How To Promote a New Product

Launching a new product on the market, to gain sales and exposure for it can be a challenge. The five steps below can be effective when marketing and establishing a new product more effectively.

1. Packaging. When you put a new product in a package, you want it to be eye-catching so that it tells the consumer exactly what the product is, at first glance if possible. Marketing experts call this “impulse appeal” because the purpose of the product is immediately evident upon seeing it displayed on the store shelf. The packaging should also exhibit the importance of your product, so that the consumer can see their own need in purchasing it. Your product details should be described with as little detail as possible, but in an informative fashion. The packaging should highlight the attributes of your product and also promote the fact that it is easy to use and will add convenience to the consumer’s life.

2. Trade shows. When you launch a new product on the market, one way to get immediate exposure to consumers is to display your product in booths at trade shows. Do a little research to find out when and where trade shows will be held that feature the type product you have; display your product at as many of these shows as possible. Booth space at these types of shows is usually very cost-effective, because it gives great exposure to your new product by allowing you to sell it directly to consumers, who will advertise for you through word-of-mouth.

   Some trade shows in smaller cities offer free booth space. For those shows that are too far away or would not be within your budget to attend, you may be able to convince someone else who attends them to display your product in their booth. Ask someone who sells similar products -- they may be willing to display your product with theirs for a percentage of the sales. Or, they may split the cost of the booth space with you. If your product creates sales and interest, they may also want to become a distributor of your product, which would be an added benefit!

3. Promotional video. Simple, short-length product demonstration videos are real eye-catchers. They are great tools for using in presentations to prospective buyers, and are also effective at trade shows. People who attend these shows will gravitate toward a television screen that is playing a video. When done properly, an amateur video can be nearly as effective as one produced professionally. If your budget does not allow for professionally produced videos, do not hesitate to produce one yourself. If you promote your product on the internet, videos can also be converted into files that are viewable online.

4. Promotional flyers. It is not difficult to create quality promotional flyers that direct consumers to your product, using a computer to generate them. In today’s computer age, you can create informative advertisements and print them off for disbursing in areas that will bring attention and sales to your product. Inquire with businesses that can display them in their windows, or display a stack of them on a counter for consumers to take with them and read. Businesses you approach should be those who do not see a conflict of interest in helping you promote your product, and who might also see a benefit in doing so.

5. Internet advertising. There are many websites that offer free classified ads or cost-effective paid ads. There are also blogging websites that offer free blogs (online pages under their domain) and you simply register with them, to create one. You would want to read their policies, however, to make sure they allow blogs that promote products. The great thing about a blog is that you can be as creative as you like in promoting your product. There is also website hosting available through many companies on the internet, at low cost, so that you can actually have your own domain (registered address) for a website. Website hosting can be in the $20-a-month range and up. You get access to website-building software that is high-quality and effective in promoting your new product.

There are many other ways to promote and sell a new product, but the above four steps are some of the major methods that can help gain success for a new product.