I have got to say, I am not going to give a post with a very broad spectrum today because we are having exams this week and the next. Also, I might not be able to post as often. Don’t expect anything of less quality though. This blog will live up to its name; it will continue providing smashing tips on internet marketing.
It’s a Hot and Humid Day. Which Would You Buy?
Let’s say it’s a very hot day today, the temperature is 40°C/104°F. You see two stalls - both are of the same size, but one looks more elegant than the other. The first one (let’s call it “stall A”) has a very simple “setting”. No flowery curtains, splendid table covers, no fancy stuff. All you can see there is a person (the seller), and his refreshing and cool lemonade. The second one (”stall B”) has all the elegance in the world — high-class decors, tablecloths, a unique logo for the stall, and all that. The owner of stall B looks very presentable, and he’s selling cups of coffee.
Now, the question is… which product would you buy? The lemonade, or the coffee? I’m sure all of you would answer lemonade, unless your brain has been configured to be topsy-turvy!
This teaches us one important lesson. If you do not market the right product to the right people (in this case, people who need a refreshing thirst quencher), you would NOT make any sales at all… No matter how presentable your product is!
Learn to Adapt to Your Environment
The internet is transforming more and more nowadays, and we can not simply deny that fact. We, internet marketers, should learn to adapt to our environment. If the people today need article spinning software, then let us have something to market to them — get a programmer to produce a unique and saleable software, and then do what every marketer should do. Use your skills to make some serious sales. Do not try to sell them an article copier software that literally copies and pastes articles from the net to a word processor. I’m telling you, you would not make even a single cent.
What measures/actions should we take in order to adapt to our environment quicker?
Research, research, research. This one is very powerful especially when you know how to do it properly. Research on the most lucrative niches. Know what the people’s needs today are. Learn which things are hot and which are not. Be updated on all the trends on the internet today.
Don’t try things that you think won’t work. There was this saying by Henry Ford, let me share it with you. “Whether you think you can or can’t, you’re right.” Most of the time his quote proves to be true! Trust me, I can attest to that. If you think selling boxing gloves to fashion-inclined girls won’t work, then don’t even think of doing it. Once this becomes your habit, you won’t be making mistakes of choosing the wrong product for a certain group of people during a certain period of time.
Ask for suggestions/comments. This method has never failed me. If you ask for suggestions, it would be like asking the question “What would you want me to sell to you?” to your target market! I have tried this a lot of times already and it always worked.
People Buy Something Because They Like It…
… Not because you’ve got a decent sales pitch. If you had a very, very enticing sales pitch, then maybe they would buy without thinking, but we’re only talking about a decent sales pitch here. 
No more arguments about the adjectives. Let’s continue on…
Face it — even if you don’t write a great sales pitch, people would be flocking over your online store if they think your product is that good. In my opinion, it would be enough to have a detailed advertisement on forums and other websites in order to get a good number of sales. Overly exaggerated and extravagant pitches might actually do more harm than good. Why? People would be raising their eyebrows on your product!
Summary
Learn to adapt to your environment and make sure your product is liked by people. Research on the hottest trends these days and try to squeeze some information from prospects by asking for suggestions/doing surveys. If you market what’s marketable (or saleable), then you would be sure to get a lot, and I mean a lot of sales.
Readers have left 10 comments on "Market What’s Marketable!".
Good point you’ve made Lucas!
We cannot market anything to anybody. As you say, it will convert into a sale only if someone needs it. One should put oneself in the buyer’s place and ask “Why should I buy this?”
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I want to add something: when marketing ‘what’s marketable’, make sure it’s a unique product. You have to stand out from the crowd, you know. Even if pancakes sell like pancakes (
) on the streets, you wouldn’t get a lot of customers if you don’t offer something that sets you apart from other pancake-sellers.
Dude, Lucas you really know a lot about marketing! I didn’t know that before… Kudos on having a really great blog, keep up the excellent work. I’ll be keeping an eye on NS through my reader. I’m busy right now so ta-ta.. XD
Thanks… and great addition to the post! I agree with putting oneself in the buyer’s shoes.
Man, I like your pancakes example. Is that like, a pun or something? I’m not very literature-inclined, sorry! Thanks for visiting my blog, by the way.
In relation to the two stall, I would ask both of the stall owners for instructions to the BEER stall. No able bodied Aussie bloke would stoop to drinking lemonade or coffee on a 40 degree day.
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Hehe, thanks for that. Some additional knowledge for me.
Well things always change and so you must change with the times. Even if it just a minor change you still are adapting to the changes around you and providing customers with what they want
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Great post. The example was so concrete.
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The comments hold true for products but it is much more difficult if it is a service. The client will not have had the opportunity to experience the service as that happens after they buy. Like a meal - you “buy then try” if it is for the first time. So the example holds true for lemonade and coffee but not sure if it was say consultancy services
Rob
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@Sire:
That’s a good one, Sire..
@Lucas: “Whether you think you can or can’t, you’re right.” You are absolutely right! The basis of marketing has always been selling the right product to the right people at the right time with the right strategy.
Great one, Lucas.
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Sire follows Lucas’ instruction and whilst heading to the beer stand he stumbles over many interesting posts by the author and sobers up as he absorbs all the good content.
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What do you think? Have your say!