If you have a passion project that you are thinking about turning into something more, this article is for you. A solid marketing strategy is vital to the success of any business, but before you get there you must first launch your project. Here are some steps to help you launch and market your passion project.
1. Find Your Why
The first step in marketing your passion project is finding your why. You already know that you are passionate about the subject and that you enjoy doing it, but that is not enough to keep you going when things get tough.
Think about why you want to market this project, and what makes it so important that you are willing to sacrifice your time and effort to put it out into the world. Once you’ve come up with the reasons, give your project a name and write them down. Put this where you will see it often, and it will serve as a constant motivator to move forward.
2. Organize and Create a Plan
The next thing you need to do is organize your thoughts and create a plan. Write down everything you know about your project and your goals, including what research you still need to do. Do you need to learn new skills, or recruit someone else to help you? By listing everything out in one place you will be able to lay out your plan in phases and steps.
3. Get Started – and Don’t Stop!
Next comes the difficult part: getting started. It may feel overwhelming, but the most important thing is that you start and spend at least 30 minutes each day working on your project. If it helps, think of someone who is already doing what you would like to do and give them a title. For example, if your passion project is to run a successful sports blog, think of what a sports blogger does daily: write about sports.
Schedule this time with yourself and build consistency in your routine. Try to schedule your time block early in the day, as the longer the day goes on the more likely other things will come up that will convince you to put it off. Do your best to eliminate all other distractions like your phone and social media.
If possible, get feedback from others and test along the way rather than waiting until the project is “perfect”.
4. Design and Implement your Marketing Strategy
Designing your marketing strategy is the next step in launching your passion project. You must find where your work overlaps with a pain point in the market, as identifying the problem you can solve will allow you to pinpoint your target audience.
Start with your immediate network, and work to expand from there. Be personable and offer them a chance to try your product, as word of mouth and reviews are a cost-effective way to build brand recognition.
Create an online presence and use social media to connect with people faced with the problem you are trying to solve. Use hashtags and consistent messaging to establish yourself, and work with programs like Google Analytics to learn where your strengths and weaknesses are.
You will find that the best marketing is unique to your passion project and will change as it grows and evolves. When in doubt, focus on the most direct paths and look towards others who have found success as a source of inspiration and accountability.
