Move beyond ad-hoc pre-launch activities by implementing "impression modeling." This systematic approach quantifies message frequency to key targets (HCPs, patients) and uses a feedback loop to monitor attitudinal changes, ensuring the market is properly prepared before the product goes live.
Traditional pharma marketing, heavily reliant on science and data, can be improved by adopting consumer goods principles. This involves focusing on simplicity, message consistency, and tapping into emotional insights to cut through a cluttered and competitive marketplace.
A product launch isn't merely a release date; it's a strategic, coordinated campaign. Its primary goal is to change the market's perception, generate demand, and create momentum across the entire funnel, moving beyond a simple product announcement.
Despite sound science, many recent drug launches are failing. The root cause is not the data but an underinvestment in market conditioning. Cautious investors and tighter budgets mean companies are starting their educational and scientific storytelling efforts too late, failing to prepare the market adequately.
Avoid the trap of trying to achieve everything with one launch. Instead, define a single primary KPI—such as press mentions, sales rep message adoption, or a specific user action—and build the entire campaign strategy around optimizing for that one goal.
The weeks following a launch are for intense learning, not just promotion. The goal is to quickly identify high-adopting customer segments and then execute mini 'relaunches' with tailored messaging specifically for them, maximizing impact and conversion.
Before launching a major campaign, build a small, informal panel of prospects and customers you can text for quick feedback. This simple, low-cost method provides direct market validation, reduces the risk of failure, and strengthens the business case for new ideas internally.
The commercial success curve of a new drug is locked in within the first six to nine months post-launch. After this point, market perceptions are set, and additional investment yields diminishing returns. A rapid, real-time feedback loop is crucial for course-correction *during* this make-or-break period.
Instead of ad-hoc campaigns, Qualified's marketing team organizes its rhythm around monthly and quarterly product launches. This cadence aligns the entire company, creates a constant "why now" for sales, and ensures the corporate narrative continually evolves.
Think of consistent brand building—through thought leadership and storytelling—as preparing the soil. It lays a foundation of trust and recognition. When a targeted ABX campaign is launched, it lands with a warmer, more receptive audience, rather than feeling like a cold, disjointed outreach.
To prove business impact beyond vanity metrics, define success by aligning with key departments *before* the campaign starts. Executives want pipeline, product wants trials, and customer success wants retention. This prevents a disconnect where marketing celebrates impressions while leadership asks about revenue.