Who is your ideal customer?

Building a solid foundation for your business begins with identifying and understanding your ideal customer; they are the literal lifeblood of your business and should be your focus point when developing any new marketing strategy. Your first priority as a business owner is to define your target market to form the core of your business’ success. Take the time to do the ground work necessary before choosing the direction of your marketing budget.

Determining your ideal customer is not always easy, as business owners often focus on anyone that is interested in their services. If you fall in this category, it is time to re-evaluate your goals. If you run a small business, targeting a specific niche market is essential. It will allow you to compete with bigger competitors. What is your ideal customer’s

Age
Gender
Physical Location
Occupation
Income Level
Education Level

A great way to determine who your ideal customer is, is by looking at your past customers. Discover common interests and why they are buying from you. Have a look at your competitors and see who they are targeting, as this will help you get started with your own strategy. Are you competing or creating your own niche? Analyze your services. Take a look at what you offer and how your customers benefit from this; if you need to tweak your products or services to offer more value, don’t hesitate to do it. You need to focus on adding value for your customer if you want to build a solid customer base for your business.

Ask yourself:

Who are your current best customers and what do they have in common?

What emotional triggers will get your ideal customer to come to your business first?

What are their values, fears, desires, and goals?

What is most important to them in choosing to purchase your services or products or why do they need your product or service?

What are they not getting from your competition?

How can your company provide the greatest value to your customers?

What is their true problem and how can you solve it?

How can you get them to know, like and trust you?

Once you pinpoint your target market, you can choose an appropriate channel to market to them. How do they make decisions? What are the best ways to reach them? This can be via local print ads, social media, email marketing or other offline campaigns; you will also save money not targeting a large general group, but rather a selected market segment. Choose your niche wisely and let your current customers show you the way.

Determining your ideal customer is an essential part of building a strong and profitable business. Making use of a professional consultant to help you determine your goals and work on a marketing strategy that is aimed at your specific niche market is also an option. It’s one of the best ways to improve your marketing buys, grow your customer base and build a loyal following.

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It’s that time again and we are putting together the 5th Annual Carbon County Map.

Top Reason Why Your Business Should be On The MAP!

1.  This High Quality, Souvenir Map will make it easy to find your business and show where you are in relation to other businesses.

2.  Produced and printed one time per year, distributed all year round.  Be part of this quality product for as low as $50 per month.
“A man who stops advertising to save money is like a man who stops a clock to save time.” ~ Henry Ford

2.  Be part of the bigger picture of Carbon County, PA.  Many people come visit from outside of the area to whitewater raft, shop, ski, hike, come to festivals, sitesee, etc, give them a reason to come back and do something different.

3.  The map is sought after by visitors as a souvenir and appreciated by local residents – reach them both.

4.  The accompanying interactive website allows consumers to plan their next trip.  www.CarbonCountyMap.com

5.  Communicate with our 6,200+ fans of Jim Thorpe, PA on Facebook.  If you are on the MAP and have events and news you’d like to share, be sure to get us the information.

6.  Support another local business as we support yours and work towards bringing more and new business to the county.

7.  If you haven’t been on the map in the past or you would like to see your business drawn differently, this is your chance.

Be sure to get your business on the 2013 Carbon County Map coming out in May 2013.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of this fun and functional project.

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-Make it easy for consumers to find your business and plan a visit. The navigable map shows major highways leading both locals and tourists to the many activities, dining, shops, attractions, accommodations that the county has to offer.

-Found at local businesses, attractions, hotels, information centers, resorts, B&Bs, restaurants, diners, real estate & builder offices in the county & surrounding counties in Monroe, Carbon, Northampton, & the Lehigh Valley.

-Produced and billed just one time per year – and distributed all year round!

-As the print product blankets the area, direct navigation brings return visitors to the website, with featured active links to business emails and websites allowing consumers to plan their next trip for the day, weekend or longer. Check out www.PoconoMap.com.

-Online presence complete with Social Media profiles on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin.

-Send us your events, programs, and cool happenings…we love to brag about our customers!

Visit www.PoconoMap.com or contact us at 570-325-9664 or aki@truenorthadvertising.com for more information.

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The Carbon Leadership Program invites individuals interested in improving their ability to take a positive role in the community and better themselves in the work place.
It has been said that leadership is a prime force that makes positive things happen in a community. The 2013 Leadership Carbon Program is designed to develop knowledgeable, skilled, committed, and action-oriented community leaders.

Leadership Carbon brings together participants once a month September 2012 through May 2013. Participants typically come from diverse backgrounds and varying perspectives to learn more about themselves and their communities. In the Leadership Carbon Program, people share their ideas and experiences with each other, gain new skills and knowledge about leadership, and develop plans and strategies for implementing community betterment projects.

The program includes an overview of the assets and resources within Carbon County via a monthly “Community Profile”. In addition, participants take part in the development of a group project aimed at helping the community. Upon successful completion of the program, each participant receives a Certification in Leadership Training.

More information can be found at www.leadershipcarbon.com or by calling Sandy Duda at 610-377-4063. The deadline to apply for the 2012/2013 program in June 30th

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“The event, designed for homeowners in all stages of home decorating, remodeling and landscaping, includes hundreds of exhibits with merchandise, product demonstrations and sample interior and exterior options,” said Akantha Susko of True North Advertising & Marketing.  “With a combination of new products and expert advice from the pros, this annual Home Show inspires homeowners with countless ideas on how to enhance their home’s comfort and functionality, as well as its aesthetic appeal and overall value.”

The Pocono Home Show is the Poconos’s only building and home renovation expo, having been staged annually for over a decade.  No other event attracts the same number of quality visitors and exhibitors interested in businesses that serve the Poconos and surrounding areas. This year’s Title Sponsors include Bathfitters, the Real Estate Book of the Poconos, and F/J Hess & Sons Plumbing, Heating and A/C.

The show will be held at the Koehler Field House at East Stroudsburg University March 12th – 13th, 2011. Admission is free and children’s activities, including the Home Depot Kids Workshop, are available.

Hours for this year’s event are as follows:

March 12th, Saturday -10am to 7pm

March 13th, Sunday – 11am to 5pm

The show is held in by the Pocono Builders Association, which is dedicated to the collective creation of value for its members.   For more information, visit wwww.PoconoHomeShow.com or call the Pocono Builders Association at 570-421-9009.

About True North Advertising & Marketing

True North Advertising & Marketing produces and manages many successful marketing projects in the area such as the Greater Pocono Home Show at ESU, True North Maps’ Carbon County Map, Monroe County Map (coming 2011) and Senior Style Magazine. They are also closely affiliated with the Real Estate Book of the Pocono, the Pocono Where To Book and Golfing Guide.

About the Pocono Builders Association

Pocono Builders Association is dedicated to the collective creation of value for its members. The Pocono BA is the unified voice of the Pocono Mountain’s building industry.  The organization promotes economic development while respecting the environment and community.  To find out more about the PBA visit www.PoconoBuilders.org. For more information on exhibiting or attending the Pocono Home Show email info@PoconoHomeShow.com.

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www.carboncountymap.com/2011/02/st-patricks-day-parade-in-jim-thorpe/

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Meet them at the Greater Pocono Home Show!

March 17th & 18th at East Stroudsburg University

Reserve your booth today!

For rates, info and floor plan – Click here

Build relationships, sell, and generate leads from thousands of qualified buyers – in just one day. Demonstrate the latest products and services to a motivated, targeted audience who can see, touch and buy your product. Create and build brand awareness. Maximize your marketing budget by allowing our advertising expertise to drive your leads.

Visit the website for more info:
www.PoconoHomeShow.com

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The post Top 10 Post Senior Style Magazine 2010 appeared first on True North Advertising | Let us guide you to your True North.

Click here to see…

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Local artist launches “Standing Strong” project to encourage awareness and end domestic and sexual violence

Local artist and owner of SBL Designs, Susan Bernadette Lebel announces the “Standing Strong” project with a goal to support Women’s Resources of Monroe County, Inc. a domestic and sexual violence crisis center, Lebel recently donated “Geraniums,” the first in a series of paintings she plans to paint, to help raise awareness and funds which will ultimately help victims gain strength through healing and supportive services within the non-profit organization.

“In my heart, I feel the need to help,” she says. “Being blessed enables one to help others.”  Resident artist and floral designer with the Stroudsmoor Country Inn and Estates, Lebel works with water colors and acrylic paints to share her expression of the beauty and love of life.  She plans to donate all proceeds from note cards highlighting her creations to empower women to stand strong.

Jennifer Grube, Executive Director of Women’s Resources of Monroe County notes, “We are honored to partner with SBL Designs in a gallant effort to highlight empowerment for all victims of trauma…we are thankful for community champions who actively support our charity.”

Community members may purchase unique cards or one of kind prints by contacting SBL Designs at 570-421-6431 Ext. 446 or Women’s Resources of Monroe County at 570-424-2093 ext 19.

Women’s Resources of Monroe County, the only domestic violence and sexual assault center in our county, provides safe emergency shelter, a 24-hour crisis hotline and supportive counseling and educational services for all victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual violence. Call 570-421-4200 to reach the 24-hour crisis hotline, or visit www.wrmonroe.org for information.

Susan Bernadette Lebel, part owner of the luxurious Stroudsmoor Country Inn, has had the honor of spending the last twenty six years doing what she loves, assisting and facilitating the flowers and décor for weddings and other milestone engagements hosted as her family’s resort. After putting many years into the start up and management of the Stroudmoor Country Inn, Lebel is delighted that her tenacity paid off and she now has more time to focus on her true passion – her art.

Lebel’s art is not like many other artists’, her art is focused and conceptualized; she recognized a need and fulfills it.  Susan often tells her client’s, “If you feel it… we will create it.” To acquire the design talents of Susan Bernadette Lebel and her design team for your milestone or exhibit, please contact her at 570-421-6431 Ext. 446.

See the Note Cards here…

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