Newsstand

July 28, 2011
Marketing 101: Identifying Your Target Audience [DMA11]

Marketing systems are complex creatures. They require a lot more thought and intensive preparation than many people realize. Because of this, they have the potential to paralyze those with limited experience like deer in the headlights of an approaching bus. The irony is, even if you step out of the way to avoid being squashed, staring too long and hard into that light could blind you to the point of missing your chance to hop on board.

For beginners and small companies, the best way to manage marketing campaigns is to start small and work your way up to facing that blinding light. Trying to tackle the world all at once if you’re ill prepared can only result in failure—or blindness. And the first step to starting small is the identification of your target audience.

• Who will your products or services appeal to most?
• What will their expectations be of your product?
• What additional needs will they require of you?

If you really want to immerse yourself in everything you need to know about marketing systems, consider attending the DMA2011 Conference & Exhibition in Boston this October—a fun, week-long crash course where you can talk to industry experts and take workshops to help you better manage marketing campaigns for your company.

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