3 Steps to Defining Your Target Audience
What? Define my target audience? I thought marketing online meant determining a few good keywords, running some ads, placing a dozen banners, and then people would find my site and buy. Viola! While that might have worked for a few folks a number of years ago when marketing online was fairly new, NOW it’s a whole new world! If you aren’t defining WHO you’re targeting, you are WASTING advertising dollars. Those of you who are marketing for FREE on Web 2.0 social sites are wasting your TIME , if not focusing on a target.
So where do you start - how do you define your perfect audience? Get ready to begin your lists….
1. Attraction Marketing
- People like to work with those they feel a connection with
- So, who would you like to work with? List their "general" attributes such as - educators, creative types, entrepreneurs, professionals, baby boomers, college students….. you get the idea.
2. Who would use the products or services you offer? Define target "segments" getting more specific
- Age groups
- Geographic locations
- Income levels
- Their current hobbies and/or professions
- This list can get as detailed as you’d like
3. How do I FIND my target audience? By looking at #1 & #2, think about where these folks "hang out"
- Which Websites
- Which Blogs
- MySpace - which groups might define them (stay at home moms, network marketers, etc.)
- YouTube - what channels do they frequent most
- What magazines and newsletters do they read
- Direct Mail lists - tailor mailings to your identified groups
Although this seems fairly simplistic - it’s amazing how few actually go through the process before beginning their advertising and marketing. Don’t be one of the business owners who markets to "everyone", and just throw something at the wall to see "if it sticks". Come out with a plan and you’ll see results sooner, plus your dollars will be working harder for you as well.
There are other steps to defining your market besides these - so what are some of yours 
Until next time, J.
"Take control of your destiny or someone else will"
Tags: advertisers, age groups, amp, attraction marketing, baby boomers, blog, blogging, blogs, business, business owners, businesses, college students, creative types, creativity, destiny, direct mail, entrepreneur, free on web, general quot, goodness, hobbies, home based business, income, incomes, magazines, mail, marketer, marketers, marketing, mom, moms network, network, network marketers, network marketing, networking, professional, professionalism, professions, segments, specifics, target, target audience, thought, viola, wasting your time, work from home, youtube
October 14 2008 11:17 am | Home Business Ideas and Marketing Tips and Wealth Strategies
October 14th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Janet you are absolutely right! And, you provide a nice roadmap of ideas to get people started - and continue - in the right direction. Target marketing, invaluable!
Diane Scotts last blog post..Halloween Ruined This Year?
October 15th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Hi Janet –
Great post. You are absolutely correct that untargeted advertising equals a waste of resources: time and money. I hadn’t really thought about wasting your time with untargeted Web 2.0 campaigns that are free, but you are absolutely right.
Keep up the great work. Love your blog!
Bob Clarkes last blog post..Products That Change People’s Lives: An Essential Component to your Network Marketing Home Business
October 15th, 2008 at 10:47 am
When I mentioned the Web 2.0 campaigns I was generalizing about social sites and “friending” people or groups. If going that route, targeting is really important. When advertising on something such as Google PPC, as you know, it’s more of a matter of optimizing those keywords!
Thanks for the visit!
October 16th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
It’s sure getting more and more complex, doesn’t it? One can never start learning and improving techniques…
October 16th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Oops - mistake!
One can never STOP learning is what I really wanted to say, sorry!
October 20th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
yup, we have to know our audience to hit it right.
mistipurples last blog post..Long and winding road for the visionary leader
October 21st, 2008 at 3:00 am
Good advice! You’re right on about ‘attraction marketing’ - we all have our comfort zones
Heather in Beautiful BCs last blog post..Ideas on Tap at Yaletown Brew Pub
October 21st, 2008 at 4:32 am
great post,thanks for the tips.
hellans last blog post..pet insurance
October 21st, 2008 at 9:23 am
I see t as simpler, not more complex. You are trying to sell a product to a person, step #1 should clearly be to know what type of person. It is unfiocusses advertsing that is complex with arcane rules and superstitions!
veins last blog post..From the Photo Collection: Alex and the Cat Lady’s Enormous Penis
October 21st, 2008 at 9:41 am
Janet, great post. I agree entirely; if you’re not clear about WHO you’re marketing to, then any marketing message you decide to push out there is a bit like going rabbit hunting blindfolded. How many “hits” you get is irrelevant, all you can say is that very few of them will be rabbits …
Owens last blog post..I’d love a network media player
October 21st, 2008 at 10:00 am
Greatpost! Our Mom is trying to get started in selling and your article helped her! Thanks Janet!
Your FL furiends,
Samantha & Mr. Tiggers last blog post..Tuxie Tuesday with Samantha
October 21st, 2008 at 10:00 am
Great post! Our Mom is trying to get started in selling and your article helped her! Thanks Janet!
Your FL furiends,
Samantha & Mr. Tiggers last blog post..Tuxie Tuesday with Samantha
October 21st, 2008 at 10:31 am
My husband is in the broadcasting business on the marketing side and this is exactly what he tells his clients. You’ve hit the nail on the head! Great article.
Sadies last blog post..It’s A New Week With New Hopes
October 21st, 2008 at 11:01 am
great post. you’re right on target.
cadys last blog post..Weekly Winners — 10/12/08-10/18/08
October 21st, 2008 at 11:27 am
Thanks for all of your comments, I really like to hear from you. Stay tuned for more golden nuggets I came away with from the CCPro event this past weekend!
To your continued success!
October 21st, 2008 at 11:40 am
Great tips on finding your target audience!
Juless last blog post..Halloween - The Great Masquerade
October 21st, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Thanks for the wealth of information that you have posted on “your target audience” some quality tips.
Marks last blog post..Credit Crunch Jokes !
October 21st, 2008 at 2:50 pm
The Internet has changed so much in the ten years I’ve been using it. You didn’t have to worry about this before.
ginas last blog post..Spike Wants You To Scream
October 21st, 2008 at 3:33 pm
#3 is very important. This is a great post!
Lisas last blog post..Where are they now: Steve Burns
October 21st, 2008 at 4:24 pm
You really hit home with this. I think sometimes new marketers are so concerned with just learning and experiencing information overload….they don’t really realize what they are looking to do. I think focus and simplicity on the important things will get you where you are going!
Thx-
October 21st, 2008 at 4:38 pm
I think this is true not just for marketing online, but for marketing anything, anywhere. Whether it’s a book you’re trying to get published, or crafts you’re trying to sell you need to know what you’re expecting in a consumer.
Feroxs last blog post..Is that a Dragon?
October 21st, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Very well put.
I liked the last line
“Take control of your destiny or someone else will”
its so true.
Priyas last blog post..Always switch job for only more money
October 21st, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Great tips!
October 21st, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Good ideas for reaching a specific audience.
October 21st, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Social Media is a great too to market anything. You just gotta do it so that it doesn’t look like spam.
nhuongs last blog post..Educated People Need to be Socially Responsible
October 21st, 2008 at 11:48 pm
Great Post! Thank you for the food for thought!
Christina thecoffeeladys last blog post..Super Crazy Week…..
October 22nd, 2008 at 9:23 am
It is so important to remember the basics. Otherwise you are just “throwing spaghetti against the wall”
October 22nd, 2008 at 10:39 am
Very sound advice on finding your target audience. One avenue that I prefer is forum marketing. With just a simple search on Google for “forum+topic” you may find a group of people ready to learn about your product or service. Great post Janet.
October 23rd, 2008 at 10:44 am
Good advice for all types of people on the working on the net, bloggers, website owners, Squidoo lens owners, sellers, etc.
Connies last blog post..Wordless Wednesday - Cruising Mom