I think I am going to go nuts with the ideas that are in my head. Ideas for photography, ideas for marketing, ideas to reach different target markets, ideas to try or test or get guinea pigs for. Ideas, ideas, ideas.
Every once in a while, I have an idea that really seems to *pop* and I pursue it a bit further to test the waters, so to speak. I did that recently with one idea and got parent feedback, business feedback, tons of feedback. Is it unique? Yes. Would parents like it? Absolutely. Is the price point right? It’s on par with other similar, but different, costs. Would it interrupt kids regular day? Absolutely not.
I developed the process, the steps, the organization, the proofing, developing and proof production … all 100% great. No issues. Quite streamlined. Business wise — it was a winner of a process.
Then, based on all that feedback, my process ready, I move forward. Two test centers … #1 didn’t even remember we were coming. 🙁 #2 was amazing, active, engaged. Return on #1 was a 1% purchase response. Return on #2 was a .9% purchase response. Wow. Yikes. That SUCKS. Many didn’t even turn their proofs back in. 🙁 That’s sort of like stealing because there was a price to it, but at this point, I don’t really care.
Feedback? #1 – the organizer totally bailed on me. Just didn’t follow the “instruction” I provided and didn’t ask or say anything to me about it. Two good suggestions came out of it though. Implemented those for #2. #2 followed the instruction to the letter, but the feedback was price.
And unfortunately, there is now way this particular item can be cheaper. It’s that or nothing. 🙁
So, I chaulk it up to failure. But how to fix that in the future? How does one determine what is going to be a “winner” and what is going to be a “losing venture”? If all signs point to yes, do you do it? Or must all signs point to yes and “some magical element” be in line to work?
I do think there is an alternative that would work, but honestly, that alternative includes a process that I am not interested in pursuing. It includes “on the spot” decision making, which I will do EVERYTHING I can to avoid with my customers. It’s not how I work. It’s not how I want to work. It’s not how I will work. My entire business model is designed around convenience and that’s working nicely for the “normal” aspect of my photography business, just not my little “offshoot” idea.
My dreams of paying off my credit card and being debt free via this idea and the “contract work that didn’t happen” have been blown to pieces. I know I should be happy that my business is growing steadily — and I love that part, but I don’t believe in having “all my eggs in one basket” so I want to be able to use my photography skills and equipment for other purposes. I guess I just need to keep writing down my ideas and save them for a rainy day again.