The Pumpkin Plan: A Simple Strategy to Grow a Remarkable Business in Any Field

by Mike Michalowicz

1. Predict. Ask your client base, your prospects, your followers and your fans if they would be interested in your new offering. Keep track of the number of responses (in relation to the total number of people in your database). Put way more weight on the responses from your top clients, rather than people who have loud voices. People who have bought in the past are likely to do so again. Get the conversation going by bringing out ideas from the Wish List. 2. Appreciate. Thank the people in your community who respond: the yes’s, the no’s and the maybe’s. The fact that people care enough to respond is big. So you must show your gratitude. Even if they say, “This is the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard,” email them and say, “Thank you so much for your honest feedback, it definitely helps give me direction.” 3. Announce. If you’re satisfied that you have enough “yes” responses to move forward, tell the community that since there are enough people who want your new offering, you’re going to go ahead and create it. This will pique the interest of those who initially responded “no” because they’ll naturally be curious about what the majority wants. It’s like a standing ovation—you may not feel moved to stand up and clap at the end of the painful five-act play that went on forever, but because everyone else is standing up, you get up and clap your heart out. It’s human nature to allow yourself to be persuaded by the majority. 4. Engage. In any way you can, engage your community as ...