Unlocking Creator Success: The 50/50 Secret to Conquering the Crowded Marketplace

Use the simple formula that I will show you now to become overwhelmingly successful as a creator.

There is a simple misunderstanding that leads to countless creators being cut off from commercial success despite great effort and really good results. Perhaps you also suffer from this misunderstanding? - We'll find out in a moment.

The misconception is roughly as follows: If I just publish really good content, then I will be successful. Or, if I release a really helpful Saas software, then my financial dreams will come true. Depending on WHAT you produce, you have your own version of this assumption.

The problem with the assumption can be explained in one sentence: Product quality is a necessary, but not sufficient condition for commercial success. In other words, if I assume that I just have to deliver a good product and then I will be successful, I am under a misconception. Why is this so?

Because we are in a market, and moreover, in a very loud and crowded market. Just imagine a loud, completely overcrowded marketplace in a medieval village. That is the market. Now you or I come and make a product that we think is really good. Unfortunately, there is no free space for us in the market yet. All spaces are occupied and there is, as discussed before, a lot of crowding.

So here we are with our supposedly great new product and have two problems. Problem 1: No one sees our new product. Problem 2: We assume it's a great product. Whether a sufficiently large target group sees it the same way, we don't know yet. Problem 2 leads back to Problem 1.

If we don't reach anyone from our supposed target group, no one can test our product. The hustle and bustle in the marketplace continues happily and the participants there are doing a shining business. All while we sit with our supposedly brilliant product in a small side alley and no one takes notice of us.

If you imagine this picture strongly enough, you will also come to what we are missing. We have to get to the marketplace! Somehow we need to get in touch with our target audience. Only then can we solve our two problems. First, our product is seen. Second, we get feedback on whether our target audience actually likes it.

And if they don't like it, we can start adapting the product, our target audience, or both until it works. Until the much talked about Product Market Fit is there. This also clarifies what the other necessary conditions for commercial success are.

Condition 1: We need contact with the market. Condition 2: We need feedback from our target audience. Assuming that we don't need Condition 1 and Condition 2 is the widespread mistake.

Product, promotion, and feedback. We need all three factors to be successful. If you're still with me up to this point, of course the next question comes: HOW EXACTLY do I manage to have all three necessary components?

My best answer is that you and I pursue the following strategy: Step 1: We are aware that promotion accounts for at least 50% of the success. Step 2: From this awareness, we build in the promotion from the beginning to at least 50%.

The peculiarity lies in the fact that we focus on the 50% promotion from the BEGINNING. It is nothing else than a change in consciousness. Away from the assumption that our product is enough and we just have to tinker with it in our abandoned side alley for long enough.

Towards the realization that from day 1 we need contact with the turbulent marketplace. That from day 1, we need to talk to members of our targeted audience. Now one might say "Of course, you need both, the product and the promotion!"

But, it doesn't seem to be that clear. How else to explain why such a large part of creators are still tinkering in the workshop in the small side alley 90% or more of the time, instead of heading to the turbulent marketplace.

I have an answer to that! The answer I find when I listen to myself and it is very simple: It's scary to go to the marketplace. It's a damn big step to come out in public with yourself and your product.

In contrast, it's MUCH easier to keep tinkering in the quiet chamber of my side alley and not face this fear. I know this because I have the same fear. It's the fear of exposing one's inner self, one's creation to public criticism.

The more I recognize this fear, accept it, and still step into the market, the more successful I will be. The aforementioned fear of going to the marketplace with my idea explains on another level why so many (including myself) prefer to tinker in the chamber.

We think, the better our product is, the more refined it is, the less fear we will have when we go to the big marketplace. Of course, we are only increasing the risk that we will build our product past the market and it will be a flop.

The solution lies again in recognizing the fear, accepting it, and still going to the market early. Let's keep the ratio between producing and promoting at least 50/50 from day 1. If we want to deviate from it, let's deviate in favor of promotion.

And lastly, let's collect and utilize at least 20% feedback, incorporate it.

In the end, it looks like this:

40% Production,

40% Promotion,

20% Feedback.

All this from day one.

Speaking of it... if you have read this post until here, THANK YOU!

Chances are that you have only done it because of the formula that I have just stated.

This time I jumped through the burning hoop and have added 40% Promotion.

Alas! And you have seen my Production (the post), read it (thanks again), and can share some feedback (if you wish).

So, here we are: 40/40/20 - Worked much better than 100/0/0.

Love to learn your thoughts.

Have a great day!