Product Prep Time: Choosing The Right Test Group For Your Invention
Angela Shupe
September 15, 2009
So, you have created a new product and have a limited number of samples to work with. You feel it is innovative and there is no way the world could ever live without it, but you have yet to test it on the people you want to market it to.
It is time to create a product test group.
After trying the product for yourself, you'll want to create a group of test subjects to try it for you. Who you choose will depend on what you are hoping to sell. Inventors of mom centric products will want to seek out moms to try their creation. Baby product inventors will want to reach out to the parents of children within the age group they're hoping to reach.
Before you start looking, consider creating a non-disclosure agreement for your testers to sign. While not all inventors choose to use one, it can help protect your invention before a patent is firmly in place; as you will be sharing some important information when you hand over the product to your test group.
Once you have that out of the way, you can start your search by looking at the people within your own community. They could be the parents of kids that your own children go to school with or complete strangers. Placing a small ad in the newspaper announcing that you are looking for someone to try a new product or placing fliers within local stores in your community might help. Reach out to connections where you can get them. Friends can also help you by spreading the word.
However, you will want to limit the number of friends that you allow to join in on the test. While friends can be a great help as you get started, they're not necessarily the best place to start for feedback. While strangers will give you honest feedback on how well your product works, how durable it is, and whether it is something they feel makes a big difference in their everyday life, friends are more likely to soften the truth. That does not mean you shouldn't utilize their help. Just make sure to limit the number of friends you invite. You'll want to promote variety within your group, so you can see feedback from all directions.
Next you will need to determine how much time your group should spend testing the product. If there is more than one use for your product and you intend to market each one, create a separate test group for each use.
The product is in the hands of your test group, so now what?
Let the testing begin! Set up a regular check-in point for each person. If your group is testing the product for a month, ask them to follow up once a week until the end of the testing period. Request that they tell you how it is holding up, whether it is doing the job required of it, and any complaints they might have at that moment.
Once the testing period is complete, give each tester a survey to fill out. On that survey you'll want to ask them questions about their experiences, including:
Did the product perform as described?
How easy was it to use?
Would they recommend it to others?
Does the price you want to sell it at sound reasonable to them?
Did it withstand the specific use as promised?
Would they buy it?
While the questions you will need to ask vary depending on your product, it is important to make sure what you ask will get the most information from each tester. It is that feedback which will help shape your product and your marketing decisions.
It is time to create a product test group.
After trying the product for yourself, you'll want to create a group of test subjects to try it for you. Who you choose will depend on what you are hoping to sell. Inventors of mom centric products will want to seek out moms to try their creation. Baby product inventors will want to reach out to the parents of children within the age group they're hoping to reach.
Before you start looking, consider creating a non-disclosure agreement for your testers to sign. While not all inventors choose to use one, it can help protect your invention before a patent is firmly in place; as you will be sharing some important information when you hand over the product to your test group.
Once you have that out of the way, you can start your search by looking at the people within your own community. They could be the parents of kids that your own children go to school with or complete strangers. Placing a small ad in the newspaper announcing that you are looking for someone to try a new product or placing fliers within local stores in your community might help. Reach out to connections where you can get them. Friends can also help you by spreading the word.
However, you will want to limit the number of friends that you allow to join in on the test. While friends can be a great help as you get started, they're not necessarily the best place to start for feedback. While strangers will give you honest feedback on how well your product works, how durable it is, and whether it is something they feel makes a big difference in their everyday life, friends are more likely to soften the truth. That does not mean you shouldn't utilize their help. Just make sure to limit the number of friends you invite. You'll want to promote variety within your group, so you can see feedback from all directions.
Next you will need to determine how much time your group should spend testing the product. If there is more than one use for your product and you intend to market each one, create a separate test group for each use.
The product is in the hands of your test group, so now what?
Let the testing begin! Set up a regular check-in point for each person. If your group is testing the product for a month, ask them to follow up once a week until the end of the testing period. Request that they tell you how it is holding up, whether it is doing the job required of it, and any complaints they might have at that moment.
Once the testing period is complete, give each tester a survey to fill out. On that survey you'll want to ask them questions about their experiences, including:
Did the product perform as described?
How easy was it to use?
Would they recommend it to others?
Does the price you want to sell it at sound reasonable to them?
Did it withstand the specific use as promised?
Would they buy it?
While the questions you will need to ask vary depending on your product, it is important to make sure what you ask will get the most information from each tester. It is that feedback which will help shape your product and your marketing decisions.
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