In Episode 49 we talked about defining your target market, and we filmed a short little video in the update to share how we defined our target market. Now, defining your target market is great, but it doesn't help unless you know WHERE your target market is. And just knowing where they are doesn't do much good unless you go there yourself. That's why in Episode 55 I did a short episode on discovering where your people hang out.
For this weeks challenge I want you to discover where your target market hangs out. Here are a few suggestions:
-When people join your email list, write back and ask them how they found you.
-Is there an industry wide publication that everyone in your market reads?
-What about a physical place in your town where your people might hang out?
-Try the Facebook search discussed in Episode 55 and in this article on Brittany's Best. (It appears that this Facebook feature only delivers useful results when you have enough likes on your business page. If you are not there yet, try looking at the pages liked by one real life person who fits your target market, maybe your biggest fan, or best friend.)
-Are you your own target market? When you are looking for information about your topic, where do you go? What Facebook pages do you like?
Once you have located a place or two where your target market hangs out, take 30 minutes this week to spend some time there yourself. Get to know your target market better, and be as helpful as possible on the site. Your target market can't find you unless you go where they are.
Update:
I decided to go the Facebook search route for the challenge this week. When I typed in Pages Liked by People Who Also Like Brilliant Business Moms, Amy Porterfield was my top result. So, I tried to hang out with Amy and her fans a little this week.
I started off by signing up for her mailing list and liking her on Facebook. Next, I double checked that we were following Amy on Pinterest and Twitter, we were. Beth Anne had already set her up in our TwitterFeed, so that anytime Amy posts new content, we tweet about it. We also started following a few of her followers on Pinterest. I read a few of her articles this week, and left comments.
It's difficult to know what the impact of these efforts will be, but I have a feeling it will help us to continue to gain traction. If I continue to read her posts, listen to her podcasts, leave great comments, and follow her on social media, then not only will I learn more about my target market, and learn more about a subject matter I'm interested in, but it makes sense that some of her followers will notice me, and might want to become a Brilliant Business Mom. It's a triple win as far as I'm concerned: learning about my target market, learning from Amy, and gaining followers. I plan to continue spending time on Amy's platforms, and contribute in meaningful ways. Maybe I'll see you over there!
So how did you tackle this challenge? How did you discover where your target market hangs out? How did you spend time there?
The results of this challenge will probably not be immediately measurable, but just like so much of running a business, sometimes tactics we try are more the slow cooker variety instead of the flash in the pan. But slow cookers get the job done!
Oh, I almost forgot…Did you guys notice that I asked you on Facebook which social media sites you hang out on the most? Did you guess that I did that as part of the challenge for this week? It only makes sense for Beth Anne and I to hang out on the social media channels that other Brilliant Business Moms use the most. Twelve of you responded, and all 12 said that they hang out on Facebook. Some of you gave two answers, so the number 2 response was Instagram, followed by Pinterest, and then Twitter! We spend most of our business social media time on Facebook right now as well, so that meshes. We also get the most social media referrals to our site via Facebook too!
Leave us a comment about how the challenge went for you this week.
-Sarah
