Many startup businesses in various different niches fail or succeed based on whether they can appeal (and sell to) their target demographic. In order to gain (and keep) customers it is vital that the startup business owner knows all about them before he or she even makes a sales pitch of any kind.Here is a short run down of the essential things you need to know about your potential customers in order to make them real ones:
Age Group – If you know that you are targeting a specific age group all the marketing that you do must be geared appropriately. That means cultural references, slang (within reason) and the locations you pitch at, on or offline all have to be age appropriate.
Location – Cultural norms and sensibilities tend to differ from area to area. The sales pitch you give to a New Yorker may have to be very different to the one you make to rural Midwesterner, even if you think they would both enjoy your product or service. Taking the time to learn about the areas you are hoping to sell in is very important.
Gender – Even though equal opportunity is here to stay men and women are still very different creatures and the way you make your sales pitch to the different genders should probably not be the same.
Marital Status –Attitudes about everything change once people get married or enter into a serious relationship. Make a pitch that is too family related to a single guy or gal and you will probably lose the sale right away – this is not the point in their life where they are that interested in such things.
What Keeps them Awake– Any marketing or advertising expert will tell you that fear is a great marketing tool. If you take the time to figure out how your product or service can appear to soothe a customers’ fear or concern it is half sold already.
