Want to know the secret to creating products your fans can’t wait to buy? It’s simpler than you might think: just ask them what they want! The most successful creators know that their best product ideas come directly from their community. When you tap into your audience’s desires, you’re not just making products – you’re creating exactly what your fans have been waiting for.
This week’s tip is all about turning your social media into a powerful market research tool. By running simple polls and asking the right questions, you can validate your product ideas before you create them. Not only will this help you make better products, but it’ll also boost engagement and make your fans feel like they’re part of your creative journey.
Think of it like this: every time you ask your audience for input, you’re building a stronger connection with them. You’re showing them that their opinion matters, and you’re creating products with them, not just for them. Ready to learn how? Let’s dive in.
Formulating Your Question: The Key to Getting Useful Answers
When you survey your audience, it’s crucial to make space for them to give you their best ideas. That’s why the questions you ask are so important — they need to be open enough to leave room for creativity, but also constrained enough that it’s something you can actually create.
Here are some effective questions you can ask, depending on your situation:
If you have a product idea already:
- “I’m thinking about creating [your idea]. Would you be interested in this?”
- “Which version of this design would you prefer?”
- “What price would you expect to pay for something like this?”
If you need product ideas:
- “What’s one thing you wish I offered in my store?”
- “Which of these product categories interests you most?”
- “What would you love to see me create next?”
Be sure to ask questions about the product itself, but also make sure to ask questions about important things like pricing, sizing, materials, packaging, and more. You want to get the full picture of what your audience expects.
How to set up polls on Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube
When you’ve got your questions ready, it’s time to head over to your favorite social media platform and ask. Here’s how to do it on Instagram, Youtube, and X, but every platform should have a poll option.
Instagram:
In Instagram you have two places to engage with your audience: in your posts, and via stories and reels.
Posts are a great way to ask fans for longer bits of feedback. They can use comments to respond and give you a thoughtful answer.
Stories are great for getting more responses on the fly. We especially love using the built-in posts and questions tools to gather product intel:
- Use the Two-option poll to answer simple yes or no questions
- Use the Emoji Slider poll to gauge how much interest there is.
- Use the Questions sticker for open-ended questions
Youtube:
Youtube is similar to Instagram: you can talk about your product ideas in your content, or leave a poll in your community tab to gather quick feedback.
The rule of thumb? Use your videos to talk about your product idea if it’s still forming or needs explanation. If it’s a big, complicated product (like a book or a course), use your videos to talk about the journey of making it. Your fans can use the comments to give you more detailed feedback (and cheer you on!).
If you’re looking for answers to simpler questions, or trying to narrow down your ideas, polls might be a better option. Fans can click a checkbox — and you’ll get deeper insights.
Twitter:
If X is more your jam, you can make polls there too! Choose the poll option when posting, or just ask an open ended question to your audience.
Turning insights into products
Now that you have feedback, it’s time to turn those insights into action. Remember: you don’t have to implement every suggestion, but look for patterns in what your audience is asking for.
If you’re new to product creation, start small: Take one of your top-performing designs and put it on a hoodie or t-shirt (these consistently rank as highest-selling categories across all Spring creators). Then you can test the waters with a small launch and see how people respond.
Ready for something more complex? Consider building a custom product through our partner service, Pietra. They can help you create virtually anything you can imagine, then sell it seamlessly through your Spring store.
Every poll helps you build something bigger
Sending out polls and asking for feedback might seem like tiny steps, but they can lead to huge leaps later on. When you know exactly what your fans want from you, it makes creating a product that people actually want way easier.
Plus, your fans are your biggest cheerleaders. When you engage with them through polls, comments, and feedback loops, you help build a stronger connection with them. 💖
If you’re ready to close your laptop every week knowing you’ve moved your business forward, grow your creative passion into real income, or just build better products that actually sell, this is your year to make it happen. Head over to our Resource Hub to discover more weekly tips that’ll help you build a thriving store, one small improvement at a time.
We can’t wait to see what you make!