Hey! You Talkin To Me?
| Category: Marketing | Date: 2003-05-02 |
How many times have you heard the following questions or seen information related to these statements?
"Have you 'Identified' your customer"?
"Do you have your 'Target Market' defined"?
"Know your 'Niche' "!
What do these three statements have in common? Zeroing in on your specific customer!
I can hear you now...."But my product or service is good for everybody!...I don't want to limit myself or my product. I just want to sell, sell, sell! Besides, I don't know about all this 'target' and 'niche' stuff."
Targeting your market does not stop or limit you from selling to people outside your target market. Any one who sees your product and is interested, will purchase your product.
However, what target marketing does is guarantees you a customer base interested in what you have to offer. It is much easier (and cheaper) to market customers that are already interested (qualified) in what you have to offer.
In other words, you can have the best grilled chicken patties in the world, but if you are marketing it to vegetarians you aren't going to get anywhere. You are looking for customers who eat meat. Specifically chicken and even more specific, those interested in grilled chicken.
Does that mean, customers who eat beef or fried chicken won't buy your product? No, not at all, it just means you are targeting grilled chicken lovers, because you have what they are looking for...the best grilled chicken there is!
Anyone who eats meat is a target. Grilled chicken lovers are your "targeted-niche" market. Not only are they interested in what you have, they are actually looking for you as well!
So how can you identify and research your "target" market? Start by making a list. First, and this may sound very basic, define who you are specifically wanting to sell to.
This is where you being to "target" (zero in on) your customer and is the beginning of your "niche" (small, specialized) market.
Ask and identify questions like: What do my customers want? What do they want to know? What are their likes and dislikes? When they need help where do they go? What is it they need help with?
What information do I have relevant to what their needs are? What problems can I solve? How can I make their life easier?
In short, how will this product make a difference in their life. What benefit will they reap? Make a list of all the possible benefits your buyer will receive when buying your product, then make it easy to use and implement.
What problem will it solve? People love solutions. Let your customers know you can solve their problems, you solve them fast and you can solve them....now.
Second, answer your questions by being as specific as possible. The more specific your answers the more "targeted" your customer.
As you define your market, you define your target. As you specialize within your target, you define your niche!
Once defining your market, research lists, ezines, discussion groups, web sites and businesses (online and offline) targeting the same market you are interested in selling to. These are the businesses you want to advertise with and join.
Buyers will find it difficult to say no when you have given them an exceptional reason (target) to say....yes! Because, after all, your marketing says... Hey!...I'm Talkin' (directly) To You!
Copyright 2002 Livvie Matthews
About the Author
Livvie Matthews offers a complete line of services ranging from the do-it yourselfers, to consulting and joint venture services, to full writing and production services for home
based businesses, small businesses and large corporations worldwide for creating and marketing their own simple, but effective, versatile information tool! Visit
simplebizpublications.com and Market Your Goldmine!
Subscribe: simplebiz-ezine-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Livvie@simplebizpublications.com
http://www.simplebizpublications.com
"Have you 'Identified' your customer"?
"Do you have your 'Target Market' defined"?
"Know your 'Niche' "!
What do these three statements have in common? Zeroing in on your specific customer!
I can hear you now...."But my product or service is good for everybody!...I don't want to limit myself or my product. I just want to sell, sell, sell! Besides, I don't know about all this 'target' and 'niche' stuff."
Targeting your market does not stop or limit you from selling to people outside your target market. Any one who sees your product and is interested, will purchase your product.
However, what target marketing does is guarantees you a customer base interested in what you have to offer. It is much easier (and cheaper) to market customers that are already interested (qualified) in what you have to offer.
In other words, you can have the best grilled chicken patties in the world, but if you are marketing it to vegetarians you aren't going to get anywhere. You are looking for customers who eat meat. Specifically chicken and even more specific, those interested in grilled chicken.
Does that mean, customers who eat beef or fried chicken won't buy your product? No, not at all, it just means you are targeting grilled chicken lovers, because you have what they are looking for...the best grilled chicken there is!
Anyone who eats meat is a target. Grilled chicken lovers are your "targeted-niche" market. Not only are they interested in what you have, they are actually looking for you as well!
So how can you identify and research your "target" market? Start by making a list. First, and this may sound very basic, define who you are specifically wanting to sell to.
This is where you being to "target" (zero in on) your customer and is the beginning of your "niche" (small, specialized) market.
Ask and identify questions like: What do my customers want? What do they want to know? What are their likes and dislikes? When they need help where do they go? What is it they need help with?
What information do I have relevant to what their needs are? What problems can I solve? How can I make their life easier?
In short, how will this product make a difference in their life. What benefit will they reap? Make a list of all the possible benefits your buyer will receive when buying your product, then make it easy to use and implement.
What problem will it solve? People love solutions. Let your customers know you can solve their problems, you solve them fast and you can solve them....now.
Second, answer your questions by being as specific as possible. The more specific your answers the more "targeted" your customer.
As you define your market, you define your target. As you specialize within your target, you define your niche!
Once defining your market, research lists, ezines, discussion groups, web sites and businesses (online and offline) targeting the same market you are interested in selling to. These are the businesses you want to advertise with and join.
Buyers will find it difficult to say no when you have given them an exceptional reason (target) to say....yes! Because, after all, your marketing says... Hey!...I'm Talkin' (directly) To You!
Copyright 2002 Livvie Matthews
About the Author
Livvie Matthews offers a complete line of services ranging from the do-it yourselfers, to consulting and joint venture services, to full writing and production services for home
based businesses, small businesses and large corporations worldwide for creating and marketing their own simple, but effective, versatile information tool! Visit
simplebizpublications.com and Market Your Goldmine!
Subscribe: simplebiz-ezine-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Livvie@simplebizpublications.com
http://www.simplebizpublications.com
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