I recently received this question:

I’ve built a software product. Currently, there’s no demand for it in the market, but I’m sure people need it. How can I get people using it?

Here’s my response:

The only way to successfully market a product is to make something people want.

Identifying a “need” isn’t enough:

  • People need to lose weight for their long-term health, but most don’t. (In the USA, over 68% of adults are overweight or obese).
  • People need to switch to environmental transportation options to reduce air pollution, but most don’t. (Fuel emissions from private vehicles continues to rise)

However, there are successful products that help people lose weight and switch away from fossil fuels. Their secret? They’ve put their products in a package that people want.

Non-software examples

LA Weight Loss markets it’s program by promising customers something they want: a sexier body.

Elon Musk got more people driving electric cars by starting with something people wanted: a fast, luxurious vehicle. (The Model S can go from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds).

James’ theory

My friend James Clear has a theory: many positive habits (like a healthy diet) are painful in the short term, but rewarding in the long term.

It’s difficult for people to do things they know are good for them. The benefit is too far in the future. Eating candy has an immediate reward (it tastes good), but a long-term detriment (weight gain, disease). Eating vegetables is the opposite: short-term pain, but a healthier future.

James believes that the secret to motivating people is to align the long-term benefit with a short-term reward.

So if you’re going to sell an environmentally friendly vehicle, start by marketing it as a luxury sports car. Early in Tesla’s history, people wanted the status of owning the exclusive roadster. To help the world reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Elon Musk had to create a product that gave people a short-term reward (in this case, status and speed).

How does this apply to building a software product?

My favorite example is Dating Ring.

They launched with a bold premise: a dating site without profile photos. It’s a rational idea. If you’re looking for a lifelong partner, swiping left or right on a photo is too superficial. Through experimentation, they discovered that a blind date with a group of people was the best way to find a potential mate.

Single people needed their service, but it wasn’t what they wanted.

Signups suffered because users wanted to see photos of possible matches. Dating Ring was forced to relaunch with a site that allowed people to upload photos, and control their preferences.

Final thoughts

Recognize that people might not want the progress your product provides. Customers don’t make purchasing decisions rationally. They buy emotionally and then rationalize their purchase with logic.

To succeed, build something that gives users a quick win, and then continues to provide value over time.

Cheers,
Justin Jackson

PS: After 10 years of helping SaaS companies build, market, and grow their products, I built this interactive checklist to give my clients a robust process for finding product-market-founder fit. 👈

Originally published at justinjackson.ca on July 6, 2017.