Validate demand before spending on advertising
SNS Team · Reviewed 2026-11-05
Encouragement from friends matters. Before ordering large quantities or renting premises, find out whether someone outside your circle will pay.
Test a small offer with people who actually have the problem. Record who bought, who did not complete the purchase and why. If the product is not ready, do not present it as available for delivery. Likes alone do not prove demand.
What purchase evidence do you need before proceeding?
How to run a small purchase test
Choose one product, one problem and a defined customer segment. Explain price, delivery and refund terms before asking for payment. The purpose is to discover who will buy on those terms, not collect compliments. Label a waiting list as a waiting list, rather than a reservation for a ready product.
A practical step to try
Record the source of each enquiry, the customer's objection and whether payment or a genuine reservation occurred. Include shipping and packaging in the full test cost. A small sample may reveal an important objection; it does not establish the size of the entire market.
When should advertising begin?
Media Buying helps test an understandable offer with a relevant audience. Decide in advance what evidence would justify continuing and where you would stop. A low cost per click alone does not prove people want the product.
Read next
To connect marketing with business outcomes, tell SNS about your business and goal. We review the appropriate scope before providing a quotation.
Prepared by the SNS team. Examples are educational, not a promise of results or a published client case.