So how do you decide who to market to?

Following are 5 tips:

1) Think about type of people who can MOST benefit from what you have to offer.

2) Think about who you would most enjoy helping, or working with.

3. Think about type of people who will be easiest to reach, AND who will be most receptive to what you are selling. These will be people who KNOW they have THE problem you can solve and are LOOKING for a solution.

4) Know that just because you select a particular group of people to focus your marketing on, does NOT mean you can't help others who may come to you. It only means you're going to focus your proactive marketing efforts on target group you select.

5) Lastly, don't over-think it. Listen to your gut, pick a group you feel you can really help and proceed with development of your marketing plan. Marketing is a fluid process. The important thing is to start. You can always refine your audience and your plan later as you learn more.

(C) 2005 Debbie LaChusa

Use what you learn to plan future marketing Use this information as you begin to plan your marketing for next year. Plan to spend more time, energy and/or money on those activities that brought you business and sales. Delete those activities that did not. If you don’t have any way to track your sales or new clients, don’t worry. What does your gut tell you about where your new business came from? Additionally, see Question of Week for tips on uncovering marketing results even if you didn’t track very well. And if nothing else, be glad that you now know what you need to do next year to ensure your future marketing success.

Is That Really Considered Marketing?

Any time you talk to someone about your business, product or service, in person, at an event, over phone, or through a brochure or some form of media, you are marketing. Any time you send someone an email or a thank you card from your business, you are marketing.

Be aware of any time you are communicating with current customers, or potential customers. Take opportunity to make them aware of new products or services, special offers or programs, or even milestones or changes in your business. Do you include your business card every time you mail a letter to a client or prospect? Do you have an email signature that includes your business name, your phone number, your email address, your website address and possibly even your tagline? You should. You are reminding people about your products and services and making it easy for them to find out more if they so choose. If you truly believe that your products or services can enhance people’s lives, then it should be easy to share word at every opportunity. After all, if people don’t know about you, they can’t benefit. Put this way, it is almost a disservice to NOT market.

(C) 2005 Debbie LaChusa