JCN,

Thanks for asking how to know what people want.

A basic list could be...

More time, kudos, blah blah blah. You can probably find such lists online for free http://www.doyletics.com/index10.htm. And while OK, they don't help You too much come up with anything better.

So start with this...

People want Solutions to Problems. And when I say "problems" I mean, problems they are Already Concerned About, not what you Think they Should be concerned about.

Take a look around your home. The humble calculator is a Solution to a Problem. Your Cutlery is a Solution to a Problem. A pencil is a solution to a problem.

All "how to do X" are solutions to problems. How to play the guitar, recipe books, how to make a video DVD, etc.

Often, these problems are cyclical. Each year as we get into Summer sales of air conditioners soar. As winter arrives electric blanket sales take off. See the cycles in the Walmart, KMart, Target catalogs.

What problems do You buy solutions for? Think other people might have the same problems?

Here's an example of a problem... most people would miss the Opportunity here...

So this guy in the fish and chip shop is cleaning the oil on one of his vats. If you've ever worked at MacDonald's and done such a thing you know how Yuck it is. He tells me, he does it himself because there is no-one around to do it for him. Also, he has to do it often as he can only get the lower oil and not the Good oil due to supply - the supplier doesn't supply the good oil to his location. He has two problems. Solutions are...

1: Offer a Mobile Oil Cleaning Service.

2: Become a Distributor for the Good Oil. Once a week/month travel to the Supplier and pick up a bunch to distribute later.

3: Visit other towns also with those same problems - similar towns have similar problems - and ask the same shop owners if they have the same problems.

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A complaint is a problem begging for a solution.

Supermarkets sell solutions to problems - boot polish, socks, hairspray, shoe laces, needle and thread.

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All companies Buy supplies. Those supplies is what THEY are looking for. You find some first, at a cheaper price with good quality, and could make a sale to Those companies.

DVD/CD duplicating businesses have to buy their DVDs and CDs and Plastic cases from somewhere, don't they?

Hope this helps,

Michael Ross
www.hotsheetcity.com - where you find solutions to problems