Just because you have an excellent idea doesn’t mean everyone will like it. Many people, whether they’re just starting out or have been at it for a while, jump into making new things without stopping to think: “Will people actually want this?”
People ask me if their idea is good all the time. But here’s the thing: It’s not about what I think. So, I usually flip the question and ask, “Why do you believe your idea is great?”
Cool Ideas vs. Products People Really Want
There’s a big pile of ideas and businesses that didn’t work out. Many failed because the people who started them only thought about how much they loved the idea.
It’s fantastic to be super excited about a new idea you have. But before you spend a lot of time and effort on it, you should make sure other people will like it too, not just you.
Here’s the tricky part: You can’t just ask anyone what they think about your idea. They might not “get it” or give advice that isn’t helpful. Worse, they might gush with support for you even if the idea is a truly bad one. In some cases, they might even take your idea for themselves, though execution is far more complex than ideation – a story for another time.
But if you only trust your own feelings, that’s not good either. Imagine an idea being like a puppy. To you, your puppy might be the cutest thing ever. But others might see a noisy, messy little furball. It’s the same puppy, but people see it differently.
So, the next time you think you have an amazing idea, ask yourself why it’s so great. If your reasons don’t fit into one of the questions we’re about to share, maybe think twice about that idea.
Are You Making Something Totally New?
People often come up with ideas for totally new and different things. Unfortunately, this is a double-edged sword: while exciting, many new ideas don’t work out.
Imagine you have a tool that helps websites get more visitors. But your tool isn’t like the usual tools. Instead of bringing more people to a website, it does something super different. You might call it the ‘no-more-visitors-needed tool.’
Here’s where things get tough: most people are used to the old ways. Even if the old ways aren’t perfect, they might not want to try something completely new. When you offer them something different, you have to teach them why the old ways aren’t as good, show them how your way is better, make sure they know it’s safe and legal, and then hope they’ll give it a try.
Think about it: when machines that clean the air in our homes first came out, few people wanted them right away. The companies had to teach people that sometimes the air inside our homes isn’t clean. Only after a long time did these machines become something many people wanted in their homes.
So, if you have a new idea, ask yourself, “Why hasn’t anyone made this yet?” Maybe your idea is so great that once people see it, they’ll wonder why no one thought of it before. But there could be reasons no one has made it. Maybe others tried, and it didn’t work. Understand why it hasn’t been made yet and think about how to make it work before jumping in.
Are You Ready for a Big Change in the Market?
Picture this: Right now, your idea is for a small group of people. But what if that group gets much bigger very quickly? This is like seeing a new style before it becomes cool. If you’re the first to make the perfect thing for these early fans, you could be in a great spot when everyone else wants it, too.
This means you’re trying to guess where things are going before they get there. Looking back, it’s clear why streaming movies on the internet became popular. But there was a time when people thought 3D movies would be the next big thing, and renting movies from a store would never end.
To make this work, you need to know the people you’re making your product for. Maybe you’re part of that group, have sold things to them before, or have spent a lot of time chatting with them. The more you know about them, the better you can plan your next steps.
Are You Changing an Old-Fashioned Business?
If the business you’re thinking about hasn’t changed much over time and needs a fresh touch, you could be on the right track.
Take used cars, for example. Many people don’t like shopping for them or selling them. But now, there are online services where you can see cars for sale near you, get one delivered to your door, or sell your car without leaving your house. With virtual test drives becoming popular, regular car stores might not be around much longer.
Think about banks, too. We used to drive to them and wait in line to cash a check or take out money. Then, ATMs came along and let us get cash anytime. Now, we do most of our banking online, without ever seeing an ATM or bank.
If you want your idea to grow big and fast, shaking up an old business is a smart move. But the timing has to be just right. If you start too early or too late, it might not work out.
Look for things that bother people. If you can develop a fresh idea that fixes a long-standing problem, you could be on to something really successful.
Are You Teaming Up with Smart People?
What if we got brilliant people together to see what cool things they could make?
This approach often works best for people who’ve started businesses before. Working with others is always good, but it shouldn’t be the only reason you begin a business.
Imagine meeting someone with a unique way of doing things that could shake up an entire industry. You know how to sell and market things, while they know how to create or provide an amazing product. Together, you could make something much bigger than you could do alone. A good example is when someone great at marketing teams up with an expert. They can create and sell an excellent online course that many people want and eventually buy.
Always try to work with people who are more intelligent and skilled than you, whether they’re friends who help brainstorm, people you hire, or business partners. But remember, just having a group of talented people doesn’t guarantee a hit product. Sometimes, the team doesn’t fit well together, or the timing isn’t right.
It’s More than Just a Lightbulb Moment
You’ve probably seen those cartoons where someone gets a great idea, and a lightbulb pops up above their head. They then seem to turn that one idea into a big success magically. This tells the same story:
Step 1, Idea
Step 2, ???
Step 3, Profit!!
Reality, however, is a bit different from cartoons. Great products don’t usually come from just one “Aha!” moment, and the question marks must be filled in. While some might think that you simply get a cool idea, make some plans, gather a team, and then customers will come, it’s not that straightforward. Having a good idea is like laying the first brick. To make something unique, you’ll need many more bricks (or ideas) that build on that first one.
To truly succeed, you’ll need to keep thinking, improving, and adapting instead of depending on that first spark of inspiration. Still not sure what to do with your idea? Contact us here, and we’ll help come up with a plan to validate the idea, and possibly even to bring it forth into the world.