What is the best way to test a product?

[Vasily_Vaisman]

What do you people prefer to test for a product? Facebook Ads/Instgram Ads, Google, IG Shoutouts?

I've been doing all those different methods but no luck so far, I know that the audience most be less annoyed to take a product, but does it seem that I need to test a product on a narrow audience? What is the way you get your first series fo sales?

[Rockpapercopy]

What I used to do is to have a product on a pre-order basis - with an information that people can order it online, yet the product will be shipped in 30/60 days. Then I'd order the most popular products, with most pre-orders. This way I knew I will have a winning product. You should get a fair amount of traffic to your website for this to work though. 

[Vasily_Vaisman]

Thank you for your reply, but how do you advertize your winning product? Do you have a niche Instagram/Facebook page?

Also, is price a major factor in the pre-ordering?

[Rockpapercopy]

I don't use advertising, so cannot help you here. Yes, the price plays a role in the research - make sure to have competitive pricing [ideally the price you would normally sell the product for if you had it in stock]. So calculate your profit margins as well when pricing the products. 

[ShipAntdotcom]

Launch ads on facebook or IG might be the most effective way shopify seller ever used to test new products. 

[OliUK]

I think Facebook/Insta ads are a very effective way of driving people to a test, especially because of their precise targeting options.

Over the last couple of years, I've seen less trust in validation-through-engagement and a bigger push towards; seeing if someone will actually pull out their wallet out and pay. One strategy is to direct ads to a landing page with a fake 'buy' button. This is how 'Kettle & Fire' bone broth got started.

I had the same issue as you in a previous company and have since developed and launched a Shopify app to solve the problem, whilst still plugging into your existing storefront.
It allows you to test new products/product-ideas for your store, either through email collection or pre-orders. However, the pre-orders will only transact if your specified sales target is reached. You have no obligation to fulfil the orders if it doesn’t.
(You can also set an extended delivery time)

You can find out more at: www.preproduct.io

Cheers,

Oli

[rsaenz]

Hi Vasily,

Personally what I do with my clients when we're testing new products is first to find the audience that will buy that product and create SEO optimized content on Pinterest for that product. Pinterest is currently the platform we use for testing since it helps us rank a product for a keyword faster.

Feel free to see more details about using Pinterest on the Test 82 website and at least open an account to research your audience.