Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Reaching Your Specific Audience is Key to Your Marketing Plan


Every product has a different audience, you must reach that audience in order to be successful. Everything that you do needs to be geared towards your audience, or you will be wasting your time. 

However, it is not always easy to find and impact your target audience. Here are 6 tips and tricks to help you focus your marketing for your specific audience.

Discover Your Audience


The first thing you have to do is determine your audience. Every audience has different habits, preferences, communication styles, etc. And you have to market specifically for your audience. 

As suggested here, sit down and create a stereotype for your audience. Write down everything that you know about them: their gender, age, where they work, what they do for fun, their shopping habits, what type of job they have, where they live, etc. While not every one of your customers will fit into your perfect stereotype, they will have many things in common. 


Focus your marketing towards the stereotype you have created. Remember that if you try to speak to everyone, you’ll just end up speaking to no one.

Appeal to Your Audience


Once you have determined your audience, you can speak right to them. Let them know why they need you. What types of advertisements will they connect to? What is it about your product that will change their life? 

Remember to make your marketing about your customer, and not about you. Create content that will set up a conversation with your audience, not a lecture. Be genuinely interested in your consumer, and they will respond. Use the three rhetorical appeals (ethos, logos, and pathos) to reach out to your consumer. 

Essentially, inform your audience that you know what you are talking about, appeal to their ability to reason, and give them something that will touch their heart. (This persuasion method was created nearly 2,000 years ago by Aristotle, and has been proven effective over the test of time.

Be Seen by Your Audience


After you have determined who your audience is and how to appeal to them, you have find ways to get seen by them. Figure out what type of media your audience is consuming, and get on it. If you have an audience in a specific location, consider putting up a billboard for them to see every day. 




Find out what magazines and coupon books go out in that area, and get an ad in the mailer as soon as possible. If you are trying to connect to businesses, go to relevant trade shows, send letters or emails to businesses, and consider visiting them in person. Don’t forget to reach them online too (see below). 

Remember to keep your marketing specific and focused. If you get contacted by a magazine that your audience doesn’t read, don’t waste your time and money creating an ad for that company. Decide what will work for you and your audience, and do it.

Decide What Sets You Apart


You and your competitors are trying to reach the same people at the same time to sell essentially the same products. Determine what it is that makes you different and advertise that. Be careful not to over-compare yourself to your competitors, as it is tacky and a huge turn-off for customers. 

Instead, focus on you and your business. What do you do that is unique to other companies? Do you offer free samples? Have an amazing return policy? Do you have a secret recipe? Do you offer a service that no one else does? 

Is your treatment plan different than other companies? Do you offer a famous favorite at your restaurant? Let your customers know why you are unique. Make sure that it is right on your website, and something that you advertise frequently.

Reach Them Online


Communication is no longer as it was. Before, you would reach customers by mail, phone calls, radio ads, billboards, or in person visits. Now we have the internet that not only speeds up communication, but makes advertising incredibly easy. Take, for example, Facebook ads. 

For as little as $5 a day, you can reach out to your specific audience and get your brand seen. Facebook allows you to narrow your target audience based on age, location, things they like, and more. Unfortunately, you do have to reach your audience online, as it how the world connects. 

Make sure that your website is up to date and you keep up on your blog. Get your brand on social media (especially on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram), and be active on your social media pages.

Give Back


The best way to get noticed is to give back to the community. It is positive PR that gives people a good feeling about your business. While you should not give back solely for the PR, it does help your business. 



Charitable donations are also tax deductible, make you look good to customers, give you free advertising, and makes your community a better place to live in. Find a charity that works well with your business, or create your own. 

For example, if you are a cruelty-free skin care company, partner with a company that tries to make life better for animals around the country (like this company); if you are a furniture and appliance store, team up with a non-profit that rebuilds homes for low-income homeowners; and if you are a children’s toy and entertainment company, consider donating to a children’s hospital.

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Road to Recovery: How to Take Care of Your Personal Finances After a Major Accident



A major accident can derail your life in several ways. Not only is your daily routine and ability to work impacted, you may also have changes in your lifestyle, interpersonal relationships and even your love life with your partner. 

After a major accident, handling your personal finances is a crucial step to ensure your future, including your retirement and investments. Here are some aspects you'll want to handle as soon as you're able.


Automate Your Monthly Bill Payments


After a major accident, you may need surgery, physical therapy and rehabilitation to heal your injuries. The last thing you need is a late or entirely forgotten mortgage payment or car lease. 



Set up automatic payment so there is no chance of a late or missed installment. This will protect your credit rating and give you peace of mind during recovery, in addition to avoiding late fees.


Get Legal Representation



No one really thinks to get legal representation to help them with their finances after a major accident because they think getting a lawyer will damage their finances further. If your accident was the result of someone else's negligence or malice, you may be entitled to a settlement. 

Find out what your rights are by contacting a lawyer such as Pritzker Law or another local law firm. If you're approached by legal counsel representing the other party, sign nothing until you secure counsel of your own and get guidance. You could accidentally sign away your rights to a settlement or, worse, take blame upon yourself. 

You want to make sure that you get out of this situation as cleanly as possible with as much money in your bank account as possible to cover your expenses and recovery after your accident.


Find All of Your Insurance


Depending on the accident and the extent of your injuries, you may qualify for short or long-term disability payments, loss-of-income insurance or other related payments. 

If you've lost a digit, a limb, sight or partial sight or suffered other permanent disfigurement, you may already be insured for that through your employer, life insurance policy or even insurance offered by your credit card company. Read the fine print and find all the insurance you are entitled to collect.


Draw up a New Budget


You wallet is going to take a hit after being hit in a major accident. After an accident, your needs and expenditures will likely change a lot. You may not need to buy coffee and lunch every day if you're not heading into work, but you may instead require copays for doctor visits, physical therapy or prescription medications. 

You may not need to sign up for the next season of ballroom dancing lessons, but you may need more fuel since you can't walk to the store like you used to. Don’t forget about your insurance payments too that you will likely have to make in order to have proper coverage otherwise you will end up paying for your medical bills out of pocket. 


Those bills can become very expensive very quickly. Consider your new limitations and needs, then draw up a realistic budget. This will help you keep tabs on your spending. Save as much money as you can. 

Cut anything from your budget that isn’t important for you to have at this time. You can always pick those amenities back up later.

A major accident is a life-changing event with big ramifications. By handling your personal finances as soon as possible, you can ensure your retirement and financial future will stay on track.


5 Different Financial Programs That Assist the Disabled

Although most people hope to get through life as healthy and functional as possible, there are a number of unexpected circumstances that can cause anyone to become disabled.

Whether you are facing long-term or short-term disability, you may find that you simply do not have the resources required to meet all of your financial and living needs. Fortunately, there are a number of programs available to assist the disabled meet their financial needs without having to go without basic, needed necessities.


Housing Assistance


Housing is a significant expense for most people. When you find yourself unable to work, you may have difficulty finding housing options that you can afford. The good news is that Section 811 vouchers are designed to ensure that the disabled have a safe and comfortable home.

As long as the home chosen by the disabled party meets the program’s terms, the tenant is not required to spend more than 30% of their income towards rent. This program benefits many different people from all walks of life, whether they were disabled in combat, or if they had an unfortunate accident.


Heating or Cooling Bill Assistance


For the disabled with a low income, there is help available for paying heating and cooling bills. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program offers grants for those in need of assistance paying their energy bills.

Furthermore, the program gives priority to the disabled. Some individuals are able to make ends meet by utilizing this program.


Social Security Disability


Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, provides much-needed cash assistance to individuals and their family members who are unable to work or significantly impacted by an injury, medical condition or other hardship. Professionals, like those at Tarkowsky & Piper Co., L.P.A., can help obtain the needed medical records to maximize your disability claim.

The SSDI program is designed to assist workers who have paid into the Social Security system for many years. Although the dollar amounts of SSDI payments are determined by an individual’s lifetime earnings to date, the benefit assists disabled taxpayers who may otherwise do without.


Supplemental Security Income


Another federal government program for the disabled is the Supplemental Security Income program, or SSI. Paid for by general tax revenues, this program provides assistance for the blind, disabled, elderly and even their low-income children. The program helps with essential needs, such as housing, clothing and food. This helps many families grow and prosper, despite the difficulties they are facing.


Employment Assistance


For those individuals between the ages of 18 and 65 who receive SSDI or SSI cash benefits but are still able to work, the Ticket to Work Program offers work related resources like vocational rehabilitation, employment training and job referrals.

In fact, the program offers a wide range of employment services. Doing a little bit of research about this program can yield more information.

If you are in need of disability assistance for yourself or someone else, there is no need to worry about not having the things you need to live a comfortable life. With so many financial programs that assist the disabled, you can rest assured and know that you will continue to enjoy your life for many years to come.



Family Finance: What To Do If You Are Drowning In Debt

Millions of families in the world have problems with overwhelming debt. Once a person is underneath the rock of overwhelming debt, it becomes burdensome to get from under it. 

Fortunately, some solid solutions still exist for climbing out of debt. The following are six things the household head can do to regain financial composure:

Cut the Cards


The first step toward regaining financial footing is to stop spending. That may mean cutting the credit cards in half, but financial freedom will be worth the small sacrifice. Get rid of cards you don’t really need, but only use to make extra purchases.

Obtain a Credit Report


The next step that a consumer should take is obtaining a copy of the credit report to see how bad the situation really is. A consumer can take steps like disputing foreign accounts and charges if that person wants to climb out of overwhelming debt. 



Take a Counseling Course


Free credit counseling courses can help a homeowner to develop healthy spending and payment habits. Some people have to take counseling before they can file for bankruptcy.

Consolidate


A debt consolidation is something that a consumer can do, but the person has to have a credit score that is still acceptable. Some financial companies will provide a high-risk consolidation loan. However, the provider may offer the loan at a high interest rate.

Sign up for Debt Management


A debt management program is another option that one may have for recovering from overwhelming debt. A debt management program involves a third-party specialist who negotiates with the lenders and then then makes payments toward the creditors on behalf of the client. 

Debt management companies usually charge a monthly fee for their services. Debt management is a good choice for a person who has more than two open debt accounts and had various interest rates on each account. The arrangement can even out the interest and keep the person’s financial plate clean. 

Speak to a Bankruptcy Attorney


Bankruptcy may be a good solution for someone who has a low annual income and truly cannot pay the bills. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy is for a consumer who does not have money left over after calculating the disposable income. 

A Chapter 13 bankruptcy is one that requires the consumer to come up with a repayment plan and offer to pay a percentage of the debt over time. It’s important to speak with a bankruptcy attorney like those at Morrison & Murff when dealing with major financial problems. 

Dealing with debt can become a major burden for many families. Without self-discipline and help from experts, it may feel impossible to overcome financial problems. These tips can help you get back on the right track and control your finances.


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