We have mentioned that the topic you choose has to not only be of interest to you, but also have widespread appeal. This is the marketability factor. You will have to be able to make your product interesting and attractive to buyers. So you will need a subject that a broad audience can relate to.

How can you tell if your topic will interest enough buyers to make your campaign successful? The following quiz will help you determine the marketability factor for your product.

QUIZ: The Marketability Factor

Answer the following questions as thoroughly as possible to help figure out whether your topic has mass market appeal.

1. How often do you hear your topic mentioned in the news? If the news media considers your subject important enough to report on with regularity, it is probably something quite a few people are interested in. Televisions, magazines and newspapers are looking for ratings, and they get them by drawing large audiences with the information they present. The broader the audience they feel can be reached with a topic, the more often they will seek to cover it.

2. How many products are available on the market relating to your topic? Finding out you have a lot of competition is not necessarily a bad thing. It simply means there is a large enough consumer base to support products that deal with the topic. And that will include your product.

3. What is the approximate age range of people who would find your topic interesting? The best topics have broad demographical appeal. If your subject can
interest anyone from teens to retirees, you have a great shot at creating and selling a successful product.

4. How fast would you act on a great deal for a product relating to your topic? How about your friends? Would you jump at a bargain if it related to the topic you have chosen? And how about the people you hang out with, your easy-to-reach target market? The sooner you can hook people into a sale during the buying process, the more likely your campaign will be profitable.

5. What are the benefits of knowing more about your topic that customers would gain by buying your product? People want to know they are getting what they pay for. Your topic should be able to provide buyers with some tangible knowledge or skill they would not otherwise have if they had not purchased your product. Being able to list the benefits of your product will also help in your marketing.

The Marketability Factor Quiz: The Quickie Version
Ready? Answer yes or no:

1. Is your topic in the news a lot?
2. Do you have existing competition?
3. Does your topic appeal to several age groups?
4. Would you or your friends buy a bargain product related to your topic?
5. Does your topic have useful benefits?

If you answered yes to at least four of these, congratulations! Your topic is marketable! Proceed with confidence, you are on the right track.