A Modern Bazaar’s Target & Segment Markets
I was watching a very horrible movie this past weekend with my wife. It was so horrible, in fact, that I do not know the name or the plot, did not recognize any of the actors, and actually turned off the television so I could go outside and get sunburned. That was my choice. Modern cable television in the US is truly not a bargain & certainly not as good as being burned.
Anyway, cable and hot sun are not the subjects that I want to talk about today. Rather, I would like to talk about the modern bazaar.
Where did my TV go wrong?
I can’t say that it was really my television’s fault. After all, I made the decision about which station to turn on, and my TV had no possible recourse. One could say that it was as much (or more) of a prisoner as I was during that horrible program. Of course, my TV does not have a frontal lobe, so I don’t think it cared much.
At any rate, the problem that I had with the program was that the story seemed too simple, too contrived, and too easy to forget. The characters were too simple, obvious, and unbelievable. The writers clearly had not considered me as part of the audience for whom they were writing. If they had, they would have known, well in advance, that I would turn off the TV after only a few minutes.
So my wife and I went outside. Then, that seemed a bit boring, so we decided to go to the annual arts festival that is held in the city.
The Modern Bazaar
There is a section of town that is used for the same purpose every year. Many of the same salespeople & some new ones visit our city ever year in the hope that they will make enough to cover expenses and then a little bit more.
Some artists have chosen to make art which appeals to a very specific group of people (a very narrow niche). Their art included unique materials (e.g., metal sculptures and carved wood Christmas trees) and/or odd content. For example, there was a girl who painted pictures of red and blue devils on brass. I am just guessing, but she is probably not aiming for the average American consumer.
Of the narrow niche art, there were very few cheap items. One could easily find vendors who sell normal red, scented candle for a few dollars. But the candle shop that specializes in black candles with pointed spikes was a bit pricier.
It makes sense. The more special your art, the fewer people will love it. But to those who love it, its value will be much higher.
This is not limited to products like those found at an arts festival. Normal brick and mortar businesses and on-line specialty shops sell items that are unique at a premium.
So… What Does This Have To Do With TV?
This really has nothing to do with TV, and everything to do with knowing who your audience is. Before anyone reading this draws the conclusion that I am talking specifically about making candles, blogging or any other specific form of creation or communication, I need to tell you that I am not.
Knowing your audience is important for not only the communication you do on purpose, but also for all of the other times that you communicate. That is, if you work in an office, the way that you perform your work and get along with coworkers is just as important as that email you are sending to your boss with a description of the sales/transactions/contacts/products you performed or made today. Similarly, if you run your own business, the public ways that you conduct it is most certainly going to have impact on your sales.
People, even the bad ones, hate jerks. That is just the way that it is.
At the festival there was a salesman in a dress (not exactly a highlight), and a girl painting in front of her booth. There were ice-cream vendors eating their own ice-cream and a busker playing “Smoke On The Water” on saxophone (this was also not a highlight though I did give him a dollar). Everyone was smiling and vying for everyone else’s attention all the time.
Conclusion
They may have made their art to communicate something or to explore their feelings, but they came to the festival for another reason. Perhaps if only to continue the creative process or perhaps for survival (money), they came to the festival seeking the attention of the people walking by. They came to create a connection.
Your Turn
What will you make today? Will it be accessible for most people or just for a select few?
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Twitter: CoachScotland
said:
Mark, this put a new spin for me about knowing your audience. It is not enough just to know your audience and what they want it is also about being real and wanting to make that connection with them at a human level. Very inspiring post
Marion Anderson´s last [type] ..Disappointment – Keep dancing
I think that it goes even further. The different types of connections that we make with other people all play a role in making us who we are. When we put our products out there, we are really putting ourselves out there.
I know that I have chosen to purchase things at a higher price sometimes just because of my relationship with the sellers.
Thanks for stopping by Marion!
Twitter: sallyneill
said:
Hey Mark,
Glad I didn’t see that movie lol.
Lately I have been creating for everyone, but I think very soon it’s time to start creating for a select few…
In order to target the right audience, like you say I need to know my audience, by creating products targeted at specific people rather than aiming for the mass, I think it will help me more and ultimately help me readers or buyers too.
Time to narrow down my audience, if I lose a few followers it will not concern me.
Sally
Sally´s last [type] ..Is Social Media FAB or a FAD
Hi Sally,
I have really enjoyed what you have done so far. I am looking forward to whatever it is that you do next!
Have a great day!
Twitter: Brandon_Connell
said:
I believe my art is for the many thanks to my niche. But not everybody has the same goals of expanding their reach.
Brandon Connell´s last [type] ..Ways to make money online that you never thought of
Yep, your niche is fairly universal, at least amongst bloggers. Plus you have great content, which is obviously the point. Ha. Love that second comment. Have a great day Brandon.
Twitter: leesshizzle
said:
I agree and I lack focus with a target audience. I at times get lost in the shuffle, hustle and bustle, forget about a core group and like others have mentioned target the masses.
Slowly I am making improvements and appreciate having these reminders to help. I always look forward to Fridays on twitter. It reminds me of folks like you who I seem to overlook during the week. Not for any particular reason other than I am busy and doing other things so fridays allow me to connect with these type of post. Thanks for always giving me a shout #FF seriously w/o it I wouldn’t remember. Well now I will cause I’m going to add your feed dagummit. LOL
Thanks Mark
Lee
Lee´s last [type] ..Team Edward or Team Jacob How bout Team bloggerluv or Blogcatalog
Hey Lee,
Nice to see you here.
It is really easy for me to lose sight of what I am or should be doing, so I can relate to what you are saying. Follow Fridays are really fun, though I have been just barely doing the things that I would like to be doing as far as social media and connecting with others lately. That is just temporary and will likely be over very soon. Having said that, going back to a less-busy, but still very busy lifestyle will continue to make it difficult for me to get everything done.
Perhaps that is what this coming week will be about for me. Reconnecting.
Thanks for the idea Lee. Have a great weekend!
Twitter: NicksTraffic
said:
Great post Mark. You gotta define a vision for your art/blog and stay true to that. Not everyone will love it but that’s okay. Just know your target audience and give them what they want.
Nick Stewart´s last [type] ..Does search engine optimization matter anymore
Nice point Nick. Sometimes you just have to move in the direction that you believe is best and accept that it may leave some of your previous audience behind.
Have a great day!
Twitter: kruby
said:
Hi Mark,
Glad to see you’re back
I think that they came to the festival to be part of the community. They could have been creative all by themselvs at home, but they wanted to interact with others and get that sense of feedback about their craft. Same thing with having a public blog – to feel that sense of community and to get feedback. Otherise, you might as well be writing down your thoughts the old-fashioned way – with pen and paper and keep it private.
Karen
Karen´s last [type] ..Just For Today Challenge – 31 Days To A Better You eBook Launch
If you know who your audience are, it would be easy for you to discuss something. Also, it’s very important for you to choose a topic/discussion (in particular) that will encourage broad readers/audience. Something that can be flexible.
Cole Stan´s last [type] ..Traditional Gifts for a 25thSilver Wedding Anniversary