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How To Target Your Market
Online
All marketing gurus will tell you to focus on your target market. Sounds simple, right?
But, what if you are not sure who will buy your product/service.
There are several ways to accomplish this daunting task,
online.
One is to find ezines and newsletters geared specifically for your market. But who is my
target market, you ask!
Most marketers say to post to discussion groups and forums. That is true, but these
resources can also be a great help to pin point your type of audience. Ask questions. You
don't have to be an expert to participate. Many of these folks are there to help.
Before you attempt to post, or run off to search an ezine directory, list every
characteristic of the type of person that would be interested in your product or service.
Here are a few to get you started. (If you say everyone, you are doomed to fail)
1. age
2. average income
3. gender (male/female)
4. hobbies
5. residence (location/area)
6. average education level (degree - non degree)
7. occupation
The list could go on forever. The more specifically you can describe your buyer, the
better you will be able to find them. This works off line as well as on line. This is the
hard part about targeting your market. It will take some thought.
Once you have described your buyer. Search the forums and lists that I have suggested.
Over 250,000 lists and forums. There is a list for every subject imaginable! Read some of
them. If you still can't locate your buyer group, ask these people for help. Two great
sources for email discussion lists & forums are at: http://www.liszt.com and
http://www.forumone.com/ Some well known ezine directories are: e-zinez.com,
ezinesearch.com, liszt.com, infobot.net, ezine-news.com, and
www.meer.net/~johnl/e-zine-list/ You are getting very close.
Put yourself in the mind set of the buyer. An example would be: You may think the perfect
place to advertise for selling custom golf clubs would be in a sports publication (quite
possibly). But possibly it could be a publication geared to career planning for up and
coming young executives.
They are interested in socializing with movers and shakers, making an impression and being
the best they can be. Many a deal are closed on the golf course.
Are you starting to see that listing as many descriptive characteristics as possible will
bring you much closer to targeting your specific market. To catch a fish, you first have
to know where it hangs out at, so to speak. And, you have to know what it eats, bait if
you will.
Earl B. Hall is the publisher/editor of NetPower
New-World Gazette and owner of NetPower Publishing. Check out his FREE software, marketing
books, web hosting services & more at http://www.powerpub.com In a hurry? Subscribe to
his FREE weekly newsletter by sending mailto:subscribe@powerpub.com You'll find tons of
tips, tricks & tools for getting more unique visitors, repeat traffic and maximizing
income from your website!
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This page was last updated Monday, November 20, 2006 01:49:33 PM |
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