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Describing a target market for an online business forum - please help!

  • 27-08-2010 11:22am
    #1
    Fergal C
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 298 ✭✭


    I've been working at building and promoting Business Advice Forum I have big goals for the site and want to make it the busiest most user-friendly business forum on the Internet. I have been having a little difficulty defining our target market. I'm not trying to write a target market description to impress investors or anything like that, my aim is solely to get clarity for myself.

    I've come up with the target market description below and would love some feedback as to how it could be improved.
    Summary
    Small business owners and those planning on starting a small business - a "small business" in this instance is one that employs one to three people including the owner.

    Geographic
    Global market, i.e. not country specific (Ireland, UK, US, India, Australia & New Zealand, Other Asia)

    Age Group
    16 – 40 year old age group

    Education
    All levels - Comfortable using the Internet

    Language
    English speaking but not necessarily as first language

    Psychographics
    Ambitious, independent, willing to learn

    Business Stage
    All stages from business idea to established business

    Business Size
    Employs one to three people, including the owner


    Target Market Business Sectors

    Online Businesses
    Website content publishers, earning from ad sales
    Bloggers
    Forum owners
    Hosts
    Website & graphic designers
    Freelancers
    eBay business owners
    SEO & Online marketing services
    Programmers & application developers

    Traditional Businesses
    Craft
    Manufacturing
    Retail
    Consultants & advisors
    Food outlets
    Agents & distributors
    Publishers
    Service providers

    Thanks!


Comments

  • #2
    J_Wholesale
    Closed Accounts Posts: 245 ✭✭J_Wholesale


    Most successful business forums are country specific, and there's a reason. Legal, tax, employment regulations, pricing, and much more are all very country specific, as are many market trends and fashions.

    Also, your age group seems to be excluding the people with the most experience in running successful businesses, the very people a forum like yours needs to attract if only in a mentoring capacity, those above the age of 40.


  • #3
    Fergal C
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 298 ✭✭Fergal C


    Thanks for the reply and your opinion J_Wholesale. When I was starting the forum I was in two minds as to whether make it an Irish business forum or an international business forum. As you say, I went the international route because I felt that there was a market for a business forum that focused on aspects of business that were not country specific such as; sales, marketing, personal effectiveness and webmaster issues.

    Thanks also for your comments on the age group, I felt that the under 40's were the people most likely to turn to an online community to seek advice and that members would help and advise each other, rather than rely on mentors.

    Please note that this was my feel for it and I'm not overly confident that I was correct, hence I welcome feedback and suggestions.

    Anyone else?


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