Identifying and reaching your target market is one of the most critical aspects of marketing your business. And even if you think that you have a good pulse of the market, you may surprisingly be missing out on a big segment of customers. Here are five tips to help you understand how to identify & reach your target market and streamline your efforts.
# Look at the bigger picture & then narrow down
Take time to narrow down your target market, so don’t try to figure out right away their likes and dislikes. The first step should be to take a good look at the product or services that you’re providing and then make a list of the groups of people that you think would use it the most.
# Survey your current Customers
Surveying your current customers can be valuable at times – especially when it comes to identifying your target market. It’s always a good idea to send out a survey to current customers, entice people to fill it out by providing a coupon or discount on their next service. You’ll find people are more willing to give their time and information when they get something in return.
# Your research should be reputable
When doing your research about target markets in your industry, find reputable places to conduct research. There are many places to gather statistics and research online, and this can help refine your market efforts. But, only of the information is accurate.
# Check out your competitor’s Target Audience
It’s a good habit to look at forums, reviews, and what customers are saying online about the competition, and make sure you’re looking at what ties them together. Pay attention to the marketing efforts of the competition to see if they’re providing something for a specific target market that you aren’t.
# Get in touch with people in your neighborhood
From your neighbors to people that walk in your businesses doors, you should take the time to speak with people in your community. Learn more about them and the services that they are looking for. Not only is this a great way to identify your target market, but it’s also an excellent way to build relationships with customers. Make notes of those that you meet and review them when you are making a marketing strategy.
Once you have a better idea of who your target audience is, apply this information to your next marketing plan.