Identifying Your Target Market Through Demographic Research

DemographicsYour business cannot develop an effective marketing strategy without employing demographic research. Though this may sound daunting, demographic research does not have to be expensive or complex. Regardless, do not dismiss the importance of demographic research. As a business, you will need to identify the customers whose specific needs your product and/or services can satisfy. Because no one business can be all things to all people, demographic research makes it possible for you as a business to know which people are not having their needs met.

Demographic research breaks down a region you are interested in targeting in specific terms such as age, gender, income level, occupation, education, marital status, and number of family members. Devoting some time online can help you attain these statistics. The most common resource used to find this information is the Country and City Data Book, published by the U.S. Department of Commerce. This government data gives you the most recent data census in your market area. Besides utilizing this information, it is a wise idea to think about where and how your targeted customers live. Are they city residents using public transportation or moms in mini vans running car pools throughout the day? Weather in your market’s region often determines whether its residents spend most of their time indoors or outdoors, a statistic that could impact your targeted market depending on your service and/or product. In accordance with income, do they live a luxury lifestyle or are they conservative with their money? This vital bit of information may determine what you can sell to them as well as at what price.

After geographic and lifestyle considerations you need to consider the actual needs of your ideal audience. If you are interested in opening a spa and offering luxury services and your target area is in a region that has little money for ‘extras’, you will need to rethink your targeted geographic region. These observances combined with the data from the Country and City Book will help you put together a customer profile. A customer profile is simply a statement describing your market segment in detail. This informative profile should be consulted whenever you are mulling over decisions about what services/products to offer, for how much and in what way you will let your targeted audience know they exist. Demographic research is key to identifying your target customer and their needs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7016733


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What You Should Know About Mobile Marketing

QR CodePicture this, you have a way of reaching exactly the type of audience you want and it can be done through something that they hold close to their heart…literally. Mobile marketing is one of the greatest forms of marketing when done right. Read on if you would like to find out more.

When creating a QR code for printed advertisements, use a URL shortener to keep the QR code as simple as possible. Simple QR codes are easier to scan. If your potential customer has to attempt to scan a QR code multiple times they might give up, costing you a customer.

You should do your best to send personalized and targeted messages. Different groups of people are not going to be interested in the same products, and you will need to address people in different ways. Send a different message for each age group or niche you want to reach out to.

Establish a policy about engaging in social media. Every one on your team should know what kind of interactions are appropriate and where you decide to stop. This will help everyone understand how they can use social media as a professional tool, while most people are used to using cell phones and other devices for their personal use.

When deciding on doing a mobile marketing campaign, check out what the competition is doing, but do not play follow the leader. You have no idea about what their results are from having a blog, or a twitter account, so don’t just get one because they have one, you very well could be following them down a path to disaster.

Design your site and messages with mobile marketing in mind. Loading speeds will likely be much slower than on a computer, and the screen is much, much smaller. Design your website with these considerations in mind, and also consider a dedicated site for mobile use. This consideration will make people more likely to buy from you, since they can view and use your site comfortably.

When building your database for mobile marketing, get legitimate permission from your audience to receive your communication. It may be very tempting to just dump all of those mobile numbers you have accumulated right into a campaign system, but you may not be doing yourself a favor. Mobile marketing is disliked by many people, as it is more intrusive than other forms of advertising. You may drive a decent amount of your user base away by subscribing them without permission.

You have to have your customer’s mobile number in order to do an effective mobile marketing campaign. So in your emails make sure to ask your customers to provide their cell phone numbers. If they give you their cell numbers you need to reward them with special discounts every now and then.

Marketing Strategies

Do some research about mobile marketing before you start planning out your campaign. Make sure you understand what people will respond to, and how you can make mobile marketing fit within the context of your other marketing strategies. Hire a professional if you are not sure you can make the best decisions by yourself.

Don’t make the mistake of using mobile marketing as a sole strategy for your campaign. Mobile marketing is just one communication medium for your arsenal and should be part of a larger picture. Use it along with other tried and true marketing strategies for an overall, sound marketing plan for your business.

To summarize people grow close to their mobile devices. If you are able to create your mobile marketing plan in a way that respects your customer’s privacy and appeals to their interests, then you have got a great chance to draw in more business. Hopefully this article helped you solidify some ideas.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6995175


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How to Tune Up Your Marketing Efforts for Better Results and More Profits

MarketingOne of the most important elements of profitable marketing is often the most difficult for solo service professionals to maintain. That is sharing your solutions consistently. To keep your pipeline filled with ideal clients who happily and readily pay for your solutions, you MUST market your business regularly (meaning EVERY week… YES, that often).

I find though, that many service professionals feel that they don’t have time to do so. It can be easy to become so consumed in serving the clients you do have and running your business that your marketing efforts may unintentionally be pushed aside.

If you’ve ever found yourself having “fallen off the wagon” when it comes to your marketing efforts, you’ll be happy to know that a quick and easy tune-up can get you right back on track.

To tune up your marketing systems, you’ll first want to do a quick assessment of your business and ask yourself the following questions:

1. What’s working great in my business? – Review the activity in your business over the past 6-12 months. Taking stock of what is going well and what you have achieved will boost your confidence and inspire you to put forth the necessary effort to make any needed changes.

2. What marketing strategies have been most effective for connecting me with ideal clients? – Have you gained a number of hot leads from your breakfast networking group? Is your email newsletter generating consistent inquiries about your solutions? Are your blog posts consistently driving traffic to your website? As you determine what has worked particularly well, take steps to increase your efforts in that area.

3. What needs to be improved? – As you come across aspects of your marketing that aren’t running as smoothly as you’d like, or aren’t generating leads and income, make a list of these and the reasons why. Can these strategies be tweaked or improved in some way? Or is it time to let them go in favor of what’s actually working?

4. What’s keeping me from marketing my business on a consistent basis? – Be honest here! Is it that you don’t manage your priorities as well as you could? Do you not have the know how to pursue a particular strategy? Do you have trouble staying accountable to your commitments? Whatever the reason, don’t beat yourself up over it. Acknowledge it! Own it! And make the decision to do things differently from today forward.

5. What limiting beliefs do I have regarding marketing my business? – Do you tell yourself, “marketing is too hard?” Or “I don’t have the money to market my services?” Maybe the excuse is, I’m too busy for marketing.” Each of us has limiting beliefs that requires effort to breakthrough. Whatever your particular issue happens to be, I can guarantee you two things:

A. You can choose to ignore it and take action in spite of how you may feel. (Successful people take imperfect action and focus on results.)

B. The success you’re looking to achieve is right on the other side of that limiting belief.

Remind yourself of these two affirmations the next time a limiting belief steps into your path. Acknowledge the thought, but keep taking action! Remember, we’re shooting for consistent effort. Even “small” steps will keep you moving forward towards your goals.


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