Would you like to develop an extremely popular service, which significantly increases your revenues and profits?
If you just answered, “yes!” I have a question for you: Do you listen to your marketplace?
I often hear from business owners, who bring a new service to market, only to find there is little demand. What seemed like a great idea to them, was less appealing to their clients and prospective clients. This happens because there’s often a big difference between what we think people need and what they actually need!
Listening
One of the best ways to avoid this happening to you, so your next new service is a huge success, is to listen to what your marketplace is saying. Learn what their problems, fears and opportunities are and then, develop a service based on their needs.
Thankfully, it has never been easier to listen to what your marketplace is saying, than it is today. Social sites like Twitter, Google+ and Facebook etc, make it possible to listen to people in your target market and get a real feel for what’s relevant to them. Your clients and prospective clients often take their problems to social networks, in an effort to find answers or get support from people in similar situations.
The key is to listen. I spend around 5% of my social networking time posting messages. The vast majority of the time I am listening and learning how to better serve my marketplace. As most of my non referral clients start off as readers of this blog, I listen extremely carefully to the messages in your comments and emails. All that listening allows me to spot opportunities to help you.
For example, before I launched my new marketing consulting service last week, I knew there would be a high level of demand. That’s because it provides something, which you have been asking me for; the opportunity to have me look over your business and give you the answers you need. You asked for a high value, flexible way for you and your business to benefit from my answers and ideas, so I developed it for you and the response has been amazing.
Regardless of your industry or profession, you are paid to solve some kind of problem. By listening to your marketplace, you can help ensure that your next new service is relevant, valued and in demand.