How to Find Your Target Market

Who is interested in what you have and where are they?
Finding your target market  is very important; in all walks of life. You could be inventing, job hunting, writing, etc. Mostly, a target market is considered something that businesses need to identify and market to. Before opening a business, you should have a very good idea what your target market is. This article hopes to help you do just that.
--  Who is interested in what you have and where are they?

Steps

  1. Don't limit yourself. With networking, the stars are the limit1

    Network. Talk to others. You may have an idea, or think you know what your target for your product is, but you may also have tunnel vision about it. Get ideas from your friends, ask others (even strangers), etc.
    -- Don't limit yourself. With networking, the stars are the limit
    Research many aspects of your target market
    Do some research. Go to the library and find out more about what you are doing. Find some trade magazines or industry journals. Maybe not about your specific interest, but try researching a step up. They might not have any of these for HP printers, but there is probably something out there for printers and/or peripherals. Don't limit yourself. Try to think 'broader'.
Research many aspects of your target market
  1. Maybe your target market is doodling software for children!
     
    Use the Internet. Find discussion groups. See if there is any kind of interest already out there that might be able to tell you what you should focus on.
  2.  
    Become familiar with the terms Demographic and Psychographic. You will need to understand who and where your target market is and what drives them.
     
    1. Facebook demographics in 2009

      Learn exactly what your demographic is (or at least what you assume it to be). Things to research are:
      • Their age and gender
      • Where they are; country, state, etc.
      • Education and income levels
      • Marital status (or if it matters to your market)
      • Ethnic or religious backgrounds (again, if it matters to your market)
    2. Have a good understanding about their psychographic.
      • What are their lifestyles?
      • What drives them?
 

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