From Sketch to Success: A Roadmap for Developing Mental Health Products That Sell
Previously I wrote about the 8 stage sales cycle, but if your product is no good or there is no market demand even the best sales team can only take you so far. In this article I will focus on how to navigate the development of mental health products that sell in a sector where a blend of empathy, innovation, and agility are vital. This is a quick guide on an approach that marries data-driven insights with agile methodologies, ensuring your product not only hits the market but resonates deeply with those it aims to help.
The UK faces a significant challenge, with 1 in 4 people experiencing a mental health problem each year. This statistic isn’t just a number; it’s a call to action for product developers in the healthcare sector. The key to developing impactful solutions lies in understanding the vast spectrum of needs within this demographic. Dive deep into market research, leverage empathy maps, and most importantly listen fully to the stories behind the statistics.
Get The Agile Edge
Whilst the need for support is currently unmatched the market is incredibly saturated with similar seeming products, if you want to stand out and succeed agility is not optional; it’s essential. Agile development, characterised by its flexibility and iterative cycles, has been shown to enhance team efficiency and project success rates significantly. A staggering 95% of organisations report that adopting agile methodologies has improved their outcomes, a testament to its effectiveness even in complex sectors like mental health and addiction services.
How can you adopt an agile approach to your product development?
- Collaboration Is Key: Form cross-functional teams that bring together diverse perspectives, ensuring a holistic approach to development. A great product will rarely be the product of just one department’s input, for example, if your clinical team has come up with something, has the market research been done around competitors, consumer uptake, pricing and want? If your marketing team has come up with a product, is it effective, does it align with your values, will it fit in with the rest of your product suite?
- Sprint Towards Goals: Break your project into manageable sprints, focusing on delivering specific, value-driven outcomes in each cycle. Set tasks across your team and make sure they are time boxed, who is responsible for what and by when?
- Embrace Feedback Loops: Regularly review progress and incorporate feedback, allowing your product to evolve in alignment with real-world needs and expectations. Leo Tolstoy said “An arrogant person considers himself perfect. This is the chief harm of arrogance. It interferes with a person’s main task in life — becoming a better person.” Product’s are no different. There is always room for improvement and remember, the market is always evolving both in what is available and what is wanted, research never ends!
The Journey to Market Success can feel daunting but if you approach it systematically and thoughtfully it needn’t be. The main stages are:
- Pre-Development: Start with a solid foundation of empathy and research. Define your minimum viable product (MVP) based on genuine user needs, setting the stage for meaningful innovation. It is important to consider how this new product fits into your brand’s identity and where it fits alongside any other products you may already have.
- Mid-Development: Here’s where agile shines. Utilise sprints to iterate quickly, testing your product with real users and refining based on their feedback. This continuous loop ensures your solution remains relevant and effective.
- Post-Launch: The launch is just the beginning. Stay engaged with your community, monitor feedback, and be prepared to pivot. The agility to adapt is your greatest asset in responding to the evolving landscape of mental health and addiction care.
“For good ideas and true innovation, you need human interaction, conflict, argument, debate.”- Margaret Heffernan
It’s no secret that bringing a product to market can be an emotional rollercoaster. Facing market feedback, especially when it’s less than favourable, can be daunting even if you have been through it many times before. Yet, it’s through resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous improvement that true innovation is born. Remember, every piece of feedback is a golden nugget of insight, guiding your product closer to its ultimate goal: making a real difference in the lives of those it serves and being profitable.
As you embark on this journey, remember that the goal is not just to launch a product but to launch a solution that genuinely addresses the challenges faced by those in need. Embrace the journey, do plenty of research, stay flexible, and let your passion for making a difference be your guide.
Written by Jennifer Reich of www.jcrc.co.uk
