Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Target Marketing

In order to make your product seem special to one group or segment, you can't market it to everyone. In order to be successful you need to adjust your marketing mix to make it fit a specific segment of the population. Once you figure out which one of your segments of your target has the money and need for your product, you can market it to them.

There are 3 steps in the target marketing process; segmentation, targeting and positioning. In the first step you identify and describe each market segment. You divide your consumers into groups based on demographics and psychographics. Another way to segment is by gender. Many products are made specifically for men or women. Then you choose segments you can market to. Claritas is a service that will help find a segment to target. Claritas knows about what products a group is likely to buy.

The next step in the process is to evaluate the segments and decide which to target. There are 3 additional steps within this step; evaluate segment for need and demand, develop segment profile, and choose a targeting strategy. You must make sure your segment needs your product and has the money to purchase it. In the profile, you must ensure your segment is different from other segments. Then you must decide your strategy. It can be undifferentiated which means you appeal to the masses, differentiated meaning a different product for different people, or concentrated, which is for just one segment.

The third and last step in the target marketing process is positioning. Positioning requires you to evaluate your competition and come up with a differential benefit consumers can't get from the competition. Then you develop a marketing mix to appeal to your segment. You then evaluate response to your product and change your strategy if necessary.

Your brand must be positioned in a place where potential customers will see it and want it. Promotional materials are also necessary to make consumers think they need it or that it is better than other options. You also want to create a brand personality for your product. A brand personality is a distinct image that capture's your brands personality.

Victoria's Secret has a brand personality. VS is sexy and classy. Its the way to be desirable.

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