What is the term for marketing a new product in a geographical area before a full scale launch?

The term for marketing a new product in a specific geographical area before a full-scale launch is "pilot testing." This process allows businesses to evaluate product performance, gather consumer feedback, and identify any potential issues in a controlled environment. By launching the product to a limited audience, companies can assess market response and adjust their marketing strategies or product features accordingly. This strategy minimizes risks associated with a broader market introduction and facilitates a better understanding of consumer preferences in that specific area.

In contrast, terms like product testing generally refer to evaluating the product itself rather than the marketing strategy, while market expansion involves extending market reach but doesn’t specify initial testing phases. Product sampling usually pertains to giving out samples of a product to encourage future purchases, rather than evaluating the market response in a specific region ahead of a full launch. Therefore, pilot testing is the most accurate term for this type of marketing strategy.