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Continuing with life coach illustration, what type of women, what age areas, what type of self-development or improvement topics are they purchasing now? What is regular step past this? What "new" hot topics in marketplace that meshes with your area? If you attend a workshop, conference or seminar, examine topic, and take notes on type of women attending. Record or ask their age group. Ask a few to complete a survey while they are there.
Ask one way, then another, and create a list of no more than six multiple choice, yes or no, questions to ask. Then continue to ask with whomever you meet, wherever you go. Talk with workshop leader or conference marketing people and find out who they were targeting and why. If event is a match for you, collect copies of all their marketing materials for language learning.
Ask friends, family members, or colleagues. Even if they don't think these groups fit within your current focus. Just remember not to stay off focus when doing so. If you attend a coaching school, ask other coaches that do what you want to do. What are their clients into, what are they selling them or what ideas have their clients told them that they are looking for?
Your survey method you use is up to you. To ease into it, you will want to ask in form most comfortable for you at time. However, caution, most everyone chooses written form first in order to avoid any negative responses. In a B2B survey, negative responses never occur. Everyone knows why a survey is important. In B2C (business to consumers) be careful not to cross line of interrogation or too personal. Ask politely, with respect, and share why you want to know.
The number one rule of getting survey responses -- is KISSing questions -- "keep them short, simple and as specific as you can at time." Special note: Don't use contraction and in your sentences. The contraction "and" creates a multiple question, stacks questions, which confuses readers and listeners on what you really asking.
As you go through experience of completing your surveys, new clarity will flower. The gender equation gets more specific, age group narrows, and rest unfold. One industry category might begin to show you where there is greater revenue generation. Allow data to drive you towards right direction. Don't try to control or drive it yourself. That struggle will cost you dearly.
If you're survey request is in form of writing, you can offer something in return for an exchange of their time. Usually saved for longer surveys, you can create a reward for short surveys too. It’s its too early in your survey process to know what prospects want, offer something generic. Match gift with amount of time it takes them to complete survey. If this is case, offer something generic. Offer a $5 gift certificate from Amazon.com. If local, ask you're favorite restaurant if you can offer a discount coupon that they will honor. There is some fr*ee portion to amount donated on restaurant’s part because it increases their clientele list.
It’s time to survey. Allow patience, time, and you will want to schedule this as a regular routine in your business. Next, plan your services and products to meet those needs and then generate your business plan around them.
(c) Copyright 2004, Catherine Franz. All rights reserved.
Catherine Franz, a Professional Marketing & Writing Coach, specializes in product development, Internet writing and marketing, nonfiction, training. Newsletters and articles available at: http://www.abundancecenter.com blog: http://abundance.blogs.com