In order to launch a product or service, you will need to create a CAOS, which is made up of four things:

1. Concept

You need an answer for the basic questions people will ask: What’s this product or service about? What problem does it solve? Why should people listen to you?

To complete this step, put together a slide presentation on Keynote or PowerPoint so that you can present your concept to people in a presentation. Deliver this presentation to several close friends or associates in order to get feedback and criticism to improve it. Remember that the concept has to be something you are passionate about, something you can add value to and something people are willing to pay for.

2. Audience

Who is this product or service for?

Who do you need to get in front of in order to sell it? Devise a questionnaire or survey that you can get 50 people to complete in order to discover insights into the drivers behind what kind of people are interested in your offer and what makes it appealing or what turns them off the idea.

3. Offer

What’s the deal?

What do people get for their money? What are the terms and conditions? Construct a four-to eight-page brochure that outlines exactly what you are offering people, include the features and benefits of the offer, and as much information as you can that will entice someone to buy. Accompany it with a sign-up form people can complete if they want to buy and a form that has the relevant terms and conditions on it.

4. Sales

Can you present and sell this concept? Can you handle questions, concerns and objections? Can you get payments or deposits? What is you conversion ratio from presentation to sale?

When you sit with people and present your offer, be brave and ask them if they would like to put down a deposit or full payment in order to become one of the first clients for your business at a special rate. If they object, ask them why, share any insights that might clarify the value you offer and see if you can find a way that they would comfortably make the purchase. Either way, record the main objections and your responses so that you can improve the way you and your offer address people’s concerns.

The CAOS challenge isn’t designed to build a business on, it’s designed to quickly and cheaply test an idea in a commercial environment. Don’t worry too much yet about how it will scale or how it will run without you. At this stage, just see if you can get people to buy something from you. If yes, your idea has been sucessfully validated.

Time to get started!

Here at Dent, we’re always creating and sharing ideas around the world to develop entrepreneurs who stand out, scale up and make a positive impact in the world.

If you’d like to learn more of our methodologies, consider coming along to one of our workshops in London/Birmingham where we’ll be sharing what the Entrepreneur Revolution means to you, establishing yourself as the Key Person of Influence in your industry, becoming Oversubscribed and developing 24 core Assets. Learn more