Affiliate Marketers Can Compete With the Big Guys and WIN – Part 1
Posted by Kathy Jackson in Affiliate Marketing Wednesday, 6 January 2010 11:22 3 Comments
This is the first of the “Affiliate Marketers Can Compete With the Big Guys and WIN” 5-part series.
The Internet has leveled the marketing playing field! Before a home computer became standard equipment for most households in America, a little “mom and pop” operation out in the brick and mortar world had no chance of competing against much less WINNING against giant multi-national companies.
That’s changed! Today a little start-up affiliate marketing business has access to the same worldwide market that the big guys once had a lock on. The Internet provides the ultimate “equal opportunity”. All we have to do to win is take advantage of the opportunity offered by applying winning marketing strategies.
Winning Strategy #1: Know Your Potential Customers
The big guys have always put a lot of effort (and money) into researching their customer base. They have entire departments charged with discovering the demographics of and the dynamics of their target market.
There are several good reasons!
When you really know your audience:
• You can sell products that your target audience really wants
• You can advertise at times and in ways that allow you to get the most “bang” for you advertising dollar
• You can gear your advertising toward the most affluent section of your target market
• You can choose the keywords that your potential customers “REALLY” use
You can gather ALL of the same customer demographic and dynamic information that the big guys have for free. You can get it by using the Internet!
Visit (even become a member of) the most active forums, blogs and social communities that relate to your niche topic. You want to know:
• The age/race/location/etc. of MOST of the members (demographics)
• The ways in which members interact – common words and phrases used/familiarities used/ etc
• The hours of the day when the most members are online (post time stamps)
• The products members are talking about
• The EXACT words and phrases members use to describe related products
• Hot new products that are in demand
• Real concerns of members
Tomorrow in Part 2 of the “Affiliate Marketers Can Compete With the Big Guys and WIN” series, you’ll find out what the “O” in SEO really means.
After reading this part 1 I was so keen to read part 2 that I forgot to leave a comment here so after reading part 2 I have come back to give my feedback.
I check out many blogs on a daily basis however as far as quality information goes I have to admit your blog is the very best I have found.
Mark McCulloch
I am very new at this. So, to read your encouraging article is quite helpful to me. It is truly important to know your audience, as you stated, in order to sell anything.
I have been a teacher for many years and I can tell you that if children are going to buy what you are selling, it better be what they want. I just hope I can apply that to the internet.
Thank you and keep sharing your wisdom,
Karin
After reading the Affiliate Marketers Can Compete With the Big Guys and Win – Part 1, I began to understand what to do, but I did not create obstacles can create an article for the entry control every aspect of forums.
Actually I’d love to exis in online business today is my problem english thing that I can not, thus become an obstacle, for listening to audio or video to speak english. But with this article, hopefully I can understand and can run well.
Thank you for your article