJ's guidelines, specifically CENTS. Then test it of course.
Using WWWWH and GET UP, GET OUT/OBSERVE/TAKE HOME, TAKE ACTION as well as MJ's techniques we have put together a plan ready for MASSIVE ACTION. Doing this will guarantee you a crowd of starving zombies BEGGING for your business. You went straight to the problem and personally visualized how you can solve it.
I hope this helps or adds a little value to someones day! 😀
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