The question of what makes a product authentic is one that businesses, investors, and consumers alike are increasingly asking. Just how do you know if your idea for an app or a new clothing brand is truly original and therefore worthy of investment? How can you be sure that the people who want to buy your product are genuine potential customers and not just people looking to take advantage of the next amateur to launch their own fintech startup? These are all valid concerns. In today’s world, there are countless copies of everything from smartphones to restaurants. Whether it’s Amazon or John Smith selling umbrellas, someone always has something that is virtually identical to something else. Because of this risk, many established brands will only work with partners who have been vetted and trusted for years. In order to suss out if your “authentic” product idea is real before investing time and money in it, here are some key things you need to think about when evaluating your idea:

Who is your target customer?

This is one of the first questions you should ask yourself before you even begin to develop a product. Who do you want to buy your product? If you want to create a business software that helps doctors manage their practice, your customer needs to be doctors. If you want to create a lifestyle fashion brand that caters to women of different races, your customer needs to be someone who fits into each of these categories. While there are some products that can be catered to almost anyone, these products don’t actually exist yet which means you’re creating the market. If you aren’t targeting a specific group of people, your product is likely not authentic.

How do people currently acquire or pay for the product you are looking to create?

This is perhaps the most obvious of all the questions that pop up when you’re looking to figure out if your product idea is authentic. If you want to create a business software that helps doctors manage their practice, you’ll want to make sure to look at the way doctors currently work with each other. Do they send faxes? Do they use email? Do they use an in-house system? If your product would solve one of these problems, you’ll want to be sure to ask yourself how people actually work with each other and whether or not your solution is realistic.

How easy is it to use your product concept?

This is another key factor when trying to suss out if your idea is “authentic.” Is the product you are trying to create easy to use? Is it intuitive? If you want to create a business software that helps doctors manage their practice, this should be the major focus of the product. While many products that are based on a need for something (like doctors managing their practices) are easy to understand, these types of products often don’t have the same level of popularity as more niche products. If you want to make sure that people actually want your product, you’ll want to make sure that it is not only easy to use, but also enjoyable. If your product is not both of these things, it may be a sign that the idea is not authentic.

Are people paying for this product yet?

If you want to sell a piece of clothing, you’ll want to make sure that your idea is both novel and also that there is a market for your product. Many aspiring entrepreneurs will just create a product and assume that they will be able to convince people to buy it. But in order to know that you’re actually looking at the right question. If you have created a product that is both novel and appeals to a market, the next thing you should ask yourself is if the product is already being used. There are many products that are created by entrepreneurs that never make it onto the market at all. The key question here is whether or not people are actually buying your product.

Can you personally verify that your idea is already profitable?

This may seem a bit odd at first, but it is one of the most important factors to consider as you look to see if your idea is authentic. The final piece of the puzzle, you’ll want to make sure that there is actually a way for you to personally validate that your idea is profitable. In order to ensure that your product is authentic, you’ll want to make sure that you’re not just looking for an answer on the internet. There are many ideas that can be profitable, but there are also many that are not profitable. If you are trying to assess for yourself if your idea is profitable, you are likely not looking at the right question.

Conclusion

This article examined the question of what makes a product authentic technology and explored some of the key factors to consider when trying to determine if your idea is authentic or not. It is important to remember that authenticity is a key hallmark in building a successful business. You can always try starting with a basic idea, but if you are not authentic in the execution or the product itself, you will likely fail. As with any business venture, it is important to identify what your market is looking for and make sure that you are delivering the experience that they are looking for. An authentic product will be something that is novel, easy to use, and is already being used by users. If you are able to meet these three criteria, your product is most likely authentic.

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