Revisiting Strategic Marketing PlanningWe kick things off by revisiting the concept of having a strategic marketing plan before executing tactics. Tim explains that most businesses get the sequencing wrong - you need to define your target market and ideal clients first, then identify where they are and what messaging will resonate with them. This "fuel" informs the marketing "vehicles" or tactics you'll use. Tim outlines his three power questions to identify ideal clients: who do you love working with, who are your most profitable clients (based on gross profit, not just revenue), and which clients are you getting the best results for? Clients that check all three boxes are your sweet spot to target.Defining Your Target MarketFrom there, Tim walks through a process for defining your target market: 

1. Analyze the demographics of your ideal clients - industries, roles/titles, company sizes, etc.
2. Dig into the psychographics - their pain points, goals, aspirations, and the results they want.
3. Evaluate if the market is viable by looking at size, buying power, accessibility, and growth potential.

As you go through this exercise, smaller sub-groups or niches will emerge that you can focus your marketing efforts on more effectively.Researching Where Your Ideal Clients CongregateThe final piece is understanding where your ideal clients get information and spend time online/offline. Tim recommends using AI tools like Perplexity to research things like: 

• Influencers they follow
• YouTube channels they watch
• Podcasts they listen to
• Social media groups they're in
• Forums and online communities
• Email lists they subscribe to
• Associations, trade shows, and events they attend

This creates a roadmap of all the places you can get in front of your target audience through marketing activities and strategic partnerships. Key Takeaways: 

• Define your ideal clients before executing marketing tactics
• Ask: Who do you love working with, who's most profitable, and who get the best results for?
• Analyze demographics, psychographics, and market viability to identify your target
• Use AI to research where your ideal clients congregate online and offline
• Focus your marketing efforts on the channels/platforms your target audience uses

Links from the show:Rialto Marketing website: https://www.rialtomarketing.com/AI-powered conversational search engine: https://www.perplexity.ai/81-Year-Old California Man was a slingshot terrorist for 10 years: https://tinyurl.com/yc2yj249Florida Woman jumps from Naples pier after sex to escape police: https://tinyurl.com/bdzazuswFlorida Mom Offers man sex with her 10-year-old daughter for $5: https://tinyurl.com/2ambnhswFlorida Man Goes Viral on Wheel of Fortune: https://tinyurl.com/yrucnve6 === Show InformationWebsite: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/Host: Marvin BeeUncle Marv’s Amazon Store: https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZBecome a monthly supporter: https://www.patreon.com/join/itbusinesspodcast?One-Time Donation: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unclemarv=== Music: Song: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock LogoAuthor: AlexanderRufireLicense Code: 7X9F52DNML - Date: January 1st, 2024