How to test New Products/Services for Under a Few Hundred Dollars

You've got a product idea. The product itself costs $50,000 to develop, and you're sure it's a good idea because it really solves as specific problem that many people are dealing with.

What you do is : You write a report, e-book or white paper about how to solve that problem. You create an opt-in page where people can get your report in exchange for their contact information.

Then you buy keywords, send people to that page and see how many people you can get to opt in.

That alone will tell you something.

And if you absolutely cannot get anybody to opt-in to your report - or if you can't find keywords that anyone is searching for - then that's a good sign you should abandon the project before you throw any more money at it.

When people do opt in, you can send them an email (or even call them on the phone) and ask them what they're really looking for. If your report is any good, they'll be happy to talk to you, and you'll get LOTS of input about the kinds of problems they're trying to solve.

It's impossible to do this and not learn some major things that you did not know or anticipate.

Not only will this process validate that you're solving a worthwhile problem; it will also fine tune your efforts so that you're dealing with the real problems that real people have!

It's worth repeating: after testing your concept, you'll never throw good money at a lousy product idea. And when you need assistance or investment money, you'll have proof that people are looking for what you have to sell.