Oct
13
What do they want? – Part 3
October 13, 2009 | 2 Comments
By now you should have a better understanding of what is unique about you and what you want to achieve. I am now going to address how to define your target audience/market/job. This involves understanding who or what you want to reach and what they need or want. This usually involves doing some research. Research can be done on the net, phoning up a person and talking to them or reading press or trade journals.
When I was starting out my career I made a list of the type of companies I wanted to work for and phoned them and asked to speak to the Marketing Manager. Some took my call others didn’t. When I got through I explained to the Marketing Manager, that I was calling for some advice that I was studying marketing and wanted to know what the best way to get into marketing was, and what skills and traits they would look for when employing for those positions. I then spent the next few years getting those skills. I also spoke to everyone and anyone I came across who was in marketing and read anything I got my hands on. I have never stopped using this approach (researching) to reach my next milestone.
This approach can be used in more than getting a job or achieving your next goals and with the Internet there is a lot of information available. The point is that when you have identified what you want to achieve you need to know what your audience wants or needs.
The following is a list of information you could try find out:
What your target audience/market needs and wants?
Sometimes this is purely a basic need other times it is an emotional need. It may not even be a need but a want, though to me wants are usually based on an emotional need – a bit like chocolate.
Who are your competitors?
This could be other people in the market for a job or other blogs in the same space. Maybe it is other branded individuals in the same space.
How big is the audience/market?
This may be really hard to determine. How many people in the market looking for the same job or how many other blogs in the same space?
What are the current trends?
These could be technological, economic, political or even cultural. There could be emerging trends or trends that are evolving or dying.
Are there any gaps?
Have you noticed in your research that your audience/market is missing a certain type of person, blog or even you.
You may find some other useful information in your research. Here are some suggestions on how to get started:
For blogging you can go to something like Digg or Technorati and research what the hot topics in your blogs subject that generate interest, are. You can read Ezines in the subject of your choice. Look at the big name blogs based on your subject.
If you are looking for a job and have identified some companies or jobs, do like I did and call a few, look at their websites, speak to recruiters and do some general research on the type of jobs. Find out what are the most valuable skills and personality attributes they look for.
Or maybe you want to brand yourself. All brands have a target audience/market. You need to find out what that target audience/market wants/needs. If you brand yourself as something they don’t want/need you won’t be successful. Even new concepts, ideas or technologies cater to a want or need.
In my next article we will look at how to align your UBP to what your Target audience/market/job wants or needs.
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Hi Anand
I mailed them to you. Take Care.
Lee-Ann
HI,
Can you please send me the links to the other 3 parts of your article. I would like to read it.
Regards
Anand Velchuri