This’ll be quick. You’ve heard it before:
It’s better to start now, and start small, than not start at all.
— Justin Jackson (@mijustin) February 8, 2015Actually launching a product, no matter how small, can help you build an audience, validate an idea, establish your expertise, and learn how to do it all better the next time around.
So it’s time to stop mulling and hemming and hawing. Let’s get your work out the door.
Step 1: State your date
Make a public commitment (on Twitter, to a friend, whatever) to launch your project on a certain date. James Clear did this by picking a date three weeks out and telling his email list he would be hosting an online workshop. He hadn’t even started yet.
Step 2: Embrace constraint
Set a limit for yourself—a number of words, minutes, pages, etc. Get in your box, as Chris Guillebeau says. Constraints can be liberating because they not only make the whole process more manageable, they let you see how you’re progressing towards your goal.
Step 3: Simplify
You might think you did this with step 2, but complexity can always creep up on us. What if my 10 recipes were all videos that featured interviews with local farmers about the main ingredient? No. Start with something way more basic and just get it out there. You can always grow it into something more if it resonates with people.
Not sure what to make? Here are some ideas from some of our favorite small products:
- A song
- A handbook
- A collection of illustrations
- Sheet music
- A small recipe book
- A photoshop brush
- A 15 minute tutorial
- A list of tips
- An icon
If you need more inspiration, Season 2 of the excellent Build and Launch podcast just got underway. Host Justin Jackson launches a new product each week, and takes you along for the ride. It’s definitely worth checking out!
What will you launch next week?