Phyllis Wangui

New Product Launch: 3 Things to do before More often than not, developing a strong promotion strategy for a new product doesn’t necessarily mean it will be appealing to the market. The steps taken before actual launch are important in determining its success. The following are the most crucial steps that you should take note of. 1. Develop awareness It’s important to alert the target audience of a new product being launched soon. Use social media to create awareness. For example facebook, twitter, your blog and website. You can also use promotional videos with content to be broadcast in the media. A paid up page in the mainstream media is also necessary. Use attractive colors and a catchy headline should to capture the imagination of the target market. 2. Interact with the Target Market It’s important to carry out market segmentation. Different classes of customers will prefer different brands. You can divide the market in terms of age, income, geographical location and gender. During the pre-launch stage the product is not yet in the market. The target market is in an anticipatory mood. The market already has other products offered by the competitors similar the one being launched. A lot of time should be spent interacting with the product consumers. Carrying out a small survey is a good starting point. It gives an insight on how to differentiate your product with those of competitors. Distinct features should be used to make your product stand out from the rest. You may also discover the niche. This is that part of the market that’s not being served by current products. During the actual launch you need to concentrate your promotional efforts in these areas and fill in the gap. You can announce discounts. For example buy-one-get-one-free offers before the actual launch. Bonuses that complement the product can also form part of the campaign. 3. Get Feedback At this point the market is eagerly waiting for the new product to be launched. During the prelaunch campaign your contacts are already out there. This provides a good platform to interact with would be clients. The prospective clients will definitely send feedback via email, sms, facebook, whatsapp or any other social media. It’s important to appreciate both positive and negative feedback. This helps in eliminating any issues that may directly and indirectly affect the actual launch. In conclusion, it does not matter how long the pre-launch stage will take. It can take weeks or even months. The important thing is launching a product that will be accepted by the market. The above steps will ensure hat your budget is not wasted once the product is already out there in the Market.