Joe, here are two sites that can help you develop a more "targeted" approach to Mr. Jones:

http://www.furniture-info.com http://www.furniturestatistics.com

I hope this helps, Joe. Decision makers are bombarded daily and we must be ever diligent that we are focusing in on "WIIFM" (What's In It For Me)".

Now, what was message to Joe?

Do Your Homework. Mr. Jones doesn't give a rip about your product unless it can fulfill his needs, but first you have to know what those needs are.

Joe's presentation, which probably took him hours if not days to prepare, was a classic case of overkill. The two sites referred to would have given Joe all ammunition he needed to prepare an effective presentation and in just a few short minutes.

By way, two research tools that I use to study markets, trends, and individual sites are listed below. Both are free to download and are priceless.

http://www.copernic.com http://www.alexa.com

Ready, Aim ... Get Ready To Fire!

Patty Baldwin is a former Better Business Bureau executive and the owner of several online businesses. A successful net marketer, she invites you to visit any one of her sites at:

http://www.allbizservices.com http://www.4bstrading.com http://www.allbizwealth.com

Envy, Envy, Envy. Didn’t anyone ever tell you to figure out what your own strengths are and go with them? On to you, Gluttony.

I am Gluttony. I spent all my money on marketing, every penny. I blew it all and it didn’t even work. Of course, I didn’t really test success of a marketing strategy before I spent all my money on it, but that shouldn’t matter, should it. I mean, I spent SOOO MUCH MONEY. I marketed on radio and television and through direct mail. Maybe I should have researched a little more about my target market before I spent my entire marketing budget. Too late now. I’m broke!

Sorry about that, Gluttony. You’re up Sloth!

I am Sloth. I don’t bother to research market before I begin marketing. It is too much effort to find out what market wants. I don’t really like to ask my customers why they bought from me, or go to discussion groups to see what kind of marketing works for different target personalities. That would take a lot of movement and I don’t want to strain myself.

Well, we don’t want to take any more of your time and energy, Sloth. Last but not least, we have. . .Lechery?

I am Lechery. I lose interest in customers after a sale. I don’t understand value of a lifetime customer. As soon as sale is over, they are out door, and I don’t even care. Sometimes I say I will call, offer them some promotion or other, but I never do it. They’re just customers. There are plenty of other fine customers out there. None of them are special. I get what I want out of them and I get lost. I don’t want some needy customer hanging around all time, wanting to employ my services or give me money for my products. Talk about cramping my lifestyle!

That’s it folks. The Seven Deadly Marketing Sins have laid it all out for you. So what do you think? Are you going to marketing heaven or will you suffer eternal marketing torment?