They say PROVIDE VALUE. What do people Value in 2010 what trends are there?

[-Mike-]

You always hear people say, to be profitable you need to provide people with Value.

The term Value means lots of things to lots of people, those with the best concept may be people who have a successful product or service.

But what trends or changes do you see in what people consider to have Value with regards to informational products, online and offline products and services in our current economy?

When we look back in 10 years or 20 years, what will they say was the craving for current customers? What was in demand, what had Value?

[Bohlman]

I think a big thing now is getting their moneys worth.

With the economy the way it is, people are looking for deals that will get them their moneys worth. They are not going to go get their money and pay for something that they will use once.

Deals and something they can use multiple times.

[-Mike-]

So you think maybe a shift to quality? Products and services that will last and get lots of use out of them?

[Bohlman]

So you think maybe a shift to quality? Products and services that will last and get lots of use out of them?

Correct. I think people want that item that will last them a while.

[peteVA]

But not too much -

A quote to remember in these tight economic times - The price difference between "the best" and the adequate often is much larger than the quality difference. George F. Will

I do very well selling Unbranded / Private Label goods.

A photo of an aisle of shelves in a Wal*mart from a year or so ago and that same aisle today would show a sharp increase in their own store brands.

Same with many other retailers.

To me it's support and service after the sale. I live in the US, have a partner in China and sell unbranded - not fake - electronics worldwide, both dropshipping and normal wholesale.

Just last week I sold someone in the UK an order of MP4 players. When they got there he had 7 of the clear plastic "crystal cases" that were damaged by DHL. He told me about it one evening and 3 days later had 7 new, empty crystal cases delivered by DHL. Cost of the cases? Pennies. Cost of the DHL from HK to the UK? $20, minimum.

Did I provide VALUE to my customer? I certainly hope so. In fact, in the words of MasterCard, I feel like it was Priceless.

[kameron]

When people say provide value. They mean value to your targeted customer. What were your target audiences NEEDS. What is it that they were searching for that u can provide them through your content that will fill your audiences NEED.

Content MUST contain one if not all 3 E's.


Content must be

-Educational
-Enlightening
-Entertaining

All while providing useful information that will satisfy a searchers NEED.

[Lambo]

find a void in the market and fill it.

ie) you see something that ppl want or cannot find, it is your job to find that and sell it to them.

enough of these ppl and you have yourself a niche market to carve out!

easier said then done though!

[pacificfame]

I am involved in an industry where the main asset has come down to becoming a commodity.

My agents and I need to be different and provide value to the merchant. We do this by not getting so much involved in the price war, but rather finding solutions that will help the merchant bring in more profit and reduce costs.

Instead of... "Hi I'm Austin and I can lower your costs."

It is .... " Hi I'm Austin and I can increase your profits and reduce your current costs." (not what I actually say just an example)

But yes.... The current trend business's are seeing is consumers are seeking VALUE! More value to their dollar spent.

[-Mike-]

Thanks for all great replies! But how has peoples taste changed with regards to what they value compared to the past, and what will we look back on and see as a major trend of our time regarding what people want and needed. Or maybe its just that.. there was more of a shift towards what people "Want" rather than "Need"... Going way back.. people needed "food, shelter, safety" today with all the advancements in technology and in our economy its people "Want" "Ipads, Iphones, Brand Name Cloths, to be entertained" so what does that say about Value? Has it changed to whatever we can persuade people to buy, or has value went from being something more about utility to something more about personal preferences *which i think can be swayed easier than whether something has utility or not...