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- What I've learned: CORRECT vs WRONG way to launch a startup.
What I've learned: CORRECT vs WRONG way to launch a startup.
Plus, a simple trick to get early users. Do this!
Aron Meystedt
July 21, 2023
Read time, 2 minutes.
Today, from ValidatorAI.com
👍️ I’ve been testing/launching my startup ideas wrong for years. DO THIS instead!
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🖨️ Copy my model for getting early users. Here’s a simple trick.
I’ll make this quick.
In the past, this is how I (and most people) would pursue a startup idea.
⚡️ Let’s say you have an idea to solve this problem: Wallets are too bulky in men’s pockets.
The old and INCORRECT way of moving forward: ⬇️ ⬇️
Come up with what we think is a great idea. A pair of shoes with a wallet holder built in, for example. Dumb idea, let’s just go with it. 😆
Go find a factory to produce a sample that I sketched out.
Wait a month for the sample. It arrives, I’m in love with it. I’m all in.
Place the minimum order with the factory. Let’s say 1000 pair and it costs me $50,000. NO WORRIES. I’m all in, remember?
Wait months, they finally come in. We’re rolling now.
Rent a store front. Buy fixtures. Open for business!!
Realize no one knows about us yet, so let’s start marketing, advertising, spreading the word.
People trickle in slowly, no one really buys.
Figure there must be a problem with my messaging, or marketing. I just need to keep after it - raise more awareness, get people in the door. No stopping now, right?
Stuck in this endless loop of failure — and you’re broke!
➡️ Idea ➡️ Market it ➡️ Realize no one cares ➡️ Tweak Marketing ➡️ Try again ➡️ No one cares ➡️ Repeat step one and start again 🔁
😠 Does this sound familiar? Have you done this? WE ALL HAVE!
🙌 Good news, there’s a better way and it looks like this:
Determine what the problem is for the customer.
Determine who your exact ideal customer is and go find them NOW.
IMMEDIATELY start talking to people and hear about these problems firsthand. Find out if a bulky wallet is even on their radar to solve. Is it a minor annoyance? A major pain point? Have they been searching for a solution?
Ask open ended questions to these people about their problems. Don’t feed them the solution you have in the back of your mind. Save it for now.
Now you’ve validated if you are onto something or not.
Now is the time to tweak your product idea to fit the feedback you’ve received.
Revisit the buyers with your solution(s) and see which solution gets them excited.
Once you are ready to start selling, you’ll have a great idea of buyer problems and needs, and you’ll have people primed and ready for your solution.
❗️ Get out there and talk to people first! ❗️
We made a detailed video about this process. See it below:
❓️ ❓️ How do you get people on board early and how do you endear them to you and your startup?
Simple!
👉️ Provide value, from day one, for free. 👈️
Offer free consulting help and advice.
Write a free newsletter with tips and information.
Provide a free tool for people to use (I like this one). 😉 😉
Blog about your expertise.
Speak at industry events and/or chime in on forums, reddit etc.
Offer some sort of free analysis centered around your industry.
Just HELP with any problem, no matter how small, for free.
This sort of behavior establishes immediate trust and you’re providing value right off the bat. You can sell something later. Give value first.
🔈️ I want to hear from YOU now… 👇️ 👇️
Which of these have you done in the past to try to launch a startup?Pick one please |
Reply and let me know what you’re working on!
Reply