Target Market - 3 Big Reasons You Need To Know Yours

Rule Number One when writing marketing materials is "Know Your Target Market." There's a lot of foundational work to do before you ever put a word on paper but this is the place to start.

What happens when you define your target market and become intimately acquainted with their needs and problems?

1. Prospects who read your materials will know exactly why they need you

There's a big difference between marketing to just anyone who crosses your path and a target market of seniors over 65, who own their own homes. A senior over 65, who owns her own home, has very specific needs. When you know her needs you can develop a sharply focused marketing message that makes her feel you're talking directly to her. And guess what? When she feels that you understand her, she'll be more willing to do business with you.

2. It gives direction to your product or service

"The Apprentice" is a hit TV series where two opposing teams are given a business project to complete. In the first episode of the second season, their assignment was to develop a new toy for Mattel, the largest toy manufacturer in the world. During the project evaluation, a Mattel executive said: "In this business you always want the kids to steer you." In the end the losing team was told that their idea showed a lack of understanding of what children want and like. Bingo! They had not paid attention to their target market - children. And they lost.

When you define your target market and know their likes and dislikes, you can direct all your ideas and resources towards this group. Rather than trying to be all things to all people, your business will gain focus.

3. It's easier to plan an effective marketing strategy

Knowing your target market helps you decide how and where to promote your business. If you're targeting doctors, then you can decide how and where to find doctors to talk to. On the other hand, if you're targeting corporate executives, it's clear that you won't achieve your objectives by hanging out with small business owners.

The result: less time wasted running down marketing cul-de-sacs, more time dedicated to finding and talking to your perfect clients.

Have YOU identified your target market?

Maggie Dennison is a Marketing Writer and Consultant, who writes marketing materials for small businesses and solo entrepreneurs. You can pick up a FREE report "11 HOT Keys To Website Content That Works" at her website http://www.MyMarketingMessage.com

More resources:

RELATED ARTICLES

Be a Smarter Marketer - Learn the L-A-W for Trade Shows
People attend trade shows because they are in a specific industry and want to learn more. They want to know what's new and how you will help them.

Direct Mail Response Rates Soar With Dimensional Mailers in Business-to-Business Lead Generation
The toughest job you face as a B2B direct marketer is reaching your prospect with your message. Reaching C-level executives is particularly difficult because they employ mailroom staff and executive secretaries who screen their mail, or your mail, depending on how you look at it.

Lack Of Business Isnt Always The Problem
When you're just starting out in business, it's a safe bet that you need more clients. But what if you have been up and running for a while, and you're still not making as much money as you would like? You may be in the habit of thinking that attracting new clients is the answer, but this isn't always the case.

What Does Your Business Card Say About You? - Making A Great First Impression!
Interesting article in USA Today that I read this week that I've also read about on Scott Ginsberg's blog. Think about this: What does your business card say about you? If you work in a company that requires you to conform to the corporate standard, obviously you don't have much choice.

Meaning and Marketing - The Trigger
In previous articles under "Meaning and Marketing", we have learned about the verb "To Be" and that the name of God is I AM.Stephen Hawkings, the world's greatest mathematician, and author of several books on science and the Universe, was more or less a bum during his university years in England and some years thereafter.

What Does Your Business Address Say?
If you are operating a business from your home and your post office address clearly indicates a home address, you may want to re-think your marketing strategy.A Rural Route 2 address can plainly say your business might be in a bedroom at home, or worse, in the barn.

Five Tips for Trade Show Success on a Small Budget
No matter how small your marketing budget, your business can afford to have a successful presence at trade shows without incurring big expenses. Here are five tips for exhibiting in trade shows inexpensively:1) Have a sales representative exhibit your line at a trade show.

Shine a Spotlight on Your Professional Service Firm
As a life-long dancer, I know a bit about the importance of good preparation before performance. Before a dancer is ready for the spotlight, she has to master the basics including alignment, strength, flexibility, balance, choreography, and artistry.

Polishing Your Translation Style - Marketing Your Services
You have read part 1 & 2 of this article series (see below for link). And, you are probably asking yourself "what else is there to say about improving one's translation style?" The answer to that, my friends, is the most important part of the message.

10 Tips For Packaging That Sells Products To Boomers
Boomers are a prime and growing target audience. Does your product speak to them? Does your product's packaging compel them to buy it? If not, you are missing a very important market segment.

Why Cutting Prices Is Like Cutting Your Own Throat
Why cutting your prices is like cutting your own throat. � It's the oldest sales tactic in the world? � And one of the worst? � Price cutting.

Multicultural Marketing - Taking Care of Business At Hand
Multicultural marketing mirrors the changed face of America and is getting the attention of small-business and other organizations looking for an edge in diverse ethnic markets. "Gone are the days when businesses succeed with a 'one size fits all' approach to marketing.

Utilizing Your Best Hidden Asset To Increase Sales
You probably already have in your possession one of the most valuable and powerful assets you can possibly own. But if you're like most business people you probably aren't using it to its full potential.

How to Turn Your Marketing Into a Money-Making Machine - Setting The Stage For Successful Marketing
Powerful Marketing has become elusive to many companies seeking strong sales results and overall growth. The sad truth is that Marketing comes across as a rather frustrating process.

Cave Paintings, Baseball and Connecting
There's no such thing as a captive audience--any of us can tune out at will. It may surprise you, then, to know that keeping people's attention in this high-tech age takes the same know-how we had in neolithic days.

How to Write a Fundraising Thank-you Letter for Example (Includes a Free Sample)
Thank-you letters are one of the most important letters that your non-profit mails to donors. They remind donors that they made the right decision in supporting your organization.

Ten Breakthrough Marketing Ideas
Ten Breakthrough Marketing Ideas1. Create a directory of web sites on a specific topic.

Direct Mail Marketing Generates Sales Leads: Heres How
1. Personal Unlike an advertisement in a trade publication, which can be read by anyone, your sales letter arrives at your prospect's place of business as a piece of personal communication from your mind to his.

Bridging the Chasm from Lead to Loyal Customer
Bridging the Chasm from Lead to Loyal Customer: A Step by Step Guide for Developing Awareness, Building Credibility and Acquiring CustomersHave you ever watched a documentary about climbing Mount Everest? If so, you will undoubtedly remember one specific segment of the journey where the climbers cross a chasm, one carefully placed step after another, using aluminum ladders strung end to end. For me, just the thought of it is enough to cause an anxiety attack!There is a similar chasm between your product or service and your potential customers, even if it is only in the potential customers' mind.

URL Everywhere? Offline Marketing For Online Success
Your URL (www) should be everywhere and more.I know many of you are going to think this is common sense, but how many of these are you using? Your web address should be on every piece of anything your business does, period.