Better to be transparent about a recent launch or feign reputation?
I'm interested to hear others' perspective on this one. Particularly for B2B.
In the past I've taken the path of transparency with the hope users would be open to adopting a new product, however it seemed to have an adverse effect.
User hesitation about paying for a new product with no reputation or social proof is valid but the business needs to get traction somehow. The odds are already so stacked against us.
What do you think?
While a business might be new, You are the one with the reputation. And that's not new.
+1
Don't risk long-term gains for short-term risk.
I can tell that with all our expertise, reputation, familiarity and friends that are buyers. It was not enough, our buyers insisted we get funded first. Big businesses don't have time to waste on a maybe, they want to know you are here for the long run.
My intuition is, don't go after big businesses. Be honest and start small, build traction, then go big.
You made need to offer something up for the initial users in order to get the "social proof" that you need to get going. But I'd always start as you mean to go on...
It’s a good question and the answer, in my opinion is, it depends on the use case and product space. I’m more likely to give a product in a less critical space (entertainment/time saver/ fun) a shot but if it’s more a critical space like legal or financial, I’d go with a more seasoned product for peace of mind, I suppose.
Either way works depending on how to frame it. The key here is risk management.
B2B companies don’t want to get fired for choosing you. How will you ensure they they’re trust in you is well founded?
Showcase your product performance and track record.
Showcase your personal/team performance and track record.
1 is best because it’s specific to the product in question. 2 works if 1 isn't available (as in your case.
As soon as you can, get REAL case studies in place that show what the product has done for others.
Also: Never lie. You WILL be found out, and it will hurt you.