Showing posts with label target market. Show all posts
Showing posts with label target market. Show all posts

Monday, March 22, 2010

Getting a Head Start

People choose to buy a business rather than start one from scratch for different reasons. The primary reason is that it gives them a head start on ownership. Buying an already established business decreases the amount of time it takes to become an entrepreneur and the risks involved.

It is widely known that half of all new businesses fail within their first four years of operation. The #1 cause of business failures includes lack of sufficient capital. For people who would like to start their own company with a greater chance of survival, acquisition seems to be the best option to go with.

Black Enterprise: Guide to Starting Your Own Business by Wendy Beech has outlined a few advantages of buying a business. They include:

Immediate cash flow – As the purchaser of a reputable company, you have existing inventory and accounts receivable. They can generate cash flow from the very first day you take over the business.

Existing reputation – When buying a business, you are automatically associated with an established and reputable name. Customers, vendors, and business colleagues already know you and aren’t hesitant to do business with you.

Ready Made-Staff – The employees normally know the business inside-out, so you will save the considerable money and time you would typically spend training new recruits.

Recognized market positioning – A marketing communications campaign (i.e. advertising, promotions, and public relations) has already been established. Therefore, you are aware of how to position your products and services. Prices have been set and you know exactly who your target market consist of.

About CODANK Charlotte Web Design

CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.

For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Social Networking for Businesses

As a business owner, you should not limit yourself to only blogging and paying for online advertisements because it isn’t guaranteed to get your business too far. Networking tools are beginning to surface almost every single day. These networking tools give you and your business the opportunity to connect with a large mass of people and reach your specific target market.

A social network is defined as a social structure made of individuals (or organizations) which are connected by a common interest. It would be in your best interest to use any networking tool to help build your internet existence.

Create a profile on the following sites to help direct more traffic back to your company’s web site. With these social networking sites, you will be able to connect with other professionals, potential clients, and supporters who are most likely to have an interest in your products or services.

Top social networking sites for businesses include:

Biznik – Dedicated to entrepreneurs and small businesses helping each other succeed

Ecademy – A business network for creating contacts and sharing knowledge

Cofoundr – A community for entrepreneurs, programmers, designers, investors, and other individuals involved with starting new ventures

Focus – Created to help business decision makers and IT professionals make decisions

LinkedIn – A professional network that allows you to be introduced to and collaborate with other professionals

Plaxo – An enhanced address book tool for networking and staying in contact

Upspring – A social networking site for promotion and social networking

Networking for Professionals – A business network that combines online business networking and real-life events

About CODANK Charlotte Web Design

CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.

For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com

Monday, December 7, 2009

Know Your Focus: Target Audience

Consumers share numerous common interests and beliefs. Anything ranging from soccer to photographer and everything in between, the connection can be just about anything. The same interests that bond people are the same things that help connect them to businesses. Before a company can promote a product or service, they need to choose an appropriate target audience.

In marketing and advertising, target audience (also known as target group or target market) is the most important group of people that an advertising campaign is aimed at appealing to. Deciding on a target audience helps to establish a significant foundation for any business. Once it is understood who your target audience is, learning more about them will make easier for a company to market.

A target audience can be selected by collecting information that deals with either demographics or psychographics.

The more a business knows about their target audience, the more persuasive a business will become. It is best to understand the problems that they may have and the language they speak.

For example, if you are a social network website which allows your visitors to post blogs, videos, statuses, and comments, more than likely your target audience will consist of individuals who enjoy writing (bloggers; young or old), taking photos (professional and amateur photographers), and those who like to record their minute-by-minute life happenings (teens; adventurists).

Examples of Different Target Audiences:


Web Designers
High School Freshmen
SUV Lovers
High-Income Families
Videographers
Tiger Woods Supporters
Time Warner Users
Mountain Bike Riders
Young Adults (Ages 21-24)

About CODANK Charlotte Web Design

CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.

For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Charlotte Web Design Company Tips

Choosing a Charlotte Web Design Company may be a hard task for some businesses, as a good website can bring small businesses and entrepreneurs more business and a bad one can drive away potential clients.

CODANK Charlotte Web Design Company has listed some important things to consider when selecting a website designer for your project.

Be sure to have adequate funds – Designing a website of quality is not always expensive, but sometimes it is. If you desire more than a basic site then be prepared to pay a good amount for its design.

Conduct proper research in regards to various Charlotte Web Design Companies – Each company may bring something different to the table. The one that you choose should be in-sync with your overall goal and ideas.

Consider the designer’s portfolio – Ask the following questions:

Does the Charlotte Web Designer have a basic style or are the sites varied in style and color?
Are the sites of high quality?
Is their work consistent?
Are the sites actually in use?
Are the websites easy to navigate? Is the content organized and neat?

Learn about copyright ownership and licensing – Make sure you know who owns the code, graphics, and the domain. Would you be able to change web hosts easily or even alter the website if necessary?

Find out who will actually be designing and programming your site – It is best to find a designer/programmer who you would be able to talk to or visit in person. Build a relationship with them in order to get the best results.

Look for a Charlotte Web Design Company who asks good questions – Do they ask about your primary goal? Your target market? If they don’t take interest in what you are truly trying to do, it wouldn’t be best to go with them as your designer.

Ask the Charlotte Web Design Company about Search Engine Optimization – The developer should have the skills and knowledge necessary to ensure good search engine rankings. The company should be able to ensure that your website is “search engine friendly” and is able to possibly gain high listings.

Avoid cookie-cutter design companies – There are many web design companies who create sites from templates. These same templates may be used by other companies – perchance even your direct competitors. Find a design team who puts forth enough effort to individually cater to your site and its needs.

Will you be able to communicate will with the Charlotte Web Design Company?

Company representatives should be able to communicate easily and effectively with clients. More importantly, they should speak in as non-technical terms as much as possible.

About CODANK Charlotte Web Design

CODANK is a top rated Charlotte Web Design, Internet Marketing and Search Engine Optimization firm located in Charlotte, NC. We are dedicated to providing the highest quality, cost effective custom software development services, delivering a broad range of business consulting and outsourcing services. We specialize in web design and development, branding and identity, internet marketing, and content management systems.

For more information, visit us at www.codank.com

Friday, August 28, 2009

Register Now: Local Search Engines

Small businesses and entrepreneurs are eager to reach their target markets for various reasons. In addition to getting a site listed in search engine indexes, it is also valuable for a business to turn up in the local-search results.

A lot of times, a business may appear within local-search results even if the actual business does not submit any information. Major search engines pull data from various sources, so a business’s information may find its way into the results from, for example, Yellow Pages data.

On the other hand, Yahoo, Google, and MSN/Live Search allow businesses to submit information about directly to their local search engines, doing so increases the possibility of being found during a local search and escalating the amount of information that is viewed. Search engines hunt through local search indexes and through the normal webpage index.

The type of information you provide depends on which system you’re submitting to. Below is a list of the typical elements submitted to a local-search engine:

· Phone and fax numbers
· Street address
· Link to your company website
· Description of company
· Payment methods accepted by your company
· Operating hours
· Year of establishment
· Languages spoken by company
· Brands which are sold by you

In most search engines, once you have entered your company’s information, you will be sent a letter or postcard containing a verification code. You are to log back in to the system and enter the code, then your information is accepted.

The Big Four Go Local
· Yahoo Local Listings – http://listings.local.yahoo.com
· Google Local Search – http://www.google.com/local/add/
· MSN Local Search – https://llc.local.live.com/BusinessSearch.aspx
· Ask Local – http://city.ask.com/

About CODANK Web Design

CODANK is a top rated Web Design and Internet Marketing firm located in Charlotte, NC. We are dedicated to providing the highest quality, cost effective custom software development services, delivering a broad range of business consulting and outsourcing services. For more information, visit us at www.codank.com

Monday, August 10, 2009

Your Focus: Choosing a Target Market

These days, people are connected by many common interests and beliefs. From basketball to blogging and everything in between, the correlation can be just about anything. But, what does the interest of people have to do with a business? Well, once a company decides to promote a product or service they need to choose a target market.

Deciding on your target market lays a significant foundation for your business. When it is clear who your target audience is, getting a clear understanding of them will make it a lot easier for you to market. You will be able to know where to focus your selling and marketing efforts and also your research efforts.

It is best to understand your market, the problems they have and the language they speak. The more you know and understand about your target audience, the more compelling you will become.

Once you have determined your targeted audience, the next step is to enhance it even further. What sort of people are they? Collect their demographics and psychographics. Demographics deal with basic facts such as age, gender, income, location, etc. Psychographics deals more with characteristics, values, beliefs, etc.

For example, if you are a web site company which allows its visitors to post photos, videos, and comments, more than likely you will target individuals who enjoying taking pictures (photographers; young or old), record their day-to-day life (aspiring videographers; teens; adventurous), and those who take pleasure in writing (bloggers; novelist).

Examples of Different Target Markets:

· Teens (Ages 12-16)
· Bloggers
· Native Americans
· Eli Manning Supporters
· Photographers
· Christians between the ages of 30-45
· Small Business Owners
· Scoot Coupe Lovers
· Low-Income Families
· Female Boxers

About CODANK Web Design

CODANK is a top rated Web Design and Internet Marketing firm located in Charlotte, NC. We are dedicated to provide the highest quality, cost effective custom software development services, delivering a broad range of business consulting and outsourcing services. For more information, visit us at www.codank.com