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List the things you always complain about
Complaining in the business world can be a good thing for it can be the door to finding new market needs. If you always complain about something then see if you can create a product to solve this problem.
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Find the things people always complain about
The more common a problem is, the more likely a product that solves the problem is to succeed. If the majority of people are complaining about something then a product that solves their problem is very likely to succeed.
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Use social media to find out people’s problems
People usually talk about the things they dislike on social media. By following the news you can easily find out the general problems people are suffering from. (See Why Social Networks are Popular?)
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See if the current product truly satisfies the need
Even if there’s a product covering a certain need in the market, there can still be room for improvement. Can this product be improved? Can a better product be introduced? Does the current product fully address people’s needs?
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Get into the deep details
People who have hobbies or who are passionate about certain things are more likely to find out the problems associated with their hobbies or the things they are passionate about. The more time you spend doing something, the more likely you are to spot the market needs related to it.
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Any negative event is an opportunity
To find more market needs you need to look at negative events from a different angle. Most negative events usually create new needs.
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Find a new innovative way to solve an existing problem
Long ago, people had the need for transportation but horses were the only available method. Henry Ford decided to do something totally innovative by creating cars. The new product he introduced solved an existing problem in a very innovative way.
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Look for frustration
Frustrated people are always looking for ways to help them deal with frustration. If so many people are experiencing frustration then there is a need for a product that can help those people deal with their frustration.
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Survey people
By asking people about the products they need you can build an idea about the existing needs in a certain market. (See Why marketing research can give inaccurate results?)
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Study competitive products
When you spend a long time studying competitive products you will come up with a list of their flaws. By creating a product that doesn’t have those flaws your chances of success will be much higher.
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Only target the markets you understand
When a person understands a certain market well, their chance of spotting a need in that market will become much higher. Only target the markets you understand or you might fail to see the market needs.
