Or, the longer and more accurate title of this post:
Pre-Targeted Demographics & The Theory of Associated Retardation (for Profit and Fun)
This concept isn't necessarily anything new, at least to some of you, and others probably do this without even thinking about it. Regardless, I wanted to share as I hope this will trigger the imaginations of your very creative minds.
As with so many things in this business, doing this consciously often requires ethics residing in a grey area (you don't mind selling things to idiots) as well as above average intelligence (you aren't one of the idiots).
We all know what a targeted demographic is, but for the sake of example, I'll elaborate. You want to sell an item or generate a lead based on, say, baseball - you're not going to want to advertise on Gramma's Pie & Tie Shop website. You'd be better off advertising your product on a baseball blog, forum, or whatever other kind of site within the niche. Obvious stuff.
Very often in IM you'll find yourself locating a product to promote and then deciding what social demographic would respond the most to it (at least I do). Sounds logical enough, and of course it is.
What I'm proposing, however, is to select your target demographic before the product. You'd be surprised how many things you can market to certain groups, even if the item/service itself is "outside the niche."
Specifically, look for demographics / target audiences that have already proven themselves to be gullible. This audience is pre-qualified to sell to - you know that they're morons to begin with.
Some examples include:
As you've no doubt guessed, I've lovingly dubbed this concept the Theory of Associated Retardation. The formula would be as such: (Stupid ideology/group/lifestyle) + (applicable product) = profit. As I said, if you look at the target audience before products, you'll be surprised at what you come up with and what works.
Nothing new, but interesting nonetheless. Hope that provides some food for thought.
Pre-Targeted Demographics & The Theory of Associated Retardation (for Profit and Fun)
This concept isn't necessarily anything new, at least to some of you, and others probably do this without even thinking about it. Regardless, I wanted to share as I hope this will trigger the imaginations of your very creative minds.
As with so many things in this business, doing this consciously often requires ethics residing in a grey area (you don't mind selling things to idiots) as well as above average intelligence (you aren't one of the idiots).
We all know what a targeted demographic is, but for the sake of example, I'll elaborate. You want to sell an item or generate a lead based on, say, baseball - you're not going to want to advertise on Gramma's Pie & Tie Shop website. You'd be better off advertising your product on a baseball blog, forum, or whatever other kind of site within the niche. Obvious stuff.
Very often in IM you'll find yourself locating a product to promote and then deciding what social demographic would respond the most to it (at least I do). Sounds logical enough, and of course it is.
What I'm proposing, however, is to select your target demographic before the product. You'd be surprised how many things you can market to certain groups, even if the item/service itself is "outside the niche."
Specifically, look for demographics / target audiences that have already proven themselves to be gullible. This audience is pre-qualified to sell to - you know that they're morons to begin with.
Some examples include:
- Political Activists - great for those supporting an obviously retarded 'cause' or those who blindly follow a particular ideology / person. Yes, as much respect and admiration as I have for the man, Ron Paul supporters would have qualified here. Just admit it.
- Extreme Lifestyles - the demographic I'm personally testing are Vegans (or anyone who would label themselves a 'lacto-ovo vegetarian'). I'm not saying there's anything wrong with the diet, in fact it's quite healthy, but the extremists are what I would called pre-qualified targets.
- The religious.
- The non-religious. (I myself fall under this category. I can't wait for my Richard Dawkins shirt to get here. You see my point).
- Nearly anything appealing to teens, or the various retarded 'subcultures' or cliques young people associate themselves with (goth, emo, etc. Google 'goth shirts').
- My personal favorite, the computer illiterate. This one is pretty obvious.
As you've no doubt guessed, I've lovingly dubbed this concept the Theory of Associated Retardation. The formula would be as such: (Stupid ideology/group/lifestyle) + (applicable product) = profit. As I said, if you look at the target audience before products, you'll be surprised at what you come up with and what works.
Nothing new, but interesting nonetheless. Hope that provides some food for thought.
