Evaluating Market Opportunities and Marketing Strategies for Startups

I’m joined by Ashwinn Krishnaswamy, an expert in launching and growing consumer brands, where we discuss how he evaluates market opportunities and creates unfair advantages. We discuss various tools for market research including Ahrefs for keyword analysis, Particl for competitor sales data, and AI tools for product design. Ashwinn emphasizes that entrepreneurs should work backward from distribution channels rather than focusing solely on product development.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
03:45 - Ahrefs tool for keyword research
15:08 -  Particl for analyzing competitor sales data
18:52 - Why start a CPG brand
21:05 - How to stand out in crowded categories
24:57- Opportunities in Branding for Older Adults
28:40 - Bootstrapping Your Product Idea
33:56 - Researching Your Market and Competitors
36:52 - Manus AI for automating market research
39:58 -  Distribution is everything.

Key Points:

• Ashwinn shares tools and strategies for evaluating market opportunities for physical products and brands
• Tools like Ahrefs and Particle provide valuable data on search volume, competition, and sales trends
• AI tools like Manis can now automate much of the market research process that previously cost thousands
• Distribution strategy should come before product development, not vice versa

1) First, understand that DISTRIBUTION is everything.

"First-time founders focus on product, second-time founders focus on distribution."

The hard truth? Many subpar products CRUSH IT because they nail distribution and operational excellence.

Always work BACKWARDS from how you'll acquire customers!

2) Use Ahrefs to evaluate category demand and competition 

Type any keyword to see:
• Monthly search volume (market size)
• Keyword difficulty (competition level)
• Seasonal trends
• Geographic distribution

This helps you VALIDATE demand before building anything!

3) Look for geographic OPPORTUNITIES in the data 

When Ashwinn checked "electrolytes" he found:
• 74% of searches from English-speaking Western countries
• Only 3% from India, Philippines

This reveals potential to build "Element for Germany" or other untapped markets where trends haven't diffused yet!

4) For physical products, use Particle to spy on competitors

This tool shows:
• E-commerce sales data for brands
• Best-selling SKUs
• Category trends

Crucial insight: Often 90% of revenue comes from just 4 SKUs!

5) The REAL opportunity in physical products?

They force you to become EXCEPTIONAL at marketing.

"The bleeding edge of marketing happens in consumer products because it's SO HARD to get attention and convince someone to part with their dollars."

It's a marketing masterclass in real-time.

6) How to stand out in crowded categories:

Study the competition obsessively! Ashwinn showed how most magnesium supplements look generic and medical.

But brands like Moon Juice and Lemme differentiate through:
• Distinctive packaging
• Custom bottles
• Clear positioning
• Targeting specific demographics

7) The BIGGEST opportunity right now?

Find UNDERSERVED demographics!

Most brands target coastal millennials or Gen Z because that's who creates them.

But what about products for older adults with:
• More disposable income
• Less saturated marketing channels
• Different aesthetic preferences

8) AI is your UNFAIR ADVANTAGE for research

• Competitor analysis
• Market sizing
• Customer needs
• Design trends

"It's putting together a report Nielsen would charge $20K for!"

99% of people aren't using AI this way yet.

9) Before building ANYTHING, become a "relentless researcher":

• Study every competitor's positioning
• Read all the 1-2 star reviews in your category
• Visit stores and talk to owners
• Contact potential customers directly

Notable Quotes:

"First time founders focus on product, second time founders focus on distribution." - Ashwinn

"Building a physical product business is very hard and by most people probably just shouldn't be done on a whim. But if you can do it in a somewhat low stakes way or low risk way... I think it is a phenomenal way to get really good at marketing." - Ashwinn

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Startup Empire — a membership for builders who want to build cash-flowing businesses https://www.startupempire.co

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Brand Brothers Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wgTQ7mXBngdiNzcJ2cUJZ